Business Daily Denmark's "burp tax"
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Aug 19, 2025 Richard Dewhurst, a Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, dives into Denmark's groundbreaking 'burp tax' targeting methane emissions from livestock. He discusses the environmental urgency behind this scheme and its potential impact on food prices and farmer livelihoods. Dewhurst also sheds light on innovative breeding techniques producing cows like Hilda, known for lower methane emissions. The conversation explores whether this model could inspire similar initiatives globally, striking a balance between sustainability and agricultural viability.
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Denmark's World-First Livestock Emissions Tax
- Denmark will charge farmers a tax on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock starting in 2030, a global first.
- The move bundles taxes with land-restoration and technology investments to reshape agriculture by 2035.
Three Distinct Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
- Agriculture emits carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane from different sources like diesel, fertiliser and rumen fermentation.
- Methane is short-lived but potent and mainly comes from cows and sheep during digestion.
A Farmer's Personal Stakes
- Thomas Hormuller-Söger described buying his family farm and the financial commitment it entailed.
- He emphasised family involvement, staff, and the personal stakes of running 520 Jersey cows on an organic enterprise.