Canada approves 3NOP as first feed ingredient to reduce methane emissions from cattle

Based on update from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) earlier this week, we are excited to announce the approval of 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3NOP) as a new livestock feed ingredient aimed at reducing methane emissions from cattle. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) have consistently advocated for new innovations such as methane-reducing feed ingredients to be available in Canada, as they are in other jurisdictions, including those of our global competitors.   

Canadian farmers and ranchers are long-time partners with the environment and manage their land and animals to ensure sustainable and viable operations for the long-term. The efficiency and environmental footprint of beef production in Canada has continued to improve over time and based on the most recent National Beef Sustainability Assessment (NBSA), our sector is on track to meet our 2030 goal. 

In 2020/21, the Canadian Beef Advisors set a goal to reduce primary production GHG emissions intensity by 33 per cent by 2030, among a suite of other goals to support research, innovation, and technology adoption to support both the environmental and economical sustainability of the sector. The approval of 3NOP offers a tremendous opportunity for our industry, particularly within the feedlot sector, to further advance our efforts to reduce methane emissions. 

The CFIA intends to add 3NOP to the Canadian Food Inspection Table (CFIT) under the renamed Subclass 6.19.4 (Gut modifier ingredients: Ingredients for the mitigation of environmental impacts related to livestock production). 3NOP has the potential to reduce rumen methane emissions, and its use has shown no negative impacts on rumen microbial population, rumen pH, dry matter intake, fibre digestion or production, when fed to cattle. 

We look forward to further development of guidelines as this innovative product is put into use and examined around the world. CCA and NCFA are confident that this approval algins with the beef industry’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship while meeting the need for innovative and practical tools to help reduce GHG emissions in the beef cattle sector. We appreciate CFIA’s engagement of industry during this process.