Evaluating the potential of manure additives as an adaptive strategy to reduce the environmental impact of livestock on climate change

Lead Applicant: Kari Dunfield

Research Priority: Sustainable Production Systems

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2025/2026

Research Centre: N/A

Research Summary: The Global Methane Pledge says that cutting methane emissions is one of the best ways to slow down global warming. One source of agricultural methane emissions is manure management practices, but in livestock production systems with liquid manure management, methane emissions can be higher. Methane is produced when microbes break down manure. This project aims to study how adding things like acids or fertilizers to manure can help lower methane. Tests will be performed on a combination of bioreactor studies on Ontario Living Lab farms to learn more about the microbes that cause methane and see how these treatments affect the environment when the manure is used on fields.