New technology can turn emissions into animal food, Chinese scientists say

Chinese researchers say they have developed the technology to turn industrial emissions into animal feed at scale, a move that could cut the country's dependence on imported raw materials such as soybeans. The technology involves synthesizing industrial exhaust containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen into proteins using Clostridium autoethanogenum, a bacteria used to make ethanol. The news was reported this week in the state-run Science and Technology Daily. China is the top importer of soybeans, which are crushed to produce meal -- mainly to feed its pig herd, the largest globally. It buys huge volumes from countries including Brazil, Argentina and the U.S. The commodity has also been a major source of friction contributing to U.S.-China trade tensions.