Sustainable Manure Management in the Dairy Industry

Manure from cows on grass fields breaks down naturally with minimal methane production. When cows are kept indoors, additional methane is generated from their manure. To address this, the industry is investing in manure biogesters to capture methane, but this method requires substantial subsidies. However, this approach incentivizes a model that is unsustainable and harmful to the environment. The dairy industry faces challenges as milk consumption decreases while dairy consumption, especially cheese and ice cream, rises. This increased production often occurs in regions that cannot environmentally sustain it, leading to a situation where solutions created by the industry worsen the problem. For example, promoting ethanol use in airplanes is another misguided attempt to address the challenges faced by the dairy industry.