# Sustainably Enhanced Dog Meals Butternut Box's Ready Steady Veggie is Enhanced with MiAlgae By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-03-27 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mialgae References: [petfoodprocessing.net](https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/20298-butternut-box-mialgae-team-up-on-dog-food-with-fish-free-omega-3) & [butternutbox](https://butternutbox.com/)  Omega-3 plays a vital role in supporting a dog's coat, skin, joint health, and overall well-being, and while fish has long been the default source, [plant-based alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marsapet-introduced) like MiAlgae exist and offer an equally effective way to deliver those benefits without relying on marine ingredients. Fresh dog food company [Butternut Box](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meatless-dog-meal) is now enhancing its Ready Steady Veggie dog food with MiAlgae, which is produced by using by-products from the whisky industry to grow microalgae naturally rich in Omega-3. According to MiAlgae, one tonne of the plant-based ingredient contains the equivalent of Omega-3s as 30 tonnes of wild-caught fish. The vegetarian-friendly Ready Steady Veggie formula already boasts a reduced environmental footprint, and with the addition of a [fish-free source of Omega-3s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-omega3) from MiAlgae, it also helps to protect ocean life. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 41% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 70% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Pets](https://www.trendhunter.com/pets) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Plant-based Omega-3 Adoption:** Growing consumer demand for non-marine omega-3s creates alternative supply chains that can displace fish-derived nutrients in both pet and human nutrition markets. - **Circular Byproduct Upcycling:** By converting whisky industry residues into high-value microalgae, manufacturers can redefine raw-material sourcing and reduce waste across food and ingredient production. - **Ocean-friendly Pet Nutrition:** Rising preference for products that protect marine biodiversity is reshaping formulation priorities and enabling new brands to differentiate through traceable, fish-free ingredients. ### Where This Applies - **Pet Food Manufacturing:** Innovation in plant-based nutrient inclusion and transparent sustainability claims could transform product portfolios and margin structures for mainstream pet food brands. - **Ingredient Supply and Biotech:** Developers of microalgae and fermentation-derived nutrients stand to disrupt traditional fisheries supply by offering scalable, traceable alternatives with lower ecological impact. - **Sustainable Packaging and Supply Chain:** Demand for lower-carbon, circular sourcing increases opportunities for logistics and packaging firms to integrate cradle-to-cradle solutions that complement greener ingredient stories. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [High-Altitude Dog Food Unboxings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/worlds-most-extreme-unboxing.md) - [Clean-Label Dog Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/freshpet-clean-label-project.md) - [Functionally Focused Dog Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inflatable-dogs.md) - [Human-Grade Dog Food Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farmers-dog.md) - [Plant-Based Dog Diets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/university-of-nottingham.md) - [Charitable Pet Food Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sainsburys-and-battersea-dogs-and-cats-home.md) - [Science-Backed Dog Food Recipes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/targeted-nutrition.md) - [Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/get-joy.md) - [Fresh Food-Inspired Pet Kibbles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spot-tango-unkibble.md)