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AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee.
The Government and the agriculture sector are pumping $13.5 million into research of a methane vaccine.
AgriZeroNZ and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) are forking out $8.5m and $5m respectively to new company Lucidome Bio, which is spearheading the next phase in the pioneering research.
AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee says it is pleased to boost its support for the research, following prior funding to set up the entity to attract international investors and accelerate development.
"A vaccine that reduces methane from ruminant animals would be a transformational tool for New Zealand's agricultural sector and for farmers worldwide.
"It's widely recognised as the holy grail to reduce emisions, as it's a low cost, high-impact solution which has the potential to be adopted into all farming systems.
"We're really pleased to be backing Lucidome Bio, alongside the NZAGRC, in a shared effort to get a vaccine to farmers sooner," says McNee.
A successful vaccine would trigger an animal's immune system to generate antibodies in saliva that suppress the growth and function of methane-producing microbes (methanogens) in the rumen, significantly reducing the quantity of the potent greenhous gas it burps out.
NZAGRC executive director Naomi Parker says the reliance on antibody production in saliva and the complex nature of the rumen makes this work incredibly challenging, however the progress to date gives confidence it can achieve success.
"We're proud to be long-standing supporters of this work and help Lucidome Bio achieve a world-first by turning the vaccine's research legacy into a safe and effective tool for farmers.
"This is no easy task, but the research team has made significant progress over the years and achieved many groundbreaking advancements which provide critical foundations to support future success."
Lucidome Bio interim chief executive David Aitken welcomed the funding and emphasised the new venture's commitment to technological innovation in tackling this global opportunity.
"We know farmers are looking for effective and affordable ways to reduce methane. Our vision is to help farmers feed the world while protecting our planet. We're focused on making the technology breakthroughs needed to commercialise a safe, effective vaccine that reduces methane emissions at scale and addresses one of the world's biggest climate change challenges.
"This funding will allow us to build the team, carry out field trials in animals and progress development of the vaccine for farmers," says Aitken.
A world-first public-private joint venture helping farmers cut emissions is set to have the first product from its investment portfolio - a methane-reducing bolus - available for beef farmers early next year.
Lucidome Bio, a New Zealand agricultural biotech company was recently selected as one of fourteen global finalists to pitch at the Animal Health, Nutrition and Technology Innovation USA event in Boston.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Rob Hewett has been appointed the new chair of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development of tools to help Kiwi farmers reduce emissions.
A methane inhibiting bolus specifically suited to New Zealand's pastoral farming system is awaiting regulatory approval for a launch late next year.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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