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Denmark bets on cow feed additive to minimize methane emissions

Denmark has agreed to assistance farmers fund a feed ingredient that is anticipated to reduce methane emissions from cattle by as much as 30%, as part of efforts to satisfy enthusiastic climate goals, its federal government said on Monday.

Denmark, a major dairy exporter, might end up being the nation in the world to cost agricultural emissions, consisting of methane emissions from burping cows, a relocation that has broad political backing.

Methane, a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, is a natural byproduct of digestion in cows and other ruminants that is launched into the environment.

The Nordic nation has pledged to minimize emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

More than half of Denmark's land is farmed, with farming accounting for about a 3rd of the nation's carbon emissions, according to Danish climate think tank Concito.

Farming has not yet undergone any climate guidelines, The market has actually expressed issues that a carbon tax would require them to lower production and close farms.

Rather, farmers and the dairy market have actually advocated the usage of ingredients that stop the fermentation procedure inside the cows' stomach, preventing the production of methane.

The federal government set aside 518 million Danish crowns ($ 74. million) to fund the feed additive, which is anticipated to. minimize methane emissions from the country's approximately 550,000. dairy cows by 30% in 2030.

Such ingredients have been consulted with scepticism from Danish. political leaders and animal welfare groups, as it is still unclear. whether it would fulfill Danish animal well-being requirements.

Netherlands-based nutrition business Royal DSM had a feed. additive authorized by the EU in 2022.

(source: Reuters)