- Author CRCNA and research partners
- Publish date 22 January 2026
- Type Report
- Documents
- Aquaculture
Summary
This impact report summarises the impacts of the CRCNA project A.3.2021051 ‘Developing Asparagopsis seaweed cultivation at scale in northern Australia’.
This project developed and demonstrated protoplast-based propagation techniques to enable scalable, year-round production of Asparagopsis taxiformis seedlings, overcoming critical broodstock supply constraints for methane-reducing livestock feed. By removing key technical and cost barriers to large-scale seedling production, it is positioning northern Australia to build a sustainable seaweed farming sector, support livestock emissions reduction targets and strengthen marine biotechnology capability.
Projects
Developing Asparagopsis seaweed cultivation at scale in Northern Australia
It has been proven that the addition of a small quantity of the bromoform-producing red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis supplement to livestock feed can reduce methane emissions up to 98% and enhance feed conversion efficiency and productivity by 20% (Abbott 2020; CSIRO 2020; Vijn 2020; Roque 2019). This novel approach to methane reduction and livestock productivity has generated a projected domestic demand of 300,000 tonnes of dried Asparagopsis annually from feedlots, with potential for international trade in the millions of tonnes as governments worldwide pursue climate initiatives. This project addressed the key knowledge gaps to unlock the industry’s potential in northern Australia through the following activities: Researching and developing a unique technical capability to produce commercial quantities of propagation units. Promoting settlement and growth of propagation units on cultivation substrates. Testing prototype cultivation systems and on-farm production in compatible locations. Monitoring, managing, and optimising the consistency of bromoform – the active anti-methane metabolite – throughout the production pathway. Developing commercialisation pathways within regional clusters across northern Western Australia.