How Seaweed In Animal Feed Could Push Us Towards A Better World

An article written by Alessandro Dell’Orso, Moritz Müller-Menrad and Peter Oliver Barman.

Bill Gates once famously said: “You’ll never solve climate change by asking people to consume less”. Environmentalists frequently promote degrowth, also known as using less and consuming less, as a potential solution to climate change. Bill Gates believes this concept to be unrealistic. Gates told Akshat Rathi in an edition of the Bloomberg podcast “Zero,” which was released on Thursday, “I don’t believe it’s fair to claim that people are absolutely going to change their lifestyle because of concerns about the environment.” Inventing better and less expensive alternatives is the only genuine option, according to Gates.

Emissions of greenhouse gasses, which come from electricity generation, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and industrial operations, are a major contributor to climate change. Emissions of greenhouse gasses as a whole have usually been increasing for decades. The consequences of the climate problem are more clear and serious. As a result, scientists are keen to analyze the disintegration of the climate in order to not only better comprehend it but also identify potential lines of defense. A major contributing factor to the problem is carbon dioxide (CO2). In actuality, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that CO2 emissions represent the majority of anthropogenic (caused by humans) greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC). The IPCC is the top authority on climate science in the world. Transportation has been a significant contributor to the carbon issue for many years, and it still is. However, the carbon impact of a different field is likewise troublesome — the meat and dairy industry.

An inert, acidic gas called carbon dioxide is found in small amounts in the atmosphere of the Earth. It is essential to life on Earth that plants emit oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

Small quantities of CO2 are safe, but human activity causes levels to soar. Chemical engineer Robert Rapier pointed out in a Forbes article that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere worldwide last year was 32.3 billion metric tons, a tripling in the previous 55 years.

As a greenhouse gas, CO2 builds a barrier that traps heat in the atmosphere of the Earth. When concentrations are too high, the carbon cycle of the world is unable to handle it effectively. As a result, the greenhouse effect — a phenomenon that raises global temperatures — occurs. NASA reports that the loss of sea ice, increasing sea levels, and more frequent and severe heat waves and droughts are all results of global climate change. The government agency emphasizes that a breakdown in the climate is also related to more powerful storms, flash flooding, more wildfires, erosion in coastal regions, ocean acidification, and the loss of biodiversity.

Since decades, people have been more aware of how the transportation and fossil fuel sectors affect the environment. However, one industry that frequently goes unnoticed is animal agribusiness.

According to a significant new study, a third of all the planet-warming gases released by human activity are caused by the world’s food industry, with the production of meat from animals polluting the environment twice as much as that of plant-based diets. According to the study, the entire system of food production, including the use of farming equipment, fertilizer application, and product transportation, results in 17.3 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. According to studies, this massive release of gases that contribute to the climate issue is equivalent to 35% of all worldwide emissions and more than double the US’s total emissions.

More particularly, the study discovered that 29% of all food production emissions come from the growth of plant-based foods, with 57% of emissions coming from the usage of cows, pigs, and other animals for food as well as livestock feed. The remainder is derived from various land uses, such as those for cotton or rubber. A fifth of the emissions caused by raising and growing food are created only by beef. Large areas of additional land are needed to grow the feed that grazing animals need, and this additional land is frequently cleared by cutting down trees in forests. According to the study’s calculations, most of the farmland in the world is utilized to feed cattle rather than people. Additionally, livestock emit a significant amount of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has said that around 14% of all emissions originate from the production of meat and dairy products, which is greater than earlier estimates of the climate effect of meat. According to recent research, a third of the world’s food supply would be in jeopardy by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb at the current rate. The climate issue is therefore a source of hunger in and of itself.

There is a significant disparity in emissions between the production of meat and plants; for example, it takes 2.5 kg of greenhouse gasses to produce 1 kilogram of wheat. In contrast, one kilogram of beef produces 70 kg of pollutants. When solving the climate catastrophe, society should be aware of this enormous disparity, according to the experts.

A plant based diet seems to be a possible solution but getting back to Bill Gates’ quote how can we deal with people not willing to change? What if we have a solution to reduce carbon emission for the meat and dairy industry?

UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE

It’s difficult to get calories from grass. To aid in the digestion of their meal, cows and other ruminants like goats and sheep have many compartments in their stomachs. Microbes living in one of those stomachs assist in the breakdown of plant material into a more digestible form. The process, known as enteric fermentation, also results in the production of methane, a strong greenhouse gas that, for the first 20 years after entering the environment, heats the atmosphere 80 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Methane then decomposes into other molecules. Each day, a single cow emits between 250 and 500 liters of methane. Together with other animals reared for livestock, the estimated 1 billion cows utilized in the worldwide meat and dairy sectors each year contribute to the methane equivalent of 3.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide entering the environment. Cows would rank third in the world in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of India and behind China and the United States.

But the greatest answers begin with feed additives, which are the problem’s primary cause. The use of Bovaer, a synthetic feed additive created by Dutch bioscience giant DSM, which lowers methane emissions in dairy cows by 30% and in beef cattle by up to 80%, was allowed by Brazil and Chile in September. However, the supplement comes at an additional expense to farmers, thus its usage is unlikely to be widespread absent some kind of inducement, such as legislation, subsidies, or market demand. Researchers in the field of agriculture are also seeking more affordable natural remedies. They could have identified it in seaweed, an uncommon component found close to cow pastures.

Australian researchers discovered in 2020 that adding 3% of an Australian-native seaweed to a cow’s diet might reduce methane emissions by up to 80%. Now, scientists in Ireland and the UK are attempting to determine whether their regional variation performs the same. A €2 million experiment is being launched by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security to track the impact of feeding local seaweed to dairy cows. Professor of animal science and microbiology Sharon Huws is the project’s chief scientist. She estimates that methane emissions will be reduced by at least 30% and wants to see even more. According to Huws, using seaweed to reduce emissions is a natural, sustainable method that has a lot of promise for expansion. There is no barrier preventing us from cultivating seaweed.

Feeding seaweed to cows may seem little in comparison to the enormous effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. No, according to Sarah Ann Smith, director of the Clean Air Task Force’s so-called “super-pollutants” program, which includes methane. According to her, even a 30% reduction in enteric fermentation emissions would result in a significant drop in atmospheric methane — about 11% of the total. That makes for a much more challenging source to address and is comparable to the yearly emissions produced by all global landfills. The fact, according to her, is that we must throw all of this spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks when it comes to combating climate change. She notes that current predictions indicate that meat consumption will increase internationally. We must consider all available options since we no longer have the luxury of doing so.

FOCUS: IN DEPTH ON THE SCIENCE

To effectively digest their food, cows and other ruminants, including goats and sheep, have many compartments in their stomachs. Microbes living in one of those stomachs assist in the breakdown of plant material into a more digestible form. The process, known as enteric fermentation, also results in the production of methane, a strong greenhouse gas that, for the first 20 years after entering the environment, heats the atmosphere 80 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Methane then decomposes into other molecules. Each day, a single cow emits between 250 and 500 liters of methane. Together with other animals reared for livestock, the estimated 1 billion cows utilized in the worldwide meat and dairy sectors each year contribute to the methane equivalent of 3.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide entering the environment. Considering cows as a country, they would rank third in the world in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of India and behind China and the United States (Time, 2021). Research is currently focusing on this compelling issue in order to reduce the environmental impact of the dairy and meat industry.

Scientists have created a variety of methods for catching bovine emissions, from clever but mistaken plastic backpacks intended to catch cow farts to masks fitting for cow nostrils that limit the amount of methane the animals’ burps emit into the sky. (For what it’s worth, just 5% of the methane generated by cows escapes out the other end, the majority is expelled through belching.) While some veterinary experts are developing a vaccination that targets the methane-emitting bacteria in cow intestines while leaving more helpful (and less polluting) germs alone, farmers are deliberately breeding lower-emitting cows (Time, 2021). The best solutions, however, start at the source, with feed additives.

Several dairy producers are starting to explore different kinds of food for livestock. For example, The Straus Family Creamery, an organic dairy producer based in Marin County, California, is starting to experiment a new seaweed-derived feed addictive. In particular, they are using a particular kind of red seaweed called Brominata (Asparagopsis taxiformis), which is proven to reduce the amount of methane released by the cows. To give context, one cow emits roughly 100 kg of methane per year, which is equivalent to burning 3400 liters of gasoline (InsideClimateNews, 2022). On the Straus dairy farm, adding seaweed to the cows’ meals resulted in an average 52 percent reduction in enteric methane emissions, with one cow experiencing a 92 percent drop (InsideClimateNews, 2022).

Because seaweed contains trihalomethanes, including bromoform, which is an active component that reduces methane emissions from cow belches, attention has been drawn to it. However, thousands of different species of seaweed exist. Because of its high bromoform content, red seaweed (such as Asparagopsis taxiformis) has been hailed for its ability to reduce the generation of methane from cattle by more than 80% (The Hill, 2022). Brown seaweed, such as Ascophyllum nodosum, on the other hand, has a reduced bromoform concentration and is less effective as an anti methanogen. For the cow feed sector, extensive seaweed cultivation will be needed for widespread application. Although it is technically viable, seaweed cultivation does raise certain environmental issues. Various depths of cold or warm water are preferred by various types of seaweed. For instance, Asparagopsis taxiformis’s natural habitat that would favor its growth has tropical or subtropical climes (The Hill, 2022). We must also consider how seaweed cultivation could affect the variety of marine mammals and even result in ocean pollution. Seaweed-derived bromoform may possibly deplete the ozone layer, however the extent of this effect is unknown. The production of bioactive components via bioengineering or land-based aquaculture systems in regulated environmental conditions are underutilized investment potential that may satiate the need for seaweed while being more ecologically friendly. Moreover, feeding livestock with seaweed polysaccharides on a daily basis is said to work as a prebiotic, enhancing gut health and fostering the development of good probiotic bacteria including Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli (Abbott, D.W. et al., 2020). It is crucial to fulfill the high demand for biomass necessary as well as to solve the environmental restrictions surrounding sustainability concerns and socio-economic considerations in order to develop a sustainable sector around seaweed production (Abbott, D.W. et al., 2020).

A value-added outcome for cow producers is necessary in order to promote seaweed as a dietary supplement for adaptation-based climate change animal production techniques. For the following reasons, seaweed has recently received attention as a potential and sustainable feedstock for the cattle industry:

1. Using seaweed as an alternate source of nutrients is possible. Various nutritive substances, including proteins, lipids, vitamins, fatty acids, AA, carbs, minerals, and other nutraceuticals, may be found in seaweeds (Byeng et. al, 2021). Biologically active substances including anti-methanogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, or antiviral agents are also present in seaweed.

2. In contrast to the use of extracts or metabolites, dietary supplementation with seaweed biomass would enable the mitigation of enteric methane emissions and animal health, with no negative effects on ruminal fermentation. However, more investigation is required to establish the level of seaweed incorporation that has good effects on animal performance, intake, efficiency, fatty acid profiles in milk and meat, and ruminal health (e.g. anti-inflammatory) (Byeng et al., 2021).

ADAPT: HOW WE IMPLEMENT THIS

The idea sounds great in principle, however, if this is going to have the desired effect — it needs to be incorporated on a massive scale. As mentioned previously in the article, further research is needed to determine if seaweed from outside Australia has the same effect on methane emissions. Therefore, funding of extensive research on this subject is needed before it can be commercialized and harvested all over the world. There is some evidence that seaweed in Canada can have similar effects as the one in Australia, so there is a real possibility that this can create new business opportunities globally, and that there is no need for long, global transport routes. On Prince Edward Island, on the east coast of Canada, farmers have discovered that incorporating seaweed into their fodder both decreases methane emissions and increases milk production (CBC News, 2017). It is also worth noting that cows really enjoy seaweed in their diet as it is very salty.

Incentives for new start-ups that will collect, clean and grind seaweed into a powder is next on the agenda. In order for us to achieve our dream vision, there needs to be systems in place that allow start-ups within this field to survive and thrive. Government subsidies are needed for this to be an attractive option for new founders. It is also important that the farmers are not punished financially for utilizing seaweed in the fodder. Therefore, using seaweed in this way should reduce the carbon tax of farmers, or them being able to sell their remaining carbon credits.

It would therefore be necessary to implement measuring systems at different farms to measure if the benefits of seaweed in animal feed sustain over longer periods of time, and how much it affects methane emissions. This would also make it possible for farmers to sell carbon credits and have other sources of income. Measuring systems could also track other benefits, and possible disadvantages with seaweed as animal feed.

When we started this project, we had a clear vision of a dream world, but we did not have a clear action plan of how to get there. To do this, we utilized the JUNGLE framework to identify the 20 most important factors to achieve our dream vision. Based on this we determined their importance and their place in our vision with a current score and an ideal score. With this we had the areas where we thought an action could lead us closer to our vision. In the end we ended up wanting to tackle CO2 emissions. Internally in the team we did a design sprint where all members spent a few minutes sketching an idea.

One of the ideas that came from this was the idea using seaweed in animal fodder. Based on this idea we created a prototype:

STEP 1

Grow seaweed in a lab

Create sealines in a lab that can be planted in the ocean

STEP 2

Plant at fish farms and harvest

Plant the seaweed at fish farms for easy growth and harvest

STEP 3

Process and transform

Grind seaweed into powder and package for animal feed

Our prototype shows the potential of how easy it could be to start a farm like this. By planting the seaweed on ropes, it makes it easy to place down and harvest. It also benefits the seafarms because it removes carbon dioxide and uses it to grow, it also removes nitrogen and phosphorus (NOAA, 2020).

We wanted to test our prototype by contacting fish farms in Greece. This was due to the fact that Greece has the biggest fish farms in Europe, so it seemed like a good starting point. We contacted four Greek companies through email; Galaxidi, Philosofish, Selonda and Avramar. We wanted to know what if this was something they would consider implementing, and even paying for as it is beneficial for the fish as well.

We received replies from two of the companies saying that they thought the idea sounded interesting, and would love a follow-up with more information. None of the companies disclosed whether they would be interested in paying for this or not, however, the fact that they wanted to know more about the project proves that the idea can be commercially viable.

CONCLUSION

When we envisioned our ideal world, it was hard to see what solutions would bring us to that point. By using the JUNGLE framework we were able to define the factors that enabled us to create a solution we think will get us closer to our vision in time. Not by limiting what humans can or cannot do, but by adapting their lifestyle to become more sustainable.

Our idea builds on the wish to create a world where CO2 emissions are massively reduced, and that starts by changing the practices that cause the most pollution. Our action is directly tied to our vision, and can have great effects on emissions in a very short amount of time. The only issue is to spread the word and help start-ups and farmers who wish to utilize this, and also make it easier for them to reap the benefits, and not only see it as a cost.

REFERENCES

Abbott, D.W.; Aasen, I.M.; Beauchemin, K.A.; Grondahl, F.; Gruninger, R.; Hayes, M.; Huws, S.; Kenny, D.A.; Krizsan, S.J.; Kirwan, S.F.; Lind, V.; Meyer, U.; Ramin, M.; Theodoridou, K.; von Soosten, D.; Walsh, P.J.; Waters, S.; Xing, X. Seaweed and Seaweed Bioactives for Mitigation of Enteric Methane: Challenges and Opportunities. Animals 2020, 10, 2432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122432

Baker, Aryn. 2021. Surf and Turf: How Seaweed Helps Cows Become Better Climate Citizens. Time Magazine. https://time.com/6119791/seaweed-cows-methane-emissions/

Byeng R. Min, David Parker, David Brauer, Heidi Waldrip, Catherine Lockard, Kristin Hales, Alexia Akbay, Simona Augyte, The role of seaweed as a potential dietary supplementation for enteric methane mitigation in ruminants: Challenges and opportunities, Animal Nutrition, Volume 7, Issue 4, 2021, Pages 1371–1387, ISSN 2405–6545

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2021.10.003.

CBC News, 2017. How Feeding Cows Seaweed Could Cut Methane Emissions. CBC News: The National.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILxrABpMOwk

McFadden, Joseph. 2022. Hold Off — For Now — On Feeding Seaweed To Cows To Reduce Methane. The Hill.

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/592243-hold-off-for-now-on-feeding-seaweed-to-cows-to-reduce-methane/

NOAA, 2020. Seaweed Aquaculture. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/seaweed-aquaculture

van Deelen, Grace. 2022. Feeding Cows Seaweed Reduces Their Methane Emissions, but California Farms Are a Long Way From Scaling Up the Practice. Inside Climate News.

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/14062022/cow-seaweed-methane/#:~:text=Brominata%20is%20made%20of%20a,they%20burp%2C%20called%20enteric%20methane.