Tasmanian company Sea Forest nominated for Prince William’s prestigious Earthshot Prize
A Tasmanian company cultivating seaweed to combat climate change is one of just 15 global innovators to be nominated for a prestigious environmental prize launched by Prince William.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Tasmanian company with a bold mission to combat climate change has been nominated for the world’s most lucrative environmental prize.
Sea Forest, which has operations at Triabunna and Swansea, has made the shortlist for the Earthshot Prize, which was launched by Prince William and the Royal Foundation in 2020.
The company was one of 15 international innovators to be selected, chosen from a pool of more than 1100 nominees. It is the sole Australian contender.
Finalists are in the running to receive five £1m prizes, which is equivalent to almost $2m AUD.
An award ceremony will be held in Singapore on November 7.
Sea Forest cultivates the native red Australian seaweed asparagopsis to create a feed supplement – called SeaFeed – for cattle and sheep that is designed to reduce the methane emissions each animal produces by up to 90 per cent.
The company has been nominated in the Fix Our Climate category of the Earthshot Prize.
Sea Forest CEO Sam Elsom said the business was “thrilled” to be a finalist.
“This is a win for Australian climate science and Australia’s leading role in emissions reduction initiatives,” he said.
“The climate may be in crisis and the scale of the task [is] not to be underestimated but our perspective has always been that there are positive steps we can all take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.
“Using SeaFeed to reduce methane emissions in livestock will make farming and food production cleaner, greener, and more sustainable. That’s good for farmers, good for consumers, and good for the planet.”
After carbon dioxide, methane is the world’s most abundant greenhouse gas, making up about 20 per cent of global emissions.
About 15 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock production and it’s hoped Sea Forest’s feed supplement can change that.
The CSIRO says if only 10 per cent of the world’s cattle and sheep producers used asparagopsis-based supplements when feeding their livestock, it would have the same effect for the climate as removing 100 million cars from the roads.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff congratulated Sea Forest on its achievement, describing it as a “great honour”.
“Sea Forest has harnessed the power of Australian seaweed to drive long-term solutions to the challenges of climate change that our farmers and primary industries are facing, and created a high-value economic opportunity in Tasmania,” he said.
Premier picks federal MP ousted at last election
With Tasmania hurtling towards a second election in just over a year, Premier Jeremy Rockliff looks to experience to announce a former federal MP is entering the race.
Teen gang allegedly injures young man at bus mall
A 20-year-old man is in hospital after an alleged assault by a gang of teenagers at a Southern Tasmanian bus mall, police say. Charges have been laid.