9 The Trusted Source for Canada’s Pork Producers Better Pork | October 2024 gesters) to produce renewable energy that will displace fossil fuels and further reduce the carbon footprint of pork production. AD is a process where microorganisms break down organic materials in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas as a renewable energy source and nutrient-rich digestate (digested material after the AD process) for use in fertilizer. In the course of their work, scientists will quantify baseline emissions from Canadian commercial swine operations. To do so, they plan to select 10 representative farms and manure storage tanks in Manitoba and Quebec, calculating the methane emitted from each tank. They will also determine the efficiency of manure additives in reducing methane emissions from swine manure and digestate. Ultimately, researchers hope to identify and develop manure management strategies adapted to Canadian swine farms, helping to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emission targets by 2050. “This project allows the Canadian swine sector to assess the actual baseline emissions and furnish a scientific assessment of technologies that offer numerous benefits,” says Rajagopal. “These include reduced emissions from manure storage throughout the manure utilization chain through treatment (primarily by AD, digestate storage and spreading), ensured sustainability, and improved resource utilization and recycling.” In the first year, instrumentation was installed at swine facilities in Manitoba to measure methane emissions and temperature. At the same time, researchers are collecting realworld emission data from in-barn and outdoor storages to understand actual baseline emissions and influencing factors. Laboratory analyses are ongoing, and the results will be available at the end of a 20-week study in 2024-25. While the technology behind anaerobic digestion systems is not new, and is currently popular in tropical countries such as India, China and Brazil, as well as in parts of Europe, scientists want to see it closer to home. “Canada currently has 60 to 65 biodigesters, and a lot of potential in terms of best management practices to reduce GHG emissions. If other nations are making the most of these opportunities, why shouldn’t we?” Helping to tap that potential are the Swine Innovation Porc cluster that funded this project and Maple Leaf, which gave access to 10 of its farms for the study. Given the razor-thin margins in the pork sector, researchers will continue to be pressed for results that aid producers and industry. Of course, given that pressure plays a key role in making diamonds, maybe that’s a good thing. BP Make it a REALITY Does the future of your operation feel unclear? Let’s connect the dots. Per m . The PIC®800 is proven to sire robust pigs built to thrive against any challenge. His easy-to-handle, efficient offspring deliver a clear economic advantage. Choose PIC®800 to make continuous improvement a reality in your operation. Contact your PIC representative today or visit pic.com. GEOFF GEDDES Geoff is a freelance writer and editor specializing in agriculture. He is based in Edmonton and has written for farm magazines, blogs, websites and social media. SPOTLIGHT ON PORK RESEARCH Biodigesters produce renewable energy and lower the carbon footprint of the pork industry. Rajinikanth Rajagopal photo
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