Sea weed that can reduce livestock methane emissions

By Tom Barton

Summary

Estimates vary due to the challenges in measuring methane emissions, but livestock is believed to account for 11%-17% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Tasmanian startup, Sea Forest, grows and cultivates asparagopsis, a type of native seaweed. From the seaweed, they make a livestock feed supplement: SeaFeed™.

Studies have shown that SeaFeed™ can reduce livestock methane emissions by up to 90%, offering a significant opportunity to lower global livestock-related emissions.

They have also partnered with farmers and producers to bring "low emissions" livestock products to market, allowing consumers to make more climate-conscious choices and driving demand for sustainable farming practices.

Methane is a short-lived but extremely potent greenhouse gas. Its warming potential is nearly 90 times greater than carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Despite growing policy attention and research into its harms, methane emissions have increased by over 20% in the last two decades. Current atmospheric methane levels are more than 2.6 times higher than those of pre-industrial times—and they continue to rise at an alarming rate!

In 2020, human activities were responsible for approximately 65% of global methane emissions. By far the biggest contributors are coal mining, oil and gas production, livestock (mostly cattle and sheep), and decomposing waste in landfills.

Estimates vary due to the challenges associated with measuring methane emissions, but livestock production is believed to account for 11%-17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Over 90% of the methane produced by livestock comes from their digestion process, mainly through burps—not farts, as many people think! Other significant sources include manure management, feed production and land-use changes. For example, between 2001 and 2015, 45 million hectares of forest were converted into pastureland and croplands for feed, further increasing CO2 emissions. If current trends continue, emissions from the food system alone could push global temperatures beyond the 1.5°C warming threshold.

Sea Forest is a Tasmania-based startup dedicated to combating climate change by reducing methane emissions from livestock. Their model focuses on three key areas: growing and cultivating Asparagopsis, producing their SeaFeed™ supplement, and licensing their technology to expand its global reach and impact.

Asparagopsis contains bioactive compounds that block the enzymes responsible for producing methane in livestock during the final stage of digestion. Research published in the Journal of Cleaner Production (2020) has demonstrated that SeaFeed™ can reduce methane emissions from livestock by as much as 90%, offering a substantial solution to reducing global livestock-related emissions. Additionally, Asparagopsis farming has environmental benefits beyond methane reduction. As the seaweed absorbs CO2 through photosynthesis, it contributes to cleaning and de-acidifying the ocean.

To produce their SeaFeed™ supplement, Sea Forest uses conventional marine farming methods in conjunction with land-based facilities and a seaweed hatchery. They have also successfully replicated Asparagopsis' essential bioactive compounds using a combination of natural and synthetic techniques.

In 2023, Sea Forest began scaling its production to achieve 1 million doses of SeaFeed™ per year, with plans to more than double production by 2024.

They have also partnered with local and global companies to demonstrate the effectiveness of their product:

They have launched the world’s first low-emissions burger in partnership with Australian-owned Grill’d restaurants, achieving a 35% customer uptake despite a $1 premium.
They have collaborated with Australian fashion house M.J. Bale to produce merino wool suits from sheep fed with SeaFeed™.
They have worked with premium beef producer Rangers Valley and New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra to showcase SeaFeed’s methane-reducing benefits without compromising meat or milk quality.

While SeaFeed™ offers a promising short-term solution for reducing methane emissions, its economic viability for farmers is essential to ensure widespread adoption.

Labeling products from livestock fed with SeaFeed™ as “low emissions” empowers consumers to make climate-conscious choices, encouraging demand for sustainable farming practices.

Importantly, large-scale industrial farming is not a sustainable long-term solution, regardless of livestock methane reduction. The ultimate goal should be the implementation of regenerative livestock farming systems around the world, which restore ecosystems and reduce emissions in the long run. In the meantime, SeaFeed™ serves as a crucial step in mitigating emissions and advancing toward a more sustainable future.