<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/11/conspiracy-theory-on-methane-cutting-cow-feed-bovaera-wake-up-call-say-scientists>
"Scientists say a recent methane-related conspiracy theory was “a wake-up call”
for the industry, reminding them they need to communicate better and more
directly with the public.
Over the last few months, Bovaer, a cattle feed additive that is proven to
reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas, has been at the centre of a swirl of
misinformation, drawing in Reform UK, the dairy industry and even the
billionaire Bill Gates.
The conspiracy kicked off when Arla, the multinational food group best known
for Lurpak butter, announced in November it would be running a pilot of Bovaer
to reduce the carbon footprint of its products.
Bovaer is the name given to 3-nitrooxypropanol, or “3-NOP”, one of a range of
additives that are given to cattle to aid digestion and reduce their
flatulence, which is a significant cause of methane emissions. Cutting methane,
a gas many times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the
atmosphere, would give the world breathing space in the fight to control
temperature rises, many scientists have said.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been assessing the use of 3-NOP and says
the additive has undergone rigorous testing over 10 years. According to
Bovaer’s manufacturer, DSM-Firmenich, the additive is now approved in 68
countries and given to more than 200,000 cows.
But what should have been an exciting announcement of a pioneering scheme to
help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions quickly became a social media storm
about the health effects of the additive, with people videoing themselves
throwing away products by the brand and pouring milk down their sinks in
protest."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
