In a Victorian-first, seaweed is being farmed to one day reduce methane emissions in cows.
The numbers are impressive. Feeding a small ration can reduce a cow's methane emissions by 98 per cent.
It is a natural product that is readily available, and it could even help the cattle gain weight faster.
Asparagopsis armata is being farmed in Port Phillip, right on Melbourne's doorstep.
Scientists are working on other uses for the seaweed, but it is the livestock application that is being targeted in Victoria for the time being.
A recent study found that including Asparagopsis in a steer's feedlot ration at a rate of 0.20 per cent of organic matter could reduce its methane emissions by up to 98 per cent.
"We see globally and particularly here in Australia that the use of Asparagopsis as a livestock supplement is a very advanced field," Immersion Group director Scott Elliott said.
"We have a representative body called Future Feed who is working hand in hand with industry in order to get this into the guts of animals and to reduce methane."
Mr Elliott said other beneficial uses, particularly in human applications, still required many years of research.
An exciting time for Victorian industry
Researchers note a particular focus on Asparagopsis armata. However, it is not the only species that could have beneficial uses.
Dr Prue Francis, a senior marine science lecturer at Deakin University, said seaweeds could one day also be used in the medicine, beauty and food industries.
"For me, it's really exciting to see what might become, particularly in Victoria," Dr Francis said.
"There's a lot of great sites along the Victorian coastline.
"In fact, we've got a seaweed biodiversity hotspot along the Victorian coastline.
"So, we're really primed to explore what seaweed spaces we've got to farm and do it at a large scale and look after our food security.
"Seaweed and seaweed farming could potentially meet that food security challenge that we're seeing now in Australia."
Crucial to livestock industry targets
Australia's red meat industry has a target to be carbon neutral by 2030. The industry has invested in seaweed and has claimed it as a success story.
"It demonstrates that we can actually solve the problem," Meat and Livestock Australia managing director Jason Strong said.
"That we can invest in and discover or find and invent technologies that get us down the path of being carbon neutral by 2030.
"It works, and we're not that far off it becoming commercially viable at all," he said.
"There's a number of companies growing and producing the supplement now, initially as a freeze tried product. it's able to be used now, and we expect those companies growing it will have a product in the market very soon."
New challenges
Dr Francis said figuring out how to cultivate seaweeds can be challenging.
"Taking it up to farm at a large scale requires research and development trials, so we're certainly getting there. Hopefully, into the future, with more research and more trials, we'll see our knowledge improve further."
Henry Cole, a diver and offshore operations manager with Immersion Group said they were actually propagating seaweed from the sea floor to their lines.
"Basically, we're just giving it the assistance it needs and structure for it to grow," Mr Cole said.
Mr Elliott said there had been false starts along the way, with a lot learned about seaweed production.
"We're at a stage where our research and development is done," Mr Elliott said.
