The Stage 3 Round 2 (MERiL 3.2) grant recipients will share in over $9 million of funding.

The final four recipients are:

Ruminant BioTech Australia Pty Ltd ($2.79 million) NSW

This initiative aims to validate the efficacy and safety of the bolus containing Tribromomethane through:

• controlled beef cattle trials
• operational settings conducted in partnership with the University of Sydney.

Mort & Co Lot Feeders Pty Ltd ($2.12 million) Qld

Building on previous successes, this project will demonstrate the commercial readiness of technologies for delivering methane-reducing feed additive (Asparagopsis, Bovaer, Agolin, and Nitrate) through lick-blocks to large-scale cattle grazing systems in Queensland.

The University of New England ($3 million) NSW, WA & SA

Building on previous MERiL stages, this project will:

• validate methane-reducing feed additives (Asparagopsis, Bovaer, and Agolin)
• explore their practical delivery to grazing sheep across multiple Australian regions.

The University of Melbourne ($1.14 million) Vic & NSW

This project focuses on dairy and sheep systems in Victoria and New South Wales. It will validate various delivery systems for methane-reducing additive (Polygain & Agolin) in:

• pellets
• liquid supplements
• licks.

The MERiL program comprises three stages of funding, running from 2021–22 to 2026–27.

MERiL complements the government’s other investments to support emissions reduction in the agriculture industry. This includes $63.8 million as part of the development of the Agriculture and Land Sector Plan.

The program also contributes to Australian’s commitment to the Global Methane Pledge. The pledge is a voluntary commitment to reduce global methane emissions across agriculture, energy and resources and waste sectors.

Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water