Carbonfund.org Blog

As much as I hate to say it, I love beef. I love a thick burger or a juicy steak after a long day, but as a person actively involved in the fight to stop global warming, I am conflicted. Cows (the main source of beef) are notorious polluters and contribute significantly to global warming due to their propensity to emit enormous quantities of methane gas.

But according to a new report, researchers at University College Dublin say that they have found a way to reduce cattle methane emissions by 2% — supplement their diet with fish oil. Adding omega 3 fish oils to a cow’s diet also help the cow’s heart and circulatory system and leads to better meat quality for the consumer.

Globally, cattle are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. A 2% cut in emissions is a great step in the right direction, but more must be done. Part of this can be accomplished by ensuring consumers who consume beef are aware of the carbon impact of their steaks, and encouraging practical reductions in meat consumption. Farmers can do more as well, with the help of carbon credits.

Many farms are now taking creative steps to capture the methane emissions from their animals to help prevent them from entering the atmosphere. By collecting the emissions in what is called a methane biodigester the farmer can not only capture the emissions, but also utilize the methane to create a renewable source of energy.

Because of their efficiency and clear environmental benefits, methane biodigesters have become prevalent as a means to generate carbon credits. By allowing farmers to generate revenue from carbon credits, the balance of the equation shifts in favor of taking action as opposed to allowing cows to fart us towards a warmer world. I mean, what farmer wouldn’t want to produce high quality food, protect our environment, and be able to count on revenue generated from the sale of carbon credits?

Carbonfund.org is a proud supporter of agricultural methane biodigestors. Offset your carbon footprint with Carbonfund.org and support projects like these today.

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