Number 8 bio
Number 8 Bio is a Sydney-based synthetic biology company developing BetterFeed™, a methane-reducing feed additive for ruminant livestock built on a proprietary small organic molecule. Pre-commercial with Australian launch targeted for 2026; serves cattle, sheep, and dairy producers plus food companies seeking Scope 3 insetting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Number 8 bio does
Number 8 Bio (Number 8 Bio Pty Ltd, ABN 80 654 122 915) is a Sydney-based synthetic biology company founded in 2022 that develops BetterFeed™, a methane-reducing feed additive for ruminant livestock. The product is built on a proprietary small organic molecule that inhibits methanogenic microbes in the rumen, with the dual effect of cutting methane emissions by up to 90% in cattle and over 80% in total mixed rations, while redirecting metabolic energy toward animal growth and improving feed efficiency by up to 12%. The company is pre-commercial, with Australian market debut targeted for 2026, followed by stated expansion into New Zealand, Europe, and the United States.
BetterFeed™ is offered in three delivery formats — a powder for inclusion in feed rations and pellets, licks/blocks, and a dissolvable bolus — enabling deployment across both intensive feedlot operations and extensive pasture-based systems. The company targets cattle, sheep, and other ruminant producers as primary customers, with secondary positioning toward food and dairy companies seeking cost-effective Scope 3 emissions reductions through carbon insetting programs. Pilot partnerships have been established with Gelato Messina (Australian dairy trials), DFI Retail Group (Asia), Mengniu Dairy (China), and Charoen Pokphand Foods (Thailand), supported by research collaborations with CSIRO, the University of Sydney, UNSW, the University of Queensland, the University of Adelaide, and La Trobe University. The business model centers on B2B sales of feed additives to livestock producers, complemented by an enterprise-level carbon-insetting supply chain offering for food buyers.
The company has raised approximately A$20M+ across a UNSW Founders pre-seed, an A$1.8M seed round in June 2023 (Bioplatforms Australia, Main Sequence Ventures, Possible Ventures, UNSW Founders), an approximately A$7M extension round in September 2024 (Breakthrough Victoria, Main Sequence Ventures, The March Group), and an A$11M Series A in November 2025 led by Icehouse Ventures with Main Sequence Ventures and ONE Innovators. Non-dilutive capital includes an A$1.77M Australian Government Industry Growth Program grant, a NSW Biosciences Fund grant, and a HK$120,000 DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge prize. The team comprises 13 staff across scientific, engineering, and operational functions.
Number 8 bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Number 8 bio
- Legal name
- Number 8 Bio Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://number8.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Number 8 Bio is a Sydney-based synthetic biology company developing BetterFeed™, a methane-reducing feed additive for ruminant livestock built on a proprietary small organic molecule. Pre-commercial with Australian launch targeted for 2026; serves cattle, sheep, and dairy producers plus food companies seeking Scope 3 insetting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Number 8 bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Livestock Feed Additives
- NAICS
- Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Medicated & Functional Ruminant Feed (Ionophores, Buffers, Yeast/Probiotics, Mycotoxin Binders) (AFADAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Performance & Metabolic Modifiers (e.g., Betaine, Carnitine) (AFADAKAI)
Keywords
Where Number 8 bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Number 8 bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Feed Additive Product Sales: Sale of BetterFeed methane-reducing feed additives to livestock producers (beef, sheep, dairy). Products designed to offer 3:1 Return on Investment for producers while providing cost-effective emissions reduction for food companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Products designed for seamless integration and ease of use on-farm |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Number 8 bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Number 8 Bio develops and sells BetterFeed™, a synthetic biology-based methane-reducing feed additive for ruminant livestock (cattle, sheep, dairy). The product uses a novel small organic molecule that inhibits methane-producing microbes in the rumen, redirecting the energy lost as methane toward animal growth and productivity. BetterFeed is offered in powder, licks/blocks, and dissolvable extended-release bolus formats for integration into both intensive and extensive farming operations, and is sold to livestock producers and food companies seeking Scope 3 emissions reductions.
Product overview
Number 8 Bio offers BetterFeed™, a single unified methane-reducing feed additive product available in three delivery formats (powder for mixing into rations and pellets, licks and blocks, and dissolvable bolus for extended release) designed for seamless integration into both intensive and extensive livestock farming operations. The product targets beef, sheep, and dairy producers and is positioned as a cost-effective solution with a claimed 3:1 return on investment for producers and up to 12% improvement in feed efficiency.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BetterFeed: Methane-reducing feed additive for livestock that improves rumen efficiency and feed productivity. Available in powder, licks/blocks, and dissolvable bolus formats.
Products and services
- BetterFeed™ A synthetic biology-based methane-reducing feed additive for ruminant livestock (cattle, sheep, dairy) that uses a novel small organic molecule to inhibit methane-producing microbes in the rumen, achieving up to 80–90% methane reduction and up to 12% feed efficiency improvement. Available in powder (for rations, pellets, and liquid feeds), licks and blocks, and dissolvable extended-release bolus formats, designed for seamless integration into both intensive and extensive farming operations. Sold to livestock producers and, via supply-chain partnerships, to food companies for Scope 3 carbon insetting programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% methane reduction in cattle in initial trials
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Number 8 bio
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Number 8 bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Number 8 bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- DFI Retail GroupcoreDFI named Number 8 Bio winner of DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2026, awarding HK$120,000 grant. Number 8 Bio will pilot BetterFeed across DFI's regional beef and dairy supply chains including with Mengniu Dairy and Charoen Pokphand Foods.
- The Mills FabricacoreCo-awarded DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2026 with DFI Retail Group. Challenge attracted over 40 submissions from five continents focused on decarbonising Asia's beef and dairy supply chains.
- Mengniu DairyflagshipMajor Chinese dairy company participating as supply chain partner in DFI pilot program for BetterFeed decarbonization across regional beef and dairy supply chains.
- Charoen Pokphand FoodsflagshipMajor Thai agribusiness company participating as supply chain partner in DFI pilot program for BetterFeed across beef and dairy supply chains.
- Gelato MessinaflagshipAustralian ice cream company partnered with Number 8 Bio for dairy farm trials of methane-reducing livestock feed additive. Partnership to test BetterFeed in real farm conditions.
- CSIROcoreShown as research partner on company website alongside Australian universities.
- University of SydneycoreResearch partner listed on company website. Company partners with Australia's leading animal scientists.
- University of New South WalescoreResearch partner listed on company website.
- University of QueenslandcoreResearch partner listed on company website.
- University of AdelaidecoreResearch partner listed on company website.
- La Trobe UniversitycoreResearch partner listed on company website.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Number 8 bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rumin8: Australia-based climate-tech startup developing a seaweed- and red-algae-derived feed additive to reduce enteric methane from cattle. Most directly comparable to Number 8 Bio in geography, customer (Australian beef and dairy producers), and product category.
- Volta Greentech: Sweden-based company developing seaweed-based (Asparagopsis) feed supplements to cut enteric methane from cattle. Direct competitor in the ruminant methane-reduction feed-additive category targeting beef and dairy producers globally.
- CH4 Global: Australia/US-based company commercializing Asparagopsis-based methane-reducing feed supplements for cattle. Directly comparable product mechanism, customer segment, and go-to-market via beef and dairy supply chains.
- Mootral: UK/Swiss company producing a feed additive combining garlic and citrus extracts to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle. Comparable product positioning toward Scope 3 emissions reductions for dairy and beef supply chains.
Broad incumbents
- Elanco Animal Health: Large global animal-health company that has commercialized Bovaer (3-NOP), a methane-reducing feed additive approved in the EU and multiple other jurisdictions. Sets the regulatory and distribution benchmark that Number 8 Bio must compete against at scale.
- DSM-Firmenich: Global animal nutrition and health major with a broad feed-additive portfolio (including methane and sustainability adjacencies such as Bovaer partnerships and Sustell). Relevant as a distribution, formulation, and competitive benchmark for Number 8 Bio's enterprise push into Scope 3 programs.
- Cargill: Global agribusiness and animal-feed major with a large ruminant nutrition business and active Scope 3 reduction programs with major beef/dairy customers. Comparable as both a potential distribution partner and a competitor developing in-house methane solutions.
- Alltech: Global animal nutrition company with a broad feed-additive portfolio and active ruminant sustainability programs. Comparable as an established feed-additive incumbent with the distribution scale Number 8 Bio currently lacks.
Emerging players
- Symborg: Agricultural biologicals company developing microbial and biostimulant inputs, with adjacencies into livestock-related sustainability solutions. Comparable as an emerging biology-driven ag-input player with overlapping buyer profiles in progressive agribusiness.
Regional players
- JBS: World's largest meat processor, operating its own cattle supply chains and investing in methane-reduction pilots across the Americas. Comparable as a downstream enterprise buyer/partner for Scope 3 insetting, similar in role to DFI, Mengniu, and CPF on the Number 8 Bio customer list.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Number 8 bio social profiles
Digital presenceNumber 8 bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number 8 bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Number 8 bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Number 8 bio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Number 8 bio
What does Number 8 bio do?
Number 8 Bio develops and sells BetterFeed™, a synthetic biology-based methane-reducing feed additive for ruminant livestock (cattle, sheep, dairy). The product uses a novel small organic molecule that inhibits methane-producing microbes in the rumen, redirecting the energy lost as methane toward animal growth and productivity. BetterFeed is offered in powder, licks/blocks, and dissolvable extended-release bolus formats for integration into both intensive and extensive farming operations, and is sold to livestock producers and food companies seeking Scope 3 emissions reductions.
Is Number 8 bio a public or private company?
Number 8 bio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Number 8 bio founded?
Number 8 bio was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Number 8 bio based?
Number 8 bio is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Number 8 bio make money?
One revenue line is on record: feed Additive Product Sales.
Who are Number 8 bio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rumin8, Volta Greentech, CH4 Global and Mootral. Broad incumbents are Elanco Animal Health, DSM-Firmenich, Cargill and Alltech. Symborg is listed as an emerging player. JBS is listed as a regional player.
Does Number 8 bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Number 8 bio.
What industry is Number 8 bio in?
Number 8 bio's product category is Livestock Feed Additives. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFADAAAL, Medicated & Functional Ruminant Feed (Ionophores, Buffers, Yeast/Probiotics, Mycotoxin Binders), with a secondary code of AFADAKAI, Performance & Metabolic Modifiers (e.g., Betaine, Carnitine). Its NAICS code is 3111.