The role of red earthworms in the fight against CO₂ reduction

🌱 Red Earthworms in the Fight against CO₂

How Eisenia fetida turns manure into a resource against climate change

💨 Manure: a hidden source of greenhouse gases

Manure produced by cattle, sheep and other animals is one of the main agricultural sources of greenhouse gases. During its natural decomposition, especially in the absence of oxygen, large quantities of:

Methane (CH₄) – with a global warming potential 84 times greater than CO₂ over a 20-year period.
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) – approximately 298 times more potent than CO₂.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – emitted during the degradation of organic matter.

The uncontrolled fermentation of manure, often accumulated in piles or lagoons, contributes significantly to the climate footprint of agriculture.

🪱 The key role of red earthworms

When red earthworms, Eisenia fetida, are introduced into the manure treatment process, an aerobic biological cycle is activated that radically changes the final result:

🔁 From waste to resource:

Earthworms ingest the manure and digest it in oxygen-rich conditions.
This process blocks anaerobic emissions of CH₄ and N₂O.
Direct CO₂ production is reduced, thanks to more efficient and less energy-intensive decomposition.

📉 Concrete results:

Up to 50% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional composting.
Production of stable humus, which sequesters carbon in the soil instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
Increase in the soil's ability to retain carbon, contributing to so-called carbon farming.

🌍 A natural ally for the ecological transition

In a world that seeks regenerative solutions to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C, red earthworms offer:

Low-emission, low-cost technology ready;
A sustainable alternative to the use of anaerobic digesters or high-energy industrial treatments;
A scalable system for small farms and urban circular economy projects.

🌿 Integration into the carbon cycle

The earthworm humus produced:

Immobilizes carbon in a stable form (humic and fulvic acids);
Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers (the production of which is energy-intensive and CO₂-intensive);
Promotes photosynthesis in plants, which absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and fix it in the soil.

🧪 What does science say?

“Vermicomposting, compared to traditional composting, can reduce net carbon emissions and improve soil carbon sequestration.”

✅ Conclusion: The future is in the soil

Red earthworms are a natural, economical and immediately implementable solution to reduce agricultural emissions and reverse climate change. Investing in vermicomposting is not just a gesture for the soil, but a concrete step towards a more livable planet.