Seaweed Diet Reduces Methane Emissions

Fri, 28 May 2021 20:20:59 +0000

Industrial-scale beef production is impacting global climate, but scientists have found a way to make cattle-rearing more environmentally-friendly.

Around 70% of methane emissions from agriculture is due to cows. Cows release methane, a by-product of their digestion, either through belches or farts.

Researchers have discovered that by supplementing a cow’s diet with a type of red algae seaweed, known as Asparagopsis taxiformis that the amount of methane released is reduced by as much as 80%.

Red algae seaweed contains a compound called bromoform, which is responsible for interfering with the enzymes that product methane. Unfortunately, bromoform is found only in the red sea algae, not freshwater macrophytes, darn!

red algae seaweed – Aquarius-Systems

Seaweed Diet Reduces Methane Emissions