In a shift towards sustainable agriculture, beef producers are exploring methods to curtail methane emissions – a potent contributor to global warming. Recognizing this movement, Cargill, in alliance with TREES Consulting, introduced a Gold Standard certified methodology that offers a template for the global beef industry to measure methane emission reductions, primarily through incorporating feed supplements like SilvAir into cattle diets. Gold Standard‘s rigorous certification not only promotes climate security but also furthers a minimum of three of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The novel methodology presents clear guidelines for beef producers to evaluate the decrease in methane emissions stemming from enteric fermentation – a digestion process in cattle causing methane release predominantly through burping, but also from manure handling. It empowers beef producers to quantify and verify these methane reductions, paving the way for Gold Standard certification. Gold Standard’s Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) can be traded on carbon markets, allowing credit buyers to directly back these projects. This effort also aligns with their corporate goal of mitigating supply chain greenhouse gas emissions.

At the forefront of animal agriculture and beef supply, Cargill is uniquely positioned to equip its producer network with innovative solutions to address sustainability hurdles. With its Reach4Reduction Initiative, Cargill adopts a comprehensive approach to methane mitigation, delving into the realms of feed management and nutrition to optimize resource use, ensuring food security, and prioritizing environmental protection. While methane release from cattle digestion is natural, Cargill sees a potential to decrease its intensity via their worldwide animal nutrition venture.

To expedite sustainable transitions, Cargill offers guidance on enhancing on-farm productivity, fine-tuning animal health and nutrition, and pioneering methane and nitrogen emission-reducing additives. For beef producers leveraging these innovations, new methodologies stand as a testament to the precise evaluation of their methane curtailment, offering a platform to highlight their contributions.

Joanne Sharpe, Cargill’s global ruminant sustainability lead, stated, “We’re dedicated to ensuring producers get the recognition they deserve for their sustainable practices. This methodology is pivotal in unveiling new avenues to minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the beef sector.”

Echoing the sentiment, Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, emphasized, “Cargill’s backing is vital for the entire animal agriculture sector’s journey to cut methane emissions. It harmonizes with our other endeavors, like our recent methodology addressing methane emissions from rice cultivation.”

Before employing the new methodology, a three-year baseline emissions record during regular activities is essential. The cattle receiving feed supplements should be meticulously documented throughout the project, which has a credit lifespan of five years, renewable for another five years, excluding baseline duration.

Martin Gehrig of TREES Consulting expressed, “Collaborating on this methodology was exhilarating. It’s an indispensable blueprint for the beef sector to progress in methane reduction efforts.”