The race is on to commercialise a product that will significantly reduce methane emissions in cattle around the world, but can Australia's CSIRO beat the Dutch corporate giant DSM to the punch?

The world is scrambling to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and over 100 countries have committed to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent in the next decade.

The prize is to commercialise a feed additive that can cut emissions in cattle and help that industry get to net zero.

Australia's CSIRO is the Johnny-come-lately, the research minnow competing against a Dutch corporate giant, but they have grand ambitions.

In collaboration with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and James Cook University (JCU) they have developed a product that cuts emissions in cows by 90 per cent.

Michael Battaglia, the director of the collaboration's FutureFeed product, said the organisation wants to "change the world from Australia".

Emissions from cows a big problem

Livestock farming and the meat industry are responsible for 18 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. 

On average, a single cow releases over 250 litres of methane per day, but these two products can block the production of methane in the cows stomach. 

Mark van Nieuwland heads up the global program for Royal DSM, employing 23,000 people, and their product Bovaer.

The product has been extensively tested over ten years in more than 45 on-farm trials and reported on in more than 48 peer-reviewed studies, according to DSM. 

It has signed agreements with Brazil and Chile to approve the product's use, and is partnering with the world's biggest meat processor JBS to commence using the product. 

"They will first start with their own feedlots and then I imagine they'll look at the other beef they process, but they are also well connected to the food service industry and the retail sector," Mr van Nieuwland said.

DSM announced at COP 26 that they were investing $180 million into a plant in Scotland to start large scale commercial production of Bovaer.

The company also received a positive European Food Safety Agency opinion on Bovaer, something that will make a big difference to companies like JBS wanting to sell meat into the EU.

FutureFeed playing catchup

The CSIRO has a lot of catching up to do, but in late 2020 it received a Food Planet Prize for its product based on the seaweed asparagopsis. 

Michael Battaglia from FutureFeed thinks the Australian product will work well for businesses looking for an organically-sourced product.

Mr Battaglia said he was not concerned about the progress DSM had made on gaining approvals in places like Brazil, the world's largest beef producer. 

"You don't need an approval to feed seaweed to livestock, its a natural product," he said.

FutureFeed is working on a system that would enable consumers to claim carbon credits for using the product, but there is more work to be done.

Ultimately both products will enable the livestock sector to reduce emissions to help keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees or less.

Tim Baxter from the Climate Council is encouraged by the competition.