OMNI Features｜Swiss Study Finds Climate Change Lengthens Earth's Daytime．California Startup Introduces Low-Carbon, Dairy-Free Butter Made from CO2．Taiwan Launches First Automated Fiber Extraction Facility for Pineapple Leaf Recycling

｜Swiss Study Finds Climate Change Lengthens Earth's Daytime
Swiss researchers led by Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi from Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH) report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS) that climate change is causing Earth's days to lengthen slightly. The melting of polar ice and its flow into the oceans are altering mass distribution across the planet, slowing down Earth's rotation.

｜California Startup Introduces Low-Carbon, Dairy-Free Butter Made from CO2
California startup Savor, supported by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has developed a dairy-free butter alternative using a thermochemical process. This method converts greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into hydrocarbons, combined with oxygen, to form fatty acids, ultimately creating fats. The carbon footprint of this butter alternative is only 0.8 grams of CO2 equivalent per calorie. Kathleen Alexander, the company's Chief Technology Officer, stated that Savor is currently undergoing regulatory approval and expects to begin sales in 2025. Gates emphasized that this technology has the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing land and water usage.

｜Taiwan Launches First Automated Fiber Extraction Facility for Pineapple Leaf Recycling
Taiwan produces approximately 380,000 metric tons of pineapples annually, with a fiber extraction rate of about 1% from pineapple leaves, providing a significant amount of fiber for recycling. Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture has established the first regional automated pineapple leaf fiber extraction facility at the Jiuru Township Farmers' Association. An on-site operation demonstration and recycling seminar were held on July 12. This facility can process 150 kilograms of pineapple leaves per hour, aiming to handle 800 metric tons of leaves annually, producing 8 metric tons of fiber. This enhances extraction efficiency and reduces labor demand. The residue from fiber extraction can be further processed into enzymes, feed, and artificial leather, achieving full-cycle utilization of pineapple plants.

Reference: swissinfo.ch｜The Guardian｜Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture