Morrisons Partners with Sea Forest to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Morrisons, one of the UK’s leading supermarket chains, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Sea Forest, a science-based environmental technology company and Earthshot finalist.
This collaboration aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle through the use of SeaFeed™, a methane-abating livestock feed made from seaweed.
In this innovative venture, Sea Forest will work exclusively with Myton Food Group, Morrisons’ manufacturing arm, to supply SeaFeed™. This feed is designed to lower methane emissions from cattle, potentially leading to the introduction of lower carbon beef products such as mince, burgers, steaks, and joints on Morrisons’ shelves by 2026.
While the approval process is still ongoing, this initiative aligns with Morrisons’ ambition to achieve net zero agricultural emissions from its directly supplied farms by 2030.
The Technical and Sustainability Director at Myton Food Group highlighted Morrisons’ unique position as British farming’s largest direct customer, emphasising their capability to support farmers in adopting more sustainable practices.
The direct relationships with farmers and the expertise of their livestock specialists enable Morrisons to swiftly implement changes. Once the trial and approval processes are complete, the development and distribution of lower carbon beef products will commence, supporting the drive to reduce cattle emissions.
Sea Forest’s CEO expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, noting that distributing their methane-reducing solution through a respected retailer like Morrisons marks a significant milestone.
The CEO emphasised that SeaFeed™ has the potential to address one of the most challenging aspects of climate change while sustainably feeding the planet. Sea Forest’s trials with beef, dairy, and wool producers across Australia and New Zealand have shown promising results, and they are excited to bring these benefits to the UK market through this partnership.
This collaboration is part of an ongoing research initiative by Morrisons and Queen’s University Belfast, focusing on the use of seaweed to mitigate methane production in cattle. The Director of Research at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) underscored the importance of this partnership.
They noted that this project exemplifies how their innovative research can have a real-world impact on the agricultural sector and contribute to global climate health.
Additionally, the partnership supports Morrisons’ broader sustainability goals, which include not only reducing emissions but also enhancing the overall environmental footprint of their supply chain.
By leveraging cutting-edge scientific advancements and fostering close collaborations with experts and farmers, Morrisons is taking a leadership role in transforming the agricultural industry.
The move is also expected to resonate well with environmentally conscious consumers who are increasingly seeking sustainable options. By providing lower carbon beef products, Morrisons is not only catering to this demand but also setting a benchmark for other retailers to follow.
In conclusion, the partnership between Morrisons and Sea Forest represents a significant step forward in the fight against climate change. By introducing SeaFeed™ and working closely with experts from Queen’s University Belfast, Morrisons is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future in beef production.
This initiative not only supports their goal of net zero agriculture emissions by 2030 but also demonstrates the potential for scientific innovation to drive meaningful environmental change on an international scale.
With the potential to revolutionise the industry, this partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals.
News Credit: Morrisons partners with Sea Forest to fast track lower methane beef
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