ARI Scientists Study methane-oxidizing bacteria for methane mitigation and value addition

News:Scientists at Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, have isolated 45 different strains of methanotrophic bacteria.

Facts:

About Methanotrophs

• They metabolise and convert methane into carbon-di-oxide. 
• They can effectively reduce the emission of methane (the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG)).  
• In rice fields, methanotrophs are active near the roots or soil-water interfaces.

Additional Information:

• Rice fields are human-made wetlands and are waterlogged for a considerable period. 
• Anaerobic degradation of organic matter results in the generation of methane. Rice fields contribute to nearly 10% of global methane emissions