Seaweed Startup Aims to Reduce Methane Emissions from Cattle
In the fight against climate change, a Japanese startup company is using a new technology to mass-produce seaweed that can help reduce methane gas emitted in cattle burps. Sunshiki Co., founded by Ryo Kubota and Yuya Watanabe, plans to commercialize a method developed by researchers at Kochi University.
The researchers discovered that adding a specific type of seaweed, Asparagopsis taxiformis, to the diets of cattle significantly reduces their methane emissions. This is significant because methane has a greenhouse effect 28 times greater than carbon dioxide, and belches from ruminant animals like cattle contribute to around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Sunshiki's method involves culturing spores of Asparagopsis taxiformis collected from the seabed off Susaki, Kochi Prefecture. Through a two-step process, they can increase the volume of the seaweed tenfold within ten days. This breakthrough caught the attention of Kubota, who saw a significant opportunity in the growing demand for methane-reducing fodder.
Sunshiki is currently developing a food supplement using the red alga and conducting verification tests in Kochi Prefecture. They aim to have the product commercially available as early as next year. Their goal is to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change.