Proteine Resources launches VELI wet pet food built around EntoPro gut health ingredient

Proteine Resources has launched VELI, a functional wet pet food range built around its EntoPro hybrid alternative protein ingredient, at Interzoo 2026 in Nuremberg.

• Proteine Resources launched VELI at Interzoo 2026, introducing functional wet pet foods based on its EntoPro hybrid protein ingredient.
• The company said EntoPro combined insect-derived protein with mushroom-derived bioactive compounds following eight years of R&D.
• Large-scale in vitro studies with the University of Agriculture in Krakow confirmed functional properties, while formal in vivo testing has now launched.

The Polish deep-tech company introduced the range during the May 12-15 trade show, positioning the products as a gut health-focused alternative in the wet pet food category.

VELI was developed using EntoPro, a hybrid ingredient platform combining insect-derived protein with bioactive compounds extracted from mushroom cultivation byproducts. Proteine Resources said the ingredient had undergone six and a half years of development, followed by 18 months focused specifically on VELI recipe design, flavor profiling and palatability optimization.

The company said internal field testing placed VELI in the same performance tier as premium fresh-cooked pet foods across multiple dog cohorts, addressing one of the biggest barriers facing alternative proteins in pet food: palatability.

Large-scale in vitro studies carried out by the University of Agriculture in Krakow (URK) also demonstrated what the company described as “exceptional functional properties” for the ingredient platform. Formal in vivo holistic testing with URK has now begun.

Proteine Resources launched VELI against the backdrop of rising digestive and skin health issues in companion animals across Europe and North America.

The company cited research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science showing that 20-30% of veterinary visits involved vomiting or diarrhea, while digestive sensitivity represented the largest therapeutic pet diet category in Europe by revenue, according to Mordor Intelligence.

In the US, Proteine Resources pointed to Veterinary Practice News reporting that digestive and skin conditions accounted for more than half of annual veterinary visits, affecting more than 60 million cats and dogs.

VELI’s formulation focused on what the company described as a dual-action gut health system.

The first mechanism centered on prebiotic support through chitin-derived fiber naturally present in EntoPro. Proteine Resources cited studies suggesting insect-based diets may help maintain healthy gut microbiome diversity and increase beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacterium.

The second mechanism involved added postbiotics designed to support gut barrier integrity and reduce local inflammation. Unlike live probiotics, the company noted that postbiotics remained stable through the retort sterilization process used in commercial wet pet food production.

Proteine Resources also linked the formulation to growing interest in the gut-brain axis in companion animals. The company referenced peer-reviewed research examining how gut dysbiosis and intestinal permeability may contribute to systemic inflammation, altered stress signaling and changes in neuroactive microbial metabolites.

According to the company, the downstream effects of disrupted gut health could include digestive symptoms, anxiety-like behaviors, impaired immune response and cognitive decline in older animals.

“We decided to show the market what a model formulation for alternative proteins might look like. Every VELI recipe went through a barrier function threshold before it was accepted into the range,” said Bartłomiej Roszkowski, Co-CEO & Co-founder of Proteine Resources.

“We were not asking whether the food was nutritionally complete - that is table stakes. We were asking whether the formulation actively supports the gut lining under conditions of existing dysbiosis. That framing changed the way we approached ingredient selection entirely.”

The company said the hybrid architecture behind EntoPro was designed to address four key purchasing criteria simultaneously: palatability, pricing competitiveness, functional health benefits and sustainability.

Proteine Resources argued that many alternative proteins currently available for pet food applications met only one or two of those requirements, limiting broader adoption among mainstream brands.

VELI was also introduced as part of a broader B2B commercialization strategy. Rather than requiring partners to develop functional alternative protein formulations independently, Proteine Resources said companies could access ready-to-use recipes based on EntoPro through low minimum order quantities and a three-month concept-to-shelf process.

The company said developing the underlying technology platform had taken eight years and involved €11.8 million (US$13.5 million) in available capital following investment rounds involving the EIC Accelerator and Radix Ventures in 2025.

Proteine Resources said it was seeking partnerships with direct-to-consumer brands, retail chains and private-label manufacturers interested in the functional wet pet food segment.

The company also confirmed that certification of EntoPro for the Canadian and US markets was planned for later in 2026.