Technology Development Institute and GO Topeka partner to develop new hypoallergenic pet foods
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024
K-State's Technology Development Institute partnered with GO Topeka and Arch Pet Food through the Topeka Plug and Play program to develop a new hypoallergenic pet food formula. Pictured above, from left: Ryley Griffin, grain science and industry graduate student; Andrew Ribeiro, director of sales and business development, Arch Pet Food; and Stephanie Moran, senior vice president of innovation, GO Topeka. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's Technology Development Institute has partnered with GO Topeka and Arch Pet Food to develop a new low-ingredient hypoallergenic dog food formula.
Arch Pet Food, an early-stage company developing a range of new allergen-friendly pet foods and treats with alternative forms of protein, needed a supplier to set up a test run for a new formulation of kibble. The Technology Development Institute connected the pet food company with K-State's Bioprocessing and Industrial Value-Added Products Innovation Center, which operates a pilot extrusion line focused on producing test batches of pet foods.
Sajid Alavi, professor of grain science and industry, and Eric Maichel, operations manager at the innovation center, worked closely with the pet food company to review the formulation and ensure the team had everything required to produce the test batch. The team produced and packaged the product over a three-day period.
Arch Pet Food has a feeding trial lined up and plans to introduce the new formulation at the SuperZoo tradeshow in Las Vegas later this August.
This collaboration was supported by Plug and Play, a leading innovation platform that brings together cutting-edge startup companies and corporate partners to help launch new technologies and products. The Topeka Plug and Play program focuses on animal health companies, and through the K-State 105 initiative, K-State has engaged Plug and Play as a partner organization to provide technical support to these startup companies.
"K-State has been an extremely valuable addition to our Plug and Play program," said Stephanie Moran, senior vice president of innovation for GO Topeka. "Almost every participant in the most recent program has engaged K-State in some manner to discuss the possibility of conducting testing, pilot production and even collaboration on SBIR grant applications. We believe that as the relationship continues to grow, additional opportunities will continue to arise."
This project was completed in support of the K-State 105 initiative, Kansas State University's answer to the call for a comprehensive economic growth and advancement solution for Kansas.
The K-State Technology Development Institute in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center and received a grant from the Research and Entrepreneurship Federal Matching Grant Dollars Fund. The institute provides a broad range of engineering and business development services to both private industry and university researchers to advance the commercial readiness of new products or technologies.
