As the company Breakthrough Energy Ventures, behind which Microsoft founder Bill Gates stands, among others, announced together with some other investors on Monday that the US billionaires are now supporting the start-up company Rumin8 with their money as part of a new round of financing Total volume of 12 million dollars.
The Perth-based company is developing a type of cow feed supplement made from synthetically mimicked bromoform. This is a substance contained in red algae. According to studies, bromoform is said to be able to reduce methane emissions in breeding cattle by up to 98 percent.
New money to fund commercial testing of burp stopper
The new venture capital is now to be used to finance commercial trials of the product developed by Rumin8 in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. The company also has various supporters from the educational sector, including the University of Western Australia, the University of Melbourne and CQUniversity from Brisbane.
Methane gas is considered to be highly harmful to the climate, with cattle breeding for commercial purposes accounting for around a third of global methane emissions. Methane is the second largest cause of global warming after carbon dioxide, which is why there are many projects to reduce emissions.
Bromoform and red algae have therefore been the focus of interest for some time. The substance from the algae is able to suppress a certain enzyme in the stomach of cows, which is normally responsible for the formation of methane gas. Bill Gates has been supporting various companies and projects that promote a reduction in livestock farming for some time.
Among other things, he has therefore invested in companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, which specialize in the production of meat substitutes. According to Gates, some other well-known billionaire backers are also among the investors behind Breakthrough Energy, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Chinese online retailer Alibaba founder Jack Ma.
See also:
