<div align="left">
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> 
</div>
<span class="h5">
<p>
<br />
Goals &amp; Objectives 
</p>
</span>
<p align="left">
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. 
</p>
<p align="left">
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 />
</p>
&nbsp; 
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="2" width="250" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			<strong>Objective</strong> 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			<strong>Leader</strong> 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			<strong>Timeframe</strong> 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.1 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Feeding Microalgae 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			Dr David Pacheco 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			May 10 - Jun 11 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.2 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Low Methane producing animals 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			John McEwan 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			Apr 10 - Jun 14 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.3 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Genomic identification of universal targets for methanogen inhibition 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			Dr Sinead Leahy 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			Apr 10 - Dec 14 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.4 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Enhanced discovery of methanogen-specific inhibitors 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			Dr Ron Ronimus 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			Apr 10 - Jun 14 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.5 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Expression of vaccine target proteins 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			Dr Bryce Buddle 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			Jul 10 - Jun 13 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.6 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Identifying alternative hydrogen utilisers 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			Dr Gemma Henderson 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			Apr 10 - Dec 14 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td width="33" valign="top">
			<p align="center">
			1.7 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="217" valign="top">
			<p align="left">
			Methane capture and utilisation from dairy effluent 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="121" valign="top">
			<p>
			Dr Rupert Craggs 
			</p>
			</td>
			<td width="128" valign="top">
			<p>
			May 10 - Jun 11 
			</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp; 
<p>
<span class="h5"><strong><a name="people" title="people"></a></strong><br />
Principal Investigators</span> 
</p>
<p>
Dr Graeme Attwood, AgResearch<br />
Dr Peter Janssen, AgResearch 
</p>
<p>
<span class="h5"><a name="capability" title="capability"></a></span><span class="h5"><br />
Linkages</span> 
</p>
<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 
</p>
<p>
<span class="h5">Stories</span> 
</p>
<p>
NZAGRC Newsletter February 2012 Page 4 <br />
NZAGRC Newsletter August 2011 Page 8 <br />
NZAGRC Newsletter April 2011 Page 4 Page 6 <br />
NZAGRC Newsletter December 2010 Page 5 
</p>
