Microscopic World

Few realise that Australia’s Aboriginal People utilised or benefited from fermentation. Early European accounts mention many processes - the use of Eucalyptus gunnii’s sugary sap is an example. Early settlers copied the fermentation practice, thus naming the ‘cider tree’ before it was formally identified as a species. We provide the first detailed analysis of both the sap and microflora linked to the trees. As expected, a diverse range of bacteria and yeast can be found there, including potentially new species, others with curious properties, and potentially strains suited for other fermentation processes.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas whose atmospheric concentration has risen more steeply than that of carbon dioxide. It is estimated to be responsible for about 30% of human-driven global warming. The main anthropogenic sources are well known: leaky fossil fuel infrastructure, ruminant livestock, landfills, and rice paddies. The UK has signed the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), aiming to cut emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. In this talk, we’ll explore why reducing methane is crucial for limiting global warming to under 2°C. We’ll review the progress made so far and consider further actions, including Bovaer, a feed additive for cows recently approved in the UK, and the potential to harness microbes to remove methane from the atmosphere.