VICTORY OVER BOVINE FLATULENCE

First, it was the passage of a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) by the US congress, requiring US utilities to obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Now this. A real winning streak!

Dairy framers on track to meet carbon-cutting targets
Andrew Shirley, August 2, 2007 (Farmers Weekly)

WHO
Kite Consulting, UK WalMart superstore affiliate Asda, UK dairy giants Arla Foods and Dairy Crest

WHAT
An Asda, Arla and Dairy Crest commissioned Kite study finds UK dairy farmers cutting bovine emissions in heroic proportions.

The problem of cows must be considered. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- The dairy industry’s emissions have dropped 12% in the last 10 years and are expected to drop another 95 in the next 4 years.
- The Kite findings mean the dairy industry has bettered the UK goal to get 20% below 1990 emission levels by 2010.

WHERE
British dairy farms.

WHY
- The Kite findings, which include transport, machinery manufacture and diary buildings, contradict environmental group’s complaints against the dairy industry despite ignoring the benefit of using up millions of tons of brewer’s yeast and other co-products which would otherwise go to landfills.
- Efficient producers, conventional or organic, had the lowest emissions.
- The most emissions in milk production were natural methane and nitrous oxide, products of bovine digestive processes.
- Improvements in efficiency with better nutrition and use of manure could lower emissions to 600-800 grams/litre of milk

A technological solution. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Chris Brown, head of ethical sourcing, Asda: “I think this is a stunningly strong statement that that we will be able to meet Kyoto statements.”
- John Allen, Kite managing partner: “Only about 20% of dairying output comes via man-made factors like electricity fuel, feed or chemicals…The bulk of it comes from through entirely natural rumination or nitrogen cycles…Both of these have gone on for millions of years and occur wherever ruminants roam the earth and would be going on, regardless of human existence.”