GE clover could cut methane emissions by 10%

The agricultural industry and it's scientists, are having to grapple with the use and direction of genetically engineered products.

Science has moved at such speed, that many opportunities are avaliable now, due to scientific manipulation.

While all these projects are aimed at "the greater good" in outcomes, some will have greater risks than others, not only from the product, but from public perceptions.

A rule of thumb which appeals is "if it's possible for nature to do this, why not let science speed up the process".

This GE clover project seems to fall into this category.

Agricultural scientists say a genetically engineered clover may be able to reduce the methane emissions from livestock such as cows and sheep by 10 per cent reports The NZ Herald.

Scientists from AgResearch and one of its subsidiaries, Grasslanz Technology Ltd, said today they can "switch on" a gene in white clover to give cows and sheep extra protein, reduce emissions of methane and nitrogen waste, and improve animal health. Though the state science company said in a statement that the work "may result in clovers which have not been genetically modified".

AgResearch scientist Jimmy Suttie said the white clover would be genetically engineered, though only with genetic material from other clover species. "There's a scrubby little rabbit's foot clover which produces tannins in its leaves and stems," he said. Genetic material from this species could be put into white clover to trigger the same effect.

Grazing animals lose between 7 per cent and 11 per cent of the energy they eat because micro-organisms in their first stomach, the rumen, produce methane.