Grant: Alliance Grants

Methane (CH4) is the second most important greenhouse gases (GHG) contributing to climate change and the most significant source of emissions from ruminants in the Canadian agriculture sector. Beef and dairy are key sectors of Canada's livestock industry and combined contribute $50 billion annually to Canada's GDP. The GHG footprint of Canadian beef (2.6%) and dairy (0.5%) production represents 3.1% of Canada's overall emissions. The Canadian beef industry has a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 33 % by 2030 and the Dairy Farmers of Canada are targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. Reducing enteric CH4 emissions in cattle is imperative to achieve these goals. Enteric CH4 is produced by microbial fermentation and methanogenesis in the rumen. This project will develop novel tools targeting rumen CH4 production to reduce emissions and improve feed efficiency in beef and dairy cattle by 1) using metagenomics and machine learning to determine the key causal members/markers of the rumen microbiome for CH4 emissions; 2) developing novel microbiome solutions to reduce GHG emissions by manipulation of the key members of the rumen microbiome; 3) implement novel "Analytical Solutions" for precision management of the interplay between the rumen microbiome, host genetics, and nutrition; 4) facilitating the adoption of new technologies through an assessment of the Canadian and international regulatory environments and economic incentives such as carbon offsets on the social impact of CH4 reductions along the Canadian beef and dairy value chains. Collectively, the proposed targeted solutions will lead to novel breeding and dietary strategies and targeted precision management to lower CH4 emissions without reducing the productivity of Canadian dairy and beef cattle, thereby improving the sustainability and production efficiency of cattle. The approaches outlined in this proposal will reduce Canada's CH4 emissions from cattle by 35 to 40%, resulting in important first steps towards sustainable Canadian beef and dairy industries and enabling them to achieve contributions to Canada's climate change commitments that will support Canada's goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.