Kenya Joins Ksh3.6 Billion Global Initiative On Livestock
This bold initiative spans North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, and is focused on identifying and breeding naturally low-emitting livestock.
FaithAnne Mwaura 
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has announced its involvement in a groundbreaking Ksh3.6 billion ($27.4 million) global initiative aimed at slashing methane emissions from livestock through cutting-edge genetics and sustainable foraging.
The project, part of CGIAR’s newly launched 2025–2030 Research Portfolio, is funded by the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub.
This bold initiative spans North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, and is focused on identifying and breeding naturally low-emitting livestock.
The effort is designed to combat climate change while maintaining farm productivity, especially in low- and middle-income countries where livestock play a central role in livelihoods and food security.
Entrance to ILRI offices in Nairobi. /ILRI KENYA
“Reducing methane from cattle is one of the smartest, most elegant climate solutions we have,” said Dr. Andy Jarvis, Director of the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. “We’re using selective breeding to lock in climate benefits for generations.”
ILRI is playing a leading role in two critical programs: the Global Methane Genetics Initiative, which focuses on selecting low-emission cattle for African farming systems, and the Low Methane Forage Project, which is developing high-yield, climate-smart tropical grasses for smallholder and pastoralist farmers.
ILRI Director General Dr. Appolinaire Djikeng hailed the move as a turning point for climate-smart livestock systems in the Global South. “By combining the power of genetics and data, we are giving farmers the tools to raise animals that are not only more productive and resilient, but also emit significantly less methane,” he said.
Adding “This is about aligning Africa’s livestock sector with global climate goals — without compromising livelihoods.”
The strategy hinges on practical, scalable innovations — no expensive feed changes or infrastructure overhauls required. Instead, the project leverages existing genetic traits found in herds today, allowing farmers to participate in climate action through traditional breeding methods.
Hayden Montgomery, Agriculture Program Director at the Global Methane Hub, called the initiative “a cornerstone” of the global push to tackle enteric methane emissions. “We're building an open, coordinated foundation across countries, breeds, and species that delivers real-world solutions for farmers,” he said.
Initial research suggests the approach could reduce methane emissions by 1–2 percent annually, with potential for a 30 percent drop over two decades, all without sacrificing productivity.
The initiative also includes key partnerships with institutions like the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, CIRAD in Burkina Faso, and Université d’Abomey-Calavi in Benin. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands, led by Prof. Roel Veerkamp, is coordinating the global scientific effort.
As climate pressures intensify, ILRI and its partners are pushing forward with solutions that are not only climate-smart but farmer-friendly, proving that sustainable agriculture and productivity can go hand-in-hand.
