# Ireland looks to seaweed in quest to curb methane from cows
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-11-17
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Ireland's Seaweed Project to Reduce Methane Emissions
Meta Description: Discover how Ireland's seaweed research project aims to reduce methane emissions in cattle and sheep feed, tapping into traditional practices.
URL: https://financedigest.com/ireland-looks-to-seaweed-in-quest-to-curb-methane-from-cowshtml

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By Clodagh Kilcoyne and Conor Humphries

ATHENRY, Ireland (Reuters) – 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.

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 sceptical that the seaweed feed additives – or any [quick technological fix](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-demands-quick-fix-from-u-s-of-green-subsidy-law.html "EU demands quick fix from U.S. of green subsidy law") – can sidestep the need to reverse a surge in Irish cattle numbers if the country is 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](https://www.financedigest.com/havas-media-group-partners-with-lumen-research-to-measure-and-optimise-attention-at-global-scale.html "Havas Media Group Partners with Lumen Research to Measure and Optimise Attention at Global Scale") in Norway, Canada, Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Scientists in the United States and Australia have already [demonstrated dramatic methane-reducing qualities](https://www.financedigest.com/new-ozone-study-demonstrates-clear-link-between-quality-of-attention-to-content-and-quality-of-attention-to-accompanying-ads.html "NEW OZONE STUDY DEMONSTRATES CLEAR LINK BETWEEN QUALITY OF ATTENTION TO CONTENT AND QUALITY OF ATTENTION TO ACCOMPANYING ADS") from one seaweed type – Asparagopsis – when small quantities are added to feedstock.

But they have not yet [managed to scale](https://www.financedigest.com/managing-flexible-working-on-a-global-scale.html "Managing flexible working on a global scale") up production of the seaweed, which is not easy to grow in Northwest Europe.

The Irish [project aims to find abundant native seaweeds](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-grants-1-5-million-euros-to-dutch-seaweed-farm-project.html "Amazon grants 1.5 million euros to Dutch seaweed farm project") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/arora-project-have-experienced-out-of-this-world-returns-with-their-lead-generation.html "Arora Project have experienced out-of-this-world returns with their lead generation") of the SeaSolutions project, whose team has achieved methane reductions of between 11% and 20% in early trials.

“The reductions aren’t going to be a silver bullet … but it can significantly [reduce emissions,”](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-reduce-your-business-carbon-emissions-without-impacting-profit-margins.html "How to reduce your business’ carbon emissions without impacting profit margins") said Hayes, who works for Teagasc, Ireland’s Agriculture and Food Development Authority.

Researchers are also working on how to integrate the [feed additives](https://www.financedigest.com/animal-feed-additives-market-regional-industry-segmentation-analysis-by-production-consumption-revenue-and-growth-rate-by-2031.html "Animal Feed Additives Market Regional Industry Segmentation, Analysis by Production, Consumption, Revenue and Growth Rate by 2031") into Ireland’s predominantly grass-based cattle farming system.

On a farm outside Hillsborough, southwest of Belfast, researchers use treats to coax cows to poke their [heads into a solar-powered machine that measures the level](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-dollar-drifts-higher-yen-heads-toward-level-that-prompted-intervention.html "U.S. dollar drifts higher; yen heads toward level that prompted intervention") of methane on their breath.

They will test them again using seaweed additives, said Sharon Huws, Professor of Animal Science and Microbiology at Queen’s University Belfast.

The levels that are used to feed ruminants are very, very [small so you don’t need to get a lot of it in order to get an impact,”](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-financial-literacy-or-luck-the-year-small-time-traders-made-a-big-impact.html "Analysis-Financial literacy or luck? The year small-time traders made a big impact") she said.

POLITICAL PRESSURE

The technology has caught the imagination of farming groups and politicians, who insist that stringent [targets for cutting greenhouse gases like methane should not mean a reduction in the size](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-ecu-market-size-analysis-top-players-target-audience-and-forecast-to-2026.html "Automotive ECU Market Size, Analysis, Top Players, Target Audience and Forecast to 2026") of the Irish farming sector.

After growth of over 10% in the past 10 years, [Ireland has 7.4 million](https://www.financedigest.com/ireland-fines-instagram-a-record-400-million-over-childrens-data.html "Ireland fines Instagram a record 0 million over children’s data") cattle and is one of the largest exporters of beef and dairy in Europe.

Its per capita output of methane – which has a [higher heat-trapping potential than CO2 – is by far the highest in the European](https://www.financedigest.com/european-shares-end-higher-on-china-recovery-optimism.html "European shares end higher on China recovery optimism") Union, according to the Climate Watch database.

The colourless and odourless gas leaks from waste dumps, [oil and gas](https://www.financedigest.com/bhp-in-talks-to-sell-global-oil-gas-business-to-australias-woodside.html "BHP in talks to sell global oil, gas business to Australia’s Woodside") infrastructure and the digestive systems of cattle and sheep.

At the COP26 U.N. [Climate Change conference](https://www.financedigest.com/one-minute-to-midnight-says-johnson-as-climate-conference-opens.html "“One minute to midnight” says Johnson as climate conference opens") in Glasgow this month, Ireland signed up to a pledge to cut global output of methane by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/nearly-90-countries-join-pact-slash-planet-warming-methane-emissions-2021-11-02

But [government ministers insist that will mostly be achieved through a 50% cut](https://www.financedigest.com/carrefour-unveils-30-euro-shopping-basket-in-spain-after-government-price-cut-proposal.html "Carrefour unveils 30 euro shopping basket in Spain after government price cut proposal") in non-agricultural methane, with a reduction of just 10% in agricultural methane by 2030.

They point to seaweed [feed additives](https://www.financedigest.com/the-animal-feed-additives-market-to-simulate-on-a-stupendous-note.html "The Animal Feed Additives Market To Simulate On A Stupendous Note") as a way to curb emissions without downsizing the herd – with a reduction in the average age of slaughter of beef cattle and genetics research as other possible solutions.

Chemicals company Royal DSM [says a rival food additive it produces can cut](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-ceo-says-job-cuts-to-exceed-18000-roles.html "Amazon CEO says job cuts to exceed 18,000 roles") methane output by around 30%. The [company said it had received regulatory approval in Brazil and Chile and is seeking approval in the European](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-what-european-companies-are-doing-as-workers-face-high-inflation.html "Factbox-What European companies are doing as workers face high inflation") Union.

But not everyone is convinced the technology can [meet the target](https://www.financedigest.com/with-progress-in-creditor-talks-malaysias-airasia-x-targets-end-oct-meetings.html "With progress in creditor talks, Malaysia’s AirAsia X targets end-Oct meetings").

[“Scaling up these solutions](https://www.financedigest.com/veritone-launches-marvel-ai-a-complete-end-to-end-voice-as-a-service-solution-to-create-and-monetise-hyper-realistic-synthetic-voice-content-at-commercial-scale.html "Veritone Launches MARVEL.ai, a Complete End-to-End Voice-as-a-Service Solution, to Create and Monetise Hyper-Realistic Synthetic Voice Content at Commercial Scale") takes time. We don’t have time,” said Sadhbh O’Neill, lecturer in climate policy and environmental politics at Dublin [City University](https://www.financedigest.com/birmingham-the-perfect-city-for-students-who-want-to-make-the-most-of-their-university-life.html "Birmingham: the perfect city for students who want to make the most of their University life"), a vocal critic of industry attempts to rely on technology rather than address the sustainability Ireland’s agriculture model.

SCALING UP

The Irish [researchers have tapped into a network of seaweed harvesters who are reviving a tradition mentioned in monastic writings as far back](https://www.financedigest.com/fear-of-failure-holding-back-british-entrepreneurs-new-research-finds.html "Fear Of Failure Holding Back British Entrepreneurs, New Research Finds") as the 5th century.

But they do not yet have a [plan to scale up production if tests](https://www.financedigest.com/planning-to-move-to-the-low-carbon-economy-how-banks-can-plan-today-for-new-stress-tests-arriving-soon-2.html "Planning to move to the low carbon economy: How Banks can plan today for new stress tests arriving soon") are successful.

Some harvesters, who serve [organic food and cosmetic markets](https://www.financedigest.com/organic-fertilizer-market-2020-outlook-current-and-future-industry-landscape-analysis-2030.html "Organic Fertilizer Market 2020 Outlook, Current and Future Industry Landscape Analysis 2030"), doubt the feed additives will be sufficiently lucrative with plenty of opportunities elsewhere.

It’s a [huge market](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-telematics-market-progresses-for-huge-profits-during-2019-2027.html "Automotive telematics market Progresses for Huge Profits During 2019-2027 ") at the moment, seaweed is really thriving,” said Evan Talty, managing director at Wild Irish Seaweeds, who has revived harvesting techniques used by his grandfather and focuses on food and skin care products. The methane [additive market](https://www.financedigest.com/antimicrobial-protection-additives-for-adhesives-market-incredible-possibilities-growth-analysis-and-forecast-to-2028.html "Antimicrobial Protection Additives for Adhesives Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth Analysis And Forecast To 2028") is “not on our radar”, he said.

Others are more hopeful.

Everyone keeps an eye on it,” said Jenny O’Halloran of Bláth na Mara, a small-scale hand harvester on Inis Mór island off [Ireland’s west](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-to-wrap-up-homecoming-tour-with-west-of-ireland-rally.html "Biden to wrap up ‘homecoming’ tour with West of Ireland rally") coast.

Maybe the [future of that is actually farming](https://www.financedigest.com/food-of-the-future-london-air-raid-shelter-to-underground-farm.html "Food of the future: London air raid shelter to underground farm") seaweed, which I think has to be part of the conversation when it comes to the future of seaweed in Ireland,” she said.

(Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Giles Elgood)


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