Atmospheric methane, a major greenhouse gas, increased by the largest amount ever since record-keeping began—causing alarm among climate scientists and renewed urgency to apply the kind of mitigation measures biotechnology can offer.
Average atmospheric methane concentrations reached 1,900 parts per billion in September, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports—the highest concentration since record-keeping began in 1983, according to New Scientist. And for all of 2021, methane was 1,876 parts per billion—another record.
Although it dissipates more quickly than carbon dioxide, methane has 80 times the initial warming impact, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. “Cutting methane emissions is the fastest opportunity we have to immediately slow the rate of global warming.”
Energy and livestock are the biggest sources of methane in the United States, at about 30% each, as we previously reported. The main culprit is natural enteric fermentation, which takes place in a cow’s stomach, causing them to belch methane.
Biotech is developing solutions—specifically reducing methane produced by cattle with feed additives, including an innovative approach using seaweed.
But in the U.S., feed additives are considered drugs, which must be approved by the FDA. The process can take 3-5 years and increase the cost of R&D. The EU, in contrast, allows fast-track approval of feed additives that “favorably affect the environmental consequences of animal production.”
BIO has called for streamlined approval of cattle feed additives, in comments to the USDA and in policy recommendations we support as a member of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance. Some of BIO’s members (Genus PLC and Elanco) are also founding members of the Greener Cattle Initiative launched at COP26, which will fund R&D into reducing enteric methane emissions from cows.
