Revolutionizing Livestock Emissions: Number 8 Bio’s Innovative Approach to Methane Reduction

Reducing methane emissions has been dubbed the “holy grail” of climate tech in agriculture. Although deemed critical for addressing climate change, effective solutions have eluded commercialization for years, often due to high costs, impractical applications for grazing systems, or insufficient evidence to gain farmer trust.

“Most efforts fail at the first hurdle: making a business model that works,” states Mason Bleakley, Principal at Icehouse Ventures. However, upon meeting Dr. Tom Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Number 8 Bio, Bleakley recognized that the startup had an economically viable model ready for market.

Following a successful $11 million Series A funding round led by Icehouse Ventures, alongside Main Sequence Ventures and Japan’s ONE Innovators, Number 8 Bio is set to launch BetterFeed—a methane-reducing product for livestock that promises not just climate benefits but immediate productivity gains.

A Methane Solution That Pays Off

Traditionally, discussions around enteric methane have revolved around percentage reductions—claims ranging from 50% to as much as 90%. However, Williams emphasizes that the key issue is inefficiency rather than just percentages. “Every burp represents lost nutrition,” he explains. “Farmers are losing up to 12% of what they feed their animals to the atmosphere. Tackling this inefficiency is where innovation should focus.”

Preliminary small-scale trials of BetterFeed have shown promising improvements in feed efficiency, with increases of 5% to 10%. Should these results hold on commercial farms, Williams claims that the product would be nearly “instantaneously profitable,” delivering farmers a 3:1 return on investment regardless of their scale.

In an industry plagued by expensive and hard-to-implement solutions—especially for grazing operations—cost-effectiveness and scalability are the vital differentiators for Number 8 Bio.

Targeting the Underserved 90% of Livestock Operations

Most existing methane inhibitors are designed for feedlots, which represents a tiny fraction of livestock. In Australia, for instance, over 90% of ruminants are in pasture-based systems, where emissions primarily originate. BetterFeed is tailored for such systems and is offered either as a feed additive or as a slow-release bolus lasting up to six months.

The bolus is a game-changer, enabling BetterFeed to efficiently reach grazing beef and sheep at scale—a market so vast that even modest adoption could significantly impact national and export emissions.

A Unique Molecule for Enhanced Efficiency

Contrasting with seaweed or synthetic bromoform products, BetterFeed employs a proprietary organic small molecule that features a non-bromoform mechanism aimed at enhancing rumen efficiency while maintaining a strong safety profile. Competitive cost and methane abatement potential have been validated through independent trials, which report reductions from 50% to as high as 90%—depending on various factors like the animal’s baseline emissions.

However, Williams cautions against relying solely on percentages. “Every inhibitor has a specific abatement potential per gram, and the percentage depends on multiple factors including species, breed, and feed,” he clarifies. Consistency in abatement from a molecule that withstands feed milling and real-world farm conditions is the ultimate goal.

Accelerated Innovation: “Weeks, Not Years”

A major strength for Number 8 Bio is its patented Rumen Simulating Bioreactor (RSB), which allows rapid testing, screening, and prediction of new molecules before they are subjected to animal trials—significantly speeding up the innovation process.

“Our scientists can iterate between lab and animal trials in weeks,” says Williams, underscoring their agility and focus on practical on-farm solutions.

The platform is fortified with patents, ensuring robust protections around the active ingredient and RSB technology, creating a competitive moat in an increasingly crowded field.

Scalability Through Green Chemistry

While BetterFeed’s active ingredient can be procured globally, Number 8 Bio has opted for in-house manufacture to maintain cost competitiveness. The process leverages green chemistry principles, significantly mitigating environmental impacts while ensuring scalability.

A Demand Already Building

Farmers who have previously experimented with seaweed or bromoform products are now in pursuit of solutions that are cost-effective and capable of reaching grazing animals while also delivering productivity gains. This scenario positions BetterFeed favorably in a burgeoning market.

Williams notes, “There is space for a few winners globally as farmers will choose what best aligns with their operational needs, and we’re confident in our positioning.”

A Strategic Roadmap for Global Expansion

The Series A funding will expedite large-scale animal trials and secure regulatory approvals in Australia, New Zealand, the EU, and the US. Furthermore, a carbon insetting program will allow farmers to claim verified reductions, preparing BetterFeed for commercial readiness.

The product is on course for an Australian launch by 2026, with ambitions for international markets by 2027-2028. The new carbon insetting methodology, which is being developed in collaboration with a global verification body, aims for validation by 2026, facilitating Scope 3 emissions reductions for supply chains.

Japan is closely observing this development, given its importation of over 247,000 tons of Australian beef annually. For ONE Innovators, the dual impact of better beef imports and domestic agricultural emission reductions in Japan offers compelling commercial opportunities.

A Moment of Consensus in Climate and Agriculture

Historically, agriculture and climate policy have often been at odds. Farmers typically resist increased costs, while regulators seek lower emissions. Few solutions meet both demands.

“By boosting yields for farmers while reducing emissions, Number 8 Bio demonstrates that profitability and environmental stewardship can coexist,” asserts Bleakley.

Williams notes that this alignment is critical for the company’s growing momentum, as evidenced by the interest from investors across three countries. “This funding round signals a strong global belief in our approach,” he says, emphasizing that “capital is gravitating toward innovations that provide tangible impacts alongside commercial returns. BetterFeed stands right at that intersection.”

In a sector long caught between scientific potential and market realities, Number 8 Bio appears to have pioneered a pathway to effective methane mitigation that also proves financially beneficial for farmers.

This article is structured using HTML for seamless integration into WordPress, ensuring it is easy to read and visually appealing. It addresses current challenges in methane mitigation, introduces Number 8 Bio’s innovative solutions, and outlines the potential benefits for farmers and the environment.