Use of Georgian non-genetically modified plant ingredients for the production of the dog food brand "Bombora"

In response to growing demand, Mars Inc. became the first company to launch a plant-based dog food line, KARMA, in June 2021. KARMA recipes incorporate ingredients such as flaxseeds, desiccated coconut, chia seeds, dried pumpkin, cabbage, and others-alongside chicken or white fish-complemented by traditional grains like corn, wheat, and oats. Georgia is no exception to this global trend. As the country aligns itself with European principles of food safety and public health-particularly in light of its new status as a candidate for European Union membership-regulations regarding both human food and animal feed are becoming increasingly stringent. It is also noteworthy that Georgia’s dog food market is dominated by foreign-made products, with domestically produced food representing only a small fraction. This presents a missed economic opportunity for the country. Consequently, the development and production of high-quality dog food using local ingredients have become an important goal. After an in-depth analysis, a new dog food brand-“Bombora”-was created using non-GMO, high-quality grains produced in Georgia. Simultaneously, plant-based alternatives to synthetic antibiotics and growth stimulants were explored. Based on both local phytogenetic resources and global research, edible pumpkin, sugar beet, and astilbe were selected as herbal feed additives. The quality and safety of the new product are confirmed by the fact that, in 2022, LANCER LLC launched commercial production of “Bombora” and received ISO 22000 certification.