U.S. Leaders Are Ready for Methane-Reducing Feed Additives to Go to Market!

In December 2022, a group of prominent United States senators, including Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Grassley, and Amy Klobuchar, united in their call to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support the country's climate goals. In a compelling letter, they urged Commissioner Robert Califf to re-evaluate the FDA's regulatory policies concerning methane-reducing feed additives, which play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.

The senators argued that the FDA’s discretionary decision to regulate certain feed additives within the animal drug process instead of through the Feed Additive Petition (FAP) or as foods unnecessarily hampers producers' access to innovative methane-reducing technology. Drug authorization takes 8-10 years, but time is of the essence in fighting climate change.

The beef and dairy industries have committed to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades, but their producers lack solutions for addressing nearly one-third of their total emissions caused by enteric methane. As a result, the US lags behind the EU, Brazil, and Australia, where producers are already implementing methane-reducing feed additives to enhance climate resiliency.

In June 2023, Senator Roger Marshall introduced the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act in the Senate. This groundbreaking act would establish a new regulatory pathway for ingredients with non-nutritive benefits, including enteric methane reduction, to be regulated through the FAP instead of as drugs.

Later in the month, language from the act passed through the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in an overwhelming 19-2 vote. Key agricultural and regulatory stakeholders, including The National Grain and Feed Association, the American Feed Industry Association, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the National Milk Producers Association, and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, have publicly endorsed the legislation.

Symbrosia fully supports the bipartisan Innovative FEED Act, as we believe it will help the FDA to better serve producers and the planet. We are eager to bring our own feed additive, SeaGraze™, which harnesses the power of Asparagopsis taxiformis to reduce enteric methane emissions by upwards of 80%, to market as soon as possible. Livestock producers need access to co-beneficial climate solutions now. Together with our visionary senators and the FDA, we are committed to leading the way in the transition to a greener food system. 🤝🌾

🔗 To learn more, read the full letter or the full Innovative FEED Act!