Sea Forest, a Tasmanian environmental technology company that produces a seaweed-based, methane mitigating livestock feed additive, has welcomed the Federal Government's signing of a Global Methane Pledge to cut methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
Sea Forest CEO, Sam Elsom, has also supported a number of R&D funding announcements designed to accelerate the commercialisation of seaweed feed supplements for grazing livestock.
"The Federal Government's announcement that Australia will sign the Global Methane Pledge is a milestone event. It marks their commitment to reducing emissions and is an enormously encouraging first step in building a framework to deliver meaningful reductions.
"It's true that this is not legislation, but we fully support the Pledge. An ambition, combined with a clear minimum target, is a critical starting point for any nation as it reduces its carbon footprint. This decision underscores that Australia is a willing global participant in the fight to reduce emissions."
"Australia will join well over 100 nations who have signed the Pledge, including some of the largest methane emitters in the world and it's clear that momentum in this area is building rapidly. There is now a broad understanding among governments and industry of just what a profound effect methane abatement technology can have on global efforts to keep warming to a minimum.
"But that effect can only take place if there is a smart, swift transition between trials and commercialisation. It's critical that industry is provided with an incentive to adopt proven new technology, such as Sea Forest's SeaFeedTM. That might take the form of carbon credits or another government led enabling framework, but is essential for broad acceptance."
"We believe that Asparagopsis can play a very significant part in methane reduction, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, and we're grateful for the continuing support of the federal government. This new round of funding will help us complement our industry-ready feedlot technology with advances in feed for grazing livestock.
The Albanese Government announced $5 million in successful grant applications to support R&D for low-emissions feed supplements for grazing animals. The funding is the second stage of the Government's $29 million Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) Program.
Sea Forest, in partnership with Dickson Ag, Ruminati, Australian Agricultural Company and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment was awarded $383,657 to develop and assess feed supplements to deliver methane reduction from the company's Asparagopsis based SeaFeed supplement.
"The grant will help us continue to test our lick blocks, testing formulations under Australia's harsh environmental conditions. Lick blocks are already widely used across the livestock industry; our goal is to make our technology as easy as possible for farmers to adopt."
"We're proud to receive one of the Federal government's grant recipients. The funds will help unlock solutions to delivering methane mitigating feed supplements to all Australian livestock regardless of how they are farmed or where they are located and we're extremely excited by this potential.
About us:
Sea Forest is an Australian-owned and operated company dedicated to fighting climate change and the first company in the world to grow the seaweed Asparagopsis at a commercial scale. In 2016, the CSIRO discovered that Asparagopsis, a seaweed native to Australia, greatly reduces the production of methane when used as a feed supplement for ruminant livestock.
Comprising the industry's best scientists and engineers, and a leading management team, Sea Forest has the current capacity to feed 100,000 head of livestock from its operation in Tasmania. The company's existing assets have the potential to feed close to 2,000,000 head of livestock when fully established, creating approximately 5.6 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent in abatement every year.
