Methane reduction trial uses nature-based supplement

Woolworths Group, Sea Forest, DIT AgTech and Teys Australia have joined forces in a multi-year collaboration to trial Sea Forest’s SeaFeed supplement in Australian grass-fed cattle.

The shared ambition of the initiative is to significantly reduce methane emissions and increase productivity across the beef value chain.

Under a formal agreement, the partners will conduct a commercial-scale trial at a cattle farm in NSW, testing both water-delivered and dry-lick formulations of SeaFeed, with the water-delivered formulation administered via DIT AgTech’s uDOSE dosing technology.

The trial results will be independently verified against globally recognised standards, positioning the Australian beef value chain ahead of its global peers.

SeaFeed, derived from the seaweed Asparagopsis, has demonstrated well-established reductions in livestock methane emissions by up to 80% in multiple peer-reviewed studies, and is already in use by Teys Australia.

This new multi-year collaboration trial will also test whether the supplement can deliver productivity gains for grass-fed producers, such as improved weight gain and feed efficiency.

The companies are working together on this initiative to validate the concept and help drive industry-wide adoption, consistent with their focus on sustainable supply chains and emissions reduction.

Teys Australia, as the processing partner, will provide supply-chain expertise to support commercial uptake, while DIT AgTech and Sea Forest will manage dosing technology and supplement supply.

“Working closely with our partners, our customers trust us to bring the very best fresh Australian beef into our stores and onto their dinner plates every day,” said Justin Nolan, Director, Woolworths Meat.

“This is an exciting industry initiative, and we’re investing in real innovation to prove out a scalable, science-based and commercially viable solution that can help lower supply chain emissions while delivering productivity benefits for producers.”

Sea Forest Founder and CEO Sam Elsom said, “With SeaFeed, we’re replicating and harnessing the bioactives in Asparagopsis to deliver measurable methane reductions in real-world conditions.

“Partnering on this grass-fed trial helps validate animal performance outcomes delivered in addition to the established emissions reduction and supports the scalable adoption of a science-based solution for producers and retailers.”

Image credit: iStock.com/StephenBridger