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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.<a name="goals" title="goals"></a> 
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<span class="h5">
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<br />
Goals &amp; Objectives 
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The underlying aim of the NZAGRC CH<sub>4</sub> 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. 
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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.<br />
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<p>
<span class="h5"><strong><a name="people" title="people"></a></strong><br />
Principal Investigators</span> 
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<p>
Dr Graeme Attwood, AgResearch<br />
Dr Peter Janssen, AgResearch 
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<p>
<span class="h5"><a name="capability" title="capability"></a></span><span class="h5"><br />
Linkages</span> 
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<p>
AnimalCHANGE <br />
CSIRO Livestock Industries <br />
DPI Queensland&nbsp; <br />
Global Research Alliance <br />
Landcare Research<br />
NIWA<br />
PGgRc<br />
Scottish Agricultural College<br />
SLMACC<br />
US Joint Genome Initative
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<p>
<a name="Stories" title="Stories"></a><br />
<span class="h5">Stories</span> 
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<p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="10">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td><span class="h6"><img src="user/image/thumb/220/Methane1.jpg" border="0" alt="Mitigation of Methane" title="Mitigation of Methane" /></span></td>
			<td><span class="h6">Mitigation of methane NZAGRC</span> <br />
			Release Newsletter - February 2012
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><span class="h6"><img src="user/image/thumb/221/Cow Sheep.jpg" border="0" alt="Grazing Sheep and Cows" title="Grazing Sheep and Cows" /></span></td>
			<td><span class="h6">From tiny bottles to grazing 
			<br />
			sheep and cows</span><br />
			Release Newsletter - August 2011</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><span class="h6"><img src="user/image/thumb/222/Methane Rumen.jpg" border="0" alt="Methane Rumen" title="Methane Rumen" /></span>			</td>
			<td><span class="h6">The methane-free rumen - <br />
			the solution to all problems<br />
			</span>Release Newsletter - April 2011
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td><span class="h6"><img src="user/image/thumb/219/Screen%20shot%202012-03-21%20at%2012.35.29%20PM.png" border="0" alt="Screen shot 2012-03-21 at 12.35.29 PM.png" title="Screen shot 2012-03-21 at 12.35.29 PM.png" /></span> 
			</td>
			<td><span class="h6">Technology transfer could help <br />
			reduce methane emissions 
			from <br />
			animal waste storage
			</span><br />
			Release Newsletter - December 2011 
			&nbsp;
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
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&nbsp;
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