Current research and development update
So I emailed Dr. Rob Kinley, the head of Future Feed. He operates in Australia. They are still in the process of research and development. The response he sent me is quoted below so all may understand the situation.
" It is always nice to get positive enquiries and feedback and always good to know of the interest and support for the algae role in low impact low emissions food and livestock production. We are very excited about this emerging technology which is specific to the Asparagopsis genus of seaweed. The seaweed product requires significant further investigation for progressing through research into feed formulation differences (grass vs grain %’s etc) as it affects the response to the product, and we are working toward stitching up gaps in the Asparagopsis supply chain. Options in various parts of the world are already being explored toward the possibility of experimental ocean based cultivation and development of business plans that fit their local circumstances. We are not commenting on details of business development for the obvious reasons and of course the dynamic nature of the development. It will be commercially viable once large scale sources are available and it will require a lower proportion of feed intake for the effect when the seaweed quality is high and quality can be improved through typical selection processes in the same way as is done for land plants. Some governments and NGO’s will be helpful in this endeavour because it could develop new economies using low skill labour where previous economies (such as fisheries) are now suffering. Cultivation of seaweeds could remediate hyper nutrient enriched water and consume dissolved CO2 thereby fighting ocean acidity, then fed to cattle Asparagopsis would dramatically reduce GHG emissions from agriculture. Land based cultivation is also being explored for its equally beneficial traits but is quite expensive to get started at large scale. At the moment there is no demonstration of large scale cultivation of Asparagopsis using any method.
We are working diligently toward providing a tested and proven safe natural product, now called FutureFeed https://research.csiro.au/ research/futurefeed/ that could be available to livestock producers in the near future but at the moment it is not commercially available. We have just completed a beef feedlot simulation project to be released shortly, and a study in sheep is already published, and a dairy study is finishing up at UCDavis in California, which was partially revealed at the ADSA conference in late June. However as is always the case we cannot publically disclose details or results of ongoing projects and the data belongs to the investors. All I can reveal is that the results are, so far, better than expected.
Attached some journal articles to help with the background of what we are doing. These articles and FAQ on the CSIRO FutureFeed website will contain answers to most questions regarding where the idea came from, and how and where the seaweed works to reduce methane and what the implications and barriers are. Also, the media has grabbed this story and there are many versions available for you to explore.
To make it easy on you here is a few quick links to some fair quality coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch v=X_JQJeZeizs
http://www.nationalgeographic com.au/science/a-sprinkle-of- seaweed-could-deflate-gassy- cows.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch v=mk2agAiUBVQ&feature=youtu.be
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/ can-seaweed-cut-methane- emissions-dairy-farms/
https://research.csiro.au/ futurefeed/
Dr Rob Kinley
Livestock Systems Scientist
CSIRO Agriculture and Food
Australian Tropical Science and Innovation Precinct
James Cook University, Douglas Campus
Townsville QLD 4811"
It's going to be a long process but if we don't start it now, it may never get funded and researched.