A colourless, odourless, flammable gas composed of one carbon and four hydrogen atoms. In food and agriculture, methane is significant as a potent greenhouse gas produced by enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock such as cattle and sheep, by manure management, and by rice paddies. These emissions make methane a major focus of efforts to reduce the climate impact of food production, through feed additives, breeding, and manure handling. Industrially, methane is the main component of natural gas used for cooking and heating. In the gut, methanogenic microbes produce small amounts that contribute to flatulence.