KOCHI, Feb 12 (News On Japan) –
A startup is working to curb international warming by feeding seaweed to cattle in an effort to cut back methane emissions from their burps, with plans to commercialize the expertise within the coming years.
In Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku, recognized for its plentiful marine sources, efforts are underway to chill the planet by reducing greenhouse fuel emissions by means of feeding cattle seaweed. The focus is on a pink seaweed often known as kagikenori, which has historically been thought-about unsuitable for human consumption resulting from its bitterness and astringency.
Researchers say kagikenori can scale back methane contained in cattle burps by as a lot as 98 %. The initiative highlights a startup’s try to remodel the world utilizing seaweed expertise.
As international locations worldwide search methods to chop greenhouse fuel emissions to fight international warming, methane produced by ruminants equivalent to cows has turn into a precedence. Methane is estimated to have 28 occasions the greenhouse impact of carbon dioxide, making its discount an pressing job.
Attention has turned to kagikenori, a species of seaweed present in tropical to temperate seas. Studies in Australia have proven that including simply 0.2 % kagikenori to feed for sheep and cattle can scale back methane emissions. The seaweed accommodates increased ranges of a compound known as bromoform than different varieties, which is believed to suppress methane manufacturing.
Kubota Ryo, consultant of startup Sanshiki, mentioned the principle problem had been mass manufacturing of the seaweed. “We knew Japan’s seaweed cultivation technology was advanced, so we thought we could solve this problem,” Kubota mentioned.
Sanshiki has begun land-based cultivation of kagikenori in partnership with Kochi University in an effort to make sure steady provide with out counting on pure sources. The firm goals to extend the lively ingredient whereas reducing prices and scaling up manufacturing.
It can be creating a powdered complement constructed from dried kagikenori to be combined into animal feed.
At Kochi University, researchers are conducting experiments to confirm the methane-suppression impact. In one take a look at, feed and kagikenori had been positioned in take a look at tubes together with precise cow abdomen fluid and synthetic saliva, then shaken for 12 hours. The quantity of methane generated was measured.
Comparisons present that methane ranges had been considerably decrease in samples containing kagikenori. According to Kameoka Naoki, a analysis scholar at Kochi University, methane ranges had been decreased by about 80 % in contrast with samples with out the seaweed.
Beyond environmental advantages, kagikenori may additionally assist livestock farmers by bettering effectivity. Energy that might in any other case be used to generate methane can as an alternative be redirected towards weight acquire in cattle, probably reducing feed prices.
Kubota mentioned step one is to reveal effectiveness and security so the product may be bought domestically. He added that securing recognition by means of carbon credit and branding beef and milk produced utilizing the strategy might be vital to bettering profitability.
Demonstration exams are actually underway in Japan by which kagikenori is combined into cattle feed. Researchers goal to confirm effectiveness and security and produce the product to market inside just a few years.
Source: FNN