Cargill & ZELP to tackle methane emissions in the dairy industry

Growing methane emission concerns are putting pressure on producers to implement solutions to reduce their impact. To help with this need, Cargill and ZELP (Zero Emission Livestock Project) have partnered to bring European dairy farmers an innovative solution to reduce methane emissions, combining technology in methane oxidation and data processing to minimize the environmental impact dairy production while improving animal welfare.

Enteric methane is a natural by-product of cattle digesting feed, which is then released from the mouth and nose. ZELP developed a cattle wearable that neutralizes part of this methane as it is exhaled using smart technology. Cargill will be the exclusive distributor of the novel device for the European dairy market.

“Farmers and agribusiness are looking for ways to drive methane mitigation and change for our planet while meeting the challenge of feeding a growing population,” said Delphine Melchior, sustainability and quality sector director for Cargill’s aqua and animal nutrition business. “By partnering with ZELP, we are in a unique position to help significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock production.”

As much as 95% of an animal’s methane emissions come from its mouth and nostrils. The ZELP technology, which easily attaches to regular halters, captures and oxidizes those emissions.

Francisco Norris, chief executive officer and co-founder of ZELP, explains, “We are combining data processing with unique catalytic technology to reduce methane emissions and improve animal welfare. We continue improving the efficiency of our technology, which has already demonstrated a 53% reduction potential. We have also evaluated the wearable’s effect on animal behavior and found no impact on production yields, rumination, rest and activity periods, and feed intake”.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the ZELP wearable device drives animal welfare by giving dairy farmers new insights into the health and performance of their livestock. The technology captures a range of behavioral and physiological data, in addition to monitoring animals’ breath and methane emissions. This data feature could allow farmers to increase productivity, help detect if an animal is overheating, anticipate diseases, prevent outbreaks, and provide deeper insights into digestion, feed optimization, and feed conversion efficiency.

In the coming months, Cargill and ZELP will conduct additional testing at the Cargill Research and Development Center and Wageningen University, one of the world’s leading universities in agriculture, environment, and healthy food. Following their completion, the companies expect to launch the ZELP wearable in the second half of 2022.

“Our collaboration with ZELP and the role of new technologies is part of a broader strategy to accelerate progress towards our sustainability commitments for customers and consumers,” said Sander van Zijderveld, Cargill’s ruminant strategic marketing and technology lead in West-Europe. “ZELP’s technology is the perfect complement to our extensive research and knowledge on reducing methane emissions.”

Cargill deploys a holistic approach to methane mitigation, focusing on three areas - best farm management practices, improved animal productivity through feed and nutrition, and additives. In North America, the company also launched its BefUp sustainability initiative, aiming to achieve a 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity reduction across its North American beef supply chain by 2030.