Danone’s plans to slash methane don’t sound like much fun for cows
The latest in comedy methane-reduction measures: France’s Danone is taking innovation to the next level in an attempt to reduce its methane footprint, with possible solutions including a face mask that could trap gas produced by burping cows, AFP noted on Tuesday. Danone is also considering changing cow diets to include algae that can prevent methane from forming in the stomach. These are just the latest in a series of unintentionally comical measures put forward to reduce methane emissions from livestock. In October, New Zealand proposed a plan to tax farmers for cow burps, prompting jokes and outrage.
Other ideas up Danone’s sleeve? Milk the poor cows for all they’re worth: Overall, there’s a lot that could be done to optimize production in Morocco, where Danone collects milk from small farmers — like increasing the milk yield of individual cows so farmers can reduce their herd sizes without their production suffering, company spokeswoman Jeanette Coombs-Lanot told AFP.
Globally, the company is targeting 30% less methane by 2030: Danone intends to slash its methane emissions by 30% by 2030, in large part by changing farm practices, AFP notes. Methane is responsible for some 30% of global warming to date, and livestock farming is a major source of emissions, the outlet adds.