Do dogs contribute to climate change?
Cecilie Hemsen Berg
I became quite overwhelmed by all the issues we face in regards of climate change. When the focus was directed on the impact our companion animals have on the climate – I decided to make a plan, be more proactive and find a solution. How food production contributes to climate change has being researched extensively. Luckily there are different solutions on how to establish more sustainable foodproduction systems. Included in the numbers are also the impact pet food production has on our environment.
Pet’s impact on climate change
In 2020, researchers from The University of Edinburgh and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany researched 280 dog food brands in Europe and the US. Their study found the following:
- Every year we need agricultural land twice the size of the United Kingdom to produce food for our dogs and cats. This is about 49 million hectares.
- Meat production accounts for almost 60% of all greenhouse gasses from food production.
- Meat production requires a lot of water. Some calculations show it takes about 16 000 litres of water to produce 1 kg of beef.
- Antibiotics are used to prevent, treat and control bacterial infection in livestock. Traces of antibiotics can remain in the meat. It also gets into the soil and waterways through the cow’s urine and faeces. “The improper use of antibiotics for animals contributes to the emergence of resistant bacteria. While the use of antibiotics in the EU is declining, this phenomenon remains a threat to human health”.
- Crops such as soy, maize and wheat are big contributors to deforestation and monocrops. They are often sprayed with herbicides and pesticides, negatively impacting the environment, animals, humans and pollinators. About 77% of global soy is fed to livestock for meat and dairy production. Only about 6% of soybeans are used for human consumption.
Meat production is the primary contributing factor to our pets’ environmental pawprint. Therefore, pet food companies can make a significant impact by using eco-friendly protein sources, and other less resource demanding ingredients like ancient grains. Likewise, pet owners can contribute to reducing their pet’s pawprint by supporting sustainable businesses.
Sustainable dog food is possible!
Like us, dogs need quality sources of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Dogs are omnivores which means they thrive on a mixed diet of meat and plants. Using alternative protein sources to meat are an important contributing factor not only to create more sustainable food, but also supporting a healthier lifestyle for our dogs.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Amino acids have several important functions in the body including: building and maintaining the skeleton, muscles, internal organs, connective tissue, skin and fur, production of hormones and enzymes. Protein is also important for the immune system and as an energy source. Dogs need 10 (essential) amino acids in a meal for their body to be able to build a complete protein. There are several ways of creating dog food with a complete amino acid profile. Where do we find protein?
- meat
- fish
- vegetables
- pulses (peas, lentils, beans)
- grain, seeds and nuts
- edible insects
Insects – environmentally friendly protein
Entomaphagy is the term for eating insects. 2 billion people (about 20% of the world’s population) already include insects in their diet. As edible insects become increasingly recognised as a valuable food source, consumption also increases. In addition to being environmentally friendly and protein rich, they also contain other important nutrients such as minerals, good fatty acids and fiber with health benefits.
Scientific research shows that some insects contain a complete amino acid profile making them an excellent source of protein for dogs. Increasingly, animal nutritionists see the advantage of including insects such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and mealworm larvae in their dog food formulations. Som dog food and treat brands already includes these insects in their products. Many also believe the dog food industry can lower the excessively high protein content by using more plant-based ingredients. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not need as much protein as we see in some dog food.
Benefits of using insects
There are good reasons to include insects in our food. Insects are both sustainable and healthy.
- Insects are rich in protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and fiber. Depending on the type of insect, they contain minerals such as copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, selenium, zinc and a variety of B vitamins. The fiber in insects is also beneficial for gut health.
- Insects are considered a new (novel) protein source and can be beneficial for dogs who are sensitive or allergic to animal protein.
- Insect production needs less water, land and feed. It also emits significantly less greenhouse gases. If you are particularly interested in environmental benefits, please read more here. The production of insects can be part of a circular economy. They can utilize plant-based food waste (e.g. from breweries or vegetable farmers) and turn the waste into nutritious protein. The waste from the insects can in turn become excellent compost.
- It is a clean source of protein, as antibiotics or growth hormones are not required.
- Insects may be a key to improving animal welfare. It is estimated that the world’s population will increase by 81 million people per year. Many of these people will eat meat as their main source of protein, putting more and more pressure on livestock and farmers. If we can utilize plants and insects for protein as well, the need for fish, cattle, and chicken will lessen. Insects such as black soldier fly larvae thrive in high-density environments and are therefore well suited for farming.
By focusing on alternative solutions and being open to trying new and sustainable food we can meet the nutritional needs of both humans and animals while preserving the needs of future generations. We believe that we can look forward to a more healthy, kind and sustainable food system that does not harm our planet.
Nala Health dog food contains insect protein from the larvae of Hermetia Illucens (Black soldier fly). BSFL has been studied by several scientists to determine their nutritional value. In addition to being a complete protein (i.e. all the 10 amino acids dogs need), they contain important minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus, selenium and zinc as well as good fats and fiber. This is a healthy, easy digestible dog food that tastes good, helps to keep your dog healthy and happy and reduces the strain on the climate. Sustainability and health go hand in hand.