ABB Supplies Automation System for Cattle Feed Additive Facility to Support Methane Reduction Goals

Summary

May 27, 2025 - ABB has been selected to supply automation and electrical systems by animal nutrition and health specialist dsm-firmenich, as part of a project to develop a cattle feed additive production facility at Dalry, 40 kilometers west of Glasgow in Scotland, to support methane reduction goals in the livestock sector. ABB’s solutions will improve engineering efficiency, operator effectiveness and asset utilization.

The site will increase global production of Bovaer, dsm-firmenich’s innovative methane-reducing feed additive for cows and cattle that has been researched and developed for more than 15 years. The company claims a quarter teaspoon of Bovaer per cow, per day can reduce enteric methane emissions by an average of 30% for dairy cows and by an average of 45% for feedlot beef cattle–contributing to a significant reduction of the environmental footprint of dairy and beef products.

Almost 600 million tonnes of methane are emitted in the atmosphere every year–with the livestock sector contributing 32% of all methane emissions. Reducing these is crucial for efforts to keep global warming below the 1.5°C target outlined in the Paris Agreement.

“Bovaer has been used already for over two years by farmers in several markets, with a total methane reduction adding up to 300,000 tons of CO2e. This facility will become the first large-scale production plant for Bovaer and with it we look forward to widening our collaboration with the entire dairy and beef value chain to reduce emissions and make a positive contribution in the fight against climate change,” said Mark van Nieuwland, Senior Vice President Bovaer at dsm-firmenich. “Utilizing ABB’s automation expertise exemplifies how we can accelerate the expansion and adoption of Bovaer to significantly decrease methane emissions on a large scale and thereby support global efforts to combat climate change.”

The project extends an existing partnership between the two companies and ABB will supply all automation hardware and software including the ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system. The scope of work also includes IT and OT networks, cyber security, process CCTV systems, and electric motor control centers and variable speed drives. ABB’s site work is due to complete by November 2025, after which time the facility will become fully operational.

“With 60% of global methane emissions coming from human activities, reductions are essential to reach the world's climate change targets,” said Per Erik Holsten, president of ABB Energy Industries. “So we are proud to be working on a project that will significantly reduce anthropogenic methane emissions.”

Methane is the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide and while it traps more heat, it has a shorter lifespan of up to 12 years in the atmosphere. This makes tackling methane a powerful lever. Over 150 countries have now signed the Global Methane Pledge, agreeing to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.

Bovaer is commercially available in more than 65 countries worldwide, including across Europe, the UK, USA, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Japan and South Korea, and has been tested in more than 130 farm trials in over 20 countries, resulting in more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

About ABB

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).