Cattle produce more methane than many large countries. A solution could be an ecological and financial breakthrough - and...
Problem
Cows account for nearly 10% of greenhouse gas emissions
Demand for meat and dairy isn’t going anywhere, in fact, it’s forecasted to grow! However, these products have some undesirable impacts that are shaking up the agriculture industry.
Methane emissions are an urgent issue. Cattle release about 5 gigatons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year, worldwide. If they were a country, their greenhouse gas contributions would fall between the total CO2 emissions of India and the US.
Consumers, retailers, and government organizations are demanding solutions.
Solution
Solutions for better livestock farming
Mootral is an AgriTech company originally founded in Switzerland in 2018 as a spin-out of a British Biotech company. We are developing solutions to secure the supply of sustainable & safe food from agriculture.
Our first technology, Mootral Ruminant, is addressing the issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ruminants. Mootral Ruminant is a natural feed supplement that reduces methane emissions from cattle by up to 38%*. Our innovative business model includes the generation of carbon credits to co-finance the product costs.
Mootral's solution supports farmers' economic welfare and their future, aids the production of more sustainable meat and dairy products, contributes to achieving the carbon reduction goals of companies and governments, and, most importantly, helps cows to help us protect our planet.
*Results may vary depending on feeding regime, other husbandry practices, climate, etc.
Product
Our 100% natural feed supplement, Mootral Ruminant, consists of garlic and citrus extract and is produced in a pellet format. It is easy to administer and provides valuable benefits to all involved.
For the farmer, Mootral Ruminant helps improve farm finances by increasing yields, for example, more milk, animal health and keeps flies at bay.
Beef and dairy companies can benefit by reducing their carbon footprint, offer premium climate-smart products and stay relevant in the evolving marketplace with more and more demanding consumers. Consumers are getting a climate-friendly choice at the aisle and governments can reach their carbon reduction targets and avoid fines and levies.
Everybody participates, everybody wins!
Carbon Credits
Mootral's unique carbon credits are the world's first carbon credits from a reduction of methane in cattle burps!
They play an important role in connecting all stakeholders of our business: from cows to farmers to businesses and even governments.
The first carbon credits of their kind
Our first-of-its-kind carbon credits, called CowCredits, give farmers and businesses an economic incentive to reduce GHG emissions. It’s a certified Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) project—the world’s most widely used voluntary carbon credit program. This means that the resulting carbon credits are certified and globally recognized carbon reductions, which are tradeable worldwide.
CowCredits can be used to either:
Co-finance the cost for Mootral Ruminant via selling the credits on the voluntary carbon markets
Reach emission reduction targets by using credits as certification for GHG reductions
CowCredits create value for everyone—farmers, the beef and dairy industry, consumers, and governments—and also provide high-quality carbon offset solutions for other industries.
*Read certified carbon reductions
Traction
Industry awards & recognition
In each of the last two years, Mootral has been in the top 80 of the FoodTech 500—“the world’s first definitive list of the global entrepreneurial talent at the intersection of food, technology, and sustainability.”
Further, Mootral was listed as one of the top 10 Swiss FoodTech startups to watch in 2021 by FoodHack.
A media reach of nearly 400M
We have received substantial press coverage to date, including a New York Times International front-page story in 2020 and recent features in CNN, Bloomberg, Channel 4 and Sky News. Our latest press campaign of Spring/Summer 2021 had a reach of 400M.
Customers
Proven success with flagship farms
Mootral is developing partnerships with flagship farms to demonstrate how we can work together to solve important challenges.
Our UK flagship, Brades Farm, is now selling climate-smart milk through top UK coffee shops and selected stores. Our Netherlands flagship, meanwhile, is also a showcase farm for McDonald’s and Friesland Campina.
We soon expect to add our first US flagship to our network—a Texas ranch managing 12,000 beef cattle.
Trials with industry-leading retailers, processors, etc.
We are in discussion and trial phases with several important players in the beef and dairy supply chain, ranging from integrators, processors, retailers to restaurant chains. We are currently running commercially relevant trials in Europe, USA, Latin America, and Oceania.
Business model
Providing market incentives for sustainable beef & dairy
Our business model works around the following premises:
The beef & dairy industry demands a reduction of farm emissions and incentivizes their farmers, for example via increased prices per unit of milk or meat.
The costs will be partly offset through (the sale of) carbon credits and the benefits that the beef and dairy industry can realize through those emission reductions, for example, the sale of climate-smart products and added brand value from reducing their carbon footprint.
To date, we’ve generated and sold roughly 300+ carbon credits at about $84 each. Within the next year, we expect to generate more than 10K more.
As we scale up production and create a robust market for CowCredits, we will transition to selling these credits on behalf of farmers to companies from any industry looking to offset their emissions. This will allow us to expand our customer base to farms who just want our product benefits, and simplify the financial flow.
Market
Carbon offset markets are expanding rapidly
According to Ecosystem Marketplace, the global voluntary offset market was worth $320M in 2019—more than double its value from the year before. Industry analysts project that it could grow to $50B or more by 2030, as government regulations tighten and more companies make net-zero carbon commitments.
Targeting a customer base of 10% of the available market of 800M cattle worldwide, we see the potential for $5B in product sales by 2030. Given the appropriate market conditions, net carbon proceeds in the same time period could reach $4.5B.
Competition
Leading the herd in results and market-readiness
While there are other methane-reducing feed supplements in various stages of development, Mootral has two distinct advantages:
Our fully developed carbon credit mechanism with VCS, the world’s most widely used voluntary GHG reduction program
A unique benefit package of methane reduction, ROI for the farmer, 100% natural ingredients, and continuously improvable technology that makes Mootral the farmer's and industry's choice
Vision and strategy
Secure, safe, sustainable food for a better future
We’re setting out to prove “there is good business in the business of doing good”.
Mootral is not just a product—it’s a solution that will help farmers, businesses, policymakers, and consumers to reduce their CO2 footprint thanks to climate-smart cows. Mootral is an investment into the welfare of livestock, the welfare of farmers, and ultimately, the welfare of our planet.
And we're just getting started!
Our second product is ready to be launched and targets another major issue in agriculture: The overuse of drugs such as antibiotics which can often lead to resistance. Our fully natural product improves the gut health and infection rates of monogastric animals, such as pigs and poultry, to lower or eliminate the use of antibiotics while leading to a significantly higher ROI.
We are starting trials with major protein producers in Latin America and Europe soon!
Funding
Support from leading climate investors
Mootral received important support from the climate-focused startup accelerator Third Derivative. A partnership of the Rocky Mountain Institute and New Energy Nexus, with corporate partners including Shell, BP, Microsoft, and AT&T, Third Derivative has a mission to “increase the success and speed to market for climate innovation.”
Other notable backers include Lowercarbon Capital, a climate investment fund created by billionaire investor Chris Sacca; San Francisco-based VC fund Kindred Ventures; and #Climate, founded by serial entrepreneur and VC Josh Felser.
Further, Mootral has received support from the Swiss Climate Foundation, a non-profit organization under supervision from the Swiss government.
Founders
An international team of impact makers
Disclaimers
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