Signal 4: Manure… to Energy?
Within the swine industry, open lagoons and sprayfield systems of manure management are the norm. This means that tons of methane are emitted into the atmosphere, contributing to the increase in greenhouse gases. The quality of air and water in the surrounding area also comes into question, especially when there is extreme rainfall.
To increase the resilience of manure management facilities and reduce carbon footprint, Smithfield Foods has announced that they will be implementing manure-to-energy projects in 90% of their waste-treatment facilities. New technologies developed by Smithfield Foods like covered digesters to capture biogas and renewable energy facilities will allow the conversion of emitted methane into refined biogas that can be pumped into the natural gas pipeline. In Utah, it is expected that 4000 homes can be powered by this each year. Furthermore, covering up lagoons mitigates the effects of severe rainfall and protects farms from the consequences of extreme weather.
Implementation is still in early stages but if shown to be successful, it could encourage investments and innovation in sustainability solutions by other players in the meat industry. Smithfield Foods can also consider selling their technology to other farms.
