Red seaweed oil a game changer for methane emissions

In what’s thought to be a super food for livestock, the Ellinbank Smart Farm are feeding their dairy cows red seaweed to reduce methane emissions.

It’s part of their latest research that aims to give farmers the tools to prevent climate emissions while increasing productivity on Dairy Farms.

The Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited Ellinbank last week and said the research will help farmers respond to the changing climate.

“Our farmers are on the front line when it comes to experiencing the real impact of climate change, but they also know they are one of the key emitters of greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Thomas said.

The Victorian Government has invested $20 million into the “Agriculture Sector Pledge”, which will deliver flagship trials like those completed at the carbon-neutral-aspiring Smart Farm.

Overseas studies have already found that red seaweed can reduce the methane that cows burp and fart by more than 80 percent in feedlot environments, where every mouthful contains the additive. However, the local study aims to test red seaweed in the Dairy, where cows graze freely and can only eat additives while being milked.

In the study, each cow’s diet is precisely measured. Cows wear harnesses with gas cannisters strapped to their backs, that take accurate readings on how much methane is exhaled. Researchers assure that these devices are unobtrusive and are the same as a horse saddle.

The livestock are housed in dirt paddocks and eat only through electronic feeders, which measure the weight of fodder. They eat the red seaweed additive only while being milked.

Research Director Joe Jacobs is optimistic the additive will reduce methane emissions by roughly 45 per cent.

“Last week we did a preliminary measurement and the results were actually very promising,” he said.

It will be a key milestone for the Ellinbank Smart Farm in achieving carbon neutrality by 2026, as 60% of emissions on the farm come from methane.

It’s hoped previous study results will be collated soon, but the Minister gave no indication on whether incentives would be given to farmers to use these methane-reducing additives.

“We will continue to work to support the research that is being undertaken and I hope to be here to help take that research to market at the appropriate time,” Ms Thomas said.

But the incentive to use these additives might come from a change in consumer demand.

“In the future, farmers understand that in order to sell and market their product, in order to continue to export, we’re going to need to respond to the demands of consumers, and consumers want to know that their food is being produced in a way that’s not harmful to the planet,” Ms Thomas said.

Minister Thomas visited the Smart Farm to recognise the first anniversary of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council (VACCC) being appointed. The Council observe these experiments and advise the Minister on how to support the state’s agriculture sector.

VACCC member Richard Eckard said dairy farmers will need to be carbon neutral to access future export markets.

“The multinational supply chain companies are all setting carbon neutral targets for food supply so you can see the Unilever’s are setting targets that are in line with the Paris climate agreements.

“Then straight away you see Fonterra, a major dairy supplier to Unilever, has set a target that is consistent with the Unilever target and that just cascades down to dairy farms,” Eckard said.

And as research and technology develops, the path to carbon neutral will become clearer.

“Right now we could probably reduce emissions on a practical basis on a dairy farm by 50 per cent, and in probably the next 10 years 80-90% would be possible without offsets,” he said.