Reimagining Manure: Innovative Alternatives for Modern Agriculture

Manure management is a significant source of methane emissions, of -4% of all anthropogenic emissions according to CCAC's 2021 Global Methane Assessment. Recent studies estimate that methane emissions from manure management might be underreported. These emissions arise when manure is stored in wet conditions, such as lagoons, slurry tanks, and pits. These wet storage methods create anaerobic, oxygen-depleted conditions that drive methane production. Improving manure management practices, particularly by adopting alternatives to storing manure in anaerobic conditions, is critical to reducing manure management emissions.

While anaerobic digesters have received significant attention for methane mitigation, this focus can overshadow other cost-effective strategies to reduce methane emissions from manure management. Alternatives such as composting, solar drying, frequent manure removal, solid-liquid separation, acidification, and aeration can play a critical role. These approaches may offer economic benefits to producers, including reduced storage requirements and lower transportation costs. However, most methane reduction solutions carry important trade-offs. If not properly implemented, they can lead to increased nitrous oxide emissions. Additionally, these technologies often require investments in infrastructure and adjustments to baseline farming practices, which can be barriers to adoption.

In this webinar, we will explore a range of cost-effective strategies to reduce methane emissions from manure management beyond anaerobic digesters, examine key trade-offs, including the risk of increasing other potent emissions, and the need for infrastructure change. The webinar will provide case studies on these technologies and approaches in both developed and developing country contexts.

Agenda:

• Martin Kerres, PREVENT Waste Alliance, Welcome and Opening Remarks
• Swati Hedge, Manager (WRI)
• Mindi DePaola, Senior Manager (EDF)
• Akin Olumoroti, Senior Analyst (EDF)
• Gregory Kohler, CCAC Agriculture Expert, Moderator