ILRI Joins $27.4M Initiative to Reduce Methane from Livestock
By Milliam Murigi
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has joined a groundbreaking international effort to cut livestock methane emissions through natural breeding strategies.
The $27.4 million initiative, supported by the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub, brings together global partners to explore how differences in animal digestion can be harnessed to breed more climate-efficient livestock.
It is part of the Global Methane Genetics initiative, an international collaboration working to standardize methane efficiency in livestock breeding. The effort will screen over 100,000 animals, collect methane emissions data, and integrate findings into public and private breeding programs to deliver long-term, low-cost climate benefits.
“This initiative is a cornerstone of a broader global push to accelerate public-good research on enteric methane. 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,” said Hayden Montgomery, Agriculture Program Director at the Global Methane Hub.
ILRI’s leadership in the global methane genetics initiative and its contribution to the low methane forage project highlight its central role in delivering integrated, climate-smart livestock solutions for the Global South.
Through these two complementary efforts, ILRI is tackling enteric methane emissions from both the genetic and nutritional fronts—two of the most promising and scalable strategies for mitigating livestock emissions without compromising productivity.
“While the genetics initiative promotes the selection of naturally low-emitting cattle across diverse African production systems, the low methane forage project identifies and deploys anti-methanogenic, high-yielding tropical forages suited for smallholder and pastoral systems,” said ILRI’s Director General, Appolinaire Djikeng.
“Together, these projects demonstrate ILRI’s commitment to advancing science-based innovations that are practical, inclusive, and tailored to the realities of livestock keepers in Africa and beyond. By aligning research, capacity building, and deployment with national and regional needs, ILRI is helping to shape a sustainable future where livestock systems are both productive and climate resilient.”
According to Djikeng this initiative marks a turning point for climate-smart livestock development in Africa. By harnessing the power of genetics and data, farmers will be equipped 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 Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin,” he added.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, more than 80 times as powerful as carbon dioxide over 20 years. Cattle are the largest contributors to livestock-related methane emissions. But even within the same herd, some animals naturally emit up to 30 per cent less methane than others. Scientists say selecting and breeding for these lower-emitting animals, just as farmers have long done for milk yield or fertility can lead to permanent reductions in climate impact.
Because these traits are already present in existing herds, farmers won’t need to change their feeding practices or invest in new infrastructure with this approach, making it easy to participate in climate solutions without disrupting daily operations.
“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.”
Over time, this approach could reduce methane emissions from cattle by 1.0–2 per cent each year, adding up to a 30 per cent reduction over the next two decades without changing diets, infrastructure, or productivity.