DLG partner in a new ground-breaking project: ‘No-Methane’

Innovation Fund Denmark has invested EUR 2,2 million in the research project, ‘No-Methane’, in which a specific product is to be developed to reduce methane emissions from the cow by up to 50 %. DLG and Vilofoss are key partners in the project, and if the goal of the project is reached, it will resonate throughout the world.

The cow is often referred to as the agriculture’s number one climate sinner. When it burps, it emits methane, which is a polluting greenhouse gas, and one of the main reasons for the emission of the CO2 from agricultural production. Therefore, it is good news that Innovation Fund Denmark has approved an investment in the project, ‘No-Methane’, which will carry out research in a specific product that, when added to the cow’s feed, can reduce methane emissions from the cow’s rumen by up to 50 %.

The project is led by Professor Mette Olaf Nielsen from the Department of Animal Science at Aarhus University, who has teamed up with companies in the food industry to create the best conditions for both research and distribution of the product through collaboration.

DLG and Vilofoss are key partners in the project because our role as a feed company involves both maturing and developing the product to make it suitable and ready for the market. In the end we are also the ones delivering the product to the farmer – both in Denmark and abroad.

“This is really great news. The grant to the project from Innovation Fund Denmark accelerates the development of a unique green solution that can contribute to a significant CO2 reduction from cattle production – not only in Denmark, but throughout the world. We are proud that in collaboration with the universities we can accelerate the development of a potentially ground-breaking product, and we see it as our task to spread the universities’ unique knowledge by making it ready for both production and the market – nationally and internationally,” says Jesper Pagh, COO of the DLG Group and member of the Executive Management.

Great potential at home and abroad

In the ‘No-Methane’ project, they will research in three different feed solutions to reduce the methane that is produced in the cow’s rumen.

“The project is completely unique and exciting for Vilofoss to be a part of. If we succeed with this project, it will resonate throughout the world, because the CO2 reduction in agricultural production will be significant. And the potential is not only great in Denmark, as cows are part of agricultural production on a global level as well. At Vilofoss, we can make a difference in distributing the product, as we have a sales network also on the international stage,” says Per Theilgaard, product manager at Vilofoss Denmark.

Birgitte Marie Løvendahl Raun, development manager for cattle at DLG, adds:

“DLG are key partners in this project, because we want to help develop the greener agriculture of the future. The cow is, in a sustainable perspective, quite unique, but we must recognize that its methane emissions are a problem. That is why we are proud that DLG is actively participating in the problem-solving of the issue.”

Participants in the project are Aarhus University, University of Copenhagen, Arla, Danish Crown, SEGES, Lactobio, Vilofoss and DLG. The research project is expected to have a duration of at least four years.