From waste to dog bowl: A focus on sustainable dog food

A new collaboration between Milak Productions and a research group is exploring how local resources can be used to develop sustainable and nutritious dog food for sled dogs year-round.

 

By Rasmus Balle Hansen

 

The white sled dogs howl and jump excitedly as Paarma Lund Kreutzmann fills two large black buckets with food. The food consists of leftovers from lamb, seal, and fish that would otherwise have been discarded. But here, in sled dog town behind Sisimiut, home to approximately 1,300 sled dogs, it is a favorite meal.

 

“This is for sled dogs, not tiny Chihuahuas,” says Paarma Lund Kreutzmann with a smile as she feeds the dogs the brown food blocks.

 

The food is produced by Milak Productions, which Paarma and her partner, Ulloriaq Lund Kreutzmann, own together. They collaborate with a research group consisting of researchers from the University of Copenhagen, QimmeqHealth, the Technical University of Denmark, and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The group is led by Professor Charlotte Reinhard Bjørnvad and Associate Professor Caroline Marcussen, both affiliated with the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.

 

Together, they are working on a new project that combines local knowledge with scientific research. The project aims to map out which raw materials are available throughout the year and ensure that the dog food remains nutritious—regardless of the season.

 

“Everything in our dog food comes from Greenland. We get leftovers from Halibut, Polar Seafood, and local hunters,” says Paarma Lund Kreutzmann.

The otherwise solid blocks disappear quickly.
Photo by: Rasmus Balle Hansen

From leftovers to food blocks

Before the dog food ends up in feeding buckets, the leftovers must first be processed. Production takes place in South Greenland, where the ingredients are mixed and baked. Once the mixture is fully baked, it is cut into blocks and then transported to customers.

 

“It all started because we wanted to create something sustainable. Now, we dream of supplying all of Greenland,” says Paarma Lund Kreutzmann.

 

Sustainability is one of the main reasons why the collaboration with researchers is both relevant and beneficial for Milak Productions.

 

The food is mixed, baked, and packed in South Greenland.
Photo by: Rasmus Balle Hansen

Working together for sustainable solutions

For Paarma and Ulloriaq Lund Kreutzmann, collaborating with researchers is a great opportunity to further develop their product while contributing to a greater understanding of how Greenlandic resources can be utilized in the best possible way.

 

“We are naturally interested when researchers reach out to us. We can use their knowledge to make our product even better,” says Paarma Lund Kreutzmann.

 

One of the biggest challenges in production is the availability of raw materials, which depends on the season. Climate change has made it increasingly difficult to ensure a stable supply of the same ingredients year-round. As a result, the composition of the dog food may vary from season to season, which can impact its nutritional value.

 

By mapping available raw materials, the project aims to maximize the use of Greenland’s resources—without compromising nutritional value or the well-being of the dogs.

 

Fewer dogs in dog town 

The new research project will be conducted in close collaboration with QimmeqHealth, which is part of a larger research project called QIMMEQ. The QIMMEQ project was founded by Greenlandic and Danish researchers in 2016 in response to the drastic decline in the sled dog population in Greenland.

In the 1990s, there were around 30,000 sled dogs. Today, 30 years later, the population has dropped to approximately 13,000. According to sled dog owners, increasing challenges in obtaining dog food—and thus rising costs—have contributed to the decline.

The QIMMEQ project encompasses multiple research areas, including mapping the genetic origins of sled dogs, studying their health and diseases, and working to ensure a sustainable future for the sled dog culture.

Paarma Lund Kreutzmann and her partner Ulloriaq Kreutzmann together own Milak Productions.
Photo by: Rasmus Balle Hansen

A life with sled dogs

A calm settles over the dogs. Their chains lie slack on the ice as they each chew on their food while their neighbors watch enviously.

Sled dogs play a big role in Paarma and Ulloriaq’s lives. While Ulloriaq grew up with them, it has been a journey for Paarma, who is from Narsaq and was initially afraid of the dogs.

 

“I was terrified of them at first,” she recalls with a laugh. “But after a month, Ulloriaq went on a work trip and left the dog care to me. So I had no choice but to take care of them.”

 

Today, the couple hopes their children will continue the tradition.

 

“Our 18-year-old son takes his 14-year-old sister sledding, and our four-year-old already has big ambitions to have his own dogs,” says Paarma with a smile.

 

One paw at a time

The new research project is still in its very early stages. However, both the researchers and Paarma Lund Kreutzmann hope that the project’s results will lay the foundation for new methods to merge tradition, sustainability, and local resources.

Learn more about research and tradition here.

Emma built a traditional dog sled in Sisimiut

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