FDA Approves First Supplement to Cut Methane in Dairy Cows by 30%

Elanco’s Bovaer Feed Supplement Expected to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows

An exciting breakthrough in agricultural technology has been achieved as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Bovaer, a feed supplement by Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, designed to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by 30% per year. This significant milestone marks a step forward in efforts to lessen agriculture's environmental impact.

Following a multiyear review, the FDA confirmed that Bovaer meets safety and efficacy requirements for use in lactating cattle. Elanco plans to make the product available in North America by the third quarter of this year. Alongside the launch, the company is introducing a carbon credit platform to financially reward dairy farmers for their emission reductions.

This FDA approval comes shortly after the agency announced measures to expedite the approval process for animal feed additives, addressing longstanding regulatory delays. Bovaer, which has been in development for over a decade, is already available in more than 55 countries, including the European Union. Canada also approved the product earlier this year.

Bovaer is a powdered supplement that, when added to animal feed, suppresses cows' methane production during digestion. Just one tablespoon per day per cow can reduce annual methane emissions by 30%, equivalent to 1.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Dimitri de Vreeze, CEO at dsm-firmenich, which collaborated with Elanco to accelerate Bovaer’s approval, highlighted the global potential of the supplement, stating, "Bovaer holds the key to a transformative shift in the global dairy sector, and launching this feed ingredient in the U.S. after years of dedicated research, trials, and industry collaboration is a testament to its global potential."