African livestock farmers are set to benefit from an initiative geared towards improving indigenous livestock, reduce emissions while strengthening productivity, food security and climate resilience. 

The initiative being spearheaded by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with support from the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub is anchored on a three-year, $3.35 million initiative dubbed Accelerating Reduced Emissions in Indigenous Breeds in Africa.

As part of the Global Methane Genetics Initiative, the project will use cutting-edge science to help African countries breed cattle that produce less methane (CH₄) emissions.

Bezos Earth Fund Director of the Future of Food Andy Jarvis said that reducing methane from cattle is one of the most elegant solutions to slow climate change.

“Thanks to collaboration with the Global Methane Hub, we are backing an effort that uses age-old selection practices to identify and promote naturally low-emitting cattle and locking in climate benefits for generations to come,” Jarvis said.

Livestock in Africa account for 18 per cent of global livestock methane emissions, with cattle alone responsible for 70 per cent of emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Without intervention, these emissions could triple by 2050.

By tapping into the genetic diversity of indigenous breeds and applying cutting-edge science, the initiative will help Africa contribute to global climate goals, including the 1.5°C warming target.

“This initiative represents an important step towards a more sustainable and productive livestock sector in Africa,” said Raphael Mrode, Principal Investigator at ILRI, who will oversee the scientific management of the project.

“By integrating advanced genetics with Africa’s indigenous breeds and farmer knowledge, we can achieve meaningful reductions in methane emissions while strengthening rural livelihoods through improved productivity,” he said.

Speaking at the ILRI headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday during the launch of the initiative, Mrode said that in Kenya, they would be working with farmers in the counties of Nandi, Nakuru and Nyandarua where they target to assist the livestock farmers to make more profit without damaging the environment

ILRI Director General Appolinaire Djikeng said that the initiative would include measuring methane from 3,000 cows and production traits in five African countries using advanced laser detectors, and mobile apps, linked to existing data on 9,000 cows.

“We are working on implementing this transformative growth which is aligned with the country’s bottom of economic development which will go a long way in supporting what the government is trying to do,” Djikeng said.

He said they wanted to take a lead in innovation to ensure that they got more money in the pockets of the farmers.

Djikeng explained that they were profiling microbial communities in over 1,000 tropical cows using rumen content to understand links between microbes, productivity and methane emissions.

“Scientists are using advanced genetic tools to breed cows that can better withstand heat, require fewer resources, and produce less greenhouse gas. These climate-smart cattle are being introduced into national breeding programs across Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Benin—helping farmers adapt to climate change while reducing emissions,” he said. 

The DG said that they were focusing on build local capacity by recruiting and training technicians, strengthening national breeding centres, and publishing bull and cow rankings accessible to farmers.

“ILRI will coordinate the Africa-wide effort from Nairobi, Kenya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, working with leading partners including the Agricultural Research Council (South Africa), French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the International Centre for Research and Development of Livestock in the sub humid zone, (CIRDES Burkina Faso) and Université d’ Abomey-Calavi (Benin),” Djikeng explained.

Partnerships with organizations such as URUS and GENUS will ensure dissemination through breeding centres and farmer networks.

“This work brings together the best of science, industry, and the global breeding community to accelerate genetic improvement for methane efficiency worldwide,” said Roel Veerkamp, a Professor and leader of the initiative at Wageningen University and Research (WUR).

“It fits nicely with our mission at WUR to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life,” he added. 

Project is expected to achieve a 12 percent cut in livestock methane over 20 years by an annual 0.6 percent direct methane reduction at the population level using bulls and cows improved for low methane emission.

Other results include improvement in productivity, reduction in methane production per kilogramme milk by about 20-25 per cent over a five-year period, publicly available genomic data to support widespread, low-cost breeding improvements and increased access to productive, climate-resilient livestock for smallholders, particularly women and youth.

This initiative marks a major step in aligning livestock research with climate action, offering a pathway to permanent and cost-effective methane mitigation while securing the future of African farming communities.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Joseph Ng’ang’a

African cattle that scientists from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with support from the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub aim to improve their genetics in efforts to reduce their methane emissions.