Our first solution is a natural feed supplement that significantly reduces methane emissions from ruminants. Mootral is based on a proprietary combination of active compounds from garlic and flavonoids derived from citrus. Our research shows a nearly complete inhibition of emitted methane in in vitro that reaches up to 38% reduction under real farm conditions
The Mootral business model sets out to prove “there is good business in the business of doing good”. Mootral unlocks new, innovative and profitable approaches to reducing GHG emissions, including the creation of a new climate-friendly food standard for beef and dairy products and a “cow credit” currency. Mootral is a “win-win” for all, but especially for farmers. Today, farmers are facing economic hardships and regulatory challenges unforeseen just a few decades ago. In order to support their future financial prosperity in a sustainable way, and one that meets the emerging needs of consumers, new thinking is needed. Mootral is the result of that thinking – bringing strong benefits to all stakeholders.
Dairy farms play a crucial role in stewardship of the environment: for example, well-maintained grass and soil provide valuable carbon sequestration. Cattle also provide nutrient-rich food sources for millions that could not otherwise be provided from existing biomass. Plus the majority of consumers want to continue to enjoy beef and dairy, as part of a healthy and balanced diet, and at the same time want to do their part in mitigating climate change.
But cows and other ruminants produce large amounts of methane. The focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock is intensifying as it is responsible for an estimated 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gases, of which methane accounts for a significant proportion.
Cows, being the highest methane producers amongst ruminants, are a crucial factor in our environmental ecosystem and the economy, Mootral is setting the foundation for the future through a solution that makes an impact today. It enables a positive transition to climate-smart agriculture designed to help farmers earn more money and industry partners to reduce their impact on the environment. The future is climate-smart and the future is now.
[1] FAO – Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM)
[2] GWP Values and lifetimes from 2013 IPCC AR5 p714
[3] GWP 20 (84x CO2)
[4] Average car emissions (CO2/km/year): 118g CO2 x 65km x 250days
LEARN MORE ABOUT COWS AND METHANE
Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually through belching. On average a cow produces around 500 litres of methane per day.
A cow belches once per minute
A cow pollutes more than 5 average cars
There are 1.5 billion cows on earth
By 2050 2.5 billion cows are expected to live on earth
To understand why cows produce methane, it's important to know a bit more about how their digestive system works. Cows, goats, sheep, and several other animals belong to a class of animals called ruminants. While humans digest food in your intestines, ruminants do it via a four-compartment stomach. They eat food, regurgitate it as cud and then eat it again. This remarkable digestive ability, called enteric fermentation, enables cows to transform valuable biomass, such as grass, into high quality protein and other nutrients, which are then available for a growing human population. However, a byproduct of enteric fermentation is methane produced by bacteria in the largest stomach, the rumen.
Methane is a colourless, odourless gas. It is lighter than air, at normal temperatures and pressures.
Methane traps over 84 times as much heat over a 20-year period as carbon dioxide.* While its lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than carbon dioxide’s (12.8 years), it traps far more radiation.
*Source: IPCC
Methane is responsible for up to 25% of global warming. Methane is the most prevalent greenhouse gas after CO2.
Agriculture is responsible for an estimated 24% of the world's greenhouse gases; around 40% of that corresponds to cattle emissions. A significant portion of these emissions come from methane, whose contribution to global warming is 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over 20 years. The majority of consumers want to continue to enjoy beef and dairy and at the same time want to do their part in reducing climate change. Market research confirms that consumers are willing to pay more for climate-friendly produce, which in turn helps farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Natural plant extracts are an attractive and effective alternative to synthetic products in animal health and have been shown to have significant ability in modulating rumen fermentation[1][2]. In addition to its well-documented and long-known health and digestion benefits, natural compounds from garlic have shown consistent methane reducing and propionate increasing capacity. These health-promoting effects on ruminants have been confirmed with in-vitro, in-vivo and ex-vivo methods[3][4].
Natural plant flavonoids including citrus extracts are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and recent studies have revealed their ability to improve rumen fermentation. Neem Biotech, Mootral’s research arm, has put extensive resources into investigating the combination of these natural compounds and their synergistic relationship.
All this to say, just a few grams of Mootral into the feed not only results in better health and performance prospects for the herd but also makes ruminants climate-friendly without containing any harmful chemicals. In summary, Mootral makes a significant contribution to animal health and welfare, climate change and farmer profitability.
[1] Martin, C., Morgavi D.P. and Doreau, M. 2010. Methane mitigation in ruminants: from microbe to farm scale. Animal 4(3): 351-365.
[2] Cieslak, A, Szumacher-Strabel, M., Stochmal, A. and Oleszek, W., 2013. Plant components with specific activities against rumen methanogens. Animal 7(S2): 253-265.
[3] Kamra, D.N., Agarwal, N. Sakthivel, P.C. and Chaudhary, L.C., 2010. Garlic as a rumen modifier for eco-friendly and economic livestock production. Journal of Applied Animal Research. 40(2): 90-96.
[4] Zafarian, R., Manafi, M., 2013. Effect of Garlic Powder on Methane Production, Rumen Fermentation and Milk Production of Buffaloes. Annual Review & Research in Biology 3(4): 1013-1019
MOOTRAL is an AgriTech company based in Switzerland that develops innovative solutions for companies and governments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector.
