Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the requirements for manufacturing natural bromoform feed additives derived from Asparagopsis species for feeding to food-producing animals.

Purpose

The UN SDG 2 goal is focused on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) projections show that feeding a world population of 9.1 billion people in 2050 would require raising overall food production by some 70 per cent. HLEF2050_Global_Agriculture.pdf (fao.org).

According to the CSIRO Australia, an estimated 1.3 billion people rely on livestock such as cattle and sheep for their livelihoods. There is a significant need to increase the productivity of livestock production to help lift people out of economic and food poverty.

However, this livestock contributes approximately 15 per cent of the world's entire total of greenhouse gas emissions, and in Australia, the contribution of methane emissions from ruminant livestock is approaching 10 per cent of total greenhouse emissions.

Scientific research conducted has found that a seaweed supplement, specifically the Asparagopsis species of seaweed produces a bioactive compound called bromoform, which prevents the formation of methane by inhibiting a specific enzyme in the gut during the digestion of feed.

There has been considerable research undertaken by CSIRO here in Australia and research partners abroad providing evidence that Asparagopsis as a feed additive can reduce methane by 90%.

Seaweed growers in Australia and around the world need to secure the ongoing delivery of high-quality seaweed to support the emerging industry on the use of Asparagopsis as supplement.

Standards that underpin the industry are needed to build trust and credibility in the new industry, to support scalability and ensure harmonisation across the global supply chain.