Cattle consume feed supplemented with CH4 Global’s Methane Tamer, Beef Feedlot version. (Image source: CH4 Global)

CH4 Global's methane-reducing feed additive, Methane Tamer has been fed to first group of cattle, the company along with CirPro Australia announced today

At a feedlot in South Australia, 70 cattle were fed Methane Tamer for 100 days, whereby an estimated 105 metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions were avoided. This is equal to the amount of carbon sequestered by more than 1,700 tree saplings for 10 years.     

Moreover, the cattle that were fed Methane Tamer showed same levels of weight gain as the control group, although they consumed less feed per day. This indicated a significant improvement in feed conversion efficiency. 

Methane Tamer works by harnessing the power of Asparagopsis seaweed that feed studies have shown up to 90% reduction in enteric methane emissions. CH4 Global has fine-tuned Methane Tamer Beef Feedlot so that farmers and feedlots can seamlessly integrate it into their operations, and guarantee a minimum of 70% methane reductions.

"Together with our partners, we are significantly increasing the number of cattle consuming Methane Tamer while also establishing the ability to export this reduced-methane beef to meet growing global demand," said CH4 Global CEO, Steve Meller.

Nemasphere is currently pending regulatory approval and is anticipated to be available in 2028. (Image source: BASF)

BASF Agricultural Solutions introduces Nemasphere, a groundbreaking innovation in soybean cyst nematode (SCN) management 

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the number one yield-robbing pest in soybeans in the US, costing growers an estimated US$1.5bn in yield annually. Moreover, the effectiveness of native SCN traits is declining significantly. 

After decades of longing for a solution to protect their fields from SCN, farmers have finally received Nemasphere, a tool to go on offense against this invisible threat. 

Nemasphere, which will be stacked with the Enlist E3 technology, will produce a novel Cry14 protein that is ingested by nematodes. This protein will interfere with nutrient uptake in their intestines, thus leading to the nematodes’ death. 

Nemasphere will be available in a full range of the top-performing and best-yielding soybean seed varieties, allowing farmers unmatched SCN resistance without compromising yield potential. Research trials have shown that Nemasphere on average, boosts yield potential by 8%. 

With increasing SCN resistance to native traits, the yield gap tends to widen every year. In such cases, the boost Nemasphere delivers in bushels will be critical to help growers hit their full harvest potential and make it possible to achieve full genetic yield potential. 

Nemasphere is currently pending regulatory approval and is anticipated to be available in 2028. 

For more information, visit: www.agriculture.basf.com 

Results from the company's R&D have garnered substantial attention from investors for the advancement of the inaugural methane-reducing vaccine. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Last month, leading ag-biotech start-up ArkeaBio announced the close of a US$26.5mn Series A financing round aimed at advancing their methane reducing vaccine R&D

ArkeaBio's vaccine will provide an innovative, cost-effective and scalable solution to reduce the world’s livestock methane emissions, which currently generate the equivalent of 3 bn tonnes of CO2 annually and represent 6% of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Results from the company's R&D have garnered substantial attention from investors for the advancement of the inaugural methane-reducing vaccine.

The funds raised in this Series A financing will play a pivotal role in expanding the research, development and deployment of the vaccine, including large-scale field trials and engagement along the supply chain. The company aims to bring this transformative solution to the market through collaborative efforts with industry partners, regulatory authorities, and environmental organisations. 

“We are thankful for the financial support, confidence, and trust of our investors. This funding will accelerate the development of our vaccine-based solution to meet a pressing global problem,” said ArkeaBio CEO, Colin South. “To echo the sentiments of The Grantham Foundation: ‘climate change is the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. It is the race of our lives.’ This capital raise allows us to continue to create the tools necessary for farmers to achieve globally relevant reductions in livestock methane emissions.”

For more information, visit: www.arkeabio.com 

This initiative represents an important milestone in efforts to support local livestock farmers and promote youth employability in the agricultural sector. (Image source: ECOWAS))

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently inaugurated a new drilling project, aimed at improving employment opportunities for youth through improved dairy and fodder production 

Promising to transform the lives of members of the Luumo Kosam Dairy Cooperative in Chukun, Nigeria, the project which was initiated by the Value Chain Foundation with financial support from ECOWAS and the Swiss Cooperation (DDC), is part of the Regional Programme for Support to Farmer Organisations (PRAOP). 

The objective of the project is to improve the dairy and fooder production by enhancing local milk production through the establishment of family dairy farms and the management of cows and calves, increasing the availability and accessibility of feed and forage, and facilitating knowledge sharing among dairy farmers and stakeholders. This in turn improves employment opportunities for youth. 

At the end of its implementation, the project is expected to create 22 direct jobs, produce 400 tons of fodder, train 600 youths from 100 households and 10 young individuals, connect 100 households to inputs and services such as feed, forage, medications, veterinary services, and artificial insemination, and link 100 households to governments, development partners, milk supply, with an additional production of 300 liters of raw milk per day and an increase in beneficiaries’ income by about 200%.

The handover of the drilling to the Luumo Kosam Dairy Cooperative and its members, who are primarily composed of livestock farmers, marks a significant step in promoting youth employability and improving the living conditions of cooperative members. The Chukun region, like many other rural areas in Nigeria, faces challenges in accessing clean water, which often hinders agricultural activities and limits development opportunities. 

Therefore, by providing a reliable and essential water source for cooperative members and livestock watering, the project will help improve their main source of livelihood, thus demonstrating ECOWAS’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in West Africa.