- Hoofprint Biome is developing a feed additive with enzymes and probiotics intended to reduce methane emissions by influencing cows’ microbiomes.
- The project is led by Kathryn Polkoff and Scott Collins, and the technology aims to combine environmental goals with improved cattle feeding efficiency.
- The company has not yet provided data on the extent of methane reduction, the impact on milk production, or costs, so its effectiveness needs to be confirmed in practice.
Enzymes are intended to help reduce methane
The project is led by Kathryn Polkoff, co-founder and CEO of Hoofprint Biome. Together with Scott Collins, she is developing technology that uses knowledge of animal microbiomes to reduce methane emissions and improve the functioning of cattle’s digestive systems.
As Polkoff explains, the amount of methane produced by cattle is largely linked to the microorganisms living in their digestive tracts. The startup is developing enzymes intended to help limit the production of this gas while also shaping the microbiome in a way that benefits the animals.
The goal is not only to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production. The solution’s developers also expect it to improve feed efficiency and the profitability of cattle farms.
Biotechnology in the service of cattle breeding
The idea for developing the technology grew out of the company founder’s scientific experience. Kathryn Polkoff graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she worked, among other things, on research into the use of biotechnology in livestock production. She then earned a doctorate in veterinary biomedical sciences from North Carolina State University.
Polkoff’s earlier research included using CRISPR technology to edit the genes of beef and dairy cattle. The research covered, among other things, the possibility of correcting genetic defects, increasing milk yield, and improving animals’ adaptation to tropical climate conditions.
Startup co-founder Scott Collins, meanwhile, worked, among other things, on enzyme engineering and microbiome research. Combining these areas of expertise provided the foundation for developing a solution aimed at reducing methane emissions.
An additive produced using yeast fermentation
Hoofprint Biome raised funding from investors to develop its research and development capabilities. The team currently has 12 people and is working to increase the scale of enzyme and probiotic production.
Yeast fermentation is used to produce them. The formulations under development are ultimately intended to be added to cattle feed, supporting digestive health and feed efficiency.
The startup intends to develop the technology so that it can be used in various cattle production systems. As Polkoff emphasizes, the company’s long-term ambition is to deliver a solution to farmers around the world.
Lower emissions and more profitable production
Reducing methane emissions is one of the important areas of development for technologies used in cattle production. Methane produced during the digestive processes of ruminants is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, so scientists and biotechnology companies are looking for ways to reduce its production.
For Hoofprint Biome, combining the environmental objective with production benefits is key. The company expects that influencing the microbiome could not only reduce methane emissions, but also improve digestive function and feed efficiency.
At this stage, however, these are goals for the technology under development. The materials provided do not include specific research results on the extent of emissions reductions, the additive’s impact on milk yield, or the costs of using it. Assessing the solution’s suitability for farmers will therefore require data confirming its effectiveness in practice.