The Research Project
Understand Methane Reduction in Ruminants Through Carbon Signatures.
The team is actively testing various approaches to reduce methane output from ruminants. In order to determine the most effective strategies, we are examining the ratios of stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) in several samples as specific fingerprints of metabolic pathways. These ratios act as natural markers, helping us to identify changes related to methane production and confirm whether our mitigation efforts are having a real impact.
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to tackle the contribution of cow burps to climate change. Special microbes in the gut of cows, sheep and goats release methane, a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and warms the planet. There are many techniques available to control these microbes. Our project aims to develop a method to determine the success of the techniques to decrease methane-producing microbes and develop simple solutions to help farmers reduce the amount of methane their animals produce. The project will use continuous culture systems to test methane-reducing additives on diets characterised by different stable carbon isotope signatures. By analyzing the isotopic signature in methane and other metabolic products, the research will identify which methane production pathways are targeted by the additives. This research will contribute to sustainable agriculture by helping implement new ways to reduce methane emissions from livestock.
EXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
- Enhanced national inventories: Improve the accuracy of reporting on livestock methane emissions by collecting more localised data.
- Targeted mitigation strategies: Gain a deeper understanding of methane sources and effectively validate the success of mitigation efforts.
- Reduced environmental impact: Contribute to climate change mitigation by managing the ecological footprint of livestock production.
EXPECTED SOCIO-ECONOMICAL IMPACT
- Improve farmer livelihoods: Promote sustainable practices to potentially expand market access for climate-friendly products.
- Strengthen food security: Ensure the long-term viability of livestock production in a changing climate.
- Social inclusion: Enable adoption of sustainable practices, regardless of farm size.
- Consumer benefit: assurance of environmentally responsible production
FROM THE PROJECT TO THE FARMERS.
The MethTrack project stems from the desire to equip livestock farmers with tools and methods to evaluate feed additives for the reduction of methanogenesis and to promote their production efficiency. Therefore, today more than ever it is crucial to promote livestock farming that is both environmentally and economically sustainable in the shortest possible time.
The MethTrack project will use innovative systems such as continuous fermenters and “sniffer” technologies to study ruminal fermentation. The common denominator will be the evaluation of the carbon isotopic signature, a parameter that will allow a deeper understanding of methanogenesis in the rumen.
FUNDING ORGANISATIONS
The Green ERA-Hub has selected the MethTrack project for funding under its 2024 joint call for proposals. This was the second call launched by the Green ERA-Hub, and it focused on “Crop and livestock farming meeting the challenges of climate change,” featuring two main topics. The overall aim of the call was to advance climate-smart farming by supporting: adaptation to climate change, strengthening resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, improving crop and livestock health, ensuring the economic sustainability of farming.
- Adaptation to climate change.
- Strengthening resilience to biotic and abiotic stresse
How the project will be structured over the three years
The project will be divided into four work packages. The goal is to uncover metabolic pathways through continuous culture incubations, the collection and analysis of δ13C samples, the modelling of the data, and the communication of the results.
WP 1: Coordination and management
- Coordination and project management.
- Progress monitoring.
- Data management plan.
- Consortium communication.
WP 2: Continuous culture incubations and sample collection
- Continuous culture experiments in order to determine the effect of different substrates on δ13C of rumen metabolites.
- Continuous culture experiments in order to determine the effect of feed additives on δ13C of rumen metabolites.
WP 3: Analysis of the δ13C and modelling of pathways
- Analysis of samples from incubation trails.
- Development of a compartment model.
- Statistical analysis and modelling rumen metabolic pathways.
WP 4: Communication and dissemination
- Communication plan development.
- Project website management.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Publication strategy.
