Supply of Methane Suppressing Feed Products

The Authority is exploring the status of high market readiness methane suppressing feed products (MSFPs), i.e. those feed additives or materials likely to gain requisite approvals and enter the market in England between 2025 and 2030. This is to help inform the Authority’s strategy and consideration of whether government intervention is required to secure adequate supplies of suitable MSFPs for the English cattle herd amenable to their use. <br/><br/>Defra is considering the development of the market for methane suppressing feed products (MSFPs) to reduce ruminant enteric methane emissions. In its response to the call for evidence launched on this topic, Defra committed to “work closely with industry and farmers to encourage the widespread adoption of Methane Suppressing Feed Products (MSFPs) in England” <br/><br/>The animal nutrition landscape is varied, with a range of products, including but not limited to; methanogenesis inhibitors, seaweeds, essential oils, organic acids, probiotics, and antimicrobials, which demonstrate potential for methane inhibition. The current market for products includes both licensed feed additives and registered feed materials with methane reducing properties. Some products have more explicitly proven efficacy and safety, whilst others are at earlier stages of development. <br/><br/>The scope of the requirement is for feed additive, feed supplement or other product manufacturers to signal their position within the market for products with methane inhibiting properties. The Authority is looking to establish details of suitable products, the extent of trials or research demonstrating product safety and efficacy, current and forecasted production capacity, geographical locations of production sites or office bases, existing registration or future intention to launch a registered feed material, and/or intention to seek approvals for licensed use in the GB/UK feed additives market. Additional information: Please note that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is not a call for competition and as such you will need to express your interest in any potential future tender opportunity once the contract notice is published in Find a Tender and on Contract Finder.<br/><br/>It should also be noted that this PIN invites individuals and organisations to express an interest only, and it is NOT a pre-qualification questionnaire, and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process.<br/><br/>Those wishing to register their interest should contact Louise Moizer (louise.moizer@defra.gov.uk), ideally by the end of May to inform our strategy development.