Methane Made into Electricity

A group of farmers in the Netherlands have gotten creative in their attempt to solve agriculture’s environmental problem. To counter the greenhouse gases of 3,000 pigs, farmers cook manure, capture the released methane, and convert it into electricity. A rare attempt at environmental consciousness among livestock farmers, their efforts are still not enough to combat the vast environmental consequences of the industry. Regardless, this technique, called “methane capture,” and other high-tech solutions are being explored worldwide. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, head of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, agrees with the vegetarian community: people must eat less meat to control their carbon footprints.