“BetterFeed™ – The tiny pill turning cow burps into productivity

Cows are upcyclers, turning grass into milk and meat—but their digestion also wastes up to 10 % of feed energy as methane. Methane has a global warming potential ~28–80× higher than CO₂. Our guest, Tom Williams (CEO & co‑founder of Number 8 Bio), explains how his team screened thousands of compounds to create BetterFeed™, a small organic molecule delivered in a slow‑release bolus. Once in the rumen, it prevents methane‑producing microbes from growing and redirects carbon and hydrogen back into growth. In trials, BetterFeed has cut methane emissions by over 80 % while improving weight gain and milk quality. Tom also answers a listener question about taking a technology from TRL 2 to TRL 7, shares why he’s been thinking about methane since his childhood in rural New Zealand, and leaves us with a hopeful note: humans have only scratched the surface of what’s possible. Learn more: BetterFeed science ➜ number8.bio/the-science