CAN NATURE AND SCIENTISTS HELP CURE OUR EMISSIONS ?

Methane (CH₄) is also a greenhouse gas, contributing roughly 15% to the radiative forcing associated with global warming. As with CO₂, two biological processes are important in the production and consumption of atmospheric CH₄: methanogenesis and methanotrophy. Methanogenesis is the largest source of CH₄ to the atmosphere and is conducted by strictly anaerobic microorganisms of the Domain Archaea, evolutionarily some of the oldest organisms on Earth. Methanogens thrive in many habitats where oxygen concentrations are low, in wetlands, sediments in aquatic ecosystems, and in the guts of termites and ruminant mammals. With intensification and extensification of livestock farming and rice cultivation, humans have increased methanogenic activity and associated CH₄ emissions to the atmosphere. Fossil fuel mining and biomass burning are additional important anthropogenic sources of CH₄ to the atmosphere. To make a real dent in solving the methane problem, methane intensive industries need a solution that can enable the capture and utilization of their waste methane— ultimately benefiting their bottom line while also benefiting the climate. A start up company called Windfall, have been working to scale the nature-based solution that harnesses methane- eating microbes—referred to as mems—to capture methane from any source while also capturing nitrogen from the air to produce organic fertilizer. To make a real dent in solving the methane problem, methane intensive industries need a solution that can enable the capture and utilization of their waste methane— ultimately benefiting their bottom line while also benefiting the climate. Potentially a win win situation and possibly reversing some of the damage that has taken place in the last few decades.