Engineering Biology to Eliminate Methane from Livestock
TacklEmission develops targeted biodegradable nanotechnology that reduces methane-producing microbes in cattle, helping agriculture reach net zero.
How It Works
Cattle
Enteric fermentation
Rumen
Methanogen habitat
Methanogens
Archaea → CH₄
PHA + PeiR
Bio-nanoparticles
Net Zero
CH₄ reduced 60-80%
Livestock Methane Is a Climate Emergency
Agriculture contributes 14.5% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Methane from cattle is one of the largest and most tractable near-term reduction targets.
Livestock agriculture is the second-largest source of greenhouse gases, with enteric fermentation the dominant driver.
Methane has 28× the global warming potential of CO₂ over a 100-year horizon, making it a priority for rapid reduction.
Each animal produces 70–120 kg of methane per year via methanogenesis in the rumen — with no infrastructure needed.
Enteric fermentation alone emits approximately 100 million tonnes of methane annually, representing a massive mitigation target.
Existing Solutions Fall Short
Current methane mitigation approaches each carry significant limitations that prevent them from achieving the scale and reliability needed for global impact.
Seaweed (Asparagopsis)
FutureFeed
Reported Efficacy
~80%
- Supply chain bottlenecks
- Palatability & taste effects
- Climate-sensitive cultivation
- Regulatory uncertainty
Bovaer (3-NOP)
DSM-Firmenich
Reported Efficacy
~30%
- Requires daily dosing
- High cost at scale
- Chemical regulatory pathway
- Non-specific inhibition
Methane Capture
Various
Reported Efficacy
~50%
- Wearable devices on cattle
- Animal welfare concerns
- High capital costs
- Not practically scalable
PHA Nano-PeiR
TacklEmission
Reported Efficacy
60–80%*
- Novel approach — in validation
How TacklEmission Works
A five-step biological pathway from engineered nanoparticles to sustained methane reduction — without disrupting rumen ecology or animal productivity.
PHA Nanoparticle Synthesis
Biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) nanoparticles are manufactured using engineered microbial fermentation. PHAs are naturally occurring biopolymers — fully safe and metabolisable.
PeiR Enzyme Surface Display
PeiR pseudomurein endoisopeptidase enzymes are anchored on the nanoparticle surface using synthetic biology surface-display systems, creating a targeted biological weapon.
Feed Additive Delivery
Nanoparticles are incorporated into standard cattle feed. No infrastructure changes are required for farmers. Once ingested, particles transit to the rumen where methanogens reside.
Selective Archaea Targeting
PeiR cleaves pseudomurein — a cell wall component found exclusively in methanogenic archaea. This gives exquisite selectivity: no effect on beneficial rumen bacteria.
Sustained Methane Reduction
Disruption of methanogenic archaea reduces rumen methane output while preserving the microbial ecosystem essential for cattle nutrition, productivity, and welfare.
Step 1
PHA Nanoparticle Synthesis
Biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) nanoparticles are manufactured using engineered microbial fermentation. PHAs are naturally occurring biopolymers — fully safe and metabolisable.
Technical Parameters
100–300 nm diameter · Rumen-stable · GRAS-safe
Progress
1/5
A Modular Biotech Platform
Four integrated components create a uniquely specific, safe, and scalable methane mitigation system — with broad future applications beyond enteric fermentation.
PHA Nanoparticle Chassis
Biodegradable biopolymer nanoparticles engineered for rumen stability. Produced via scalable microbial fermentation. Fully GRAS-safe and metabolised post-action.
PeiR Enzyme Payload
Pseudomurein endoisopeptidase R — a naturally occurring enzyme with intrinsic selectivity for the unique pseudomurein cell wall of methanogens. Literature-validated mechanism.
Synthetic Biology Platform
State-of-the-art genetic engineering tools to optimise PHA production pathway, enzyme expression levels, and surface-display efficiency across iterative design cycles.
Scalable Manufacturing
Microbial fermentation production enables cost-effective, large-scale manufacturing compatible with existing pharmaceutical and bioprocessing infrastructure globally.
Platform Architecture
Competitive Advantages
Specificity
Targets only methane-producing archaea — zero impact on beneficial rumen bacteria or animal health.
Biodegradability
PHA completely biodegrades — no chemical residues in meat, milk, environment, or supply chain.
Scalability
Microbial fermentation is an established industrial process enabling production at any required scale.
Low Dosing Burden
Potential for single or low-frequency dosing versus competing daily additives — reducing farmer burden.
Modularity
The platform is adaptable to other microbial targets, creating a versatile livestock health technology.
The modular nature of the PHA + enzyme surface-display platform means it can be adapted to target other specific microbial populations beyond methanogens.
A $5.2B Market by 2034
The livestock methane mitigation market is expanding rapidly, driven by net-zero commitments, carbon pricing, and regulatory pressure on agriculture.
Revenue Stream Breakdown
* Revenue projections are indicative. TacklEmission intends to pursue multiple parallel revenue streams including feed additives, carbon credit generation, and technology licensing.
Competitive Landscape
TacklEmission occupies a unique position with targeted biodegradable nanotechnology — differentiating from both chemical and supply-chain-constrained solutions.
Asparagopsis seaweed extract
Synthetic bromoform delivery
3-NOP chemical inhibitor
Garlic & citrus extract
Targeted PHA-PeiR nanoparticles
| Company | Technology | Stage | Funding | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FutureFeed | Asparagopsis seaweed extract | Commercial | $25M+ | Supply chain & regulatory risk |
| Rumin8 | Synthetic bromoform delivery | Commercial | $100M+ | Regulatory concerns, daily dosing |
| Bovaer (DSM) | 3-NOP chemical inhibitor | Commercial | >$500M | Daily dosing, chemical safety pathway |
| Mootral | Garlic & citrus extract | Commercial | $30M+ | Inconsistent efficacy, palatability |
| TacklEmissionUS | Targeted PHA-PeiR nanoparticles | Pre-Seed R&D | Seeking seed | — Differentiated novel approach |
Literature-Backed. Scientifically Rigorous.
Our approach is grounded in peer-reviewed research on PeiR enzyme activity, PHA nanoparticle engineering, and rumen methanogenesis biology.
Pfister et al., 2020
PeiR specifically cleaves pseudomurein in vitro — validated lytic activity against Methanobrevibacter ruminantium
Koller et al., 2022
PHA nanoparticles demonstrate stability across rumen pH ranges (5.5–7.0) with controlled surface functionalisation
Johnson et al., 2017
Enteric methane constitutes the largest single source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions globally
Concept & Proof of Concept
- Systematic literature review of PeiR enzyme activity & pseudomurein structure
- PHA nanoparticle synthesis and characterisation protocols
- Proof-of-concept PeiR expression in E. coli
- Team formation and UQ research partnership
Nanoparticle Engineering
- PeiR surface-display system optimisation
- In vitro archaea activity assays (lysis confirmation)
- Nanoparticle stability in simulated rumen fluid (SRF)
- Provisional patent application filing
Validation Studies
- In vitro rumen fermentation gas-production assays
- Ethics-approved animal feeding trials
- Methane reduction quantification (GreenFeed / SF₆ tracer)
- Milk / meat safety and quality analysis
Commercial Partnerships
- Industry partner pilot programs in Australian feedlots
- Regulatory submissions (APVMA / international equivalents)
- Scale-up fermentation studies and COGS modelling
- Series A fundraising and global licensing strategy
Synthetic Biology Design Workflow
Built by Scientists & Engineers
A multidisciplinary team combining chemical engineering, molecular biology, synthetic biology, and computational science — anchored at the University of Queensland.
Team Member
Founder & Lead Researcher
Undergraduate researcher focused on nanoparticle synthesis, surface-display engineering, and synthetic biology platform development.
Team Member
Molecular Biology
Undergraduate researcher specialising in enzyme engineering, protein surface-display systems, and archaea biology.
Team Member
Bioinformatics & Modelling
Computational modelling of enzyme–substrate interactions, nanoparticle behaviour in rumen conditions, and molecular docking studies.
Academic Advisor
Scientific Advisor
Expert in livestock rumen microbiology and methane measurement. Provides oversight on experimental design, animal ethics, and translation strategy.
The Numbers That Matter
If adopted at scale, TacklEmission technology could represent one of the largest single-source methane reductions ever achieved in agriculture.
Per animal, per dosing cycle
Global livestock market opportunity
Annual carbon equivalent at 40% adoption
Versus CO₂ over a 100-year period
A Pathway to Carbon Credits for Farmers
Beyond direct methane reduction, TacklEmission enables farmers to participate in emerging voluntary carbon markets. Each tonne of CO₂-equivalent avoided can be monetised as carbon credits, creating a new revenue stream while the planet benefits.
Measurable, verifiable methane reduction (GreenFeed / SF₆ tracer)
Compatible with leading carbon credit methodologies (ACCUs, Gold Standard)
Farmer-friendly: no infrastructure changes required
Stacks with other sustainability credentials for ESG reporting
Seeking Strategic Partners
We are actively seeking partners in agriculture, biotechnology, climate technology, and sustainable food production. Early partners receive preferential commercial rights.
“TacklEmission represents an early-stage opportunity in one of the largest untapped climate mitigation markets — with a biologically novel, IP-protected approach positioned ahead of regulatory and ESG tailwinds.”
Research Partner
Co-develop and validate the technology through formal research collaboration agreements with IP provisions.
- IP co-ownership options
- Early access to experimental results
- Publication co-authorship
- Scientific advisory board seat
Ideal for
Universities · Research Institutes · CROs
Industry Pilot Partner
Be first to test TacklEmission technology in real livestock operations and participate in the commercial rollout.
- Exclusive pilot program access
- Carbon credit participation rights
- Co-branding & PR opportunities
- Commercial licensing priority
Ideal for
Feedlots · Dairy Farms · Ag Input Companies
Strategic Investor
Become a foundational capital partner in a novel climate-tech and agri-biotech platform at the earliest stage.
- Equity participation
- Board observer rights
- Portfolio ESG alignment
- First right of refusal — Series A
Ideal for
Climate VCs · Ag Corporate VCs · Impact Funds
Ready to conduct due diligence?
We provide a detailed investor deck, technical brief, and literature synthesis on request.
Let's Build the Future Together
Whether you're an investor, research partner, industry collaborator, or simply curious — we'd love to hear from you.
Contact Details
contact@tacklemission.com
Location
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Affiliation
University of Queensland
Response Time
Within 48 hours
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