Swiss Startup Tests Methane Reduction Technology on Dairy Farms

Swiss startup Sixteen44 is advancing its methane reduction technology by moving from laboratory trials to real-world farming conditions. The company plans to deploy its first operational field demonstration unit at a Swiss dairy farm. This unit will test a proprietary technology designed to eliminate enteric methane emissions from cattle without altering feed or animal management practices.

Methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle are major contributors to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions globally. Methane has about 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, making it a critical focus for climate mitigation.

Sixteen44's technology uses an advanced oxidation process to break down methane into water vapor and carbon dioxide at low temperatures. This process reportedly delivers a 97% net reduction in warming impact. The technology is designed to operate in the low-concentration environments typical of cattle emissions, which are unsuitable for conventional capture technologies.

The field trial is part of a broader commercial strategy aiming to collaborate with agricultural asset owners. Sixteen44 plans to leverage carbon credit revenue-sharing models to help finance methane mitigation equipment for farmers.

Food and beverage companies with net-zero commitments may find technologies like Sixteen44's increasingly important for addressing Scope 3 emissions, which often account for the majority of their carbon footprint. The approach targets methane emissions after they are released, providing an alternative to dietary interventions.

Founded in Switzerland in 2025, Sixteen44 aims to remove one million tonnes of methane by 2035, equivalent to more than double Switzerland's annual carbon dioxide footprint when adjusted for methane's warming potential. The technology could also be applied to other high-emission sources like landfills and coal mines.