Novel methane-reducing fungi for livestock discovered
Technology provides livestock producers with naturally derived, scientifically validated feed additive that can be integrated into existing operations and supply chains.
Australian scientists have discovered specific fungi that assist in reducing methane emissions from livestock, offering a breakthrough solution for agriculture, according to a news release from ROAM Agricultural.
The discovery provides livestock producers with a naturally derived, scientifically validated feed additive that can be integrated into existing operations and supply chains to drive methane reduction at scale.
The breakthrough was enabled by Loam Bio’s extensive library of soil fungi and discovered by Dr. Abed Chaudhury of Loam Bio, with validation and research and development led by Matthew Callaghan.
In Chaudhury's research across a wide range of fungi, he found that a very small selection of naturally occurring species in the U.S. and Australia have both the genetic capability and expression required to significantly cut methane produced by livestock.
“This is a true breakthrough and an exciting moment in microbiology to make such a profound discovery,” Chaudhury said. “With this finding, I believe it to be imminently achievable to accelerate the way we offer agriculture the pathways to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Fungi make this possible in an elegant and highly scalable way.”
Supported by the Australian government’s Methane Reduction in Livestock program and validated through partnerships with CSIRO, Queensland University of Technology and the University of Western Australia, the research paved the way for ROAM Agricultural, a dedicated spin-off from Loam Bio. This independent venture will drive the commercial impact of the naturally occurring, fungal-derived technology while complementing Loam Bio’s work in carbon sequestration.
ROAM Agricultural chief executive officer Derek Peterson said the breakthrough would provide the livestock industry with the right set of tools to mitigate enteric methane emissions.
“ROAM’s proprietary naturally occurring, non-GMO, fungal-based methane reduction technology has been developed for seamless integration into existing livestock management practices. Leveraging our patent-pending innovation, a facility no larger than a microbrewery can efficiently produce enough to supply a significant proportion of Australia’s national herd,” Peterson said.
The technology has been independently validated, demonstrating that the fungal-derived feed additive technology can reduce livestock methane by more than 90%, as cited in the peer-reviewed publication Biotechnology Reports.
Research professor Dr. Zoey Durmic from the University of Western Australia AgGHG Research Hub has been involved in the initial testing in an artificial rumen using fungal extracts from the new technology.
“In early-stage testing, the fungal extracts had considerable impact on reducing methane, including almost complete inhibition, without having negative impacts on rumen fermentation characteristics. While the efficacy may reduce under less controlled conditions, we are excited about the potential of this to translate into high levels of methane reduction in trials with livestock under a variety of diets and production systems,” Durmic said.
Loam Bio co-founder and chief operating officer Tegan Nock said there is untapped potential for fungi to deliver practical solutions to some of the world’s big challenges, and Loam Bio is providing the pathway for these discoveries to be made and commercialized.
“We use Loam’s rich microbial library, combined with our proprietary bioinformatics platform, to create impactful global climate solutions,” Nock said. “Loam’s focus is on our products that sequester and stabilize carbon in agricultural soils; our R&D platform holds enormous value, demonstrated here by the discovery of a fungal solution for methane. We are proud to now spin out ROAM Agricultural to commercialize this fungal technology, for scalable impact for agriculture and our food system.”
ROAM is located in Orange, New South Wales.
