Optigen® joins lineup of Alltech solutions certified by the Carbon Trust to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint

From precision nutrition that minimizes waste to environmental analytical services, Alltech is helping producers lower their carbon footprint while increasing their profitability

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – As the feed and food supply chain faces continual pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, global animal health and nutrition company Alltech remains committed to helping the industry tackle this challenge. As part of this commitment, Alltech has announced the addition of its non-protein nitrogen source Optigen® to its Carbon Trust-accredited offerings.

The Carbon Trust has certified that the inclusion of Optigen in a cow’s diet can decrease the global warming potential of that diet and improve nitrogen utilization. The Carbon Trust has validated that the replacement of high-carbon ingredients (such as soya) with Optigen significantly reduces the risk of a high carbon footprint. Optigen is a technology that provides a sustained release of ammonia to rumen microbes at an ideal rate, which helps to avoid periods of excess rumen ammonia, thereby reducing nitrogen excretion.

The Carbon Trust is a global organization that provides independent advice to businesses, governments and institutions on reducing carbon emissions. Earlier this year, Alltech’s flagship brand, Yea-Sacc®, was also validated by the Carbon Trust to reduce methane emissions and nitrogen excretion.

“Relieving the burden of nitrogen excretion on the environment is possible by optimizing rumen function, and Optigen offers a proven way of achieving that,” said Matthew Smith, vice president of Alltech. “This award from the Carbon Trust is another fantastic landmark as we continue to help producers lower their footprint while increasing their profitability.”

Measure before you manage

The Alltech® In Vitro Fermentation Model (IFM) is an effective tool for predicting farm- and feed-specific emissions. IFM simulates rumen fermentation and evaluates the digestibility of individual ingredients, compound feed and total mixed rations.  

“By measuring the gas production of diets with IFM, we can calculate how much potential energy will be lost and the expected emissions per animal based on feeding a certain ration,” said Smith.

Through its Alltech E-CO2 service, Alltech is the leading global provider of Carbon Trust-accredited environmental assessments. Assessors gather information from across the entire farm and provide a bespoke report outlining the levels of emissions from each source, along with a total carbon footprint for the farm.

“We help producers understand where their farms fit into the emissions picture and then make recommendations to improve efficiencies,” explained Smith. “Using our assessment tools, we can predict the probable economic benefits as well as the expected reduction in carbon footprint from our suggested added efficiencies, and then we work with farmers to achieve those benefits.”

Find out how Alltech is working together for a Planet of Plenty™ at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held May 19–21, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

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Contact: press@alltech.com

Jenn Norrie

Communications Manager, North America

jnorrie@alltech.com; 403-863-8547

Maria Daly

Communications Manager, Europe

mdaly@alltech.com; +353 86 466 9554

About Alltech:

Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech discovers and delivers solutions for the sustainable nutrition of plants, animals and people. With expertise in yeast fermentation, solid state fermentation and the science of nutrigenomics, Alltech is a leading producer and processor of yeast additives, organic trace minerals, feed ingredients, premix and feed.

Our guiding ACE principle seeks to develop solutions that are safe for the Animal, Consumer and the Environment. Our more than 5,000 talented team members worldwide put this purpose to work every day for our customers.

Alltech is a family-owned company, which allows us to adapt quickly to emerging customer needs and to stay focused on advanced innovation. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world. For further information, visit www.alltech.com/news. Join us in conversation on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.                

About the Carbon Trust:

Established in 2001, the Carbon Trust works with businesses, governments and institutions around the world, helping them contribute to, and benefit from, a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies and commercializing low-carbon businesses, systems and technologies.

The Carbon Trust:

• Works with corporates and governments, helping them to align their strategies with climate science and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• Provides expert advice and assurance, giving investors and financial institutions the confidence that green finance will have genuinely green outcomes.
• Supports the development of low-carbon technologies and solutions, building the foundations for the energy system of the future.

Headquartered in London, the Carbon Trust has a global team of over 30 nationalities based across five continents. For more information, visit www.carbontrust.com.