Trial update: Surf, turf & carbon neutral wool.
SOURCE: M.J. BALE
Nearing the end of our world-first commercial trial to produce Carbon Neutral Wool via the virtues of asparagopsis seaweed, M.J. Bale Founder Matt Jensen visits both Sea Forest and Kingston farm in Tasmania.
Here, our skipper speaks with Sea Forest Founder/CEO, Sam Elsom, as well as Kingston farmer, Simon Cameron, about the trial’s progress and the potential for seaweed in the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions.
M.J. Bale is pleased to share the news that we’re nearing the end of our world-first Carbon Neutral Wool commercial trial at Kingston farm in Tasmania. It has been an almost 300-day journey so far for farmer Simon Cameron and his flock of 25 trial Merino sheep, and very labour intensive, but he knows, as we do, that the outcome is worth it.
Methane emissions related to ruminant livestock (e.g., sheep, cattle) contribute approx. 10% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas output each year. Feeding Kingston Merinos a small amount of asparagopsis seaweed each day on top of their usual grazing diet disrupts their enteric fermentation, ensuring emissions become undetectable (<2%).
We hope that the trial pioneers a new way to produce this sustainable and biodegradable natural fibre at the farm level with close to zero greenhouse gas emissions, helping to fight climate change. The University of Tasmania has been monitoring the trial, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results.