One of the great challenges of raising animals is how to handle their waste. The question is as inevitable as it is difficult, but thanks to creative thinking and persistent lab work, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service scientists are now offering farmers revolutionary new tools. Their goal is to reduce or eliminate the negative side effects of animal waste, such as excess nutrient run-off, and the release of pathogens or even antimicrobial resistant genes. In developing solutions, they are helping to build a more circular agricultural economy, in which farmers can transform waste into valuable products that they can then use on their land in ways that strengthen their operations.
Animal byproducts transform into assets
1 of 3
Efficient manure/wastewater treatment system developed to capture nutrients, improve water quality, reduce emissions of ammonia and nuisance odors, enhance water availability for water reuse, and kill harmful pathogens.
Confocal microscope image of bacteria in a bioreactor that removes ammonia from wastewater -- red is anammox Brocadia caroliniensis and green is high-performance nitrifiers.
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service soil scientist Matias Vanotti with a pilot wastewater treatment reactor.
Most Popular
A new grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will support work to engage rural households who depend on private wells to understand dri…
One of the world's longest-running scientific experiments, Park Grass at Rothamsted in England, is celebrating its 170th anniversary.