| 73 CH4 Aotearoa is investing in a multi-million dollar facility which will grow asparagopsis seaweed at Ocean Beach, Bluff. T T Russell Fredric New venture aiming to cut methane emissions CH4 Aotearoa / Fresh by Design: Bluff EcoPark PRODUCTION Growing asparagopsis seaweed in New Zealand is set to become a major new global aquaculture industry that will benefit national and regional economies. Spearheaded by CH4 Aotearoa, the New Zealand subsidiary of CH4 Global, the company is pioneering utilising asparagopsis seaweed to drastically reduce methane emitted from cows. When added to feedstock in trials, CH4 Global’s asparagopsis supplement will reduce cattle methane emissions by up to 90%. CH4 Aotearoa is making a considerable investment in a multi-million dollar facility, dubbed an eco park, which will grow asparagopsis seaweed in an aquaculture venture at Ocean Beach, Bluff. Asparagopsis armata, the cold water variety of the seaweed, is native to New Zealand and Australia. Stage one of the development involves establishing 20 bioreactors for growing asparagopsis at Ocean Beach Aquaculture Park, the repurposed site at the former Ocean Beach freezing works. The stage one facility was designed and built by leading Australian aquaculture company Fresh By Design. Ocean Beach Aquaculture Park will be the first of many sites planned to be established over the next seven years in various locations around New Zealand. CH4 Aotearoa general manager Nigel Little says that the company is on an urgent mission to positively impact climate change worldwide. It plans to reduce global emissions by one gigaton of CO2 equivalent by 2030. It raised $US13.5 million of series a funding in 2021 to fund its pilot activities which was led by two Silicon Valley venture capitalists and supported by Sir Steven Tindall. “A series B round will fund the commercialisation stage.” CH4 Aotearoa has established a seaweed hatchery and nursery, along with a world-leading asparagopsis research and development centre at NIWA’s Northern Aquaculture Centre at Ruakaka, to maximise product quality and yields ahead of full commercialisation. “The first 20 bioreactors at the Ocean Beach site will enable us to test and confirm a number of the key aspects of the full scale eco park.” Phase one will confirm the design of the bioreactors, how they are configured and how the recirculating aquaculture system will work at scale, producing feed supplement for about 300 cattle per day. “We expect that by the end of March 2023 we will have enough proof points from the pilot to press go in the detailed design and planning for the full scale eco park.” The 500 bioreactors will have the capacity to supply raw material required for the company’s feedlot formulation for 15,000 cattle initially growing to 30,000 over time as the ecopark is optimised. This production will target the Australian feedlot market. “In the medium term, we will expand supply to the level required to address New Zealand’s total domestic dairy industry, the major contributor to the country’s ruminant methane emissions. However, where the product is used will ultimately depend on gaining regulatory approval to market the product in New Zealand.” Research has shown that, on average cows can burp 100 kilograms of methane a year, using 12% of their energy to do so. Consequently it is likely that Asparagopsis will deliver a feed conversion efficiency improvement, but further studies are required to quantify this benefit. Ocean Beach Aquaculture Park will be more than an aquaculture facility, and for Southland the investment is significant, Nigel says. “It involves re-inventing a site that has been largely derelict for over 30 years into a tourist destination that will put Bluff on the map, with a restaurant, cafe, tasting facilities, site tours and unique vantage points.” The company intends to employ a staff of 15 by the end of 2024, rising to nearly 100 as production expands. Proud to supply Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying services to BLUFF ECOPARK 90 Liddel Street Invercargill Phone 0800 THE PLUMBER Email: admin@jacksonplumbing.co.nz P.O Box 5108 Waikiwi Invercargill 9843 221 Foreshore Road, PO Box 107, Bluff. P 03 212 8964 H 03 212 7934 M 027 435 3524 Grey F 03 212 7547 E osborneng@xtra.co.nz Osborn Engineering Ltd Manufactures of Cray and Cod Pots > Deer, Sheep and Cattle Gates > Chain Mesh Netting > Security Fencing > Commercial Diving > General & Marine Engineering www.osborneng.co.nz Mark Allison - 0275 560 474 Shaun Murray - 0275 560 472 03 214 0773 office@southcon.co.nz PO Box 5065, Waikiwi 9843 www.southcon.co.nz W proud to be associated with CH4 Aotearoa / Fresh by Design 0800 668 534 advantageplastics.co.nz Proud to support CH4 Aotearoa for their Cone Bottom Tank requirements. Large Range Of sizes: 150L - 30,000L
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