ONE of Tasmania’s most innovative climate-change businesses continues to forge ahead with an alternative feed for cattle.
Sea Forest, based in Triabunna, opened its doors to Federal visitors last week, with a visit from Assistant Minister for Emissions Reductions Tim Wilson.
The business has designed and manufactured a unique method to produce asparagopsis seaweed for animal feed for milk, beef and wool producers.
The addition of this seaweed additive to animal feed reduces methane emissions from livestock by 98% and enhances their health and growth.
The facility grows the seaweed in land-based tanks and in the nearby bay depending on the lifecycle stage of the plant.
During a visit earlier this week Mr Wilsaon said one of the largest global challenges to decarbonise was taking care of methane emissions from livestock.
“Sea Forest grow a native seaweed only found in the waters off Australia and New Zealand that can cut methane emissions by an incredible 98%.”
The Federal Government has previous supported Sea Forest, with a $1 million Accelerating Commercialisation grant helping supply commercial quantities of their product to the livestock industry.
“This is another example of how innovative Aussie companies will help not only decarbonise our economy, but the global economy.”
The business had so far harvested 100 kilograms and has plans to ramp up to more than 300 tonnes of the dried asparagopsis annually.
Tasmania’s largest milk processor Fonterra is partnering with Sea Forest to run commercial trials using the seaweed as a feed supplement on dairy farms.
The partnership hopes to reduce methane produced by livestock, which accounts for 10 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions.