Verifying the safety and efficacy of companion animal diets, and laying groundwork for Korean pet food to compete globally
LIMPID Corp., the Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation and Kyungpook National University Technology Holdings signed a memorandum of understanding on December 24, 2024 at the KNU Global Plaza to establish Korea's first clinical trial institute dedicated to pet food. Centered on a body provisionally named the LV Veterinary Clinical Center, the agreement covers safety testing of companion animal diets, efficacy evaluation of functional diets and feeding trial tests, with the aim of setting a clearer quality benchmark for the pet food market in Korea and abroad.
Under the agreement, the three parties will establish the LV Veterinary Clinical Center as a joint venture. The center will focus on verifying the safety and functionality of companion animal diets on a scientific basis. Through safety testing, efficacy evaluation of functional diets and feeding trial tests, it will provide a framework that meets the reliability standards the market expects. Feeding trial tests are required in the United States, Europe and other advanced markets, and this will be the first institution in Korea to conduct them as a specialty.
The main terms of the agreement cover the establishment and growth of a subsidiary specializing in companion animal clinical trials and in verifying the safety and efficacy of animal feed; the advancement of animal health and welfare through veterinary nutrition research and academic exchange; and support for technology development and scientific data collection to develop the companion animal feed industry.
Heesu Kim, CEO of LIMPID, said, "The companion animal industry is growing fast as consumer attention turns to health and nutrition. Through this joint venture we will build an environment for developing diets that are scientifically grounded and trustworthy, and give Korean pet food manufacturers a footing to compete in global markets." He added, "Working from the precision nutrition formulation system LIMPID has built, we intend to raise the level of the Korean pet food industry."
Seongkeun Jeong, CEO of Kyungpook National University Technology Holdings, said, "This agreement will be an important step forward for the pet food industry and a new model for industry-academia cooperation. In particular, we expect the LV Veterinary Clinical Center to play a central role in verifying the safety and efficacy of companion animal diets in a systematic way and raising confidence in the Korean pet food industry."
The LV Veterinary Clinical Center, to be established under this agreement, will be Korea's first clinical trial institute dedicated to pet food. It is expected to play a central role in verifying the safety and efficacy of companion animal diets and in raising confidence in the industry. It will help meet demand for safe, verified premium diets in Korea's fast-growing companion animal market, and give Korean pet food makers a basis for producing products that meet global standards.