Tasmania could hold the key for a meat production more respectful of the climate. A local company, Sea Forest, uses red algae to reduce methane emissions from ruminants.
A young Australian company has attacked a major challenge: to reduce the climate footprint of livestock. His secret weapon? A red seaweed, capable of cutting up to 95% of methane emissions produced by cows and sheep.
Installed on the island of Tasmania, Sea Forest cultivates this seaweed in the hope of a long -term transforming the food industry. The idea is to add a small quantity of this natural ingredient to the fodder of animals to limit their greenhouse gas rejections.
A natural antiflature for ruminants
Livestock farming is indeed responsible for 12 to 16% of global greenhouse gas emissions linked to human activities. The main culprits: ruminants. Their particular digestion, called enteric fermentation, generates large quantities of methane, a gas 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide to warm the planet.
Algae of the genre Asparagopsisfrom Tasmania waters, have promising qualities to reduce this deleterious climate effect. These marine species are naturally rich in bromoFor, a chemical compound which acts as a kind of anti -fetal in ruminants. Ingressed in small quantities, the molecule intervenes on their digestion and clearly reduces the flatulence and belching of animals.
Sea Forest cultivates algae both in the ocean and in terrestrial basins. They are then transformed into oil or pastilles, used as food supplements for livestock.
>> Discover other innovative approaches: Change the microbiota of cows to make them less polluting et Eurêka – An innovative cattle diet to reduce methane emissions
Large -scale exploitation remains a challenge
Despite the effectiveness of this innovation, its adoption remains limited. The current production of red algae is not enough to continuously supply large farms, which often have tens of thousands of cattle.
In addition, the application of technology remains limited to farms where animals are fed in a controlled manner, as in European dairy farms and North American fattening parks. In many countries, livestock is high outdoors and feeds mainly on grass, which complicates the integration of red algae into their diet.
Another major obstacle is the price. Red algae is still expensive to produce, which slows down their adoption by breeders.
First collaborations with the industry started
Sea Forest still experiences rapid growth. Founded five years ago, the company now employs more than 50 people and has signed contracts with several major industrial players. Among them is an important Tasmanian dairy producer, a chain of Australian burgers and the British supermarket chain Morrison.
As on Tuesday said in the program all in the world the co -founder and CEO of Sea Forest Sam Elsom, expansion in Europe is also underway: “We are in discussion with many dairy producers, in France in particular.” Among the potential partners is the Bel group, which manufactures well -known cheeses such as the Rit, Boursin and Babybel cow.
Before being able to finalize these contracts, the company must still obtain the approval of the European Food Safety Authority: “The process is underway, but we are very enthusiastic about what we could do in Europe”, confides Sam Elsom, who was rewarded by the Tasmania Prize of the year 2025.
>> Also listen to the interview with Boris Wastiau, director of food, on the challenges of global food production in the morning:
Radio subject: Grégory Pless
Article Web: Klara Soukup