The New Zealand co-op, Fonterra, is to launch a pilot project that aims to employ new technology to help farmers reduce methane emissions from effluent storage pools, which are similar to slurry tanks.

The two-year pilot will begin in August and involve up to 200 Fonterra farmers who will use the 'EcoPond' effluent treatment system which uses polyferric sulphate and sulphuric acid to reduce and prevent methane emissions in effluent ponds.

The system was developed by New Zealand-based Agnition Ventures and Lincoln University.

According to Professor Keith Cameron, Lincoln University’s published research shows that treating effluent with iron sulphate can reduce methane emissions by over 90%.

Previously the EcoPond system required significant on-farm infrastructure for installation but Fonterra has now invested in a new effluent pond mobile dosing service to support its farmers.

Fonterra’s director of sustainability, Charlotte Rutherford, says novel technology, like EcoPond, is one of several avenues the co-op is going down towards its target of "30% intensity reduction in on-farm emissions by 2030".

Effluent ponds represent about 5% of a Fonterra farm’s total emissions - which can also include emissions associated with land use change and those released from peat soil, minus any carbon removals.

“We continue to explore new tools, services and technology to support farmers, and we’re working alongside Agnition to understand what would need to be considered before we could scale EcoPond to benefit more co-op farmers," Rutherford said.

According to Agnition Ventures, farmers who use EcoPond on a typical New Zealand dairy farm with 400 cows "will reduce methane emissions by about 100 tonnes of CO₂-e per year, equivalent to 22 petrol-engine cars".