UK – A new study reveals that methane emissions from dairy farms, specifically from slurry storage, may be significantly higher than previously thought.
These findings have important implications for the UK’s goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as methane from farm livestock is a major contributor to agricultural emissions.
While efforts to reduce methane emissions have largely focused on enteric emissions – methane released through cattle digestive processes – this new research highlights that emissions from slurry (a mixture of cattle dung and water) may be four to five times greater than current official estimates.
David Atkins, a researcher leading the study, and his team monitored methane emissions from slurry lagoons on two dairy farms in Cornwall over a year.
These lagoons, which store slurry in concrete-lined pits, were fitted with airtight covers to capture and measure the gases released.
On one farm, methane emissions were nearly four times higher than the UK government’s reported figures – 145 kg per cow per year, compared to the official estimate of 38 kg.
The second farm recorded even higher emissions, with cows producing 198 kg of methane annually, over five times the government’s estimate.
If these findings represent dairy farms across the UK, methane emissions from manure management could account for nearly half of total methane emissions in the dairy sector, rather than the currently reported 25%.
This would mean total methane emissions from UK dairy farms are around 40% higher than official government reports indicate.
Potential solutions and economic opportunities
The study suggests that the focus on enteric emissions has overshadowed the importance of tackling methane emissions from slurry management.
Approximately two-thirds of the UK’s 12,500 dairy farms use slurry systems, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Fortunately, new technologies offer promising solutions. Biogas technology can capture methane from slurry lagoons, process it, and convert it into biomethane—a renewable energy source.
This technology is already being utilized in parts of Cornwall, where methane from slurry is cleaned, compressed, and used as fuel to heat and power farm buildings.
Biogas from slurry can also be used in methane-powered tractors and converted into fuel for vehicle fleets, a concept being explored by businesses and local councils.
According to the researchers’ calculations, the potential value of biogas to the UK agriculture sector could range from £400 to £500 million (US$ 524.86m – US$656.07m) annually.
Capturing methane offers both environmental and economic benefits for farmers. For farms with average-sized herds, the energy savings from biomethane could amount to tens of thousands of pounds.
As the UK moves closer to its net-zero emissions target, developing supply chains for biomethane will be critical.
This study highlights the need for further research and rapid adoption of methane-capturing technologies to help the agricultural sector reduce its environmental impact while creating new economic opportunities for farmers.
industry email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE
