Can Oregano Save the Planet?
Culinary Herb Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions
oregano
Flash forward to 2011, where oregano has emerged as a promising digestive aid for cattle. If you think this is not a major issue, consider the numbers. Each year in the United States, 100 million cattle release six million metric tons of methane into the atmosphere — a significant 25 percent of U.S. methane emissions. It is important to understand that methane, or CH4, is a greenhouse gas 23 times more efficient at trapping heat than the more common greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2). To compare them, the amount of methane must be multiplied by 23 times to give an equivalent amount of the CO2 heat trapping capacity. Consequently the six million tons of methane emitted by America’s cattle equal nearly 140 million tons of CO2.
Contrary to what you may imagine, most of the methane cattle generate during digestion is exhaled or belched rather than released through flatulence. An average cow in the U.S. releases 252 lbs. (114 kg) of methane every year or about 5,800 lbs. ( 2,636 kg) of equivalent carbon dioxide. This is about half of the yearly CO2 emissions of the average U.S. passenger car.
There is an additional problem with methane, which makes controlling agricultural emissions even more critical. Methane is a major source of ozone (O3), a powerful greenhouse gas and a toxic air pollutant causing billions of dollars of crop damage and thousands of human deaths from respiratory diseases. A cut to methane production will significantly reduce both global warming and air pollution.
Enter Oregano
With so much at stake, agricultural researchers have focused efforts on methane reduction through experimental cattle feeds. Scientists have tried such dietary additives such as garlic, cinnamon, and antibiotics—all of which decreased methane production to some degree. Then, as reported in the September 24, 2010 issue of the journal Science a research team led by Dr. Alexander Hristov, associate professor of dairy nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, achieved promising results. By adding a pound of oregano to the cow’s daily feed, Dr. Hristov’s team found that methane emissions decreased by 40 percent. As an extra, the oregano increased milk production by approximately 4 percent.
In a second trial, oregano cut methane emissions by 27 percent, and milk output increased by 4 percent. When recently contacted by NW Farms & Food, Dr. Hristov said that his team continues to test oregano as a feed additive and hopes to discover exactly how it reduces methane in the cow’s rumen.
Powerful Benefits
Assuming farms could reduce the six million metric tons of U.S. cattle–produced methane by 33 percent, it would be equivalent to removing 45 million tons of CO2 per year— the CO2 output from approximately 7.63 million passenger cars. With decreased methane comes the added bonus of less ozone air pollution and improved air quality.
For cattle ranchers and dairy farmers this could also bring financial benefits. For example, on dairy farms in Whatcom County, Washington, cutting methane emissions from the County’s 50,000 cows could diminish greenhouse gases by roughly 34,000 tons of CO2—the equivalent of taking 6,800 cars off the road. Reductions in CO2 have recently been worth $10 per ton in the voluntary carbon credit market. At this rate, 34,000 tons of reduced CO2 equivalents would earn Whatcom County dairy farmers $340,000 per year.
So the next time you bite into a slice of pizza, think about the benefits of the humble herb, oregano. The delicious seasoning on your pizza may lead to cleaner air, a cooler world, happier cows and better paid farmers.
Related Articles:
An Unlikely Renewable Energy Hero: Methane Gas from Dairy Cows
Renewable Energy from Dairy Farm Manure
