Solid animal waste is easily associated with the idea of filth, disease, and bacteria for the ill informed. However, the conservation of feces and manure is very important to the world wide eco-system. This methane rich by product is the absolute largest contributor in the world to greenhouse gases. Still, just like almost everything else, there is gold to be found in feces.
The term manure, from the Greek meaning to ensure against ruminants and bacteria in specialized nodes, was first used to describe the droppings of ravens and crows. The value of manure is well explored in Africa, where there is a risk of scarce firewood; thus the practices of burning Elephant dung for warmth. In many places poultry droppings are valuable fertilizers.
So much so, there are fairly strict rules concerning the destruction of dung in some agricultural regions. The truth is next to water, fecal matter is the most plentiful resource on earth. It can be found anywhere on earth even deserts where the soil has very little organic matter at all.
Along with the value of manure, the many associated dangers are also well documented. Many forms of composting manure are fairly combustible and dangerous and if you are not careful can spontaneously ignite. World wide fifty deaths a year are directly related to the mishandling of animal and human waste.
Dissolved and solid animal waste is composed of methane and nitrates making it a perfectly viable source of energy. It is not out of the range of possibility to one day power your car or even your entire home you're your own excess. Scientist in Japan are working to refine such a process. Although that idea has not been fully cultivated it is possible. Other scientists have already proven that using a plasma gasification method on methane and nitrate based solids will generate hydrogen, helium, and electricity. As well, this would lower atmospheric emissions and reduce the effects of global warming.
Spent hops left over from grazing-animal manure can make for a very interesting and satisfying beverage that can be sold in bars and taverns. Dealing with dung from pork factories, grazing cows, and chicken farms is also big business bringing in an estimated $1.5 trillion dollars a year in global financial impact. A reasonably intelligent manure enthusiast could easily become wealthy, so maybe we all would be wise to farm for feces. Proving once again that there is money to be made in anything. You just gotta know how to make it work.
