CH4 Global Begins Production at World’s First Commercial-Scale Asparagopsis Growing Facility, Setting New Benchmark for Cost-Effective Livestock Methane Reduction

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With its proprietary pond-based system, CH4 Global aims to reduce production costs by up to 90% compared to conventional methods, enabling profitable scaling of seaweed-based feed supplement that suppresses methane production in cattle

Henderson, Nevada, USA – January 29, 2025: CH4 Global today announced that it has begun production at the world’s first commercial-scale facility for growing Asparagopsis, marking a major step forward in making seaweed-based methane reduction accessible and economically viable for the global livestock industry.

CH4 Global’s EcoPark facility, which formally opened today in Louth Bay, South Australia, represents a breakthrough in the commercial-scale production of Asparagopsis seaweed for livestock methane reduction. The facility's innovative pond-based cultivation system is projected to lower production costs to as little as one-tenth of those of conventional tank-based methods, positioning CH4 Global to deliver its Asparagopsis-based Methane Tamer™ cattle feed supplement at a price point that ensures profitability throughout the agricultural value chain.

“The opening of this facility lays to rest any doubt about whether Asparagopsis production can be scaled to meet commercial demand," CH4 Global CEO and Co-Founder Steve Meller, PhD, said at the facility’s opening ceremony. "We've cracked the code on making methane-reducing feed supplements commercially viable without requiring government subsidies – a crucial step in scaling this important climate solution.”

The EcoPark's initial phase includes 10 large-scale cultivation ponds with a combined capacity of 2 million liters, able to produce more than 80 metric tons of Asparagopsis annually. Over the next year, the facility will expand to 100 ponds capable of producing enough Asparagopsis to serve 45,000 cattle per day – a significant step toward meeting demand from CH4 Global's existing commercial partners in Australia and beyond. With additional investment, the facility could eventually expand to 500 ponds that produce enough Asparagopsis to serve hundreds of thousands of cattle per day.

“With the EcoPark, CH4 Global now has more production capacity than all other producers combined, putting us in a unique position to meet growing market demand," Meller added. "The simple fact is that natural Asparagopsis is the safest, most effective way to reduce methane emissions from cattle, and our cost efficiencies mean farmers can now realize a net economic benefit while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. This is how you drive rapid adoption of climate solutions.”

The EcoPark's design addresses major scaling challenges that have historically limited Asparagopsis production. While competing approaches rely on either ocean harvesting with high variability or expensive indoor tanks, CH4 Global's system delivers consistent, high-quality production at a fraction of the cost.

Key advantages of the pond-based system include:

  • Capital costs roughly 90% lower than tank-based cultivation
  • Enhanced operational efficiency through polytunnel systems that precisely control growing conditions
  • Reduced contamination risk and weather disruption compared to ocean-based farming
  • Optimized harvest volumes, multiple times per year
  • Strategic location in temperate zones that minimize energy costs for growing

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is a major contributor to climate change. The EcoPark opening comes as global pressure intensifies to reduce agricultural methane emissions, which account for roughly 30% of human-driven methane output. CH4 Global estimates that if Methane Tamer™ were adopted by just 10% of the world's cattle, it would deliver climate benefits equivalent to removing 100 million cars from the road.

About CH4 Global
CH4 Global is on a mission to deliver gigaton-scale emissions reductions over the next decade using whole, dried Asparagopsis seaweed – the safest and most effective way of targeting livestock methane. The company's flagship product, Methane Tamer™, leverages Asparagopsis to reduce enteric methane emissions in cattle by up to 90%. Through its innovative EcoPark cultivation system, CH4 Global is scaling rapidly to meet global demand, ensuring profitability throughout the supply chain without relying on subsidies. Headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, with operations in Australia and New Zealand, CH4 Global is pioneering a new era of sustainable animal agriculture; to learn more, please visit www.ch4global.com.
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