The Interview: Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi, Coordinator of the Pet Food Committee of CBNA

How has your path as a professor and researcher in animal nutrition developed, and which areas have you primarily focused on over the years?

I am a veterinarian, graduated from FMVZ/USP in 1991, where I completed both my master's degree in nutrition and my PhD in nutritional diseases. In 1998, I began teaching at the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV) at UNESP, Jaboticabal campus, at the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Within the veterinary hospital, we established a clinical nutrition service for dogs and cats that focuses on treating patients requiring nutritional support for specific diseases. At the same time, veterinarians are trained to work in this field. It was a challenging yet rewarding initiative.

In 2002, in collaboration with the former company Guabi, now MBRF Pet Food, we built the 'Prof. Dr. Flávio Prada' research laboratory dedicated to nutrition and nutritional diseases in dogs and cats. This was something new, particularly within the Brazilian model of collaboration between industry and public universities. Over time, a network of trust was established among all stakeholders, demonstrating that it is possible to conduct internationally relevant, neutral research with material support from the private sector. Today, we have a group of dogs and cats, and we've conducted research on nutrition and health that has led to practical changes in the work of professionals in clinical nutrition care and food production companies—which makes it highly rewarding. In parallel, we developed a food extrusion laboratory, equipped with a complete extrusion system for dogs, cats, and aquatic organisms, supported by Manzoni Industrial. These three pillars—the clinical nutrition service, the research laboratory, and the extrusion facility—complement and strengthen each other in generating knowledge and training specialized professionals. However, they would not function without public funding and contributions from companies in the nutrition sector, which support all projects. With strong participation from students and collaborators, we have also created two biennial events at FCAV/UNESP, running for over 20 years, which have contributed to disseminating knowledge across Brazil and Latin America: one focused on clinical nutrition and the oter in industrialized food production.

Our work at the university has always been to educate and support undergraduate and graduate students, bringing together scientists and technical professionals capable of contributing to the growth of the pet food sector in Brazil. Today, former students from our program are present in companies, universities, clinics, and laboratories both nationally and internationally, which is deeply gratifying.

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Based on your experience, how has dog and cat nutrition evolved in recent years from a scientific perspective?

Globally, evolution has been very positive. However, it is important to recognize that significant gaps remain in fundamental data, including requirements for amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, particularly for dogs and cats in maintenance stages. Brazil has followed this trend and, in some areas, has even led this growth. At international conferences, the country stands out for both the number and quality of researchers and scientific contributions. For example, at last year's European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition congress (Leipzig, Germany), Brazil had the highest number of participants and scientific contributions in pet food. Of the four awards presented at the event, two were granted to Brazilian researchers, highlighting the country's research capacity. However, some aspects of the sector's growth are concerning—particularly the excessive humanization of dogs and cats. This trend has unnecessarily complicated feeding strategies, increasing costs and the environmental impact of pet food. This issue, more related to commercial evolution than scientific progress, deserves broader discussion to achieve a better balance.

You are currently a member of the CBNA committee and its coordination. What is your role within the institution, and what objectives are pursued?

The CBNA (Brazilian College of Animal Nutrition), as an institution dedicated to nutrition, is currently chaired by veterinarian Godofredo Mitenberg. Our role is to coordinate the Pet Committee, which is responsible for organizing the CBNA PET Congress. I consider this congress to be one of the most important technical events globally in nutrition and pet food production. Its applied, technical, and integrated approach covering both individual nutrition—addressed in the workshop of nutrology held the day before, coordinated by SBNutriPet (a committee integrated to CBNA)—and production, industrial, and safety aspects, gives the event a unique profile not commonly seen in other international congresses. As part of a dedicated and highly qualified team, all decisions and programming are developed collectively with the Technical Committee, aligning with the sector's needs. This has positioned the event as a key platform for disseminating innovations, concerns, and trends that have supported the growth of the Brazilian pet food industry.

The CBNA PET Congress is highly relevant from a scientific perspective. How is the agenda defined, and what criteria are prioritized?

The program is structured around four main areas: nutrition, processing, safety, and market. Although nutrition receives greater emphasis due to CBNA's core expertise, professionals from different sectors find valuable content related to professional development, technical solutions, and continuous learning. The scientific committee, comprising both industry professionals and academic members, defines the program, ensuring a balance between practical needs and scientific rigor. The committee actively gathers feedback from participants, including suggestions for future topics to align with real industry demands.

Currently, in the field of dog and cat nutrition, which research areas do you consider most relevant and with the greatest application potential for the industry?

There are traditional areas that will always require further research, such as a deeper understanding of nutritional requirements and ingredient utilization, as well as their metabolic implications. The effects of raw material processing have also been a long-standing focus, particularly regarding extrusion and its impact on nutritional value and the metabolism of starch and proteins.

In a global context marked by the growth in human and animal population, research on by-products and sustainable sources of protein and energy with lower environmental, social, and economic impact has become critical. Food safety and nutritional stability during shelf life are also key research areas related to quality and nutritional safety, especially considering the prolonged consumption of pet food products. While there has been strong scientific output in nutraceuticals and functional ingredients, more fundamental research areas still require greater attention from the scientific community.

In a rapidly evolving pet food industry, what are the main trends and challenges you foresee in the short and medium term?

It is necessary to further mature the relationship between commercial strategies and the scientific foundations of nutrition. Driven by the global humanization trend, companies are innovating across nutrition, processing, and product presentation—often following patterns observed in the human food market. However, it is important to recognize dogs and cats as species with specific nutritional requirements that differ from those of humans and must be respected. Academia, regulatory bodies, and society all play a role in this process. Addressing this challenge in the mid- to long-term is crucial to reach dynamism, financial growth, as well as nutritional quality, animal health, and environmental and social sustainability.

By Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi
Source: All Pet Food Magazine