Federal Offset Protocol: Reducing Manure Methane Emissions

Storage of livestock liquid manure in anaerobic conditions (absence of oxygen) in storage systems such as a pit or lagoon produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG). The use of anaerobic digestion, chemical, or mechanical manure treatments can reduce methane emissions.

The Reducing Manure Methane Emissions federal offset protocol will create an incentive for farmers, livestock operation owners, and other project developers to implement projects that treat liquid manure to reduce methane emissions. These activities will generate GHG emission reductions for which federal offset credits may be issued under the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations.

Proposed eligible manure treatments are:

• anaerobic digestion, on-farm or at a communal facility, where the methane produced in the storage system is not released in the atmosphere. Manure is processed in a tank, and methane recovered to be used for energy generation (displacement of fossil fuel is not eligible for credit issuance)
• chemical treatment (acidification) by adding an acid solution into the manure storage system to reduce methane production
• mechanical treatment by separating manure into two outputs: a solid sludge and a liquid sludge, resulting in the liquid sludge having lower organic content and lower level of methane emission potential.

The draft protocol was developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) with input from a team of external technical experts, including those with expertise in livestock manure treatment project development and operation, GHG quantification, verification, offset protocol development, and relevant academic research, as well as from experts in the Government of Canada, provinces and territories.

Comment period on the draft protocol

ECCC has published the draft Reducing Manure Methane Emissions federal offset protocol for a 60-day comment period. The comments received will help inform the development of the final protocol.

The deadline for comments on this draft protocol is April 29, 2025. To submit comments, please send them by email to the Offsets and Emissions Trading Section at: creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca.

Access the draft protocol

Draft Reducing Manure Methane Emissions, version 1.0

Other resources

A webinar will be held on March 19, 2025, to present an overview of the draft protocol and to answer questions. Information on how to register for the webinar can be found in the Highlights section on the Protocols page.