USA – Cargill has issued a US$1 million grant to Colorado State University (CSU) to support the university’s AgNext research program in a bid to advance sustainable animal agriculture practices.
Announced on July 17, 2024, this grant will fund cutting-edge research to mitigate the beef industry’s environmental impact, mainly focusing on reducing methane emissions from cattle.
Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of AgNext and Co-PI, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainable livestock practices.
“Working closely with industry partners like Cargill, researchers, and producers, AgNext is helping develop innovative, scalable solutions that move the livestock industry toward a more sustainable future,” she said. “An important part of that is developing robust baseline greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.”
Methane emissions from feedlot cattle, produced naturally during digestion, pose a significant environmental challenge.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines currently rely on assumptions about how various feeding strategies, including grain processing and the use of feed additives, affect methane emissions. However, there is a lack of empirical data to support these assumptions.
Cargill’s grant will enable AgNext to bridge this data gap by conducting groundbreaking experiments at CSU’s Climate Smart Research Facility over the next two years.
The research will focus on determining the impact of different ingredients and additives in cattle diets on enteric methane emissions in beef steers fed with typical finishing rations.
Additionally, it will explore whether combining these ingredients and additives can further reduce methane emissions.
Eliza Clark, Cargill Protein & Salt Sustainability Leader, highlighted Cargill’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
“Cargill is committed to working with researchers, farmers, and ranchers to advance creative sustainability ideas and accelerate best-in-class conservation practices within the industry,” she stated.
“The knowledge generated from this innovative research will pave the way for testing new technologies in cattle feeding and continue to improve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the beef supply chain.”
This investment in methane reduction solutions comes when the global ruminant methane reduction market size, estimated at US$2.47 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.03% from 2024 to 2030, according to Grand View Research, a reputable market research body.
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