February 10, 2025

Scientific approaches to reduce methane emissions from farm animals

In November 2024, a social media storm saw people posting videos of themselves pouring milk down their sinks citing food safety fears. The health scare went viral after an announcement by Arla that they were trialling a new animal feed additive called Bovaer, which is scientifically proven to reduce methane in farm animals. What should have been a good news story about how science and innovation can help agriculture to get to net zero very quickly turned into a health scare complete with conspiracy theories about Bill Gates trying to poison us.

In fact adding additives to animal feed is just one of a myriad of exciting new science and innovation ideas in the works exploring different approaches to reducing methane emissions from farm animals. This Background Briefing will bring in experts across the agricultural field to explain the science behind some of these techniques, which include genetic breeding approaches, vaccine candidates and ways to alter the ruminant microbiome as well as the feed additives. The FSA’s Chief Scientist will also be with us to answer any remaining questions around Bovaer and the systems in place to test for the safety of dairy products.

Irish and UK based journalists came to this SMC briefing to hear the science behind some of these approaches.

Speakers included:

Prof Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor, Food Standards Agency (FSA)

Prof Chris Reynolds, Professor of Animal & Dairy Science, University of Reading

Prof Richard Dewhurst, Professor of Ruminant Nutrition & Production Systems and Head of the Dairy Research Centre, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

Prof John Hammond, Director of Research, The Pirbright Institute

Dr Sinead Waters, Senior Researcher in Host Microbiome Interactions, University of Galway