Perth-based agtech startup Rumin8 has raised US$3 million from New Zealand investors to support its expansion in New Zealand.
New Zealand investor AgriZeroNZ, a partnership that helps farmers reduce emissions, has provided funding to help Rumin8 grow its presence in New Zealand, where dairy is a major export industry.
This support comes as Rumin8 gets ready for the final trial stage needed to approve its cattle feed products that help reduce methane emissions.
“AgriZeroNZ is committed to helping farmers in New Zealand reduce emissions without compromising profitability and productivity. This is exactly how Rumin8 is developing its commercial model, so AgriZeroNZ is such a natural fit,” Mr Messina said.
“We are both acutely aware that if we are to increase uptake of methane abating products in the agriculture sector, those products need to stack-up commercially. That’s why the productivity gains and safety profile we are achieving while also reducing methane emissions are so important.”
Rumin8 received provisional approval in 2024 from New Zealand’s Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM). This allowed the company to test its product on real farm animals to check its safety and effectiveness before final approval.
The company will soon begin important large-scale trials in New Zealand. These trials will confirm how safe and effective the product is and will also help decide the correct usage and dosage to be written on the final product label if it gets full approval.
“We are planning to have first commercial sales in New Zealand in 2027, and AgriZeroNZ’s commitment is an important step to achieve that milestone,” Mr Messina said.
He said Rumin8 was conscious of the importance of New Zealand’s “clean green image” to marketing its agricultural produce.
“Rumin8’s technology reproduces the naturally occurring compound found in red seaweed (asparagopsis) with precision and consistency, while providing a low cost, scalable, manufacturing process,” he said.
Founded in 2021 by David Messina and Stewart Washer, Rumin8 is a climate tech company focused on agriculture. It uses advanced technology to create affordable feed and water supplements that help reduce methane emissions from livestock.
Its special process uses nature-based ingredients to reduce methane production and also improve animal performance. The company is developing products for various livestock systems, including grass-fed cattle, with a goal of reducing emissions from 100 million cattle by 2030.
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