Unlocking economic value: A biofeed that tackles methane emission and benefits farmers

Farmers have long been stewards of the land, preserving resources and traditions passed down through generations. But in the climate conversation, they’re often cast as the villains—blamed for methane emissions and environmental degradation.

This narrative misses a crucial point: the incentives for farmers and climate advocates are more aligned than we think.

Methane from cattle burps—scientifically called enteric methanogenesis—is a major contributor to global warming, with 27% of U.S. methane emissions traced back to livestock. Methane is over 100 times more potent than CO₂ at warming the planet while it’s in the atmosphere, but it only stays there for about 12 years. Reducing methane today buys us time to solve bigger climate problems.

Falling in love with the problem
Enter Alga Biosciences co-founded by Alex Brown and a team of UC Berkeley PhD candidates. Alex saw methane not as an unavoidable byproduct but as a solvable challenge.

In a recent interview for the Xooglers in Climate Founder Series, Alex shares how he fell in love with the problem and how the company is already making an impact on the ground.

Alga Bioscience has developed a feed additive based on seaweeds (Asparagopsis Taxiformis to be more specific) capable of reducing methane emissions from cattle by up to 97%. The company's approach is both innovative and practical. By utilizing substrates from algae already produced at large scales for other industries, they can source materials cost-effectively and at scale.

As Alex explained “Scaling was our focus from the outset. We didn’t want to grow undomesticated seaweed; instead, we designed a feed additive that is massively scalable and works with co-manufacturers.”

Alga Biosciences analyzes the bioactive profiles of these algae, synthesizes and stabilizes the necessary compounds, and combines them with the raw substrate to create an ideal feed additive. This method ensures scalability and affordability, making it accessible to farmers nationwide.

Credit: Alga Biosciences

Aligning incentives

Methane production isn’t just a greenhouse gas problem—it’s a waste of energy. For beef cattle ranchers, who are laser-focused on maximizing the “pounds in” of feed to “pounds out” of beef, it’s a hidden inefficiency that eats into profits. Up to 15% of the calories cows consume are lost in the process of producing methane—energy that could otherwise be converted into growth.

Unlike dairy cows, which direct energy into milk production, growth, and even pregnancy, beef cattle’s energy flow is straightforward: feed equals weight gain. This simplicity, combined with the concentration of animals in a single location, makes feed yards an ideal testing ground for Alga’s scalable solution.

By optimizing the feed-to-weight ratio, Alga delivers a win-win: better margins for farmers and meaningful climate impact.

Credit: CattleCon

The hot product at CattleCon last year was a solution that improved feed efficiency by just 2%. When Alex mentioned their ability to achieve 10%, people didn’t believe it—that’s how significant these gains are.

But getting farmers on board isn’t just about pitching the science—it’s about building trust.

To kickstart adoption, Alga has leveraged carbon credits as a key part of its value proposition. The offer is simple: farmers can try the feed additive for free, see how it integrates into their operations, and even earn a share of the carbon credit revenue generated by reducing methane emissions.

"But really what makes the difference here is consistency. It’s a social proof-driven industry—the best way you can sell is to have their neighbors using it," explains Alex.

By combining data-backed results with a farmer-first mindset, Alga is aligning incentives to create a value proposition that’s hard to ignore.

A new narrative: farmers as climate heroes.

There's a massive gap in communication between the climate community and the producers on the ground. Farmers often feel unfairly blamed for environmental issues, despite their deep connection to the land and commitment to stewardship.

"What is fascinating is this conversation around farmers as climate heroes," Alex says. "It's something they're very interested in. We need to create a place for them to be part of the solution. By aligning incentives and providing practical, profitable solutions, we can change the narrative."

What’s next?
For Alex, success isn’t measured by awards or headlines—it’s about feeding hundreds of millions of cattle, dramatically reducing methane emissions worldwide, and giving farmers the tools to thrive while positioning them as essential climate allies.

If you want to learn more about methane, check out MethaneSAT, a satellite mission launched in March 2024 by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Its primary objective is to monitor and quantify global methane emissions, particularly from oil and gas facilities, agriculture, and landfills.