David Meeker, Ph.D., senior vice president, scientific services, North American Rendering Association, explains the latest research and information on rendered ingredients for pet food, including impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The rendering industry collects and safely processes approximately 60 billion pounds of animal by-products each year in the U.S. Rendering plants process the by-products from food animal production into high-quality ingredients well-suited for dog and cat diets. While rendered pet food ingredients enjoy a dominant position as protein and energy ingredients for pets, this advantage is not guaranteed into the future. The rendering industry has embarked on research programs and partnerships with pet food interests to make rendered ingredients to better fit the needs of pet food customers.