CSIRO researchers have found a way to measure methane emissions from sheep by analyzing carbon isotope signatures in wool. This method is cheaper than current on-farm sensors that require internet and specialized equipment. The discovery came from a partnership with fashion brand M.J. Bale, which needed a verifiable way to prove the low-carbon credentials of its wool suits. Initial trials used wool from Kingston Farm in Tasmania, where sheep are fed seaweed supplements to cut methane. The same isotope test could also work on meat and milk. More than half of the carbon footprint of a wool suit comes from methane, not from transport or manufacturing. This new test gives brands a low-cost tool to verify emissions reductions from feed additives or selective breeding. CSIRO is now looking for industry partners to run larger trials and bring the method to market. For carbon markets and climate finance, this kind of verifiable measurement could help livestock producers access premiums for low-methane wool or meat.
