3393 (2025). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Agriculture

3393 (2025). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Agriculture: What, if any, evidence is there to suggest that probiotics and natural enzymes can reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions from dairy cattle by 30–80% as stated in New Zealand’s second emissions reduction plan 2026–30?

Hon Todd McClay: Pre-biotic and pro-biotic mitigation options have been studied in New Zealand for over five years. Animal trials with both new-born, young, and adult cattle through supplementing feeding have shown methane mitigations at a range of levels, with trial evidence and subsequent analysis by scientists and experts suggesting the potential for a 30 percent reduction in methane. Hoofprint Biome, a United States startup that has developed a pro-biotic and natural enzyme that has shown an 80 percent reduction in methane in laboratory testing.