Climate-Smart Ruminant Feed Additives: Consortia of Algae and Microbes for Sustainable Enteric Methane Abatement, Improved Health, and Enhanced Productivity in Indian Cattle

Arup Ghosh of CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute in India will design a feed additive for Indian cattle that combines algae and bacteria to reduce enteric methane emission, improve livestock health, and enhance agricultural productivity. From Indian sources, they will select seaweed, marine microalgae, and bacteria, screening them for their ability to inhibit methanogenesis in vitro and in the rumen of cattle. They will also assess their effect on the rumen microbiota and on cattle physiology and productivity. Candidate products made from these additives will be evaluated for their economic viability, including their potential for large-scale cost-effective production, storage, and distribution, as well as for their benefits to farmers relative to existing solutions.