Feeding cows seaweed: Canadian farmers leading change in the…

Question Feeding cows seaweed: Canadian farmers leading change in the… Feeding cows seaweed: Canadian farmers leading change in the agricultural industryBy Natalie Guriel (2022)Joe Dorgan, of the PEI company North Atlantic Organics, has attracted a lot of international attention. People from around the globe are contacting him about his company’s cattle feed made from seaweed and its ability to reduce methane emissions.i”Dorgan says the United Nations climate change summit in Glasgow has sparked renewed media interest, including a news crew from the U.S. that visited the plant in Seacow Pond, P.E.I., in October.” iiDorgan began gathering seaweed from nearby beaches as a natural mineral and vitamin supplement to his dairy herd. iii In 2014, an agricultural scientist named Rob Kinley tested the company’s seaweed mix and discovered it reduced methane emissions by approximately 20 per cent. ivThis was a significant discovery, since methane emissions are a major contributor to the planet’s rising temperatures. For example, “methane is about 30 times more potent as a greenhouse-warming gas than carbon dioxide, said Dr. Christine Baes, an animal biosciences professor in U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) and head of the Resilient Dairy Genome Project (RDGP).” vWhat is methane? Methane is a clear, odourless gas. “The beef and dairy cattle industries [are] one of the main contributors to global greenhouse gases. Methane makes up about half of the total greenhouse gases this sector emits. Cows generate methane in two main ways: through their digestion and through their waste.” viIn the agricultural industry, “methane is a natural byproduct of cattle digestion, meaning it is emitted into the atmosphere every time a beef or dairy cow burps or passes gas.” viiA single cow can produce 200 to 500 litres of methane a day.viii How? “Cattle release methane and carbon dioxide by silently belching about once a minute. If they don’t release the gas, they begin to bloat, a serious condition that can lead to death in a short time.” ix On the planet, there are approximately 1.4 billion cows.xIt is estimated that “4 per cent of the world’s methane emissions currently come from cattle, which is two times higher than the whole aviation industry put together.”xiWhat does a Canadian dairy cow eat? “In Canada, the most common food for cows is grasses (grass, alfalfa, corn stalk and leaves), which are served up in two different ways: dry hay and silage. Canadian dairy cows might also get important nutrients from crops such as corn, barley, clover, alfalfa hay, oats, and soybeans.”xiiIn Canada, methane is responsible for 13% of the country’s total greenhouse emissions. The oil and gas industries are responsible for about 43%.xiii3According to Dorgan, the company’s methods for collecting seaweed are environmentally- friendly too. “Everything is storm-tossed. We’re good for the environment in every way. There’s nothing harmed. We don’t go out and drag it off of the ocean bottom.” xivThe company uses a natural approach. According to the company’s web site, “Atlantic-Gro® products are made from 100% wild harvested Kelp and Rockweed and do not contain artificial additives, preservatives, fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibodies or genetically modified organisms (GMO), “xv which meets Canadian dairy standards, laws and regulations. There are different government levels in the dairy process.For example, “The Canadian Dairy Commission coordinates federal and provincial dairy policies related to cow milk production and pricing. The Dairy Farmers of Canada was established in 1934 by producers as the voice of Canadian bovine dairy producers. [And] The Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is the marketing group for the province’s cow dairy sector. Since 1998, DFO has been authorized (under an agreement with OMAFRA) to administer Regulation 761 under the Milk Act for cow milk producers, pertaining to farm premises, raw milk quality testing, tank- truck inspections, Bulk Tank Milk Grader (BTMG) certification and monitoring and milk transportation to licensed dairy processors.”xviHowever, meeting Canada’s climate targets is different, and there may be new regulations coming.”Guillaume Lhermie, director of the Simpson Centre for Agricultural Policy and Public Education at the University of Calgary, said so far, farmers have remained relatively unaffected by Canada’s current climate policies.” xviiThe use of on-farm fuels, for example, remains exempt from federal carbon pricing.” xviii”But Lhermie said the …. industry should expect to come under increasing regulatory and governmental pressure in years to come. He added that in order to avoid onerous emissions- related legislation and maintain greater freedom in production decisions, the sector needs to proactively tackle the issue.” xix”It is almost certain that there will be increasing pressure to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector,” he said. “It could mean massive disruption for the sector.” xx”The Global Methane Pledge, announced at COP26, aims to reduce those emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 relative to 2020.” xxi And Canada has confirmed it will support this goal.xxii”One of the recommendations made by P.E.I’s all-party special committee on climate change in May 2021 was that the province promote the addition of seaweed into cattle feed, since that has been shown to decrease methane emissions from the animals.” Furthermore, according to the Federal Government of Canada, reducing methane is one of the fastest and lowest cost ways to fight climate change.xxiiiWhile this is a good first step, many researchers agree there is more work to be done to make this industry a sustainable one.The cycle of feed, to manure, and to back to the environment and how nature processes and stores gas is complex.4″Biogenic methane is part of a natural cycle that involves livestock. As part of the cycle, plants absorb CO2 to make carbohydrates like cellulose, a key feed source for ruminants like cows. After cattle break down cellulose, they burp methane into the atmosphere. It takes about a decade for that methane to change to CO2, which is then ready to be recycled back into plants. Compare that with so-called fossil methane, which starts as fossil fuels dug out of the earth and ultimately exits your vehicle’s tailpipe. The resultant carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may take more than a thousand years to re-enter geological reserves.”Dorgan said he would like the P.E.I. government to offer subsidies to help farmers purchase the cattle feed made with Canadian seaweed. xxivSeaweed and other feed products are now being developed around the world. So, there is growing global competition. Five global companies producing methane-reducing cattle feed include Blue Ocean Barns, Symbrosia, Alltech, Mootral, and Agolin.xxv However, not all feeds are created equal. Some global restaurants have also become involved.”Burger King said its lemongrass feed program could reduce methane created by cows by about 33 percent. Scientists dove deeper into the fine print of the unpublished research, discovering that Burger King’s holy-grail lemongrass only reduces cow-produced methane emissions by about 3 percent. Burger King hasn’t responded to that criticism. Still, it is promising that the huge casual restaurant company is at least somewhat caving to the pressure from investors and consumers to address this issue, opening the door for other more efficient feed additives.” xxviA different company, Volta Greentach, is “a Swedish start-up [company that is] building the world’s largest algae factory to create emission-reducing seaweed feed for cattle.”xxvii “Volta Greentech is now [also] working in collaboration with Sweden’s biggest feed company Lantmännen.” xxviiiThe North Atlantic Organics employs approximately 65 people and hopes to continue growing. Dorgan explained the company needs a larger production building and a special dryer to produce more feed. xxix According to one report, the company and has earned approximately USD$2.12 million in sales.xxxKent Rennie, a Canadian dairy farmer and longtime customer of North Atlantic Organics, said the methane emissions reduction is a bonus to the industry that is often blamed for greenhouse gases. xxxi  End notes:i Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.ii Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.iii Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.iv Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.v Guelph Today Staff. Cow burps and farts: U of G-led research focuses on reducing global methane emissions. Guelph Today. December 5, 2021. https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/cow-burps-and-farts-u-of-g-led-research-focuses-on-reducing-global-methane-emissions- 4812960vi Okshevsky, Mira. Cows, Methane, and Climate Change. Let’s Talk Science. March 15, 2020. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational- resources/stem-in-context/cows-methane-and-climate-changevii Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.viii University of Lethbridge. University-led study looks to reduce methane gas emissions in cattle. July 12, 2017. https://www.ulethbridge.ca/unews/article/university-led-study-looks-reduce-methane-gas-emissions-cattle#.YjXkY4nMKUkix University of Lethbridge. University-led study looks to reduce methane gas emissions in cattle. July 12, 2017. https://www.ulethbridge.ca/unews/article/university-led-study-looks-reduce-methane-gas-emissions-cattle#.YjXkY4nMKUkx Okshevsky, Mira. Cows, Methane, and Climate Change. Let’s Talk Science. March 15, 2020. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational- resources/stem-in-context/cows-methane-and-climate-changexi Daunton, Nichola. Seaweed to cow feed: Why is Sweden building the world’s largest algae factory? Euronews.September 24, 2021. https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/09/24/seaweed-to-cow-feed-why-is-sweden- building-the-world-s-largest-algae-factoryxii Canadian dairy farmers of Canada. https://dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/en/dairy-in-canada/dairy-excellence/canadian-dairy-cow- diet#:~:text=In%20Canada%2C%20the%20most%20common,hay%2C%20oats%2C%20and%20soybeans.xiii Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.xiv Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.xv North Atlantic Organics. http://naorganics.com/xvi http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/dairy/page-6.htmxvii Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.xviii Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.xix Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.xx Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.                                          7xxi Climenhaga, Christy. Why methane continues to be the cattle industry’s biggest climate change challenge. CBC News. December 13, 2021.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/why-methane-continues-to-be-the-cattle-industry-s-biggest-climate-change-challenge- 1.6278092xxii Stephenson, Amanda. Beef a bigger challenge than oil and gas when it comes to tackling methane emissions, experts say. CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/beef-burping-cows-emissions-methane- 1.6226912#:~:text=CBC%20News%20Loaded- ,Beef%20a%20bigger%20challenge%20than%20oil%20and%20gas%20when%20it,way%20is%20the%20burping%20cow.xxiii Canada confirms its support for the Global Methane Pledge and announces ambitious domestic actions to slash methane emissions. October 11, 2021. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2021/10/canada-confirms-its-support-for- the-global-methane-pledge-and-announces-ambitious-domestic-actions-to-slash-methane-emissions.htmlxxiv Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.xxv Klein, Jesse. 5 feed companies that could relieve the cow burp methane problem. Green biz. August 12, 2020.https://www.greenbiz.com/article/5-feed-companies-could-relieve-cow-burp-methane-problemxxvi Klein, Jesse. 5 feed companies that could relieve the cow burp methane problem. Green biz. August 12, 2020.https://www.greenbiz.com/article/5-feed-companies-could-relieve-cow-burp-methane-problemxxvii Daunton, Nichola. Seaweed to cow feed: Why is Sweden building the world’s largest algae factory? Euronews. September 24, 2021. https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/09/24/seaweed-to-cow-feed-why-is-sweden- building-the-world-s-largest-algae-factoryxxviii Daunton, Nichola. Seaweed to cow feed: Why is Sweden building the world’s largest algae factory? Euronews. September 24, 2021. https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/09/24/seaweed-to-cow-feed-why-is-sweden- building-the-world-s-largest-algae-factoryxxix Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent.xxx Dun and Bradstreet. https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company- profiles.north_atlantic_organics_ltd.6c0877218059d26b02943fbf12dec81c.html#:~:text=North%20Atlantic%20Organics%20Ltd%20has,million %20in%20sales%20(USD).xxxi Russell, Nancy. How feeding cows seaweed could help P.E.I. meet emission targets and boost this business. CBC News. November 21, 2021.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-seaweed-feed-methane-emissions-climate-change- 1.6228982#:~:text=A%20company%20in%20Seacow%20Pond,cows%20by%2020%20per%20cent. Business ADMS 1000 Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)