{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Protein Production Technology Podcast","title":"Dr Shannon Falconer, BioCraft Pet Nutrition | Can Cell-Cultured Meat Win Over Cats?","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/e678d7e1\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1806,"description":"Can cell-cultured meat deliver the taste and appeal that cats expect from their favourite treats? BioCraft Pet Nutrition has put its cultured mouse ingredient to the test against an established cat treat brand, with results that offer an important milestone for the company.\nIn this episode of the Protein Production Technology International Podcast, Nick Bradley speaks with Dr Shannon Falconer, Founder and CEO of BioCraft Pet Nutrition, about the development of its cell-cultured cat treat and the scientific work behind its recent palatability trial. In an independent in-home study involving 40 cats, BioCraft’s treat achieved comparable acceptance to an Applaws chicken-flavoured lickable treat, with no statistically significant preference between the two products.\nShannon explains why the first palatability trials fell short, how the team refined the product, and why smell, texture, initial taste and aftertaste all matter when developing food for cats. She also discusses BioCraft’s shift from harvesting only biomass to collecting the biomass alongside nutrients and other small molecules produced by the cells, and how processing and shelf-life requirements affect the final product.\nThe conversation explores how BioCraft uses AI to accelerate formulation development by combining ingredient data, metabolomics analysis and observations of cat behaviour. Shannon also explains why the company developed a finished lickable treat rather than simply supplying its cultured ingredient, helping potential pet food partners move more directly towards commercialisation.\nFinally, Shannon discusses the importance of ethical, in-home palatability testing, the commercial opportunities for cell-cultured ingredients in pet food, and why BioCraft believes its cat treat is ready for market.\nThe Future of Protein Production is connecting companies working to make the global protein system more sustainable, kind and fair for the planet, people, and animals.\nTo find out more about our...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/tUifNxYi7y1wl92YvdM05mMBe8G47RO6Jcub5_A_xxY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM5MjkxLzE2OTk5/NTU4MzQtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}