Methane emissions from cows and other ruminants account for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. A new collaboration aimed at developing a methane-reducing feed supplement has now begun, with the goal of bringing a cheese with lower climate-impacting emissions to the market this spring. The project involves the entire food chain, from Fröstorp Farm and Gäsene Dairy to Volta Greentech and the food retail group Axfood.
Methane emissions from cows and other ruminants account for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. A new collaboration aimed at developing a methane-reducing feed supplement has now begun, with the goal of bringing a cheese with lower climate-impacting emissions to the market this spring. The project involves the entire food chain, from Fröstorp Farm and Gäsene Dairy to Volta Greentech and the food retail group Axfood.
– To significantly reduce the climate impact of food, we need scalable on-farm solutions that lead to sustainable products for consumers. Collaboration across the entire food chain is key to success, says Helena Allard, Sustainability Innovator at Axfood.
At Fröstorp Farm, located outside Herrljunga in Sweden, the methane-reducing feed supplement Bovaer® is being added to the feed of approximately 600 cows. A measurement station has been set up in the barn to monitor methane levels in the cows' exhaled air before and after the introduction of the feed supplement. The objective of the project is to reduce the climate impact of Garant household cheese, one of Axfood Group's own brands. If the feed supplement proves effective, all Garant household cheeses will be relaunched this spring.
The project is managed by Swedish biotech company Volta Greentech, in collaboration with Gäsene Dairy and Axfood’s purchasing and logistics company, Dagab. The purpose is to gather more knowledge and experience, with the goal of scaling up to more farms and products. Over time, this will enable even more effective feed supplements that can further reduce methane emissions.
In 2023, Naturvårdsverket, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, identified methane-reducing feed additives as one of the most effective measures for reducing emissions from livestock digestion. They urged the government to explore the feasibility, potential, and socio-economic impacts of such measures. The project partners see great potential in feed supplements.
– To succeed with climate initiatives, it’s essential to have data on the amount of CO2-equivalent reduction achieved and at what cost. This allows for informed decisions about climate actions. We are convinced that feed supplements will soon become the industry standard because they are both measurable and cost-effective, says Fredrik Åkerman, CEO of Volta Greentech.
The methane-reducing supplement Bovaer® is added in small doses to the cows’ feed and doesn’t affect the taste or texture of the cheese. Its effects are immediate, reaching full efficacy in about two days. Previous studies show that methane emissions decrease by approximately 30 percent per day. The supplement is tested and approved by the European Commission.
– We believe it is important to participate in a project that helps reduce agricultural emissions and thereby further position Swedish dairy products as leaders in sustainability, says Marcus Jansson, CEO of Gäsene Mejeri.
Using a well-known and popular product like Swedish household cheese is an advantage because it reduces the need for extensive information campaigns or marketing efforts. Consumers are already familiar with the product, making it easier to achieve meaningful results and quickly reduce climate-impacting emissions. By choosing Garant household cheese, consumers can help drive this change.
