AUGA Tech, an indirectly owned company of AUGA group, is developing a specialised feed technology aimed at reducing methane emissions from cows’ digestive processes. AUGA Tech has been testing the technology for the last 2 years. It has been shown that the technology enables an increase in the milk yield with no impact on the milk’s quality and a reduction of the methane emissions from cows’ digestive processes by 32% per litre of raw milk. The test results were evaluated by scientists from the Veterinary Academy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences who confirmed their validity.
“According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 14.5% of global emissions are due to livestock activities. Our own annual emissions calculations show that cattle digestion processes generate about 25% of all emissions at the companies the group owns. For that reason, 2 years ago we set out to tackle this problem and today we can proudly announce a significant achievement in the portfolio of technologies we are developing: we have proven that the prototype of the specialised feed technology works”, says Kęstutis Juščius, the Chair of the Board of AUGA group.
AUGA Tech carried out laboratory and feeding tests in collaboration with Veterinary Academy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences to assess the nutritional properties of the feed technology and its impact on cows’ production of milk, the quality of the milk, and methane emissions per unit produced. The results of the testing were assessed by comparing the group of cows receiving the new feed with a group fed standard feed.
“According to the conclusion of the expert evaluation of the Veterinary Academy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences scientists, the results and conclusions of the AUGA Tech’s study are clear, well-founded and in line with the intended aim and objectives. The results of the tests show that the technology has big potential and could significantly contribute to reducing emissions in the agriculture sector. We are delighted with this partnership of business and science, which gives the technology credibility and makes it possible to envisage further steps in its future development,” says Ramūnas Antanaitis, a professor at Veterinary Academy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.
Kęstutis Juščius, Chair of the Board of AUGA group, says, the specialised feed technology will prove to be a breakthrough in reducing emissions from livestock farming, not only at AUGA group’s companies with farming activities, but in agriculture as a whole, as the plan is to commercialise the technology in the future.
“Since the test results have shown that the technology is effective at the prototype level, the next step is to develop it for production on a large scale. For that purpose, we are developing other innovations that will allow us to employ the technology in all of the group’s companies that have livestock activities. We will start implementation in 2024. And in the future, we also plan to commercialise the technology,” says Kęstutis Juščius, the Chair of the Board of AUGA group.
AUGA Tech is a company indirectly owned by AUGA group, which develops and produces emission-reducing agricultural technologies. AUGA Tech is developing biomethane infrastructure, the “AUGA M1” hybrid biomethane-electric tractor for professional use, and other agricultural machinery. In 2023, AUGA Tech has been testing the first production batch of tractors in preparation for mass production of them. AUGA Tech is also developing specialised feed technologies for reducing methane emissions from livestock.