The NZAGRC&#39;s research programme is designed specifically to build on existing well-targeted research funded by the PGgRc and SLMACC (MAF) to advance the discovery of cost effective solutions. Since 97% of all agricultural methane emissions arise from enteric fermentation, the research concentrates almost exclusively on this sector.



Goals & Objectives 


The underlying aim of the NZAGRC CH4 programme is to reduce emissions by manipulating the processes responsible for producing methane. This essentially involves a two pronged approach; directly manipulating the activities of methanogens through such things as small molecule inhibitors or vaccines and indirectly manipulating the activities of methanogens through feeding and changes in animal phenotype. The NZAGRC investment in these areas is highly aligned with existing programmes already being funded by the PGgRc and/or PGgRc/MAF. 


A further small programme has concentrated on the development and validation of a model that can be used by farmers to estimate the economics of installing methane bio-digesters. The model suggests that the installation of bio-digesters on farms having as few as 400 cows can be economic, with a payback period on the investment of 3-5 years. Further work is being undertaken using SLMACC funding from MAF to confirm these initial findings prior to the model being promoted and released.



	
		
			 
			Objective 
			Leader 
			Timeframe 
		
		
			
			
			1.1 
			
			
			
			
			Feeding Microalgae 
			
			
			
			
			Dr David Pacheco 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 11 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.2 
			
			
			
			
			Low Methane producing animals 
			
			
			
			
			John McEwan 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.3 
			
			
			
			
			Genomic identification of universal targets for methanogen inhibition 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Sinead Leahy 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Dec 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.4 
			
			
			
			
			Enhanced discovery of methanogen - specific inhibitors 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Ron Ronimus 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.5 
			
			
			
			
			Expression of vaccine target proteins 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Bryce Buddle 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 13 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.6 
			
			
			
			
			Identifying alternative hydrogen utilisers 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Gemma Henderson 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Dec 14 
			
			
		
		
			
			
			1.7 
			
			
			
			
			Methane capture and utilisation from Dairy effluent 
			
			
			
			
			Dr Rupert Craggs 
			
			
			
			
			Apr 10 - Jun 11 
			
			
		
	



Principal Investigators 


Dr Graeme Attwood, AgResearch
Dr Peter Janssen, AgResearch 



Stories 


	
		
			
			Mitigation of methane NZAGRC 
			Release Newsletter - February 2012 
		
		
			
			
			
			From tiny bottles to grazing 
			sheep and cows
			Release Newsletter - August 2011 
			
			
		
		
			
			The methane-free rumen - 
			the solution to all problems?
			Release Newsletter - April 2011 
		
		
			
			Technology transfer could help 
			reduce methane emissions from 
			animal waste storage 
			Release Newsletter - December 2011   
		
	



Linkages 


AnimalCHANGE 
CSIRO Livestock Industries 
DPI Queensland  
Global Research Alliance 
Landcare Research
NIWA
PGgRc
Scottish Agricultural College
SLMACC
US Joint Genome Initative