Latest news with #cowdung
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Got dung? Sarawak's waste-not-want-not plan for clean fuel and hydrogen gold
KUCHING, July 12 — Sarawak is exploring the conversion of cow dung into hydrogen as part of its long-term circular green economy strategy, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. According to the Premier, cow dung, which emits methane as it decomposes, can be processed into a renewable fuel source, opening new avenues for sustainable energy generation. 'If there are many cows, there will be a lot coming out of the cows. 'What comes out of the cows contains a lot of hydrogen because it produces methane, and from that, hydrogen can be extracted and used,' he said in his speech during the launch of the state-level International Day of Forests (IDF) 2025 at the Forest Research Centre here today. Abang Johari said this initiative aligns with Sarawak's broader aim to monetise waste under its green growth model. 'Don't waste the waste — monetise the waste,' he said, quoting what he had recently shared at the Asean Summit for economic leaders in Kuala Lumpur. He said the phrase has since been picked up by organisers as a key branding theme, reflecting global interest in Sarawak's approach to environmental sustainability. Sharing recent developments, Abang Johari highlighted an initiative with Sarawak Land Custody and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) in Lubok Antu to extract biomass and biofuel from palm oil kernel waste, under a RM30 million pilot project. 'When we break the kernel, it produces biomass which we can use for animal feed. 'Early trials with cattle and goats showed that local feed produced from palm waste could support healthy livestock growth. 'At the moment our animals are thin, and expensive. During Hari Raya Korban, one cow can cost up to RM12,000. That means we can use this waste to support our livestock sector,' he said. He also revealed plans to develop biofuel from the same waste — including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — as part of Sarawak's efforts to reduce reliance on raw commodity exports and transition to value-added production. Touching on the theme of this year's IDF celebration, 'Forests and Food', Abang Johari reiterated the importance of forest conservation and sustainable resource use for long-term survival. He praised the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) for their achievements in seed planting efforts, noting that they had exceeded the original target of 35 million trees by planting over 50 million to date. 'I want to thank those who brought belian tree seeds. If we can nurture these, we can replant many forest species — not only belian, but also nyatoh, meranti and others,' he said. Abang Johari also expressed strong interest in the department's use of 3D data technology to monitor forest conditions and tree species, which could support Sarawak's entry into carbon trading markets. 'Every species of tree has a different capacity to absorb carbon. If you have the technology to identify tree types and characteristics, you can determine aggregate carbon absorption. That's how carbon pricing is determined,' he said. He said Sarawak's sustainability efforts are rooted in the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, where environmental sustainability is one of the three main pillars alongside economic prosperity and social inclusivity. 'We have to execute our policies considering the importance of our environment,' he said. The Premier added that Sarawak's approach has been recognised internationally. He recently returned from Tokyo, where he participated in a global hydrogen conference and shared Sarawak's sustainability blueprint and hydrogen strategy. He also confirmed that Sarawak had been invited to present its policies at the World Economic Forum in Davos, after missing a previous engagement in Tianjin. 'In Tokyo, during a panel discussion, they acknowledged what Sarawak has done for the world in terms of environmental management and green energy. InsyaAllah, we've been told that we will be invited to Davos,' he added. Abang Johari emphasised that any form of development must strike a balance with environmental protection. He noted that extreme weather events around the world — from flooding in Texas to heatwaves in Japan and China — are a warning sign. 'If we cannot manage our environment by placing sustainability as the foundation, the world's temperature will rise. That's not just dangerous for nations, it's a threat to the entire human race. 'Humans cannot survive in temperatures of 43°C, 46°C, or 48°C. This is one of the major global challenges we face today,' he said. — The Borneo Post
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Feat of ‘dung-gineering': How your clothes could soon be made from cow manure
As the relentless churn of fast fashion piles up mountains of waste, many people are looking to cut down their wardrobes' carbon footprint. Now, scientists have found a radical new way to make clothing cheaper and better for the environment. Scientists at the University College London (UCL) have found a way of turning cow dung from farms into cellulose fibres, which can be woven together to make fabric. But before you turn your nose up at this feat of 'dung-gineering', the scientists say the final product doesn't smell anything like its unusual raw material. Cellulose is a natural fibre found in plant cell walls, but it is also used in everything from clingfilm and food products to surgical masks and textiles. While it is sometimes derived from natural sources, this vital material is often created synthetically from toxic chemicals. Meanwhile, farms around the world are struggling to keep ahead of the mountains of manure produced by ever-larger herds of cattle. According to the study, published in The Journal of Cleaner Production, turning cow dung into textiles could be a smart way to solve both of these issues. Making fibres from cow dung is possible because manure contains tiny fragments of cellulose left over from the plants they eat. These small pieces can be pulled out of the dung, leaving behind all the other impurities. Senior author Professor Mohan Edirisinghe says: 'Extracting the fragments from dung was relatively straightforward using mild chemical reactions and homogenisation, which we then turned into a liquid solution.' This liquid is then spun into fibres through a process called 'pressurised spinning'. This is a fairly standard manufacturing process in which jets of liquid are shot out of a spinning drum. By changing the pressure of the jet and the speed of the rotation, the process can be tailored to make fibres, beads, ribbons, meshes, or films as required. Initially, Professor Edirisinghe and his colleagues couldn't get the dung solution to form fibres when spun. However, through a process of trial and error, they realised that turning the rotating drum on its side and shooting the jets into water caused fibres to form. 'We're still not quite sure why the process works, but the important thing is that it does,' says Professor Edirisinghe. Now, for the first time, the researchers are able to turn cow dung into fibres of manufacturing-grade cellulose. This opens up the possibility of turning unwanted farmyard waste into a range of useful products including clothes. Professor Edirisinghe told MailOnline: 'Basically, you can make cellulose fibres and I see no reason why it can't be made into a mesh and turned into clothing.' He adds: 'There's no smell that I can notice, and you can't guess the origins by looking at it.' The researchers say it would be easy to scale up their existing device to produce more fibres. In the future, this might be a 'win-win' scenario for cattle farmers and textile manufacturers. Research suggests that the amount of animal waste produced by farms around the world is due to increase by 40 per cent between 2003 and 2030. The researchers say these cellulose meshes (pictured) could be used to make clothing In the next five years, farms could produce at least five billion tonnes of manure each year, with many farms producing more than they can use as fertiliser. First author Yanqi Dai, from UCL, says: 'Dairy farm waste, such as cow manure, is a threat to the environment and humans, especially through waterway pollution, the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when it decomposes, and the spread of pathogens. 'It is also often a burden on farmers to dispose of properly.' Runoff from dairy farms, where rain washes away manure, can lead to waste finding its way into local water systems. This can have devastating effects on the ecosystem, including creating toxic algal blooms which can wipe out local wildlife, andcreate a health hazard for humans. By giving farmers a way of turning dung into valuable materials, this technology could incentivise better waste management and provide a sustainable source of fabric. Professor Edirisinghe says: 'The most important thing for the environment is to create natural materials from plants or animals. 'There are heaps of dung and it's causing an environmental hazard. This way you get something from nothing in a sense.' THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FARMING COWS The livestock animals are notorious for creating large amounts of methane, which is a major contributor to global warming. Each of the farm animals produces the equivalent of three tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and the amount of the animals is increasing with the growing need to feed a booming population. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, trapping 30 times more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide. Scientists are investigating how feeding them various diets can make cattle more climate-friendly. They believe feeding seaweed to dairy cows may help and are also using a herb-rich foodstuff called the Lindhof sample. Researchers found a cow's methane emissions were reduced by more than 30 per cent when they ate ocean algae. In research conducted by the University of California, in August, small amounts of it were mixed into the animals' feed and sweetened with molasses to disguise the salty taste. As a result, methane emissions dropped by almost a third. 'I was extremely surprised when I saw the results,' said Professor Ermias Kebreab, the animal scientist who led the study. 'I wasn't expecting it to be that dramatic with a small amount of seaweed.' The team now plans to conduct a further six-month study of a seaweed-infused diet in beef cattle, starting this month.
