Contract for the Provision of SCF02017 (SEASOLUTIONS)

Ruminant production is responsible for ~9% of anthropogenic CO2 emission and 37% of CH4 emissions, thus contributing towards greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This release of methane from the rumen microbiome also results in 6-12% less energy being available to the animal therefore reducing methane emissions in ruminants will also likely improve upon their growth. Current agricultural policies have been designed to encourage agricultural practices which secure high yields of healthy food, but also must ensure environmental goals such as minimizing emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). However, a common notion is that the required environmental performances necessarily result in lower productivity, but this may be due to a lack of knowledge and innovation. Novel, economically-viable solutions are required that secure high environmental performance while sustaining or even increasing productivity, enabling future food security for a growing population. Utilisation of seaweeds (or seaweed byproducts) as an additive in ruminant feed represent a novel approach which has the potential to meet these requirements. To date, some chemical compounds and seaweeds (3NOP, Asparagopsis taxiformis (tropical) and Asparagopsis armata (temperate)) have shown methane inhibitory effects in the laboratory (up to 99% reduction) and in limited animal studies. However, 3NOP and Asparagopsis sp. are not commercially viable due to (1) limited supply of seaweeds/seaweed bioactives; (2) animal health and food safety issues (potential carcinogen) and environmental concerns (negative effects on the ozone layer); (3) prohibitive costs and (4) limited aquaculture of Asparagopsis seaweeds. What is required is sustainably sourced seaweeds that can be used in animal feeds to modulate the rumen microbiome and reduce ruminant methane emissions, whilst ensuring animal health, fertility and productivity. SEASOLUTIONS proposes to use natural and natively abundant seaweeds (harvested by licensed harvesting companies) as a source of feed additive to reach the requirements of long-term methane reduction, without negative effects on feed intake, the environment, productivity of animals or food and animals safety. This will be achieved by a cross disciplinary consortium of experts from 5 countries in Europe (Republic of Ireland, UK, Sweden, Norway and Germany) and 1 in North America (Canada). This team will: 1) investigate sustainable harvesting and preservation techniques for native seaweeds in sufficient quantities for use in animal feeds; 2) Characterise and select native seaweed species for lab and animal trials as feed additives based on their bioactive and safety profiles; 3) Evaluate the effects of selected seaweeds on total CH4 and nutrient production both in laboratory and in animal trials; 4) Identify the mechanisms through which the seaweed additives reduce methane in the rumen microbiome; 5) Explore novel cost-effective options for seaweed-based feed ingredients