Ireland Feeds Cattle With Seaweeds To Cut Methane Emissions

Scientists are combing Ireland's west coast for seaweed to feed to cattle and sheep after research showed it could stop them breathing out so much climate-warming methane, Clodagh Kilcoyne and Conor Humphries reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Asparagopsis produces dramatic methane-reducing qualities.

The project, coordinated by a state agriculture body, is tapping into the country's growing seaweed harvesting industry, which is seeking new markets as it revives centuries-old traditions.

But some are skeptical that the seaweed feed additives - or any quick technological fix - can sidestep the need to reverse a surge in Irish cattle numbers if the country were to reduce Europe's largest per capita methane output by 2030.

Around 20 species of seaweed, most from Ireland's windswept Atlantic coast, have been tested by researchers while dozens more have been collected by the project's partners in Norway, Canada, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Scientists in the US and Australia have demonstrated dramatic methane-reducing qualities from one seaweed type - Asparagopsis - when small quantities are added to feedstock.

But they have not yet managed to scale up production of the seaweed, which is not easy to grow in Northwest Europe.

The Irish project aims to find abundant native seaweeds to use instead, even though the researchers admit they are unlikely to match the reduction in emissions of over 80% shown with Asparagopsis.

"We have identified some brown seaweeds that are very positive and they're producing results," said Maria Hayes, Project Lead of the SeaSolutions project, whose team has achieved methane reductions of between 11% and 20% in early trials.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic