SBIR Phase II: Optimizing production and final product stability of Asparagopsis taxiformis as a novel feed material for livestock methane reduction

这个小型企业研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响是通过商业化生产用于牛饲料的紫杉状芦笋来减少反刍动物畜牧业的甲烷产量。目前地球上有15亿头牛，它们在生长过程中通过释放甲烷而大大增加了温室气体排放。结果表明，A.牛饲料中的taxiformis可以使甲烷排放量减少80%以上。然而，A.紫杉类落后于市场需求。据保守估计，减少15亿头牛的甲烷排放所需的生物质生产量为每天264公吨新鲜藻类生物质。该项目的目标是优化户外栽培实践，以满足这一生产目标。此外，最终产品的造粒将扩大这种新型牲畜饲料添加剂的实施能力，从小农户到工业饲养场，通过将这种新型饲料纳入标准牧场实践，进一步增加产品的影响。本项目旨在开发新的A.规模化生产操作中的Taxiformis。目前，生产方法主要集中在低光照、能源密集型和难以规模化的室内栽培。该项目的重点是在自动化室外种植系统中生产生物质，从而克服室内种植的规模和相关能源成本的限制。开发针对该物种需求的替代性户外栽培系统将提高产量，以满足行业需求。此外，研磨最终饲料产品的行业标准导致运输的质量体积比较低，从而推动运输成本上升。研磨材料由于表面积：空气比增加而吸收水分，因此产品生存能力存在问题。通过与当地生产藻类的饲料厂合作，该项目中概述的方法可以实现当地实体的经济收益，大幅降低运输成本。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to reduce methane production in the ruminant livestock industry via the commercial production of Asparagopsis taxiformis for inclusion in cattle feed. There are currently 1.5 billion head of cattle on earth, which contribute significantly to greenhouse emissions via methane release during growth. It has been demonstrated that the inclusion of A. taxiformis in cattle feed can drive down methane emissions by more than 80%. However, production capabilities of A. taxiformis lag behind the market need. A conservative estimate for biomass production necessary to mitigate methane emissions of 1.5 billion cattle is 264 metric tons of fresh algae biomass daily. The goal of this project is to optimize outdoor cultivation practices is necessary to meet this production goal. Additionally, pelletization of the final product will broaden implementation capacity of this novel livestock feed additive from small farmers to industrial feedlots, further increasing the impact of the product by incorporating this novel feed into standard ranching practices. This project pursues development of novel cultivation procedures of A. taxiformis in scaled production operations. Currently, production approaches focus on low-light, energy intensive, and difficult to scale indoor cultivation. This project focuses on producing biomass in automated outdoor cultivation systems, thus overcoming limitations of scaling and associated energy costs of indoor cultivation. The development of alternative outdoor cultivation systems specific to the species’ needs will improve yield in production to meet industry needs. Additionally, the industry standard of milling final feed products results in a lower mass:volume ratio for shipment, driving shipping costs up. Milled material is problematic for product viability due to moisture absorption from increased surface area:air ratio. By working with a local feed mill where the algae are produced, the approach outlined in this project can realize economic gains by a local entity, reducing the costs of shipping dramatically.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.