[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in CH4 Global.]
CH4 Global, a startup dedicated to cutting methane emissions from ruminant livestock using Asparagopsis red seaweed-based feed supplements, has struck a strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation to accelerate the adoption of the tech in key Asia-Pacific markets.
The partnership will focus on expanding commercial sales of CH4 Global’s Methane Tamer supplement in Australia including developing new product forms, and will also explore the market opportunity and regulatory pathway in Japan, which is home to 4 million cattle.
Separately, the partners will evaluate potential sites to scale production of Asparagopsis in Southeast Asia, leveraging Mitsubishi’s regional expertise in aquaculture and agriculture.
“This partnership marks another significant milestone in our mission to achieve gigaton-scale emissions reductions by 2035,” said CH4 Global cofounder and CEO Dr. Steve Meller, who has recently secured an undisclosed amount of funding from Chipotle’s Cultivate Next venture fund to help scale CH4 Global’s operations.
“Mitsubishi’s deep experience in agricultural products and services and strong presence across Asian markets makes them an ideal partner as we work to expand the reach of our innovative methane reduction solution.”
Mitsubishi Corp owns Riverina, a leading supplier of animal feed in Australia; and Nosan, a key player in animal feed in Japan.
Scaling Asparagopsis production
Headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, with operations in Australia and New Zealand, CH4 Global grows Asparagopsis in patented vessels on land and deploys a patented processing method it claims reduces the loss of volatile bioactives, provides stability and reduces cost, waste and energy use.
The startup, which has just started production at its new large-scale new facility (‘the EcoPark’) in South Australia, recently signed an offtake agreement with protein producer CirPro and a multi-year agreement with agricultural products giant UPL to target markets in India, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
It is also exploring the market opportunity in South Korea with Lotte International and supplying its supplements to Wagyu beef cattle at an Australian subsidiary of Lotte.
According to Meller: “The tired old narrative of ‘You can’t grow enough seaweed’ [for livestock methane reduction at scale] needs to go away as far as I’m concerned. It’s what we do. Others have this challenge and I don’t mean to diminish the challenge. It’s a very high hurdle and why we are thrilled to be leading the way.”
Tests with CirPro and others suggest CH4 Global’s Methane Tamer supplements significantly reduce enteric methane emissions, but also improve productivity, claims the company.
Over 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30%. This followed a report issued by the IPCC in May 2021 describing methane as “the single biggest lever for climate change impact in the next 25 years.”
Further reading:
Methane-busting feed supplements are beginning to scale. But who will foot the bill, and what will drive widespread adoption?
Feeding cattle whole seaweed is more effective than bromoform alone for methane reduction, says study
Rumin8 CEO on livestock methane reduction: ‘It must be profitable for farmers; without them, none of this happens’
Sea Forest strikes deal to bring livestock methane-busting seaweed supplements to East Africa
Number 8 Bio CEO: Synthetic chemistry, not seaweed or biomanufacturing, is key to cost-effective livestock methane reduction
ArkeaBio: Vaccination is ‘the lowest cost and easiest to scale’ livestock methane reduction solution
Source link
Author Elaine Watson
