Bovaer is scientifically promising, but Canada is flying blind on implementation, and that’s a mistake

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Canada’s approval of Bovaer, an additive designed to reduce methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle, was hailed as a climate breakthrough earlier in 2024, but we’re rolling it out faster than we’re building the systems to track its real-world impact.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, far stronger than carbon dioxide over the short term, making livestock a major source of Canada’s overall emissions. For many, Bovaer symbolized progress: a clean, simple intervention promising climate benefits without compromising productivity.

But good intentions do not exempt us from vigilance. Over the past few weeks, troubling reports have emerged from Denmark and Norway, where farmers have paused their use of Bovaer while authorities gather more data. Some Danish farmers have raised concerns about health issues in their herds during Bovaer trials. Norway’s largest dairy cooperative has also suspended pilot use as a precaution while national regulators review the situation.

While no regulator has found a causal link, and the scientific evidence behind Bovaer remains strong, these reports, even if anecdotal, remind us that new technologies can behave differently outside of laboratory conditions.

Innovation should help producers thrive, not simply help governments hit targets.

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