By Kimuri Mwangi
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has announced its participation in a new $27.4 million global initiative to mitigate methane emissions from livestock by leveraging natural variations in animal digestion. Supported by the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub, the project will fund research and breeding programs across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania to identify and scale climate-efficient livestock.
“This initiative is a cornerstone of a broader global push to accelerate public-good research on enteric methane,” stated Hayden Montgomery, Agriculture Program Director at the Global Methane Hub. “Together with the Bezos Earth Fund, as part of the Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator, we’re building an open, coordinated foundation that spans countries, breeds, and species—delivering practical solutions that reduce emissions and support farmers worldwide.”
ILRI’s leadership in the Global Methane Genetics Initiative, alongside its contributions to the Low Methane Forage project, underscores its pivotal role in advancing integrated, climate-smart livestock solutions for the Global South. These complementary efforts address enteric methane emissions through genetic and nutritional strategies—two of the most scalable and effective approaches for reducing livestock emissions without compromising productivity.
While the genetics initiative focuses on selecting naturally low-emitting cattle across diverse African production systems, the Low Methane Forage project identifies and promotes anti-methanogenic, high-yielding tropical forages suited for smallholder and pastoral systems. Together, these initiatives reflect ILRI’s commitment to delivering science-based, practical, and inclusive innovations tailored to the needs of livestock keepers in Africa and beyond. By aligning research, capacity building, and deployment with national and regional priorities, ILRI is fostering a sustainable future in which livestock systems are both productive and climate-resilient.
The Global Methane Genetics Initiative—an international collaboration to integrate methane efficiency into livestock breeding—will screen over 100,000 animals, collect methane emissions data, and incorporate findings into public and private breeding programs to achieve long-term, cost-effective climate benefits.
ILRI’s Director General, Appolinaire Djikeng, remarked, “This initiative marks a turning point for climate-smart livestock development in Africa. By harnessing the power of genetics and data, we are equipping farmers with the tools to breed more productive, resilient, and lower-emission animals. It is a bold step towards aligning Africa’s livestock systems with global climate goals, while enhancing livelihoods and food security. ILRI is proud to lead this effort in close partnership with national and international collaborators, including the Agriculture Research Council (South Africa), the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD, Burkina Faso), and the Université d’Abomey-Calavi (Benin).”
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with over 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Cattle are the largest contributors to livestock-related methane emissions, yet even within the same herd, some animals naturally emit up to 30% less methane than others. Scientists assert that selectively breeding these lower-emitting animals—much as farmers have traditionally done for traits like milk yield or fertility—can yield permanent reductions in climate impact.
“Reducing methane from cattle is one of the most elegant solutions we have to slow climate change,” said Dr. Andy Jarvis, Director of the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. “Thanks to collaboration with the Global Methane Hub, we’re backing an effort that uses age-old selection practices to identify and promote naturally low-emitting cattle—locking in climate benefits for generations to come.”
Since these traits are inherent in existing herds, farmers will not need to alter feeding practices or invest in new infrastructure, enabling seamless participation in climate solutions without disrupting operations.
“This work brings together the best of science, industry, and the global breeding community to accelerate genetic improvement for methane efficiency worldwide,” noted Prof. Roel Veerkamp, leader of the initiative at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). “It aligns with WUR’s mission to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life.”
Over time, this approach could reduce cattle methane emissions by 1.0–2% annually, cumulatively achieving a 30% reduction over the next two decades—without requiring dietary changes, infrastructure modifications, or productivity trade-offs.
