Green entrepreneurship
Julio 15, 2021 - < 1 min

Cow masks

Innovation to combat climate change

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The pandemic has made facemasks part of our everyday clothing. But soon it won't be just humans who will be wearing them. Cargill, one of the world's largest food companies, plans to begin distributing cattle facemasks in 2022 designed to reduce methane emissions-a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG)-from cattle, an aspect of livestock production that is under pressure due to the need to reduce GHG emissions. More than 90% of methane is emitted by cows through their burps. The masks work in a similar way to the catalytic converter in automobiles, with a pair of fans that absorb the methane and retain it in a filter. The masks belong to Zelp (https://www.zelp.co/), a UK-based startup founded by Argentine brothers Francisco and Patricio Norris, which designed the devices and will manufacture them. Livestock is responsible for around 14% of GHG emissions, including from the production of feed and pasture for fattening, according to the FAO.