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[F&W] Opening the First Gateway to the Commercialization of Methane-Reducing Asparagopsis
The seaweed industry in South Jeolla Province, Republic of Korea, has reached another significant turning point. F&W, a leading company in seaweed commercialization, announced that it signed a business agreement (MOU) and a contract to supply 100 tons of Asparagopsis with Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative, a pioneer in methane-reducing feed additives, on 3rd February 2025. This agreement is considered a crucial milestone in strengthening global competitiveness in the Korean seaweed industry and contributing to methane reduction efforts to combat global warming.
Asparagopsis is a seaweed variety developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia as a methane reduction technology. It has been scientifically proven to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals by more than 90%.
Since 2018, five Australian companies have attempted large-scale commercialization projects, but the industry faced challenges. However, F&W successfully commercialized Asparagopsis by leveraging the expertise of local farmers, research institutions in South Jeolla Province, and seaweed researchers, achieving rapid research progress and attracting significant attention.
Asparagopsis distinguishes itself from other seaweeds in several ways. Unlike traditional seaweed varieties used for human consumption, it serves as a feed additive for ruminant animals. As a summer-growing species, it offers the advantage of utilizing ocean farming areas even after the cultivation periods of other seaweeds such as nori, wakame, and kelp have ended. Additionally, it is a high-value seaweed targeting the global market.
F&W successfully cultivated Asparagopsis in 2024 and plans to begin ocean farming in select areas of Wando and Haenam, JeollaNam-do Province, in 2025. The company aims to gradually expand the cultivation scale across the entire province. In parallel, Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative is accelerating the development of low-methane feed additives using Asparagopsis, expecting to contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions and improving livestock industry productivity.
To achieve this goal, the two companies signed an MOU and agreed on an initial supply of 100 tons.
Methane-Reducing Asparagopsis Paves the Way for Eco-Friendly Livestock Technology Commercialization—First Steps in South Korea's JeollaNam-do
As research and development efforts to reduce methane emissions from livestock farms through various methods, including methane-reducing additives, continue worldwide, the commercialization of methane reduction technology using Asparagopsis has begun in Korea for the first time.
Methane (CH₄) is a greenhouse gas more than twenty eight times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for 95% of the emissions produced by ruminant animals during digestion. As they break down grass, microbial activity in their stomachs generates significant amounts of methane, which is then released through burps and flatulence.
At the recent International Marine Carbon Neutrality Forum, held at the Wando Culture and Arts Center by the Korea Engineering University’s Carbon Neutral Innovation Center, bio-startup F&W signed a commercialization agreement with FutureFeed, established by CSIRO for its patented Asparagopsis-based methane reduction technology.
FutureFeed holds the technology to refine and extract bromoform (CHBr₃) from Asparagopsis, a compound that can reduce methane emissions in ruminants by more than 90%.
Last year, F&W successfully cultivated Asparagopsis by developing spore cultivation techniques, securing large-scale production capabilities.
Among the bio-companies in the U.S., New Zealand, and Canada that have signed licensing agreements with FutureFeed, F&W is considered the closest to commercializing Asparagopsis cultivation. James Stewart, CFO of FutureFeed, stated, “F&W has simultaneously secured the optimal marine environment and aquaculture techniques, making its commercialization prospects very high.”
F&W will supply Asparagopsis seedlings to ocean farming communities in Haenam (Songji) and Wando (Yaksan), launching its sea farming operations in April. The company plans to expand cultivation areas across the entire South Jeolla coastline, including Goheung, Jindo, and Shinan.
Last month, F&W signed an MOU with Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative for the development of a methane-reducing feed additive and plans to supply 100 tons of Asparagopsis from its Haenam and Wando production sites in June. Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative will produce pelletized feed mixed with Asparagopsis at its feed plant and distribute it to livestock farms, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly livestock farming.
Additionally, F&W plans to export domestically produced methane-reducing feed additives to FutureFeed in Australia and collaborate with other contract manufacturers of methane-reducing feed additives, actively expanding its seaweed-based methane reduction solutions business.
The company expects that Asparagopsis farming will more than double fishermen’s income, as it is a summer seaweed species that thrives in seawater temperatures of 29–30°C. This allows for year-round aquaculture, with Asparagopsis farmed in summer and seaweed such as nori cultivated in winter.
[F&W] Opening the First Gateway to the Commercialization of Methane-Reducing Asparagopsis
The seaweed industry in South Jeolla Province, Republic of Korea, has reached another major turning point. F&W, a leader in seaweed commercialization, announced that it signed a business agreement (MOU) and a contract to supply 100 tons of Asparagopsis with Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative, a pioneer in methane-reducing feed additives, on 3rd February 2025. This agreement is considered a crucial milestone in strengthening global competitiveness in the Korean seaweed industry and in reducing methane emissions to combat global warming.
Asparagopsis is a seaweed variety developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia as a methane reduction technology. It has been scientifically proven to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals by more than 90%. Since 2018, five Australian companies have attempted large-scale commercialization projects, but the industry faced challenges. However, F&W successfully commercialized Asparagopsis by leveraging the expertise of local fishermen, research institutions in South Jeolla Province, and seaweed researchers, achieving rapid research progress and drawing significant attention.
Asparagopsis differs from traditional seaweed in several ways. Unlike other seaweed varieties used for human consumption, it is utilized as a feed additive for ruminant animals. As a summer-growing species, it offers the advantage of utilizing ocean farming areas even after the cultivation periods of other seaweeds such as laver, sea mustard, and kelp have ended. Additionally, it is a high-value species targeting the global market.
F&W successfully cultivated Asparagopsis in 2024 and plans to begin ocean farming in selected areas of Wando and Haenam, South Jeolla Province, in 2025. The company aims to gradually expand the cultivation scale across the entire province. In parallel, Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative is accelerating the development of low-methane feed additives using Asparagopsis, expecting to contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions and improving livestock industry productivity. To achieve this goal, the two companies signed an MOU and agreed on an initial supply of 100 tons.
F&W CEO Kim Eun-hwa stated, “With this MOU and supply contract, we will do our utmost to bring significant innovation to the domestic and international livestock industries.”
Ocean growing trials of Asparagopsis underway in South Korea
FutureFeed recently visited the southern province of Wando in South Korea to formally sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with F&W, a start-up dedicated to cultivating Asparagopsis in the ocean.
South Korea is one of the world’s largest producers of seaweed, with much of it sourced from regions like Wando where seaweed farming has been a tradition for generations. Typically, these areas grow seaweed during the winter months leaving the current cultivation areas available for Asparagopsis during the summer, which offers favourable conditions for growing Asparagopsis Taxiformis.
F&W, led by Eun Hwa Kim, is a newly established start-up domiciled in Wando. The company is collaborating with local farmers, government bodies, and South Korean research institutions to commence large scale Asparagopsis cultivation. F&W has already set up an Asparagopsis nursery and hatchery and is preparing for a significant trial to commence in April this year, where Asparagopsis will be grown on ropes in existing seaweed leases used for kelp and wakame during the winter months.
FutureFeed CFO, James Stewart, who was in South Korea to sign the MOU, was very impressed by the progress being made and the high level of activity and enthusiasm from all stakeholders.
<Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between FutureFeed and F&W in Wando, South Korea on 27 February 2025.>
“It is clearly evident that South Korea brings a great deal of expertise in growing seaweed, and we have high confidence that F&W and their local partners will generate excellent results in their upcoming ocean growing trials”, said Mr Stewart.
F&W CEO, Eun Hwa Kim, stated that “the rapid progress we are making here gives us high confidence that South Korea can become a major player in supplying Asparagopsis to the growing global market.”
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