)
Perth-based climate technology company Rumin8, which is backed by the Forrest family’s agri-food business Harvest Road Group, has received feed ingredient approval in Brazil that takes the startup a step closer to providing its methane-reducing supplements to the world’s largest cattle herd.
The approval, which follows the granting of provisional regulatory authorisation in New Zealand in July, will allow Rumin8 to progress studies into the efficacy and safety of its technology for commercial animals with a view to generating the data needed for full approval in Brazil.
“Rumin8 is very quickly building a bank of regulatory authorisations required to progress the commercialisation of our methane reducing feed additives for livestock,” says Rumin8 CEO David Messina.
“Two regulatory authorities have now assessed the safety data of our products, and both have allowed us to proceed through an important regulatory gateway. That provides Rumin8 with confidence that we are on the right pathway.”
Rumin8, which was launched in 2022, is developing solid feed and water-delivered formulations that leverage an organic active compound called Tribromomethane (TBM), which has been shown to be the most effective of all actives tested for methane reductions in livestock.
Rumin8’s innovative technology uses a “highly scalable, consistent and cost-effective pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing process” to synthesise and stabilise the anti-methanogenic compound TBM.
The approval granted in Brazil is a major milestone for Rumin8 as the South American country hosts the world’s largest cattle herd, comprising almost 235 million head. The company says that this compares with the US cattle herd of about 95 million head and the Australian herd of about 30 million head.
“Brazil is a key market for Rumin8 for two key reasons,” says Messina.
“Its large beef cattle population means that we can generate significant sales when we commercialise, and we can make a significant impact on reducing methane emissions – which is a key driver for Rumin8 and our shareholders.”
Apart from Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s agri-food business Harvest Road Group, Rumin8 is supported by Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
Early last year, both investors participated in a US$12 million ($17.2 million) Phase 2 seed round, that was led by Harvest Road Group, taking the total seed money raised to US$25 million ($35 million).
The capital has been allocated for commercial trials in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and the US, as well as product brand and pilot manufacturing plant development as the group gallops towards commercialisation.
“Adopting sustainable practices in beef production, while maintaining or boosting productivity, is particularly important in Brazil to maintain its position as a leading global beef exporter,” says Messina.
“Rumin8 is ticking those boxes with positive top-line results from three recent cattle trials indicating reductions of methane production of up to 86 per cent and weight gains ranging from 8.4 per cent to 12.5 per cent higher than control groups that were fed the same base ration.
“The trials were undertaken by independent researchers in Australia, the United States and Brazil and funded by Rumin8.”
Rumin8 was co-founded by Messina, Matt Callahan, Elaine Darby, Dr Cameron Scadding and Dr Stewart Washer to create affordable feed and water supplements that reduce methane emissions from livestock with the ambitious target of decarbonising 100 million cattle by 2030.
The company’s patented process is said to not only interrupt methane production, but also boost animal performance.
)
