Will reduce emissions in cows farts
KTH student Martin Blomberg and researchers have developed a new type of food additive that has the the potential to reduce methane emissions from cow burps and farts by about 90 per cent. The additive is cheap, and addresses a sustainability problem that has been known for a long time.
Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas contributing to global warming after carbon dioxide. This gas comes, among other things, from ruminant livestock, especially cows and their digestion, and in plain language the belching and farting of cows.
The problem of methane production by cows has been known to scientists for a long time. Solutions have existed in the past, but according to Martin Blomberg, they have either been ineffective or economically unfeasible. The challenge has been to find a cost-effective method that can be introduced on a large scale without adversely affecting the negative impact on animal welfare or farmer productivity.
New, patent-pending molecule
This is where Martin Blomberg's work comes in. He is studying for a master's degree in medical biotechnology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and, together with three colleagues, has founded the company Agteria Biotech. In this company, the quartet has developed a feed additive.
"Our feed additive is based on a novel, patent-pending molecule that is scalable and cheap to produce, and reduces methane emissions from ruminants. By inhibiting an enzyme in methane formation, the molecule reduces the methane gas created during feed digestion. This method does not affect animal health and is designed to fit seamlessly into existing feeding practices," Blomberg says.
Balance between efficacy and welfare
He then tells us that the feed additive has the potential to reduce methane emissions by up to 92 per cent. How did he and the others arrive at this rather precise figure?
"Our initial laboratory tests showed a 92 to 99 per cent reduction in methane. We have seen that higher doses of our additive in the field also achieve that kind of reduction. However, initially for more practical use and long-term sustainability in animal habitats, we recommend a dosage that provides a 50 to 70 per cent reduction to start with", Blomberg says.
Martin Blomberg adds that this strikes a balance between maximum output and animal welfare, and optimises economic efficiency for farmers.
Specialised skills required
According to Blomberg, the feed additive has been developed based on an understanding of science and practical application. A combination of organic chemistry and knowledge of agricultural science has been made possible by the expertise in organic chemistry and intellectual property that he and the others possess.
"The challenge has been both technical and knowledge-based, with the field of combining organic chemistry with agricultural science being relatively undeveloped. Linking these two worlds requires a specialised skill and vision, which has historically been rare", Blomberg says.
He then adds that his and the company's goal is to reduce one per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. The molecule is almost 100 times cheaper than red algae, which in the form of a food supplement to cows also reduces methane emissions.
Text: Peter Asplund