Pet Sustainability Coalition Advances Climate-Smart Pet Food Solutions with Growing GRASS, a USDA Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant Project
In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable pet food production, the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) has been selected as a subawardee of Growing GRASS, a USDA Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant project. This initiative aims to support large-scale projects that promote agricultural practices reducing greenhouse gas emissions or sequestering carbon. The Growing GRASS project seeks to establish reliable, resilient, high-value supply chains for the meat processing byproducts of regeneratively raised beef and bison, providing more climate-friendly materials for textile, pet food, and ingredients markets. For PSC, being selected as a subawardee opens a new chapter in their mission to advance sustainable ingredient sourcing practices within the pet food industry.
Participating in the grant project will enable PSC to convene pet food brands and manufacturers to enhance the value and utilization of regeneratively sourced bison and beef ingredients. These climate-smart practices promise not only to reduce the carbon footprint of pet food production but also to increase resiliency and traceability that supports long term sustainable sourcing in the industry. The Growing GRASS project, launched in May 2024, is set to continue through 2028 and is led by the American Sustainable Business Network and Other Half Processing.
As climate change accelerates, the need for sustainable practices in all industries becomes ever more urgent. Pet food, an often-overlooked sector in the broader sustainability conversation, has immense potential to drive positive environmental change. By focusing on regenerative agriculture, PSC and its partners aim to create a ripple effect that will influence sourcing practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sustain the industry with highly nutritious ingredients that are good for pets while also supporting high quality safe jobs for American farmers and agricultural communities.
Regenerative agriculture, which involves practices like rotational grazing, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, has been shown to enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon. By integrating these practices into the sourcing of bison and beef ingredients, PSC is paving the way for other protein and non protein ingredients. This project not only aligns with environmental goals but also meets consumer demand for more sustainable and ethically sourced pet products.
The Growing GRASS project relies on cross-sector partnerships in achieving these ambitious goals. By bringing together expertise from different fields, Growing GRASS is poised to develop innovative solutions that will benefit the entire supply chain, from producers to consumers. Additional project partners include the University of California Davis, Pure Strategies, IC-FOODS,Textile Exchange and others.
“The journey towards a more sustainable pet food industry is a long term effort that will require collective cross industry collaboration. As a crucial part of Growing GRASS, PSC is leading the charge, demonstrating that sustainable practices are not only feasible but also beneficial for the planet, the industry, and for business. The petfood industry is heavily reliant on protein ingredients and as we look towards the future, initiatives like this are crucial in the health and longevity of our industry, pets, and the planet” says -Caitlyn Dudas, Co-Founder Pet Sustainability Coalition