What does a startup working to develop methane-reducing livestock feed and a beloved Aussie gelato brand have in common? Answer: a passion for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture industry.
Agtech startup Number 8 Bio is trialling its proprietary methane-reducing feed additive, BetterFeed, for livestock to help Gelato Messina produce low-emissions milk, and thereby low-emissions gelato.
This partnership, aimed at spurring sustainable dairy farming practices, is being carried out at Gelato Messina’s dairy farm in Numurkah in regional Victoria.
Expanding on the collaboration, Number 8 Bio CEO and co-founder Dr Tom Williams told SmartCompany, partnering with Gelato Messina “felt like a natural fit” as the Number 8 Bio team are “long-time admirers of Messina and their dedication to creating exceptional products in a sustainable and innovative way”.
“When we approached their team and spoke with their director of agriculture operations Steve Arnold, it became clear that we shared a common goal of unlocking value for farmers while advancing a greener future,” he added.
“With Messina’s fully owned and managed dairy supply chain, they were an ideal partner to trial our methane-reducing feed additives in a commercial, real-world setting,” Williams said.
The six-week trial, which began in late October, will see the startup evaluate its three formulations of additive to identify the most effective ways to reduce methane without compromising on productivity.
“The cows are receiving the feed additive in the milking shed before returning to pasture and they appear to really enjoy it,” Williams said.
“Early data we have captured shows significant emissions reduction, which is promising and we believe will lead to the increased productivity in milk quantity and quality we are aiming for.
“Overall, the results and feedback have been overwhelmingly positive,” Williams added.
Gelato Messina is equally excited to partner with Number 8 Bio, said Arnold in a statement.
“At Gelato Messina, quality has always been at the heart of everything we do — from the way we choose and care for our Jersey cows to the craft of making our gelato,” he explained.
“This trial aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and innovation, allowing us to explore new ways to enhance both the quality of our products and the health of our environment.
By working with Number 8 Bio, we’re not only investing in the future of our product and dairy farming in Australia, but also in the future of our planet.
Gelato Messina’s director of agriculture operations Steve Arnold
Number 8 Bio emphasises that its feed technology has been developed while keeping the interests of farmers front of mind, and the startup prioritises practical, cost-effective solutions tailored specifically for the dairy and cattle industry.
“Our product development has always been a farmer-first endeavour,” Dr Alex Carpenter, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Number 8 Bio, said in the same statement.
“We have scientifically designed a range of products that reduce on-farm emissions while freeing up energy for milk and meat production. We believe we have unique insights based on our extensive in-vitro rumen screening and animal trials.”
According to the Sydney-based startup, it has zeroed in on a novel organic molecule that inhibits methane while liberating extra energy from the animal’s feed. After looking at other key performance indicators like milk yield and quality, Number 8 Bio will select one of three variants which could then be introduced throughout the farm, setting the path for a wider rollout.
“This trial is helping us refine our approach for future commercial rollouts. It will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of our partnership with Messina and our overarching strategy for scaling,” Williams told SmartCompany.
According to the co-founder, Number 8 Bio had so far only conducted “rigorous studies with leading universities and research institutions” so the unique complexities of real-world operations only came to the fore with the startup’s first commercial trail with Gelato Messina.
“This has been an invaluable learning experience,” Williams said, while adding the challenges in the trial have been “minor and mostly related to refining the delivery formats and optimising measurement methods”.
This is promising news for the agriculture industry. According to CSIRO, livestock contributes to over 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In Australia, this figure is close to 10%.
Many studies also caution that methane emissions are 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide emissions, a challenge that will become more difficult as the global population grows. A United Nations Environment Programme report predicts methane is “80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide” over a 20-year period.
“This trial represents a key milestone in our journey to transform livestock agriculture into a more sustainable industry,” Williams told SmartCompany.
“As we demonstrate the real-world viability of our product, we’re unlocking significant opportunities to expand our impact and helping farmers reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and profitability.
“The success of this trial also paves the way for broader adoption, enabling us to build momentum toward meaningful, scalable climate action,” he added.
Number 8 Bio, which closed a $7 million seed round earlier this year is now gearing up for a series of additional university and commercial trials across Australia and internationally.
“These trials will further validate our product as we approach market readiness. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a practical, effective solution for farmers worldwide to increase productivity while drastically reducing emissions,” Williams said.
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Prior to joining SmartCompany, Mrinaal was the content head at Lawctopus. She has a dual degree in business and law, with a Masters in constitutional law. You can follow her on Twitter at @mrinaaldatt.
