Genetic engineering and feed additives to reduce gases in ruminants are the focus of the research led by the CSIC
The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) leads the European project Re-Livestock, which seeks to evaluate and facilitate the adoption of innovative practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock systems and increase their capacity to face possible impacts of climate change.
Among the main challenges that currently arise is the transformation of Europe’s food system to meet the objectives of the European Green Deal and the adaptation to new climate change scenarios.
“Globally, agriculture generates about a third of all GHGs. In Europe, almost 70% of all agricultural GHG emissions come from livestock; therefore, the production and supply chains must undergo a radical change to be more sustainable”, points out David Yáñez-Ruiz, CSIC researcher at the EEZ-CSIC and coordinator of Re-Livestock.
The project wants to address strategies on the use of new feed additives and ingredients, the optimization of grazing management to reduce the carbon footprint of animal feed, and the development of genetic selection systems for animals that generate lower emissions and they have a greater capacity to adapt to heat stress conditions, especially when using local breeds.
an international project
«Another strategy -emphasizes the researcher-, consists of the redesign of livestock accommodation and the use of state-of-the-art digital technologies based on the climate change scenarios of each region. And, of course, the development of easy-to-use tools to assess the sustainability of livestock systems based on principles of circularity”, adds Yáñez-Ruiz.
To achieve these goals, Re-Livestock has 37 partners from 13 countries. The multidisciplinary team is made up of specialists in food, genetics and animal welfare, precision agriculture and environmental and socioeconomic assessment.
In addition, there is a strong collaboration with the European livestock industry. Within the framework of this project, various nuclei of innovative practices and field laboratories will be developed that will cover the cattle (dairy and meat) and pig sectors of Europe.
It has the participation of two CSIC centres: the Zaidín Experimental Station (EEZ-CSIC) and the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC).
The project, which will last five years, is part of the first call of the Horizon Europe research program and is financed with 12 million euros.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.