Australian biotech startup Number 8 Bio has raised $7.3 million in a Series A round led by Icehouse Ventures, with participation from Main Sequence and One Innovators, to advance the development and commercialisation of its methane reduction technologies for livestock. The company says it is working on a cost-effective organic small molecule aimed at lowering methane emissions from enteric fermentation in cattle.
The funding will be used to support large-scale animal trials, pursue regulatory approvals in New Zealand, Europe and the United States, and prepare for commercial release of both a feed additive and a six month slow release capsule by 2026. The company also plans to introduce a carbon-insetting program intended to allow farmers and supply chains to claim verified emission reductions.
When I met Thomas, it was clear that Number 8 Bio was a startup with the economics figured out. By both increasing yields for farmers at the front end and reducing emissions at the back end, Number 8 Bio proves that profit and the planet can co-exist.
Number 8 Bio was founded in 2022 by Dr Tom Williams and Dr Alex Carpenter, emerging from the UNSW SynBio 10X Accelerator program, where it received the Positive Impact Award for its early innovations in agricultural methane mitigation. The company says it is working on a cost-effective organic small molecule that can be produced domestically for use in livestock feed.
Targeting Methane at the Source
According to the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, enteric fermentation accounts for around 70% of agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions in New South Wales, and publicly reported estimates indicate that it contributes roughly 10% of Australia’s overall emissions.
The company’s platform technology models the rumen and allows for faster movement from lab work to animal trials, reducing timelines from years to weeks and keeping development focused on what works in real farm conditions.
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Number 8 Bio’s new product pipeline includes a feed additive intended for daily supplementation and a slow release capsule designed to last up to six months, with both products being developed for potential commercial release in 2026. According to the company, the slow-release capsule is intended to target the portion of livestock methane emissions that comes from cow belching and flatulence, which it says most other solutions do not reach.
Simone Barakat, Chief of Staff at Number 8 Bio, said the team’s ingenuity and determination to tackle methane emissions from grazing animals while keeping farmers front of mind and ensuring the solution is both practical and genuinely valuable and it is something she is proud to be part of and feels more energised than ever to continue supporting.
Building Practical Pathways to Cut Methane
Number 8 Bio’s approach to livestock methane reduction is an attempt to compress the traditionally long development cycles associated with enteric methane solutions.
We’re a world-class herd of innovators on a mission to help producers efficiently feed our growing population. We see enhancing farm productivity as a key opportunity for producers and the agricultural sector.
By using a platform that models the rumen environment, the company is trying to move candidates from lab testing to animal trials in shorter timeframes. If this process performs as described, it could help overcome one of the sector’s biggest obstacles which is the gap between theoretical efficacy and real-world performance on grazing systems, where consistent dosing and delivery remain difficult.
The company’s focus on low-cost, locally manufactured molecules and long acting delivery methods reflects an awareness of the barriers that have limited adoption of earlier methane-reduction products. Farmers often face tight margins, logistical constraints and scepticism toward additives that require frequent administration. A slow release capsule or a feed additive that fits into existing routines could meaningfully lower these adoption hurdles.