In partnership with Sistema.bio, Danone is equipping 6,500 smallholder dairy farmers with biodigesters to reduce methane emissions. (Image source: Sistema.bio)

Global leader in biodigestion technology, Sistema.bio recently announced its collaboration with leading food and beverage company, Danone during the 17th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM)

Through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), Sistema.bio and Danone aim to support smallholder farmers by introducing biodigesters – a proven manure management solution to mitigate methane emissions, while providing access to renewable energy on-farm. The partnership aims to deploy 6,500 biodigesters by 2030 for smallholder dairy farmers across various geographies, starting with Mexico, Morocco and India.  

These systems convert livestock waste into biogas and organic fertiliser, which can be used as valuable resources at farm level. Overall, this supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering production costs, and decreasing reliance on chemical fertilisers. The biodigester’s digestate can also be used as a natural organic fertiliser, which improves soil health and efficient water use, supporting agriculture to be more sustainable and resilient. 

This partnership marks a major step toward decarbonising dairy farming by delivering locally adapted high-impact technological solutions, at the service of the farmers, ultimately empowering local communities to drive meaningful climate action.  The project also aligns with Danone’s Impact Journey toward regenerative and resilient agriculture and ‘Hlib Bladi’ programme, which supports local milk sovereignty and promotes sustainable farming practices in Morocco. 

Horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning could be a huge boost to the global dairy farming industry. (Image source: UCL)

Researchers have developed a new technique to extract tiny cellulose strands from cow dung and turn them into manufacturing-grade cellulose

A study published in The Journal of Cleaner Production, describes the potential of a new ‘pressurised spinning’ innovation that uses cow dung as a raw material to create cellulose materials more cheaply and cleanly than some current manufacturing methods. Cellulose is one of the world’s most commonly used manufacturing materials, and can be found in everything from cling film to surgical masks, paper products, textiles, foods and pharmaceuticals.  

Professor Edirisinghe, the senior author of the study, considered the possibility of extracting tiny fragments of cellulose present in cow manure and turning it into manufacturing-grade cellulose materials. He first used mild chemical reactions and homogenisation, which was successful in fragment extraction. However, the use of pressurised spinning technology to turn these fragments into fibres failed. 

However, upon trial and error, a new technique called horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning, proved successful. This is an energy efficient process that doesn’t require the high voltages of other fibre production techniques such as electrospinning. This advancement is a prime example of circular economy and is the first time that manufacturing-grade cellulose has been derived from animal waste. 

Horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning could be a huge boost to the global dairy farming industry, given the fact that animal waste management continues to be a growing problem globally. The research team is currently seeking opportunities to work with dairy farmers to take advantage of the technology and scale it up.

By installing additional PEM electrolysers, Hy2gen plans to upgrade the facility by the end of 2025. (Image source: Hy2gen)

Hy2gen’s ATLANTIS facility, located in Werlte, Germany, has been certified by CertifHy as the first site in the country to produce RFNBO-compliant e-methane under the EU’s sustainability framework for renewable fuels

This certification confirms that ATLANTIS meets all EU criteria for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO), including sustainability, traceability, and lifecycle emissions. By installing additional polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysers, Hy2gen plans to upgrade the facility by the end of 2025, to meet the growing demand for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives. 

As part of its strategy, Hy2gen has also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a German hydropower plant to supply additional renewable electricity to the ATLANTIS plant in the future. This will enable Hy2gen to expand the facility’s electrolysis capacity, increasing its ability to supply certified fuels to the European and international markets.

Managing director of Hy2gen Deutschland GmbH, Matthias Lisson expressed pride in the company being one of the first RFNBO hydrogen and e-methane molecules producing site in the world. “Our team at the ATLANTIS plant in Werlte are pioneers in the production of e-methane. Right now, we are operating the biggest e-methane production site in the world,” said Lisson. With the RFNBO certification, we increase the value of our molecules, as it offers our clients the security that our products are 100% renewable and can be used to decarbonise industrial sectors to comply with EU regulations.”

ILRI is helping to shape a sustainable future where livestock systems are both productive and climate resilient. (Image source: ILRI)

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) recently entered a collaboration aimed at reducing methane emissions from livestock

Backed by theBezos Earth Fund and theGlobal Methane Hub, IRLI's partnership with the new US$27.4mn global initiative will identify and scale climate-efficient livestock by providing ample support to research and breeding programmes across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. 

ILRI’s leadership in the Global Methane Genetics Initiative, coupled with its contribution to the Low Methane Forage project highlights its central role in delivering integrated, climate-smart livestock solutions for the Global South. These two complementary efforts have enabled ILRI to tackle enteric methane emissions from both the genetic and nutritional fronts—two of the most promising and scalable strategies for mitigating livestock emissions without compromising productivity.  

The genetics initiative enables African production systems to choose cattle breeds that naturally emit lower emissions, while the Low Methane Forage project identifies and deploys anti-methanogenic, high-yielding tropical forages suited for smallholder and pastoral systems. These projects in combination with each other demonstrate ILRI’s commitment to advancing science-based innovations that are practical, inclusive, and tailored to the realities of livestock keepers in Africa and beyond. By aligning research, capacity building, and deployment with national and regional needs, ILRI is helping to shape a sustainable future where livestock systems are both productive and climate resilient.

The initiative is also part of the Global Methane Genetics initiative that works by screening more than 100,000 animals, collecting methan emissions data and integrating findings into public and private breeding programmes. By making methane efficiency a standard part of livestock breeding, the initiative marks a turning point for climate-smart livestock development in Africa.

"By harnessing the power of genetics and data, we are equipping farmers with the tools to breed more productive, resilient, and lower-emission animals. It is a bold step towards aligning Africa’s livestock systems with global climate goals, while enhancing livelihoods and food security," said ILRI’s director general, Appolinaire Djikeng. "ILRI is proud to lead this effort in close partnership with national and international collaborators including Agriculture Research Council, South Africa, the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Burkina Faso and Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin.”

In the long run, the approach will keep diets, infrastructure and productivity intact, while at the same time contributing to an overall 30% reduction in methane emissons in cattle over the next two decades. This also includes an annual reduction of 1-2%.