Objective 1.1
Feeding Microalgae 


Leader: Dr David Pacheco (AgResearch) 
NZAGRC funding: May 2010 - June 2011 


A novel approach to the mitigation of methane is to feed algal species which are high in lipid content to ruminants. This should, theoretically, suppress methanogen activity. Scientists harvested algal species from NZ-based wastewater treatment ponds and conducted in vitro studies to assess their potential as methane mitigating animal feed supplements. Results showed that the algal species tested had insufficient lipid levels to reduce methane effectively. However, algal species from other sources have been collected and initial laboratory level studies are looking promising. The next stage of this work will be carried out under the MITIGAS component of an AgResearch SLMACC funded programme. 


 Download Objective 1.1 2010/11 (0.37MB) 



Objective 1.7
Methane capture and utilisation from dairy effluent 


Leader: Dr Rupert Craggs (NIWA) 
NZAGRC funding: May 2010 - June 2011 


There is an opportunity to reduce dairy farm methane emissions by capturing biogas from effluent treatment and storage ponds for use as an on-farm energy source. Under this objective, an assessment of anaerobic digestion technologies to capture and utilise methane emissions from dairy farm effluent was conducted. The most important factors affecting financial viability are: farm size, feed pad use and presence of existing biogas use equipment (e.g. boiler or generator). The most simple to apply and economically viable options for on-farm biogas use is either a boiler with flare to waste excess biogas, or combined heat and power (CHP) if a generator is also purchased for backup power supply. Additional funding was secured from the SLMACC fund to continue and extend this study at other sites and install a full-scale covered anaerobic pond at one of these sites. 


 Download Objective 1.7 2010/11 (0.19MB) 


2010-14 Objectives 


	
		
			Objective 
			Leader 
			Timeframe 
		
		
			
			
			1.1 
			
			
			
			
			Feeding Microalgae 
			
			
			
			
			Dr David Pacheco 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 11 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.2 
			
			
			
			
			Low Methane producing animals 
			
			
			
			
			John McEwan 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.3 
			
			
			
			
			Genomic identification of universal targets for methanogen inhibition 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Sinead Leahy 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Dec 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.4 
			
			
			
			
			Enhanced discovery of methanogen - specific inhibitors 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Ron Ronimus 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.5 
			
			
			
			
			Expression of vaccine target proteins 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Bryce Buddle 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 13 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.6 
			
			
			
			
			Identifying alternative hydrogen utilisers 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Gemma Henderson 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Dec 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.7 
			
			
			
			
			Methane capture and utilisation from Dairy effluent 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Rupert Craggs 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 11