Zero Earth Company: Dairy Production with Methane Reduction

This post is a part of the Early Stage Climate Startup series from Climafix 2024

Highlights

Seaweed-based feed additive reduces methane emissions in cattle while also enhancing milk production
Cost-effective solution for small and marginal dairy farmers.

CH₄OW, ZEC’s seaweed-based feed additive, reduces enteric methane emissions from cows by up to 50% while increasing milk production. Their solution targets farmers with annual incomes of less than ₹1 lakh, supporting economic resilience and rural wealth creation.

High Methane Emissions in Dairy Farming: ZEC tackles this issue by inhibiting methane production in the rumen.
Inaccessible Climate-Smart Solutions: ZEC’s affordable, climate-friendly additive democratizes access to climate-resilient technology even for smallholders.

Each cow emits around 250-500 litres of methane daily. CH4OW cuts these emissions by up to 50% thereby enhancing the overall ecosystem.

Current Targets Segments: ZEC’s primary target market includes, Small-scale farmers, rural women, dairy cooperatives, and large-scale dairy farms seeking to reduce emissions and capitalize on carbon credits.
Future Target Segments: ZEC aims to cater to global markets with large cattle populations.

ZEC’s product is derived from seaweed that reduces GHG emission while also generating ~ 8,000 carbon credits per 1 lakh liters of low-carbon milk, positioning dairy farmers to participate in the growing carbon credit market.

Ani Varghese (Founder): Developing emission-reduction solutions through natural plant-based feed additives designed to lower methane emissions in livestock, while also enhancing overall dairy productivity. Ani’s work focuses on agricultural sustainability with productivity improvements to support small and marginal dairy farmers.
Smita Vilambil (Co-Founder): is also a part of the company’s leadership, contributing to the strategic direction of Zero Earth Company. She oversees initiatives aimed at improving animal health and productivity through feed formulations that tackle environmental challenges in the dairy sector.