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.



Principal Investigators 


Dr Graeme Attwood, AgResearch
Dr Peter Janssen, AgResearch 



Linkages 


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


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