A proposal to reduce cow flatulence is clearing the air after creating a bit of a stink in its southern Vancouver Island neighbourhood.

Calgary-based Synergraze Inc. has combined forces with the T含羞草研究社橲ou-ke First Nation in the production of a livestock feed additive that could significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle, sheep, chickens, bison and sheep.

In greenhouses in Sooke, west of Victoria, a demonstration project is producing seaweed and algae in tanks harvested from seeds from the ocean that are then used as a livestock feed additive that can drastically reduce methane emissions.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e producing something that can have a global impact while making Canadian cattle producers more competitive,含羞草研究社� Synergraze Inc. chief operating officer Tamara Loiselle said. 含羞草研究社淥ne cow, on average, produces one ton of CO2 equivalent a year. Using a tiny bit of additive with just B.C. cattle would eliminate the equivalent of one million cars on the road a year.含羞草研究社�

Emissions from cattle account for 30 per cent of all methane emissions globally. Although methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere by human activity after carbon monoxide, it is 25 times more potent as a heat-trapping gas than carbon dioxide.

The company states that by significantly reducing methane emissions from cattle, Synergraze can assist Canada and the provinces in meeting their methane emissions reduction targets while helping farmers and consumers of meat and dairy products to become part of the solution to global warming.

含羞草研究社淚f 40 per cent of Canada含羞草研究社檚 cattle were supplemented with Synergraze, methane emissions from cattle could be reduced by approximately (tonnes of CO2e per year). This is equivalent to removing over four million vehicles off the road every year,含羞草研究社� the statement said.

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Despite its environmental focus, Loiselle says several misconceptions have been spread about the company含羞草研究社檚 proposal for a facility in East Sooke.

One of several concerns being repeated on social media is that the seaweed species to be cultured may be asparagopsis, an invasive species.

含羞草研究社淭he land-based aquaculture farm is not a farm,含羞草研究社� a complaint from Summer Conrad to the Agricultural Land Commission state. 含羞草研究社淚t is an industrial complex of land structures which may be designed to propagate a potentially invasive species of algae, asparagopsis, with the risk of introduction into the Sooke Basin, JDF electoral area.含羞草研究社�

Loiselle stressed in an interview with Black Press Media that asparagopsis is not part of the equation.

含羞草研究社淲e will be using Pacific seaweeds/algae found naturally in the region,含羞草研究社� Loiselle said. 含羞草研究社淪ynergraze is planning an aquaculture facility, not an industrial one, and bears no resemblance to facilities (referred to by Conrad) in Australia.含羞草研究社�

In an interview with the Black Press Media, Conrad said residents want an oversight committee or mechanism to monitor the project and want to see a detailed description of what含羞草研究社檚 involved in the project and what it will look like

She said other concerns include the scope and scale of the project, the number of buildings involved, a description of what the site will look like, the types and numbers of pools, and determining what specific algae will be produced.

含羞草研究社淚t feels like we含羞草研究社檙e being asked to approve a building without seeing what the plans look like,含羞草研究社� said Conrad, an East Sooke resident with a background in planning and architecture.

Synergraze Inc. and the T含羞草研究社橲ou-ke Nation released a joint statement last week in an attempt to assuage concerns.

According to the statement, no warm water will enter the Sooke Basin and the project will not negatively impact it.

Synergraze permit applications have undergone rigorous evaluation, including environmental evaluations from multiple government departments at the provincial and federal levels, the statement noted.

The company also wanted to clarify that it has never applied to the Capital Regional District for a dumping permit and has no intention of doing so and that there is no connection between Synergraze and Trans Canada Pipelines.

Representatives from Synergraze and T含羞草研究社橲ou-ke Nation conducted several tours recently in an attempt to clear up misconceptions about the project.

Every resident of East Sooke that signed up through the Synergraze website or via email expressing interest or concerns about the project was invited to tour the pilot facility at the greenhouse at T含羞草研究社橲ou-ke nation land, Loiselle said.

含羞草研究社淭hey all received an invitation to tour the facility and meet with T含羞草研究社橲ou-ke Nation Chief (Gordon) Planes and me during the week of Jan. 16. The reaction from most people was very positive.含羞草研究社�

Planes said he believed those who took the tours came away with a much better understanding of the project.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e not even out in the basin yet, and people are getting ahead of themselves,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e not going to change everyone含羞草研究社檚 minds, but most people who took the tour were impressed. I strongly support the work of Synergraze and see it as a great opportunity to help Mother Earth.含羞草研究社�

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