Lucidome Bio Secures $9 Mn to Develop Methane-Reducing Vaccine for Livestock

The investment includes participation from the Bezos Earth Fund, Meat & Livestock Australia, AgriZeroNZ and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZ Ag Emissions Centre).

Funding to Support Cattle Trials

Lucidome Bio will use the newly raised capital to advance its livestock methane vaccine programme and conduct a series of cattle trials. These trials will help determine whether the vaccine can consistently reduce methane emissions without affecting animal health or productivity.

The company plans to use the next 18 months to gather results and demonstrate the effectiveness of its approach in live animals.

AgriZeroNZ, the company's majority shareholder, is among the investors supporting the development programme.

How Lucidome Bio's Vaccine Works

The company's vaccine targets methanogenic archaea, microorganisms found in the digestive systems of cattle and other ruminant animals. These microorganisms produce methane during digestion.

Lucidome Bio's approach aims to train the animal's immune system to target these methane-producing microbes. The goal is to reduce methane emissions while maintaining normal animal health and productivity.

The company is also using artificial intelligence tools, including AlphaFold, to support vaccine research and accelerate the development process.

Focus on Dairy, Beef and Sheep Farming

Livestock methane emissions remain a major environmental challenge for the agriculture industry. Many existing solutions depend on feed additives or changes in feeding practices, which can be difficult to implement in pasture-based farming systems.

Lucidome Bio aims to develop a solution that can work across dairy, beef and sheep farming operations.

Chair Bridgit Hawkins said the company wants to develop a practical solution that fits existing farming practices.

"Our focus has always been on developing a practical solution that can work across dairy, beef and sheep systems," Hawkins said.

Challenges and Next Steps

The methane vaccine programme has been developed through earlier research in New Zealand before moving to Lucidome Bio. However, the approach has not yet demonstrated significant methane reductions in live animals.

The upcoming cattle trials will be important in determining whether the vaccine can deliver consistent and lasting emission reductions without affecting livestock productivity.

Lucidome Bio is entering a competitive field that includes ArkeaBio, another company developing methane-reducing vaccines for livestock. ArkeaBio has received an additional US$11.5 million from AgriZeroNZ and has reported proof-of-concept methane reductions. The company is targeting a potential commercial launch in 2028.

About Lucidome Bio

Lucidome Bio is a New Zealand-based biotechnology company developing a vaccine to reduce methane emissions from livestock. Its technology focuses on targeting methane-producing microorganisms in the digestive systems of ruminant animals. The company aims to provide a practical emissions-reduction solution for dairy, beef and sheep farming.

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