Published date: 15 June 2020

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 1 January 2020

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research services - 73110000

Location of contract

BT7 1NN

Value of contract

£169,738

Procurement reference

tender_207676/862605

Published date

15 June 2020

Closing date

1 January 2020

Contract start date

1 February 2020

Contract end date

31 March 2023

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

Ruminant production is responsible for ~9% of anthropogenic CO2 emission and 37% of CH4 emissions, thus contributing towards greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This release of methane from the rumen microbiome also results in 6-12% less energy being available to the animal therefore reducing methane emissions in ruminants will also likely improve upon their growth. Current agricultural policies have been designed to encourage agricultural practices which secure high yields of healthy food, but also must ensure environmental goals such as minimizing emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). However, a common notion is that the required environmental performances necessarily result in lower productivity, but this may be due to a lack of knowledge and innovation. Novel, economically-viable solutions are required that secure high environmental performance while sustaining or even increasing productivity, enabling future food security for a growing population.

Utilisation of seaweeds (or seaweed byproducts) as an additive in ruminant feed represent a novel approach which has the potential to meet these requirements. To date, some chemical compounds and seaweeds (3NOP, Asparagopsis taxiformis (tropical) and Asparagopsis armata (temperate)) have shown methane inhibitory effects in the laboratory (up to 99% reduction) and in limited animal studies. However, 3NOP and Asparagopsis sp. are not commercially viable due to (1) limited supply of seaweeds/seaweed bioactives; (2) animal health and food safety issues (potential carcinogen) and environmental concerns (negative effects on the ozone layer); (3) prohibitive costs and (4) limited aquaculture of Asparagopsis seaweeds. What is required is sustainably sourced seaweeds that can be used in animal feeds to modulate the rumen microbiome and reduce ruminant methane emissions, whilst ensuring animal health, fertility and productivity.

SEASOLUTIONS proposes to use natural and natively abundant seaweeds (harvested by licensed harvesting companies) as a source of feed additive to reach the requirements of long-term methane reduction, without negative effects on feed intake, the environment, productivity of animals or food and animals safety. This will be achieved by a cross disciplinary consortium of experts from 5 countries in Europe (Republic of Ireland, UK, Sweden, Norway and Germany) and 1 in North America (Canada). This team will: 1) investigate sustainable harvesting and preservation techniques for native seaweeds in sufficient quantities for use in animal feeds; 2) Characterise and select native seaweed species for lab and animal trials as feed additives based on their bioactive and safety profiles; 3) Evaluate the effects of selected seaweeds on total CH4 and nutrient production both in laboratory and in animal trials; 4) Identify the mechanisms through which the seaweed additives reduce methane in the rumen microbiome; 5) Explore novel cost-effective options for seaweed-based feed ingredients

More information

Attachments

Additional text

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Award information

Awarded date

1 January 2020

Contract start date

1 February 2020

Contract end date

31 March 2023

Total value of contract

£169,738

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Queen's University Belfast

Address

University Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1NN

Reference

Companies House number: NI034280

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Address

Defra
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Email

DGCEnquiries@defra.gov.uk