Reduce methane produced during the digestion process of ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep and goats by using biodegradable materials. The project targets various livestock production systems, including grazing and feedlot applications.
2025–2028
$4.1 million over six years
Sam Clark
Program Lead
Sam Clark, Professor of Animal Genetics at UNE, leads research on livestock productivity, feed efficiency, and methane reduction. He directs major breeding projects and mentors emerging scientists, aiming to improve sustainability across plant and animal agriculture in Australia.
Developing products to reduce methane emissions from beef and dairy cattle, and potentially sheep. This research aims to lead to the development of commercial products and technologies that use biodegradable materials to deliver active agents to reduce methane emissions over extended periods, without leaving harmful residues.
Program
This project is being completed as part of Program 2: Towards Methane-Free Cattle and Sheep
Investment
The CRC will invest $4.1 million over six years to deliver Biodegradable Solutions for Low-Emissions Livestock and provide industry with sustainable solutions to mitigate methane emissions that are tested, trusted and accessible.
Importance
This project shows great potential to significantly reduce methane emissions, by over 30% in ruminant animals over a three-to-six-month period. The project builds on a demonstrated concept of encapsulation of methane mitigating additives in biopolymers, to facilitate the slow release of additives. Previous prototype materials showed over 60% reduction in methane emissions in cows.
Impact
It is anticipated this this project will deliver significant, tangible and measurable impact to reduce emissions by over 30% in ruminants over a three-to-six-month period. The technologies developed will be applicable to both intensive and extensive production systems.
Project team
Biodegradable Solutions for Low-Emissions Livestock brings together a cross disciplinary team of renowned researchers, scientists, academics and industry leads from The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Department of Primary Industries (Queensland) and Meat and Livestock Australia.
Research Timeline
The project spans from 2025 to 2028.
PhDs
Two PhD students will contribute to the project. They will be trained in cutting-edge techniques in polymer engineering, animal science and advanced analytical techniques relevant to methane reduction.
Practical Application
A biodegradable device is inserted into a specific compartment of a cow’s stomach, known as the rumen. The rumen is the largest stomach compartment and is where fermentation occurs and methane is produced. This research involves inserting the device called an intra-ruminal device where it slowly releases active agents to reduce methane production. The non-toxic, biodegradable, and bioderived polymers will then break down naturally in the cow’s stomach after it has delivered the active agents.
