News Climate

Cow poop emits climate-warming methane. Adding red algae may help

Adding the algae to decomposing feces might reduce methane emission from cow agriculture

A photo of a brown and white cow standing in a grass field with other cows visible in the background.

Cow agriculture is responsible for nearly a quarter of the world’s methane emissions, as bacteria in their guts and feces produce methane.

George Pachantouris/Moment/Getty Images

By Carolyn Gramling

Earth has a cow problem. Cow agriculture is one of the largest emitters of climate-warming methane to the atmosphere.

But adding a type of red algae known for its methane-inhibiting properties to cow feces might help.