A new project underway is in the South Island to help mitigate agricultural emissions in New Zealand.
Invercargill dairy farmer John Bull enlisted the help of his friend and ag researcher Hugh Heifer to help him find a cost-effective way to manage methane emissions and leaching on his farm. The solution: moopers, or cow diapers, that can hold up to 300 litres of urine and faeces.
The biodegradable cow diaper will be made using hemp-based materials and can be used as effluent.
While still in its development phase, Gillespie says that farmers simply have to put the mooper on their cows and it will automatically fall off when it is full. The farmer will then be able to easily collect the moopers for disposal, or for further use on-farm.
Bull says that Heifer and he are confident that this is exactly what the industry needs.
“In the current farming climate moopers are exactly what the industry needs to help mitigate the emissions problem – it’s a game-changer.”
The pair are seeking $500, 000 in funds to get the product to market.
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