Australian climate technology company Rumin8 is on the cusp of providing its methane-reducing supplements to the world’s largest cattle herd. The company recently received feed ingredient approval in Brazil from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply for its methane-reducing feed additive. This approval follows a similar provisional authorization granted in New Zealand in late July, marking a significant step forward in Rumin8’s commercialization journey.
“Rumin8 is rapidly securing the necessary regulatory approvals to commercialize our methane-reducing feed additives for livestock,” said Rumin8 CEO David Messina. “Two regulatory authorities have now assessed the safety data of our products, paving the way for us to move through a crucial regulatory gateway. This gives Rumin8 confidence that we are on the right path.”
Rumin8 has developed solid feed and water-delivered formulations that leverage an organic active compound called Tribromomethane (TBM), which has been proven to be the most effective substance tested for methane reductions in livestock. The company’s innovative technology employs a highly scalable, consistent, and cost-effective pharmaceutical grade manufacturing process to synthesize and stabilize TBM, the anti-methanogenic compound.
With the Brazilian approval in hand, Rumin8 can now advance efficacy and safety studies in commercial animals to generate the data required for full approval in the country. Brazil boasts the largest cattle herd globally, with nearly 235 million head, significantly exceeding the US herd of roughly 95 million and Australia’s 30 million head.
“Brazil is a pivotal market for Rumin8 for two key reasons,” explained Mr. Messina. “Its extensive beef cattle population presents a vast potential for sales once we commercialize, and we can make a substantial impact on reducing methane emissions, a core objective for Rumin8 and our shareholders.”
The company’s commitment to sustainable practices in beef production, while maintaining or enhancing productivity, is particularly relevant to Brazil, aiming to preserve its position as a leading global beef exporter. Rumin8 is delivering on this promise with positive results from three recent cattle trials conducted by independent researchers in Australia, the United States, and Brazil. These trials, funded by Rumin8, showed reductions in methane production of up to 86% and weight gains ranging from 8.4% to 12.5% higher than control groups fed the same base ration.
Rumin8’s achievements have garnered recognition beyond its regulatory successes. The company was recently named one of the 15 Climate Tech companies to watch by the MIT Technology Review. This distinction underscores Rumin8’s potential to contribute significantly to combating climate change through its innovative and effective solutions for reducing methane emissions in the livestock industry.