The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has received a £1.2 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to combat livestock methane emissions, a major contributor to global greenhouse gases. The research focuses on how methane-producing microorganisms colonise the gastrointestinal tract of calves and interact with their developing immune systems. The goal is to develop a vaccine that reduces methane production without affecting livestock productivity, potentially slowing climate change.
This collaboration between RVC and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) will analyse samples from Holstein-Friesian calves to identify microbes and test modified methanogens. Professor Dirk Werling from RVC and Dr. David Yanez-Ruiz from CSIC are leading the study, which could pave the way for innovative methods to reduce emissions. The Bezos Earth Fund also supports similar research at the Pirbright Institute, emphasizing the high stakes and potential global impact of this ambitious project.
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