Could this be the final frontier in the fight against global warming?
In its ongoing quest to reduce the emissions of gases blamed for climate change ? and placate grumbling green activists ? the Australian government has earmarked $17 million for research into how to prevent the country?s 120 million farm animals from emitting so much methane.
The project, launched this week by Agriculture Minister Tony Burke, will fund 18 areas of research, including dietary changes, genetic manipulation and ways to control stomach bacteria to reduce methane production.
As the animals chew, belch and pass wind, they release methane, while nitrous oxide is released from their waste. Both are ?greenhouse gases? and are, scientists say, considerably more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas that gets most attention from global warming proponents.
My question: why is the former penal-colony down under so preoccupied with biological functions in its quest to end global warming?
