Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, announced today it is joining a new $27.4 million global initiative to reduce methane emissions from livestock by harnessing natural variation in how animals digest food. Backed by the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub, the effort will support 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,” said 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.”

Researchers from the Center for Quantitative Genetic and Genomics at Aarhus University are active in the Global Methane Genetic projects related to the three dairy breeds, Holstein, Jersey and Red Dairy Cattle, where the aim is to enhance methane efficiency in dairy cows. This work is especially important for Danish Dairy farmers as they are going to face a carbon dioxide tax from 2030, where selective breeding is regarded as a solution based on scientific methods.

The initiative is part of the Global Methane Genetics initiative – an international collaboration working to make methane efficiency a standard part of livestock breeding. The effort will screen more than 100,000 animals, collect methane emissions data, and integrate findings into public and private breeding programs to deliver long-term, low-cost climate benefits.

 "I am humbled and proud that we can launch a global Jersey breeding project focused on identifying methane efficient Jersey cows. By leveraging global data from Denmark and Canada, with support from World Jersey and national Jersey associations worldwide, we aim to enhance selective breeding for methane efficient Jersey cows," says Dr. Rasmus Bak Stephansen, who is postdoc at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) at Aarhus University and project leader for the Jersey project.

Dr. Trine Michelle Villumsen, who is Senior Advisor at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) at Aarhus University and project leader for the Holstein SOB project, adds:

 "I am proud that we can launch the Holstein SOB project as a collaboration between researchers and industry in Denmark and the Netherlands. The project is expected to bring important advancements and global standards for harmonized methane data collection and processing, thereby enabling more accuracy in selective breeding for methane efficient dairy cows."

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas – more than 80 times as powerful as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Cattle are the largest contributors to livestock-related methane emissions. But even within the same herd, some animals naturally emit up to 30% 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.

“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.”

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.

“This work brings together the best of science, industry, and the global breeding community to accelerate genetic improvement for methane efficiency worldwide,” said Prof Roel Veerkamp, leader of the initiative at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). “It fits nicely with our mission at WUR to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life.”

Over time, this approach could reduce methane emissions from cattle by 1.0–2% each year – adding up to a 30% reduction over the next two decades – without changing diets, infrastructure, or productivity.

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For more information, please contact:

Project leader Rasmus Bak Stephansen, Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University.

E-mail: rasmus.stephansen@qgg.au.dk | Mobile: +45 6176 4959