An extract derived from daffodils will be tested in New Zealand after United Kingdom research discovered its potential to cut methane emissions from livestock.
Welsh research company Agroceutical Products has discovered that haemanthamine, a naturally occurring compound from daffodils, may be effective in reducing methane production in cattle after conducting lab trials.
The company is partnering with AgriZeroNZ in a public-private joint venture investment of up to $4 million to trial haemanthamine on animals in New Zealand .
If successful, its development will be accelerated as a new emissions-cutting tool for Kiwi farmers.
Agroceutical Products is known for its work extracting naturally occurring compounds from daffodils, most notably galanthamine, which is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The early-stage investment presents an exciting opportunity to bring the pioneering research to New Zealand, which has the ideal conditions for growing daffodils, AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee said.
“It’s been widely acknowledged that a technology-led approach is the best way to support farmers to reduce emissions without compromising on profitability.
“We’re scanning the world for cutting-edge tools that could work on New Zealand farms and we’re excited to leverage the knowledge and expertise of Agroceutical Products for the benefit of Kiwi farmers.”
The daffodils’ methane-reducing abilities will be put to the test at Lincoln University where animal trials are planned to take place from February next year.
Following lab trials conducted on artificial rumens, it’s estimated the daffodil compound could reduce livestock methane emissions by 30% when consumed as a feed additive.
Further development could see the compound being administered via a slow-release bolus within the rumen, which would make the tool accessible to a wider range of ruminant animals including sheep, deer and goats, McNee said.
Agroceutical Products managing director and founder Kevin Stephens said he is looking forward to taking their research to the next step in New Zealand.
“This investment from AgriZeroNZ significantly accelerates our development programme, which will ensure the resultant feed additive is available in New Zealand at the earliest available opportunity, all the while providing New Zealand sheep farmers with an opportunity for an additional income through growing daffodils required to produce the additive.”
If successful, McNee said, the joint venture will support Agroceutical Products with any regulatory approval required to enable the daffodil-based inhibitor to be used on farm.
AgriZeroNZ has committed more than $33 million across a range of emissions reduction tools and technologies for New Zealand farmers, including a methane-inhibiting bolus, novel probiotics, low methane pasture and methane vaccines.
“There isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to reducing emissions across our agricultural sector, so we’re investing in a range of different tools to give us the best chance of providing our farmers with access to affordable, effective solutions,” he said.
In order to produce haemanthamine, daffodils need to be grown in challenging, high-altitude environments, like the Black Mountains in Wales.
Given the limitations of the daffodil growing season in the UK, Agroceutical Products has investigated growing locations in the southern hemisphere to provide a year-round supply.
“New Zealand’s rugged hill country provides the prime growing conditions needed for daffodils to produce the compounds we’re looking for,” Stephens said.
Most recently, Stephens was involved in a trial that found daffodils grown on South Island sheep farms produced commercial concentrations of galanthamine.
Stephens, himself a sheep and beef farmer, initially started growing daffodils on his hill country land to diversify the farm’s income. He said he is pleased to bring that same opportunity to New Zealand farmers.
“Daffodils are easily integrated into sheep farming systems as sheep don’t eat the plants, and simply graze around them.
“The daffodil bulbs can be planted directly into pasture and then harvested for extraction with no significant capital expenditure or damage to surrounding pasture.”
