Hoofprint Biome secures USDA GRAS approval for methane-cutting cattle feed additive

Hoofprint Biome has received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) designation from the FDA for its flagship probiotic feed additive, HB-M1. The product targets the methanogenic archaea in ruminant digestive systems, reducing enteric methane by 32% on average across a 14,000-head commercial feedlot trial. What makes HB-M1 unique is the dual mechanism: the probiotic consortium not only suppresses methanogens but redirects hydrogen into propionate production, improving feed conversion efficiency by 6–8%. That translates to roughly $40 per head per year in feed savings — independent of any carbon-credit revenue. The GRAS approval removes the last regulatory barrier for US commercial sales. Hoofprint plans to launch through existing feed distributors in Q3 2026, pricing HB-M1 at $0.12 per head per day. At scale, the addressable US beef and dairy herd alone represents a $1.6B annual market. The carbon credit angle amplifies the economics. Under the Verra VM0041 methodology approved in late 2025, cattle methane reductions verified through continuous monitoring can generate $18–24 per tonne CO₂e. For a 5,000-head operation, that adds $90,000–$120,000 in annual credit revenue. Competitor DSM-Firmenich (Bovaer/3-NOP) holds a chemical-additive position, but Hoofprint's biological approach avoids the consumer perception issues around synthetic feed chemicals and carries lower manufacturing costs at scale.