The CLIFF-GRADS program – a joint initiative of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) and Mitigate+: Research for Low Emissions Food Systems (Mitigate+) – strives to narrow the capacity gap on climate change research in the Global South. It offers doctoral students from low- and middle-income countries opportunities to enhance their research skills. A network of 176 researchers from 37 countries has emerged from CLIFF-GRADS; several have taken up roles in international initiatives relevant to climate mitigation in agricultural systems.
We bring countries together to find ways to grow more food without growing greenhouse gas emissions.
Latest News
This second call is open for submission of proposals until 28 July 2023.
On 10 May 2023, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation Martin Heydon, joined the New Zealand Minister for Agriculture, Damien O’Connor M.P. to launch the second Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call on agriculture and climate change. The two Ministers made the announcement following a bilateral meeting held during the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate Summit in Washington DC.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries launched the first joint call in 2022, following the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement between both organisations in May 2022. This provided for the establishment a 3-year pilot Joint Research Initiative (JRI) over the period 2022 to 2024 in recognition of the strong existing research connections and the common challenges facing the agri-food sectors in both Ireland and New Zealand. Over €7 million in joint funding was awarded to four research projects in the 2022 Call.
Full press release HERE
2023 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call
The 2023 Joint Research Call between Ireland and New Zealand opened on 10 May 2023 at 12:00 (IST) and invites eligible Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) from Ireland to submit joint research proposals, with collaborating partners from New Zealand.
There are four research topics in the Call:
- Topic 1: Land management on organic agricultural soils to support the development of GHG mitigation and Carbon sequestration
- Topic 2: Refinement of agricultural GHG emissions inventories through the development of emission factors for Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide
- Topic 3: Identification and development of technologies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases from ruminant systems
- Topic 4: Digitalisation and data to support climate-related action and management practices in agriculture
More details can be found here: Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Mechanism
Two webinars for applicants will be held jointly by DAFM and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for interested Irish and New Zealand researchers to provide an overview about all relevant aspects of the Call and provide time to answer open questions. These will be held on:
- 18th May 2023 at 10:00 NZT (webinar hosted by MPI for New Zealand applicants)
- 25th May 2023 at 10:00 IST (webinar hosted by DAFM for Irish applicants – register here)
The Irish financial support for the 2023 Ireland-New Zealand Joint Research Call is being provided through the DAFM Research Programme
Call Timeline
The Joint Research Call follows a one-stage submission procedure with a deadline for the submission of full proposals on 28th July 2023 . Indicative Research Call timelines are outlined below.
| 10 May 2023 at 12:00 IST | Launch of the Joint Research Call |
| 18th May 2023 at 10:00 NZT | Webinar for potential applicants |
| 25th May 2023 at 10:00 IST | Webinar for potential applicants |
| 28th July 2023 | Submission Deadline for proposals |
| October 2023 | Communication of Funding Decision |
| November 2023 | Funding awarded and announcement of successful projects |
| Jan 2024 to Mar 2024 | Estimated Starting Date for Funded Projects |
Closing date: 19 May 2023
Location: Technical University of Munich, Germany
Click on the titles below, or download the relevant files, to learn more about the positions and how to apply.
Postdoctoral position (m/f/d) modelling livestock systems
This research project will study the productivity of livestock, grasslands and key links to biogeochemical cycles. We conduct both empirical and modelling work in the Gran Chaco of Argentina through collaboration with researchers from the National Research Council (CONICET), and in Kenya and Tanzania in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and other African and European research partners.
PhD position (m/f/d) Nutrient cycling and carbon storage in grazed systems
This doctoral research project will study productivity grasslands and key links to nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and and species diversity. The field work will take place in the dry forest ecosystem of the Gran Chaco of Argentina, in collaboration with researchers from CONICET, the Argentinean national research council.
PhD position (m/f/d) Tropical grasslands restoration
This doctoral position will generate empirical evidence to understand the functioning of grazing systems in Kenya where livestock graze with large mammals. This research project will examine the potential to use grazing duration and intensity and manipulation of plant species to assess the potential for grassland restoration. The experiments will assess the effects of grazing on productivity and stability of grasslands, aiming to detect early restoration success. This work is conducted in close collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and their network of partners.
February 2023
2023 CaSSECS annual meeting
The programme for the 2023 CaSSECS annual meeting (to be held in Niamey, Niger) can be found below. If you would like to attend the meeting, or would like further information, please contact Anaïs Boury-Esnault.
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Webinar: Methane emissions from manure management – monitoring and mitigation
In this webinar, Anne Mottet (FAO), Dong Hongmin (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences) and Andrew Vanderzaag (Agriculture & AgriFood Canada) will first present global trends in livestock production and methane emissions, and discuss methods of monitoring, mitigation and accounting. A new approach for estimation of methane emissions from manure management via measurements and an empirical model will then be introduced. This methodology was investigated in the ERA-Net project M4Models and will be presented by Søren O. Petersen and Paria Seefedpari.
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New Zealand Agricultural Climate Change Conference 2023
The New Zealand Agricultural Climate Change Conference and associated meetings will be held from 28 February thru 2 March 2023 at Te Papa, Wellington. The two-day conference will showcase the latest research and policy developments and implementation actions being undertaken to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases in New Zealand. The conference is aimed at primary sector, science and government leaders and practitioners interested in agricultural greenhouse gas and climate change developments and the latest research on reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Updates will be posted on the NZAGRC website.
Find out more »March 2023
Webinar: Assessing the Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Agriculture Policies
ICAT and GHGMI invite you to a webinar on the ICAT Agriculture Methodology: Assessing the Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Agriculture Policies When: 16 March 2023 Time: 08:00-09:30 Eastern Standard / 14:00-15:30 Central European /16:00-17:30 East African / 21:00-22:30 China Standard Time Open to all interested persons, including representatives of governments and their partners involved in planning, implementing, and/or assessing greenhouse gas emissions in the context of producing national low-carbon strategies or meeting their commitments to the Paris Agreement. Registration now…
Find out more »Webinar: Putting smallholder farmers at the center of sustainable food systems
Information shared on behalf of GRA Partner, Environmental Defense Fund: Smallholder farmers represent 80% of farmers in North Africa. They have a fundamental role in delivering sustainable food systems, but as underscored by the Food and Agriculture Organization, many experience poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to markets and services. In this webinar hosted by Danone Ecosystem, we will provide you with concrete examples of North African projects, including H’lib Bladi in Morocco, Alban Baladna in Egypt, and H'lib Dzair…
Find out more »Webinar: Assessing Soil Carbon in Global Grasslands
A FAO webinar on "Assessing Soil Carbon in Global Grasslands: The Importance of Sustainable Livestock Practices" will be held on Wednesday, 29 March from 14.00 to 15.30 (Rome time). The event presents the key findings of the first FAO Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands and shares insights on the state of soil carbon stocks in grassland systems in the world. Register here: https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_srZvc-1fQyWrDh0WHQRDDw
Find out more »April 2023
RTD Series on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems in Southeast Asia
This hybrid event will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Manila, Philippines and livestreamed via Zoom and Facebook.SEARCA and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are jointly organizing the RTD Series, which will discuss the current state of digital economies in agriculture, the status of carbon farming in Southeast Asia, the challenges and opportunities in the field, and the role that technology and innovation can play in creating a more sustainable future. The onsite participants are by invitation only. Virtual participants are invited to register…
Find out more »Webinar: Regional support to national livestock GHG inventories in Southern Africa
Regional support to national livestock Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories in Southern Africa: key lessons from the regional inventory compilation approach FANRPAN, the University of Pretoria, the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, and the Africa LEDS Partnership invite you to a special webinar dedicated to sharing lessons and experiences from their Regional Tier 2 Inventory Compilations from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mozambique. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries recognize the need for adaptation to climate change and mitigation…
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GRA Council Meeting 2023 – Day 1
Registrations are now open for the 2023 Global Research Alliance Council Meeting in Madrid, Spain. If you have not received an email with a link to register, please email secret[email protected] to request a registration link.
Find out more »GRA Council Meeting 2023 – Day 2
Registrations are now open for the 2023 Global Research Alliance Council Meeting in Madrid, Spain. If you have not received an email with a link to register, please email secret[email protected] to request a registration link.
Find out more »GRA Council Meeting 2023 – Field Trip
Registrations are now open for the 2023 Global Research Alliance Council Meeting in Madrid, Spain. If you have not received an email with a link to register, please email secret[email protected] to request a registration link.
Find out more »May 2023
Conference: Agri-Food & Science Circle 2023
"The climate conference that unites everybody in the agri-food industry in the strive to reduce climate footprint." Climate is high on the agenda all over the world. In Denmark we are committed to pushing the development and leading the way in sharing and implementing knowledge from science and research to practice. To this end, we aim to facilitate the cooperation between agricultural and food scientists, advisers, and processing companies. To support the move from vision to action, Danish agriculture innovation…
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