Why Methane Reduction is Crucial for Climate Change and How Agriculture Can Help
- Posted on March 7, 2025
Did you know that reducing methane emissions is a powerful way to immediately slow the rate of global warming?
What do you mean?
Well, methane is like CO₂’s more intense sibling. It has up to 80 times the warming power of CO₂, HOWEVER it only stays in the atmosphere for approximately 20 years. Whereas CO₂ can last in our atmosphere for more than 100 years.
Methane is powerful but is short-lived.
This means cutting methane emissions can:
1. Immediately reduce the warming potential of the atmosphere – helping us right now as we work to also reduce carbon dioxide.
2. Lead to less greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere and a healthier planet for future generations.
Where do methane emissions come from?
There are lots of sources of methane, including agriculture, landfills and burning fossil fuels.
Agriculture is a major source of methane emissions, primarily from ruminant livestock (think cattle, sheep, goats). BUT here is where it gets exciting – unlike a lot of industries, agriculture can reduce and remove greenhouse gases like methane, from the atmosphere. All while producing the nutritious food we need to live! Pretty cool.
The role of agriculture in methane emissions
If you've ever heard the term enteric fermentation and thought it sounded like a medieval curse, you're not alone. But it’s simply the natural process that happens when cows digest their food. While cows are busy munching, they also produce methane, which escapes into the air.
Reducing methane emissions from livestock, without harming livestock health or productivity, is a powerful tool to help slow the rate of global warming.
Innovative methane reduction solutions for livestock
Let’s talk about feed additives—the rockstars of methane reduction. Farmers can feed cows additives that help significantly reduce methane during digestion, without having any impact on animal welfare or livestock performance.
It’s a win-win for sustainability—less methane, healthier animals, and a healthier planet. That’s clever farming!
Methane reduction is important for all of us
If you're reading this, your part of the solution, too. Reducing methane doesn’t just help farmers—it helps all of us. By supporting sustainable farming practices, we contribute to a greener planet. And it’s not just about farmers making changes; it’s about all of us working together to facilitate it.
Join CleverCow and be part of the change!
At CleverCow, we’re committed to supporting farmers who are adopting sustainable practices, like methane reduction, and driving this important change.