TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
SAVING THE PLANET WITH SEAWEED — FOR COWS? BY HAILEY MINTON
No. Really. This is a true story! Dr. Ermias Kebreab and his team at University of California, Davis found that adding 1-3 ounces of red seaweed to a cow’s diet cuts their methane emissions up to 80%. The greenhouse gas that cattle (mostly) burp into the atmosphere is being produced by microbes in the gut of the animal. The seaweed has active ingredients that inhibit some of the enzymes needed by the microbes that result with methane production. Instead of releasing methane, the microbes release hydrogen. The energy sector emits more emissions than agriculture, however the energy sector emits carbon dioxide whereas livestock more weight and eating less.” emits mostly methane. Both are greenhouse gasses, but methane This means it will cost less for farmers to feed their livestock. has about 28 times the warming potential than carbon dioxide. The 1-3 ounces of seaweed doesn’t change the taste of the meat Kebreab says that even if all carbon emissions ended today, the or dairy from the cattle either. After performing scientific analwarming is going to continue because carbon dioxide stays in the ysis of the taste of the meat, there was no significant difference atmosphere for thousands of years while methane only stays for between the taste of beef from cattle that were supplemented around ten years. “If we are able to reduce the emissions now, we with the seaweed and cattle that were not. could reduce the absolute greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. As of right now, the red seaweed is not approved by the That will lead to a reduction to Food and Drug Administrathe temperature quite quickly,” tion, but it must be before he explains. “If they are saying that climate change it can be incorporated. The Reducing methane will cool timeline for approval is difficult is the priority, then they’re going to have the environment in the short to predict. It all depends on to incentivize or ask the FDA to work on term while the world looks for the FDA. Kebreab says that ways to reduce carbon dioxide. the process for some products this and put more resources behind it Reducing methane emissions began four or five years ago so they can approve it more quickly.” from cattle by 80% can make a and is still not approved. “It big impact in Idaho since it is just depends on the regulathe third largest milk-productory processes,” Kebreab says, ing state in the United States. In 2019, Idaho produced 16,241 adding that it is difficult to say when the FDA will complete million pounds of milk. the process. Still, he emphasizes his hope that there will be Kebreab says that when cows eat seaweed it doesn’t interrupt pressure from the current administration to finish it as soon as the digestive process in a way that negatively affects the animal. possible. “If they are saying that climate change is the priorStudies are ongoing, but in the trial they’ve been running for the ity, then they’re going to have to incentivize or ask the FDA last five months, they haven’t seen any adverse effects. “If anyto work on this and put more resources behind it so they can thing, there is better feed efficiency,” he says. “They are gaining approve it more quickly,” he adds. 34
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