Sign in Subscribe
Agriculture

Reducing Methane Emissions from Livestock Production Using Additives

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the Ottawa Research and Development Centre have conducted a study to explore the potential of using additives to reduce methane emissions from livestock production. The team tested two additives, SOP Lagoon and gypsum, and found that they can significantly reduce methane emissions. According to the study, the use of additives can be an effective approach to mitigate the impact of livestock production on the environment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The agriculture industry is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions globally, with livestock production being a major contributor to methane emissions.
  • The study found that the use of additives can reduce methane emissions from livestock production, with peak reductions occurring between 20 and 30 days after application.
  • The efficacy of the additives increased non-linearly with increasing doses, with the lowest dose of 100 g/m3 not significantly reducing methane emissions.
  • The study concluded that both SOP Lagoon and local gypsum showed similar reduction in methane emissions at similar application rates, indicating that farmers can use locally sourced gypsum as a low-cost alternative to the commercial additive.
  • The research suggests that the use of additives can be an effective approach to reducing methane emissions from livestock production and mitigating the impact of agriculture on the environment.
  • The study offers new insights into the potential of using locally sourced materials to reduce methane emissions and highlights the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

Statistics:

  • 32% reduction in methane emissions from SOP Lagoon at 1,000 g/m3 after 30 days
  • 73% reduction in methane emissions from SOP Lagoon at 5,000 g/m3 after 30 days
  • 74% reduction in methane emissions from SOP Lagoon at 10,000 g/m3 after 30 days
  • 20% reduction in methane emissions from gypsum at 1,000 g/m3 after 30 days
  • 60% reduction in methane emissions from gypsum at 5,000 g/m3 after 30 days
  • 63% reduction in methane emissions from gypsum at 10,000 g/m3 after 30 days

Sources:

  • Methane reductions with gypsum and SOP lagoon additives in liquid manure. Frontiers in Climate, 2025, 7.
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.3389/fclim.2025.1592677
  • Frontiers Media S.A., publisher for Frontiers in Climate
  • Chelsea Sauve, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, ACGEO, AER, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • Hambaliou Balde, Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Andrew VanderZaag, authors of the study.

Read more