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GlasPort Bio, the Galway-based biotechnology company behind methane-reducing product, GasAbate, hosted a demonstration for Teagasc Signpost researchers. The demo took place on Carbery Group and BiOrbic’s climate-neutral project, Farm Zero C, based at Shinagh Estates Dairy Farm, Bandon, as well as on a commercial Carbery farm nearby.
According to GlasPort Bio, GasAbate can reduce methane emissions from stored cattle and pig slurry by 78 per cent. Depending on the level of intensity, this can reduce carbon emissions from 0.3t to 1.8t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per cow per year. Dairy farms that use GasAbate to treat slurry can cut the carbon emissions per litre of fat and protein-corrected milk by 7 per cent to 28 per cent, depending on their intensity, according to the company. It has also stated that the product has been shown to reduce emissions by 1.84t CO₂e per sow place per year, or nearly 1,000t CO₂e on a 500-sow unit. GasAbate is also said to reduces hydrogen sulphide by 80 per cent and ammonia by up to 50 per cent, while protecting the nutrient value of the treated slurry to maximise crop growth.
Professor Vincent O’Flaherty of GlasPort Bio showed Teagasc advisers how GasAbate is applied in a farm setting, and how the measure-record-verify (MRV) system measures the slurry volumes, GasAbate levels applied, and how the methane emission reductions are reported.
Shaun Connolly, Teagasc research officer in manure emissions, said: “Visiting the farm and seeing GasAbate in action was very encouraging. New slurry-management technologies that are underpinned by sound science are an important area of innovation.”
Carbon Trust
GasAbate recently received third-party assurance for its impact on greenhouse gas emissions from the Carbon Trust, the globally recognised independent climate consultancy. GlasPort Bio CEO, Justin McCarthy, said the biotech firm was delighted to showcase the commercial rollout of its technology to Teagasc. “We have a longstanding partnership with Carbery Group and its sustainability team, led by Enda Buckley, having installed the first system on its climate-neutral project farm, Farm Zero C, four years ago. More recently we rolled the technology out across a further nine Carbery farms in 2025 with the support of Climate KIC,” he said. GasAbate is also being installed on farms in the UK and Sweden.
Carbery Farm Zero C project manager, Padraig Walsh said: “The uptake of more slurry amendment systems highlights the commitment from farmers in west Cork to reduce emissions from the dairy sector. We are grateful to GlasPort Bio and ClimateKIC for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate this.”