Red Seaweed Extracts – Methane Reduction

VALUE PROPOSITION

Teagasc researchers, (with CSIRO), have demonstrated significant prebiotic and methanogen inhibitory activity of polysaccharide (PS) & polyphenol (PP) extracts from red seaweed B. Hamifera indicating potential in prebiotic and animal feed ingredient applications.

OPPORTUNITY

Further research required including cultivation of species to enable large-scale extraction and further in vitro/in vivo trials.

We are seeking collaborators to invest in further development, to bring the technology closer to commercialisation.

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

PS and PP fractions successfully extracted from harvested B. hamifera

Tractions demonstrate increased production of total short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and beneficial gut bacteria, at significantly greater levels than inulin (in vitro)

Observed methanogen inhibitory activity (human in vitro) -esp PP extract

ADVANTAGES

- PS fraction prebiotic effect-significantly higher than prebiotic gold standard inulin
- 1% PP extract reduced the abundance of genus Methanobrevibacter – prominent methanogens – by 44%