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Crop to canine: Sustainable pet food starts in the soil

Submitted by ldozier on Tue, 02/20/2018 - 00:00

Companion animals have now become an extension of the family. It should come as no surprise, then, that many pet parents would say their pet’s nutrition is just as important as their own. They pay as much attention to the ingredients in their pet food as they do to the food they put on the dinner table. 

Superfoods make it into the doggie dish

Consumers are gravitating to “superfoods” that tout beneficial effects on the human body, and they want the same for their dogs and cats. Functional foods now starring in the ingredient lists of pet food include: 

  • Blueberries: Identified as a source of antioxidants, they can be found in dry dog food. 
  • Carrots: Known for having beta-carotene, they can be found as a principle vegetable ingredient in pet food and can be given as a treat to dogs in their raw or cooked form. 
  • Pumpkins: In the fall, when we are all inundated with pumpkin and pumpkin spice products, even pet food is not immune. Pumpkin is a good source of soluble fiber with beneficial digestive properties.

Sustainability: Supporting a positive cycle of “good” for pets and the planet

Sustainability is a concept that has become increasingly important to consumers when thinking about their own food. They want to know not only how nutritious their food is, but also what practices were used to grow the vegetables and feed the animals that are nourishing their bodies. 

This concern extends to pet food ingredients and how the grains, vegetables and fruits (and superfoods) were grown.

From this standpoint, the management practices used on the farm are very important to the concept of sustainability.

When a plant is stressed, whether from environmental factors, disease pressure or micronutrient deficiency, it lacks the necessary ingredients to attain its peak performance. This can result in subpar yield, size, flavor and texture. Growers will invariably use synthetic products to try and combat these deficiencies. 

However, a more sustainable approach will incorporate the use of products that are naturally based, with substances such as amino acids that enable micronutrients to be more readily available to plants, increasing their ability to fight stressors. The plant becomes stronger, and, by using these natural products, growers also limit residues that could be left on the fruits and vegetables that go into the pet food. 

The process is cyclical. By using sustainable practices that protect the soil, such as cover crops, crop rotation and precision agriculture, growers create a more active soil microbiome filled with beneficial microorganisms that help provide micronutrients to the plants. These micronutrients, in conjunction with natural plant biostimulant products, improve a plant’s resistance to stressors and help the plant protect itself. This in turn decreases the need for pesticides and other synthetic products that leave residues in the ground, on the field and in the food.

Plants raised on healthy soils with the micronutrients needed for plant health, supplemented with naturally based fertilizer as needed, have increased nutritional value. Meanwhile, these farming practices also improve the environmental footprint of the crop itself so you can be confident that your pets’ food is not only good for them, but for the planet, too. 

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As consumers gravitate toward functional "superfoods" and food cultivated using sustainable practices, they often apply the same scrutiny to their pets' food.
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As consumers gravitate toward functional "superfoods" and foods cultivated using sustainable practices, they often apply the same scrutiny to their pets' food.  Crop management that uses natural ingredients helps improve environmental impact and promotes the plant's nutritional value.
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As consumers gravitate toward functional "superfoods" and foods cultivated using sustainable practices, they often apply the same scrutiny to their pets' food. Crop management that uses natural ingredients helps improve environmental impact and promotes the plant's nutritional value.
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As consumers gravitate toward functional "superfoods" and foods cultivated using sustainable practices, they often apply the same scrutiny to their pets' food. Crop management that uses natural ingredients helps improve environmental impact and promotes the plant's nutritional value.

GALVANIZE® SOIL

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:52

GALVANIZE® SOIL is a microbial inoculant consisting of beneficial live cultures and metabolites specially selected for their contribution to plant vitality under stressful conditions.
• Activates and optimizes populations of beneficial soil microorganisms
• Supports a healthy rhizosphere and facilitates increased availability and uptake of nutrients
• Symbiotic microbe/plant interactions to reduce impact of environmental and disease stresses

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GALVANIZE® Cu

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:52

Copper is essential for a number of plant physiological processes, including photosynthesis and respiration. GALVANIZE® Cu delivers this essential element complexed with amino acids, resulting in a highly bioavailable form of copper for rapid uptake and utilization.
• Helps fortify plant in the face of environmental stresses.
• Properties of copper make it a common component in many integrated pest management programs.

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GALVANIZE® CONTACT

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:35

GALVANIZE® CONTACT is a blend of naturally derived polyketides and foliar-applied nutrients essential for plant fortification, formulated for immediate effect and rapid response in the face of external crop stresses. Well-nourished plants have more effective defense systems.
• Natural surfactant for improved coverage and uptake
• Complements pest management programs while avoiding pesticide residues

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AGRO-MOS®

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:35

Based on Alltech’s nutrigenomics research on Saccharomyces cerevisiae SP.1026, AGRO-MOS® is designed to fortify the plant. Well-nourished plants have more effective defense systems that can readily respond to shifting disease pressures and environmental stresses.
• Aids in reducing disease susceptibility through proper nutrition
• Complements pest management programs while avoiding pesticide residues

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LIQUI-PLEX® ZnMnB

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:35

LIQUI-PLEX® ZnMnB is an amino acid complexing technology intended to quickly correct zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and boron (B) deficiencies that can occur from depleted soils.
• Bioavailable zinc is essential for promoting certain metabolic enzyme systems, particularly during early growth stages. It is also vital for root development as well as fruit and seed set.
• Bioavailable manganese can increase yields, particularly in manganese-hungry crops such as soybeans and wheat. Manganese deficiency is often seen with herbicide-induced stress.
• Bioavailable boron is critical for cell wall formation, reproductive formation and seed set.

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LIQUI-PLEX® Zn

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:35

LIQUI-PLEX® ZN is an amino acid complexing technology intended to quickly correct zinc (Zn) deficiencies that can occur from depleted soils. 
• Bioavailable zinc is essential for promoting certain metabolic enzyme systems, particularly during early growth stages. It is also vital for root development as well as fruit and seed set.

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LIQUI-PLEX® Mn

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:35

LIQUI-PLEX® Mn features amino acid complexing technology intended to quickly correct manganese (Mn) deficiencies that can occur from depleted soils. 
• Bioavailable manganese can increase yields, particularly in manganese-hungry crops such as soybeans and wheat. 
• Manganese deficiency is often seen with herbicide-induced stress.

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LIQUI-PLEX® Cu

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:34

LIQUI-PLEX® Cu features amino acid complexing technology intended to quickly correct copper (Cu) deficiencies that can occur from depleted soils.
• Bioavailable copper is essential to many plant enzymes and can improve fruit flavor, sugar content and shelf life.

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LIQUI-PLEX® BONDER WP

Submitted by dbutler on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 11:33

LIQUI-PLEX® BONDER WP as an amino acid complexing technology in an easy-to-use wettable powder form. Complexing with amino acids improves bioavailability of fertilizers and minerals in tank mixes and provides a source of nitrogen and carbon.
• Provides a diverse array of essential amino acids, the “building blocks” of proteins for plant metabolism.

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