Methane in agriculture: What we’re doing to reduce it

 

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does our need for more food. 

Growing too is the presence of greenhouse gases like methane in our atmosphere. That’s because more people mean more farm animals and more methane emissions — naturally produced when livestock digest food.

Since methane contributes to climate change, we must find ways to lower the amount of methane agriculture produces. That’s what Cargill is pursuing with Reach4Reduction™, our holistic approach to helping animal farmers reduce their methane production. It’s one way we’re working to sustainably grow the food we need today while protecting our ability to nourish the generations of tomorrow.

SilvAir™ is one of the program’s breakthroughs. This nutritional solution can help lower emissions from livestock by at least 10% — while keeping animal productivity and performance high. 

“Farmers play a critical role in feeding the world, which is why everything we do starts with helping them succeed,” says Dr. Guillermo Schroeder, global director of ruminant research and development.

“There are no silver bullets. Our success in reducing global warming will depend on our ability to take collective action with others in the food and agriculture industries to make sustainability the easiest, best option for farmers globally.” 

That team effort starts with shared understanding. In this article we’ll answer questions like, “What is methane?”, “Why does it matter?” and “How are we working to reduce global methane emissions in agriculture?”

 

What is methane gas?

Cattle release methane emissions as part of their natural digestion process.

Methane (CH4) gas is colorless and odorless. It is a natural gas produced by termites, volcanoes, and plants that decay underwater. This source of methane is often called swamp gas.

Human activities also produce methane. These include livestock farming; fossil fuel production; burning coal, oil and other fossil fuels; and combusting natural gas to generate electricity and heat buildings.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Together with other gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor, it traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere. This process is called the greenhouse effect. 

 

Why is reducing agricultural methane emissions important?

Methane emissions from agriculture have gone up over the past century, further contributing to global warming and climate change. 

The amount of methane in the atmosphere has increased in recent decades by nearly 10%. The gas has become a major contributor to global warming.

Methane accounted for 11.1% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity in 2022, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Methane stays in the atmosphere for much less time than carbon dioxide (CO2), which comprises a much larger share of atmospheric greenhouse gas (80% in 2022, according to the EPA ).

But methane traps radiation and holds heat in the atmosphere much more than carbon dioxide. In fact, methane’s environmental impact on global warming is 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide emissions over a 100-year period, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 

That’s why reducing all greenhouse emissions, including methane, is a major part of long-term climate change plans like The Paris Agreement. As the global population grows, so does the demand for meat and dairy. Reducing methane emissions from cattle to reduce their global warming potential is a big priority — and a big challenge. 

 

Why do livestock produce methane? 

Domestic livestock produce methane emissions as part of their digestive process — called enteric fermentation.

Domestic livestock, such as dairy cows, swine, sheep and goats, naturally produce methane emissions as part of their digestion. It’s a process known as enteric fermentation and occurs in wild animals such as deer, too. 

This process takes place in the animals’ gut and produces methane gas bubbles. They're released most notably through cow burps.

Cows belch a lot. Enteric fermentation made up 25% of methane emissions in the U.S. in 2022, according to the EPA.

 

How we’re working to reduce methane emissions in animal agriculture

Cargill scientists help farmers develop and scale sustainable practices that enhance the long-term viability of their business and support the next generation of farmers.

It all starts with farmers

“The productivity and prosperity of farmers are critically important,” says Linda Midgley, Cargill’s head of animal nutrition and health sustainability. “Farmers play a critical role in feeding the world and maintaining the stability of the food system. If farmers don’t succeed, none of us will.”

Improving feed conversion (the amount of feed needed to produce meat, eggs or milk) and sustainability go hand-in-hand. These practices can both help improve their business and reduce the effects of climate change.

We work with each farmer to build a bespoke suite of products, technology and services to support their methane reduction goals. Each farmer’s operation requires a different solution.

 

Providing the right levels of feed for animals can help reduce their methane emissions and a farmer's carbon footprint.

The right animal feed solutions

For farmers, what they feed their animals is as important as what they feed themselves. By helping farmers produce more with less feed, livestock release less methane for each kilogram of meat or milk. This also reduces the farm's carbon footprint.

Here are just a few of the animal feed solutions we offer to farmers: 

• SilvAir™ contains a patented technology that reduces methane emissions by 10% without impact on animal performance. It stimulates a natural process in the animal's rumen, creating ammonia from hydrogen, which would otherwise become methane.
• Cargill Nutrition System (CNS) factors in species, climate, geography, business goals and local ingredients to help farmers and nutritionists create better diets and products. They get real-time insights to ensure animals stay healthy and productive.  
• NutriTek™ and NaturSafe™ are Diamond V’s most advanced immune health products for dairy and beef cattle, respectively. They provide a new level of support for optimal gut health, immune strength and overall producer profitability.
• Proviox™ is a specific blend of nutritional antioxidants that reinforce the nutritional antioxidant status of the animal.
• I.C.E™, a nutritional solution, helps animals maintain their hydration status in high-temperature conditions.

 

The next generation of methane reduction

We are building partnerships with farmers, universities and other key players in the food system to rethink the future of methane reduction. 

That includes exploring new solutions and technologies through research partnerships with universities like Cornell University, Colorado State University, Embrapa in Brazil and China Agricultural University.

These partnerships support our in-house research and focus on creating science-based solutions. They help bring new skills to Cargill and the wider agricultural industry. 

We are also partnering with food processors and retailers on multiple pilots around the world. From feed additives to on-farm practices to digital solutions, we’re trying different ways to reduce methane.

With the right business models and teamwork, these research projects can grow throughout the food system. 

“We take a science-based approach with all the work we do,” Guillermo says. “We ensure the solutions we bring to market are heavily researched and we can give that confidence to customers that we can back things up with data.”

 

 

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