The burgeoning field of sustainable pet nutrition has a new contender as Finnish food tech innovator Enifer joins forces with pet food specialist Rovio Pet Foods. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in introducing Enifer’s proprietary Pekilo mycoprotein into the canine treat market, offering a novel, high-protein, and environmentally conscious alternative to traditional ingredients. The newly developed semi-moist dog treat leverages Pekilo’s unique nutritional profile, boasting over 60% protein content and an amino acid composition comparable to that found in meat. This partnership underscores the growing demand for functional and sustainable pet food options, driven by an increasingly conscientious consumer base and the ongoing trend of pet humanization.
The development of this innovative dog treat is the culmination of extensive research and development by both companies. Rovio Pet Foods, known for its work on functional treat concepts, identified Pekilo mycoprotein as a key ingredient to elevate its product offerings. The resulting treat is not only positioned for direct consumer appeal but also holds significant potential for white-label applications, providing pet food manufacturers with a readily available, low-carbon solution. This initiative aligns with broader industry efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of pet food production, a sector that has historically relied on resource-intensive animal agriculture.
This strategic alliance follows a series of crucial milestones for Enifer. In March, the company successfully completed a four-tonne commercial production run of its mycoprotein ingredient, branded as PekiloPet. Furthermore, Enifer has been actively engaged in collaborative trials with Prima Pet. These trials, conducted at Prima Pet’s dry food factory in Nokia, Finland, have focused on producing test batches of pet food products incorporating Pekilo. The next phase of this collaboration involves palatability trials with both cats and dogs, scheduled for the spring, to rigorously assess the ingredient’s appeal to animal consumers.
Simo Ellilä, CEO of Enifer, emphasized the strategic importance of the pet food sector for his company. "Pet food has actually been a core focus for Enifer from the beginning," Ellilä stated in an interview with Green Queen. "It’s a category where there is a clear and immediate need for new, sustainable protein sources and where innovation can be brought to market relatively quickly." He further elaborated on the dual benefits of this venture: "For us, this is about bringing Pekilo to market in a meaningful way. Pet nutrition allows us to validate both the nutritional value and functionality, and for us to validate our technology and the use of our Pekilo ingredient in real applications, while already contributing to a more sustainable protein system."
The technical advantages of PekiloPet are also a key selling point. Jereon Schweitz, Chief Commercial Officer at Enifer, highlighted its versatility: "We already know that PekiloPet performs well in both extrusion and retort systems. It provides to marketeers and developers a new ingredient that combines nutrition, sustainability, and enables differentiation in a demanding consumer market." This adaptability suggests that Pekilo mycoprotein can be seamlessly integrated into various pet food manufacturing processes, facilitating wider adoption.
The Genesis of Pekilo: A Legacy of Sustainable Protein
Enifer’s groundbreaking mycoprotein, Pekilo, draws its name from the fungal strain Paecilomyces. The lineage of this ingredient traces back to the 1970s and 1980s when Finland, through initiatives at the VTT Technical Research Centre, explored the use of over 300 fungal strains for mycoprotein production in animal feed applications. During this period, these microbes were cultivated using byproducts from the forest industry, demonstrating an early commitment to circular economy principles. Enifer, itself a spin-out of VTT, revitalized this promising technology in 2020. The company adapted the Paecilomyces strain to thrive on food and agricultural side-streams, thereby developing a food-grade mycoprotein suitable for a wide array of applications.
The production process employed by Enifer is a sophisticated continuous submerged fermentation method, akin to those used in the brewing of soy sauce. This method allows for efficient and scalable production. Following fermentation, the mycelium undergoes mechanical dewatering to remove excess water. It is then dried and milled into a fine, shelf-stable powder. This resulting ingredient is characterized by an optimal amino acid profile, a strong water-holding capacity, and a neutral taste and color. Furthermore, it is rich in both protein and dietary fiber, making it a highly versatile component for various food formulations. Currently, Enifer is strategically tailoring Pekilo for three primary market categories: pet food, aquaculture feed, and human food.
Ellilä articulated a vision for Pekilo as a foundational ingredient for the future: "We see Pekilo more broadly as a future standard ingredient, similar to what soy, wheat, or whey are today. Basically, ingredients that are used across multiple categories. While formulations are always optimized for the specific end use, the underlying value remains the same: high-quality protein and fiber, produced efficiently and sustainably." This broad applicability underscores the ingredient’s potential to disrupt multiple food sectors.
Specifically for pet nutrition, PekiloPet offers a compelling nutritional package. It contains over 60% protein and 22% fiber, alongside essential minerals and vitamins. A key advantage over traditional animal proteins is its low ash content, typically less than 8%. This attribute allows for higher inclusion rates in pet food formulations without compromising nutritional balance. Moreover, its low-fat and carbohydrate levels make it an ideal candidate for specialized products such as weight-loss diets and grain-free formulations, catering to specific pet health needs. The ingredient is delivered as a dry powder, simplifying storage and handling, and is designed for straightforward integration into both wet and dry pet food manufacturing lines.
Validation and Market Entry: The Rovio Partnership
The collaboration with Rovio Pet Foods, funded by Business Finland, is a critical step in bringing PekiloPet to the forefront of the pet nutrition market. This partnership is particularly relevant given the evolving landscape of pet ownership, where consumers increasingly prioritize premium products that offer tangible health and wellness benefits – a direct reflection of the pet humanization trend. This trend is creating significant opportunities for differentiated treat formats that are built around novel ingredients, capable of delivering superior palatability, consistent manufacturing performance, and clearly defined functional benefits.
Evidence supporting PekiloPet’s efficacy in pet nutrition has emerged from recent studies. A 60-day feeding trial involving 16 dogs demonstrated that PekiloPet exhibits high digestibility and palatability. Crucially, the trial reported no negative impact on stool quality. Furthermore, the study identified biomarker changes associated with enhanced immune activity and improved oxidative balance, underscoring PekiloPet’s potential as a functional ingredient that can contribute to a pet’s overall well-being.
Ellilä expressed optimism about the immediate future of the collaboration: "At this stage, the focus is on product development and validation, including functionality, production performance, and palatability. But we are expecting good results from this step and hope to see end products also on the market in the future." He reiterated the importance of these early-stage validations: "As with any new ingredient, these early pilots are key to ensuring that the final products meet both nutritional and quality expectations." Samples of the new dog treats developed in partnership with Rovio are slated to be showcased at Interzoo 2026, a leading international trade fair for the pet industry, to be held in Nuremberg from May 12th to 15th.
Enifer is actively pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to penetrate the pet food market. Ellilä confirmed that the company is engaged in ongoing discussions and collaborative efforts with several other partners across the pet food sector. "There is strong interest in new, sustainable protein ingredients that can complement existing formulations and support long-term supply resilience and innovation in the pet food space," he noted. Enifer’s strategic approach prioritizes partnerships that foster close collaboration on product development and application, recognizing that such teamwork is paramount for the successful market introduction of novel ingredients like Pekilo in this dynamic and emerging category.
Piritta Koistinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Rovio Pet Foods, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the critical role of ingredient performance in the functional treat category. "Functional treats are a growing area in pet nutrition, but to succeed in that category, the product still has to perform where it matters most – especially in palatability and consistency," Koistinen stated. "Pekilo stood out as an interesting ingredient because it offered both a novel profile and the reliable raw material performance needed for product development." This emphasis on both novelty and reliability is key to building consumer trust and ensuring product success.
Regulatory Approvals and Future Expansion
Enifer’s progress in the pet food sector is significantly bolstered by its established regulatory standing. The company has secured EU approval for Pekilo’s use in pet food, a crucial step that enables immediate commercialization in the European market. "In the EU, Pekilo is already approved for use in pet food, which enables us to move forward with commercial applications," confirmed Ellilä. He further clarified the distinction in regulatory pathways: "Regulatory frameworks differ between pet food and human food. Pet food allows us to commercialize the ingredient today. We continue to develop broader applications and as we move ahead on the regulatory pathway, too, in different markets with our food ingredient."
Beyond the EU, Enifer is actively pursuing regulatory approvals in other key markets. The company has self-affirmed Pekilo as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for human food applications in the United States and has submitted a notification to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in pursuit of a "no questions" letter. Additionally, formal applications for novel food approval have been filed in Singapore and the UK, demonstrating a global ambition for the ingredient’s market penetration.
On the production front, Enifer currently operates a pilot line capable of producing 5-10 kg of Pekilo daily. This is supplemented by periodic production campaigns with contract manufacturers, which can scale up to ten times that capacity. To meet anticipated demand and facilitate broader market access, Enifer is investing significantly in infrastructure. The company is constructing a €33 million commercial-scale facility in Kirkkonummi, Finland. This state-of-the-art plant is projected to have an annual output of 3,000 tonnes of mycoprotein, positioning Enifer as a major player in the alternative protein landscape.
To fuel its growth and expansion, Enifer has successfully raised substantial capital. To date, the company has secured approximately €49 million in a combination of equity and debt financing. It is currently in the process of closing a Series C funding round, expected to conclude by the end of the current year, which will provide the necessary resources for its ambitious growth plans.
A Shifting Landscape in Pet Food Innovation
The collaboration between Enifer and Rovio Pet Foods emerges within a dynamic and rapidly evolving global pet food market. This year has witnessed a surge in advancements within the low-carbon pet food sector. In a recent development, Bond Pet Foods secured an investment from Germany’s Symrise, aimed at developing precision-fermented proteins specifically for feline and canine consumption. Simultaneously, in Singapore, Friends & Family Pet Food launched a range of eight cultivated meat products targeting distinct pet functionalities, with an additional four products anticipated for release shortly. Furthermore, fellow mycoprotein producer MicroHarvest announced plans to co-launch 15 new pet food products with its partners by the end of June, indicating a broad industry trend towards novel protein sources.
Ellilä provided insightful commentary on the overarching market dynamics driving these innovations: "We’re seeing a broader shift in how people think about sustainability – and that increasingly extends to pets as well," he observed. "At the same time, the pet food industry is facing similar challenges as the wider food system: pressure on sustainability, resources, volatility in supply chains & prices and growing demand for high-quality protein." This confluence of factors is creating a fertile ground for new production methods, such as fermentation, which offer the potential to deliver high nutritional quality with a significantly reduced environmental impact. The partnership between Enifer and Rovio Pet Foods represents a tangible manifestation of this paradigm shift, offering consumers a glimpse into the future of sustainable and functional pet nutrition.
