July 4, 2022

 

CH4 announces sale of asparagopsis seaweed which can reduce cattle methane emissions

 

CH4 Australia has announced the first worldwide sale of the asparagopsis seaweed which can reduce cattle methane emissions to CirPro, a South Australian meat processor, the Australian Broadcasting Cooperation reported.

 

The native Australian seaweed has been claimed to cut methane emissions by 90% to 95% when fed to cows and sheep, the result of years of frantic research and a quick commercial licencing process.

 

Reg Smythe, chief of CirPro, said its Port Pirie facility, designated to receive the asparagopsis, will be fully operational by next year.

 

In line with CH4's capacity to produce the supplement, he said, they are starting at relatively small numbers and growing.

 

According to the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), ruminants like cows, sheep, and goats produce methane through digestion, which accounts for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

 

The CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia, and James Cook University spent four years in research and development before making the sale.

 

In 2020, the asparagopsis feed additive was patented, and production scaled up quickly.

 

Adam Main, general manager of CH4 Australia, said the company will initially focus on large-scale feedlots and meat processors before extending its service to other types of farms.

 

He said in Australia, they are focusing on the feedlot industry, but our operation in New Zealand is definitely looking at the dairy market.

 

The government-owned CSIRO subsidiary FutureFeed, which also receives funding from private investors Woolworths Group, GrainCorp, Harvest Road, and Sparklabs Cultiv8, holds the global patent rights to sell asparagopsis as a feed additive.

 

The seaweed, which is native to Australia and New Zealand, has been given permission to be grown and sold abroad.

 

The global asparagopsis market could be worth billions of dollars annually if its potential for reducing emissions is realised.

 

The first-mover advantage belongs to Australian producers, but international licensees, such as CH4, are working to produce it abroad.

 

-      Australian Broadcasting Coorperation