NAIROBI, Kenya—A new livestock project is reshaping African farming by tackling one of the sector’s biggest climate challenges: methane emissions from cattle.
The Sh443 million initiative aims not only to reduce greenhouse gases but also to deliver hardier, more productive breeds that can thrive in changing conditions.
The effort is being driven by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with funding from the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub.
It forms part of a wider push under the Global Methane Genetics Initiative to align livestock development with global climate targets.
At the heart of the programme known as Accelerating Reduced Emissions in Indigenous Breeds in Africa is the use of modern genetics combined with traditional livestock practices to improve indigenous cattle.
The goal is to provide smallholder farmers with animals that consume fewer resources, emit less methane, and contribute to long-term food security.
“Reducing methane from cattle is one of the most elegant solutions we have to slow climate change,” said Andy Jarvis, Director of the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund.
“Thanks to collaboration with the Global Methane Hub, we’re backing an effort that uses age-old selection practices to identify and promote naturally low-emitting cattle – locking in climate benefits for generations to come.”
Africa’s livestock sector currently contributes 18 percent of global livestock methane emissions, with cattle accounting for nearly 70 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
ILRI has warned that without urgent intervention, these emissions could triple by 2050.
By harnessing indigenous cattle diversity, scientists believe the continent can play a significant role in meeting global climate commitments, including the 1.5°C warming target.
“This initiative represents an important step towards a more sustainable and productive livestock sector in Africa,” said Raphael Mrode, Principal Investigator at ILRI.
“By integrating advanced genetics with Africa’s indigenous breeds and farmer knowledge, we can achieve meaningful reductions in methane emissions while strengthening rural livelihoods through improved productivity.”
The programme will track methane from 3,000 cows across Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Benin, using laser detectors and mobile apps.
Data from 9,000 additional cows will be used to strengthen findings, while microbial profiling in 1,000 tropical cattle will shed light on the links between gut microbes, productivity, and methane emissions.
Genomic technologies are already being deployed to breed cattle capable of withstanding heat, thriving on fewer resources, and emitting less greenhouse gas.
These improved animals will be integrated into national breeding programmes across the five countries.
Alongside research, the project will invest in building local capacity-from training technicians and equipping breeding centres to publishing bull and cow rankings accessible to farmers.
ILRI will coordinate the initiative from its Nairobi and Addis Ababa hubs, working closely with partners including the Agricultural Research Council (South Africa), CIRAD (France), CIRDES (Burkina Faso), and Université d’Abomey-Calavi (Benin). Breeding giants URUS and GENUS will also help channel the improved genetics to farmers.
Over the next two decades, the project aims to cut livestock methane by 12 percent, through an annual 0.6 percent drop in herd-level emissions.
Improved productivity is expected to reduce methane per kilogram of milk by up to 25 percent within five years.
In addition, publicly available genomic data will be released to support low-cost breeding programmes, offering smallholder farmers especially women and youth better access to resilient, climate-smart livestock.
