April 27-29, 2026

All Speakers

Dog and cat food research experts who will present at Petfood Forum & Petfood Essentials

Mark Kleinschmit
COO and CFO
Other Half Processing
Mark Kleinschmit (and his brother, Jim) were raised on a farm in northeast Nebraska, where their parents adopted regenerative practices in the early 1990s. Mark went off to college pursuing physics, and even received a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and then worked in standard development, product development and marketing for Avery Dennison. But Jim was often whispering about Other Half Processing: finding value in byproducts from regenerative farms as a way to support the whole movement. Jim was right — and he and Mark founded Other Half Processing in 2019, with Mark serving as COO and CFO.
Date/TimeTitle
Tue Apr 28
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM
Alternative and sustainable pet foods: 3:10-4:15 p.m.
KCCC Room 2503
  • Advancing shelf-life and safety in cooked and raw high-moisture pet foods with clean-label innovation 

Jasmine Kataria, Ph.D., senior scientist, Kerry, explains how high-moisture pet foods, particularly raw and cooked formats, represent one of the fastest expanding categories in today’s pet food market, driven by consumer preference for fresh, minimally processed diets made with recognizable and transparent ingredients. However, these products present notable challenges due to their elevated water activity, highlighting the need for innovative preservation strategies that maintain safety and quality without compromising clean-label expectations. Kataria reports on a study evaluating ingredient systems combining vinegar-fermentate technology in both raw and cooked formats. 

  • Circular nutrition: Unlocking the value of upcycled ingredients in pet food

Ann Marie D. Ocker, Ph.D., technical marketing and innovation director, International Ingredient Corp., examines how upcycled ingredients from food and agricultural sectors are repurposed into functional pet food ingredients that reduce environmental impact while offering nutritional benefits. Feeding trials and compositional analyses demonstrate improvements in palatability, digestibility and overall diet performance from these co-products, which contribute high-quality proteins, essential fatty acids and bioavailable micronutrients. Ocker explores formulation strategies and ingredient functionality, providing practical insights into how upcycled materials support product development, environmental goals and help meet consumer demands for transparency.

· Case study: Utilizing alternative proteins from byproducts to support local food systems

Mark Kleinschmit, Ph.D., COO and CFO, Other Half Processing, presents a pioneering case study demonstrating how fashion brands have been able to support local food systems by sourcing hides from beef raised on regenerative farms. Other byproducts are also underutilized, disrupting the fundamental economics of regional slaughterhouses and leading to poor environmental outcomes. Kleinschmit provides practical insights into infrastructure, partnerships and aggregation models that make regional supply viable, plus a replicable framework for connecting regenerative agriculture with pet food manufacturing.