NewsBits…October 14, 2021

CH4 Global Lands $13M Funding to Reduce Methane Emissions

CH4 Global, a pioneer in utilizing seaweed to drastically reduce ruminant methane emissions, has raised US$13 million in Series A funding led by DCVC and DCVC Bio, with participation from several other investors that have a strong interest in climate change. CH4 Global has established a leadership position in the development and commercialization of the red seaweed (Asparagopsis) which, when added to cattle feed, drastically reduces the animals’ methane emissions by up to 90% as well as improving feed conversion. With offices in the US, Australia and New Zealand, the company will use this funding to establish a new research and production facility in Adelaide, South Australia and bring its first commercial product to market in 2022.
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Seaweed a Model for Fighting Climate Change and More

Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
and Aarhus University in Saudi Arabia believe seaweed is a model solution to climate change, biodiversity loss, joblessness, hunger, and environmental damage. In a paper published in Nature Sustainability the co-authors outline how the cultivation and use of seaweed as a carbon capture technology, a job and tax revenue generator, and a food source, can help protect and restore our planet. “Our research consolidates seaweed farming as an underpinning of a sustainable future,” Professor Carlos Duarte, study lead author said. “It is scalable, with a 2,000-fold increase potential, it generates valuable products while also contributing to carbon sequestration below the farm, it produces sustainable fuels, and it displaces carbon-intensive products, thereby providing a range of contributions to climate action.”
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Modern Seafood and Cascadia Seaweed Collaborate on Future Foods

Modern Plant-based Foods Inc., a Canadian food company based in Vancouver, B.C. that offers a portfolio of plant-based products has announced that its subsidiary Modern Seafood has entered into an agreement with quickly growing British Columbia-based provider of cultivated seaweed, Cascadia Seaweed, to develop and create a variety of plant-based products incorporating cultivated seaweed. The partnership reflects the growing interest from retailers and restaurants in providing great tasting and sustainable plant-based food options to consumers. The partners are currently developing versions of a Beach Burger, Crab or Fish Cake and Chorizo Breakfast Sausage Patty, all incorporating ocean cultivated sugar kelp.
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Can Seaweed Farming Boost India’s Economy and Reduce Climate Impact?

India’s Central Government is looking forward to developing a sustainable economy through highly prospective seaweed cultivation, said Fisheries Union Secretary Jatindra Nath Swain. “At a time when climate change is increasingly posing a major threat to human life across the globe, cultivating seaweed, which is one of the natural methods to mitigate the global crisis, would help boost the economy and reduce the impact of climate crisis.” He said this while speaking at an interactive meeting with scientists of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), and added, “The CMFRI should set up a seed bank of seaweeds to popularize the practice among the coastal region as it would be an additional livelihood option, as seaweed farming will play a major role in the socio-economic upliftment of traditional fishermen during this difficult time.”
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$10M to Support Algae-feed Research for US Dairy Industry

A new $10 million grant will bolster research into algae-based feed supplements that could increase environmental sustainability in the dairy industry while improving milk production. The five-year grant from USDA Sustainable Agriculture Systems Program will support a research team, led by Nichole Price with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Colby College. The research will test algal feed additives and assess the products’ impact on animals, farms, communities, and the planet. The team will also be looking at how the new supplements impact greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of production and distribution, for a whole-systems understanding of their effect on the industry’s carbon footprint. These life cycle assessments are intended to seek out the best balance of greenhouse gas emissions with milk yield and quality.
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