International Perspectives on Reducing Enteric Methane

Summary

Hazel Costigan discusses Ireland's strategy for reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030, focusing on methane reduction. Chagas has developed a roadmap involving three phases of technology adoption: from readily available solutions like reducing slaughter age to innovative measures like feed additives and breeding low methane-emitting animals. The use of the Agav digital platform and the Signpost advisory program is central to helping farmers track emissions. Additionally, cost-effective strategies, such as reducing fertilizer use and improving animal genetics, are highlighted as key drivers of climate action in agriculture.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ireland has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, with the agriculture sector tasked with reducing emissions by 25%.
• 😀 Achieving climate neutrality in the agriculture sector by 2050 is a long-term goal, with various phases focusing on implementing available, almost ready, and early-stage technologies.
• 😀 Phase 1 of the roadmap emphasizes technologies already available, such as reducing the age at slaughter and minimizing artificial fertilizer use.
• 😀 Phase 2 focuses on the use of feed additives during the winter housing period, while Phase 3 explores early-stage technologies like feed additives for grazing animals and breeding low-methane emitting livestock.
• 😀 Methane accounts for 74% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland, with 65% of that originating from enteric fermentation in livestock.
• 😀 Chagas' climate action strategy includes three key pillars: a virtual climate center for research, a digital sustainability platform (Agav), and the Signpost advisory program for farmers.
• 😀 The Agav platform helps farmers track their emissions and create action plans based on data related to feed, fertilizer, and milk production.
• 😀 Chagas developed a Marginal Abatement Cost curve (MAC), ranking emission reduction measures based on their cost-effectiveness and mitigation potential.
• 😀 Accurate measurement of methane emissions is essential, as existing models overestimate emissions due to not accounting for improvements in genetics and forage quality.
• 😀 Recommended strategies for methane mitigation include improving herd genetics, utilizing high-quality spring grass, reducing the age of slaughter, and using feed and manure additives.
• 😀 Feed additives such as TRUP and calcium peroxide have shown significant methane reductions in beef herds, but challenges remain in applying these additives to grazing systems, especially with slower release mechanisms.

Q & A

What is Ireland's target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and how does agriculture fit into this plan?

Ireland has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. The agricultural sector specifically has a target to reduce emissions by 25% by the same year, with the long-term goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

What are the three phases of the roadmap developed by Chagas to help reduce agricultural emissions by 2030?

The roadmap developed by Chagas includes three phases: 1) Implementing available technologies like reducing the age at slaughter in the beef herd and reducing artificial fertilizer use. 2) Using almost-ready technologies, such as feed additives during the winter housing period. 3) Implementing early-stage technologies still under research, such as feed additives for grazing animals and breeding low-methane emitting animals.

What role does methane play in Ireland's agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and why is it a priority for mitigation?

Methane accounts for a significant portion of Ireland's agricultural emissions, making up 74%, with 65% of that coming from enteric fermentation in livestock. Mitigating methane emissions is crucial for meeting the overall emissions reduction targets set for the sector.

How does Chagas' virtual climate center contribute to Ireland's climate action strategy?

Chagas' virtual climate center coordinates climate action and research, focusing on advancing early-stage and almost-ready technologies for emission reduction in agriculture. This helps support Ireland's overall climate goals.

What is Agav, and how does it support farmers in reducing their emissions?

Agav is Chagas' digital sustainability platform that helps farmers track their emissions by calculating baseline emissions based on feed, fertilizer, and milk production data. It provides farmers with a starting point to assess their emissions and implement targeted mitigation strategies.

What is the Signpost Advisory Program, and how does it help farmers reduce emissions?

The Signpost Advisory Program is a group of 120 flagship farmers around Ireland committed to climate action. With the support of Agav, they track their emissions and implement climate action plans, with a goal of increasing the number of participants to 50,000 by 2030.

What is the marginal abatement cost curve (MAC), and how does it help in reducing emissions in agriculture?

The Marginal Abatement Cost (MAC) curve ranks different emission-reduction measures by their cost per ton of CO2 equivalent. It helps policymakers and industry stakeholders understand the costs and potential of various mitigation strategies, with some measures even saving money for farmers.

How does Chagas help refine national methane emission models to improve accuracy?

Chagas provides up-to-date, peer-reviewed science to policymakers, helping them refine national methane emission models. These models previously overestimated methane emissions because they did not account for recent genetic improvements in livestock and the quality of the forage they consume.

What role do feed additives play in reducing methane emissions from livestock, and what challenges exist in using them?

Feed additives, such as trop and calcium peroxide, have been shown to reduce methane emissions in livestock by up to 30%. However, challenges exist in applying these additives to grazing animals, as their effectiveness decreases with grazing systems and the timing of feed supplementation.

How does Chagas' research support farmers in implementing more effective methane mitigation strategies?

Chagas' research recommends strategies like improving herd genetics, using high-quality grass for grazing, reducing the age at slaughter, and using feed additives. These strategies are aimed at achieving significant reductions in methane emissions while also being economically viable for farmers.