The Japanese government has recently greenlit a groundbreaking methodology targeting methane emissions from cattle through innovative feed additives. This initiative is aimed at addressing methane emissions released during enteric fermentation, particularly those emitted through cattle burps.

Under the newly approved methodology within the J-Credit scheme, cattle producers can utilize specific feed additives known for their effectiveness in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These additives work by inhibiting the activity of microorganisms in the cattle’s digestive systems that produce methane, thus lowering methane emissions with each burp.

The New Methodology

This approved methodology allows cattle producers to earn credits by incorporating designated additives into cattle feed that have been vetted for their greenhouse gas reduction efficacy. These additives focus on diminishing the activity of methanogenic microorganisms found in the rumen, which leads to a significant decrease in methane production during digestion.

As per Japan’s Act on Safety Assurance and Quality Improvement of Feeds (Act No. 35 of 1953), cashew nut shell liquid and 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) are now recognized as agents capable of reducing greenhouse gases and are included in this new methodology.

This methodological approval was achieved during the 41st J-Credit Scheme Steering Committee meeting on December 18, 2025.

The J-Credit scheme provides a platform for the Japanese government to certify greenhouse gas reductions and removals as tradable credits, promoting transparency and offering agricultural entities the opportunity for additional revenue through credit sales.

Expanding Approaches to Reduce GHGs

With this new addition, the J-Credit scheme now features a total of seven agricultural methodologies. The existing methodologies include:

• Feeding livestock with amino acid-balanced feed
• Changing livestock manure management practices
• Applying compound fertilizers with nitrification inhibitors to tea plantation soils
• Implementing biochar applications in farmland
• Extending mid-season drainage periods in paddy rice cultivation
• Feeding beef cattle with bypass amino acids

The inclusion of enteric methane reduction brings further diversity to mitigation strategies across agriculture, addressing aspects ranging from soil and nutrient management to manure handling and digestive emissions control.

Livestock farming is a major contributor to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. According to the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation (NARO), gastrointestinal methane ranks as the second-largest contributor to methane emissions—following rice cultivation—within Japan’s agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sectors, accounting for about 5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

This progressive measure extends market-based climate mechanisms into a sector often seen as challenging to decarbonize, reflecting a significant step towards sustainable agricultural practices.

Innovative Feed Additives Enter the Market

Recently, a collaborative effort among Kanematsu Corporation, Shikishima Farm, and dsm-firmenich has initiated a feeding trial for the methane-reducing additive Bovaer in Japanese Black Wagyu cattle. This partnership aims to significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle burps, ultimately lessening the environmental impact of the beef supply chain.

Bovaer gained market approval for use in both dairy and beef cattle in Japan in 2024, promising an average reduction of gastrointestinal methane emissions by approximately 30% in dairy cows and up to 45% in beef cattle.

Following the approval of the new methodology by MAFF, Kanematsu and dsm-firmenich formalized their collaboration in July 2025, setting the stage for impactful advancements in methane mitigation strategies.