The Global Methane Moo-vement

The Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub are on a $27.4M mission to reduce global methane emissions from livestock through selective breeding.

Grant $ for genetics: Using the power of genetics, 50 partners from 25 countries will receive funding for a new Global Methane Genetics Initiative, which aims to breed climate-friendly cattle across four continents.

Initiative leaders call low-emitting cattle “one of the most elegant solutions” to climate change. Because when we think of working cows on hot summer days, we think “elegant.”

Methane madness: Methane is a byproduct of the fermentation process in ruminant animals’ digestive systems, and cows lead the emissions leaderboard as its #1 livestock contributor.

Methane makes up 11% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and a beefy 37% of methane emissions are agriculture-related. 

Good genes = less gas: But it turns out some cows are less gassy than others. Recent studies show some animals can emit up to 30% less methane than others within a single herd. 

For planet and wallet: Initiative partner Angus Genetics Inc. says climate-efficient cattle likely require lower input costs: less feed, less water, and maybe even fewer internet memes blaming cows for the climate crisis.

Experts say: “The results of this research project will not only give our membership a tool that better describes the energy waste side of the equation for efficiency, but it also may lead to more opportunities for the international exchange of genetics.” — John Dickinson, Angus Genetics Inc.

As researchers make progress on understanding the role of genetics in methane production, they’re making sure the moneymaker traits keeping the beef industry moo-ving are not lost in the process.