Location: Ryan Institute at NUI Galway, Ireland
Closing date: Friday 10 June 2022 at 5pm
Learn more here:
Abstract submission for the upcoming XXI International Nitrogen Workshop is now open (until 20 June 2022).
Submit an abstract HERE.
XXI International N Workshop
24th – 28th October 2022, Madrid
Agro-food systems are fuelled by nitrogen. About 80% of this valuable resource is lost to the environment before reaching our plates. We refer to this loss as nitrogen waste.
The ambitious goal of halving nitrogen waste by 2030 requires important coordination of many actors: multidisciplinary scientists, farmers, industry, policy-makers, NGOs, and consumers.
The XXI International N Workshop will contribute to this challenge by welcoming contributions dealing with different spatial scales (from the plot to global) and system scopes (crop, livestock, agroforestry, forestry, urban and agro-food systems). We will discuss these communications allocated in five regular- and three special sessions, together with eight interesting keynotes during five exciting days in October 2022 in Madrid, Spain.
A new international meta-analysis, initiated by the GRA Feed and Nutrition Network, has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“Full adoption of the most effective strategies to mitigate methane emissions by ruminants can help meet the 1.5 °C target by 2030 but not 2050”
Significance: Agricultural methane emissions must be decreased by 11 to 30% of the 2010 level by 2030 and by 24 to 47% by 2050 to meet the 1.5 °C target. We identified three strategies to decrease product-based methane emissions while increasing animal productivity and five strategies to decrease absolute methane emissions without reducing animal productivity. Globally, 100% adoption of the most effective product-based and absolute methane emission mitigation strategy can meet the 1.5 °C target by 2030 but not 2050, because mitigation effects are offset by projected increases in methane. On a regional level, Europe but not Africa may be able to meet their contribution to the 1.5 °C target, highlighting the different challenges faced by high- and middle- and low-income countries.
Abstract: To meet the 1.5 °C target, methane (CH4) from ruminants must be reduced by 11 to 30% by 2030 and 24 to 47% by 2050 compared to 2010 levels. A meta-analysis identified strategies to decrease product-based (PB; CH4 per unit meat or milk) and absolute (ABS) enteric CH4 emissions while maintaining or increasing animal productivity (AP; weight gain or milk yield). Next, the potential of different adoption rates of one PB or one ABS strategy to contribute to the 1.5 °C target was estimated. The database included findings from 430 peer-reviewed studies, which reported 98 mitigation strategies that can be classified into three categories: animal and feed management, diet formulation, and rumen manipulation. A random-effects meta-analysis weighted by inverse variance was carried out. Three PB strategies—namely, increasing feeding level, decreasing grass maturity, and decreasing dietary forage-to-concentrate ratio—decreased CH4 per unit meat or milk by on average 12% and increased AP by a median of 17%. Five ABS strategies—namely CH4 inhibitors, tanniferous forages, electron sinks, oils and fats, and oilseeds—decreased daily methane by on average 21%. Globally, only 100% adoption of the most effective PB and ABS strategies can meet the 1.5 °C target by 2030 but not 2050, because mitigation effects are offset by projected increases in CH4 due to increasing milk and meat demand. Notably, by 2030 and 2050, low- and middle-income countries may not meet their contribution to the 1.5 °C target for this same reason, whereas high-income countries could meet their contributions due to only a minor projected increase in enteric CH4 emissions.
Read the full article HERE.
Read a press release about the article HERE
The first call is open for proposals until 5pm 15 July 2022 (Irish time).
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, and Minister of State with special responsibility for research and innovation Martin Heydon, launched a new landmark research initiative with the New Zealand Minister for Agriculture, Damien O’Connor M.P. on 12 May 2022.
The Joint Research Mechanism (JRM) will focus on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced carbon sequestration in ruminant, pasture-based production systems.
Full press release HERE.
2022 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call
The first research call under this initiative has been launched – “Strategies, technologies and novel production systems to reduce and account for greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture ruminant production systems”.
Submissions are open for proposals until 5pm 15 July 2022 (Irish time).
Topics for this call are:
- Rumen Microbiology to Support the Development of Ruminant GHG Mitigation Technologies
- Identification and development of technologies for the selection of low emitting ruminant livestock
- Refinement of agricultural GHG emissions inventories through the development of emission factors for Nitrous Oxide and Carbon
There will be 2 webinars for applicants at these dates and times:
- 10am 18 May (NZ time) register here
- 10am 25 May (Irish time) register here
For more information refer to the 2022 joint call for research proposals.
2022 joint call for research proposals [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Further information can be found HERE.
Submission deadline: 20 July 2022
Learn more HERE.
“The objective of this Research Topic is to update scientific knowledge and investigate nature-based carbon sequestration options. We would like to invite the submission of original research, review papers that aim at strengthening and expanding terrestrial carbon sinks. Although not limited, contributions on the following sub-topics will be welcome:
- Cross-scale strategies to increase carbon sequestration in food production systems.
- Synergies and tradeoffs between the need to increase food production and to strengthen terrestrial carbon sinks.
- The potential of woodlands and grazing lands to increase carbon sequestration in biomass and soil.
- Technological solutions to increase nature-based carbon sequestration processes in food production.
- Sustainable intensification or agro-ecology as a way to increase carbon sinks in agricultural systems?
All submissions should address all three pillars of climate-smartness. Therefore, submissions that do not focus on trade-offs and synergies between mitigation, adaptation and productivity should assess the impacts of the net-zero technologies on those pillars.”
Learn more HERE.
The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) is pleased to announce Kenya as our newest member country. This now raises the total membership to 66 countries.
One of Kenya’s top research priority is Food and Nutrition Security. To achieve 100 percent food and nutrition security, the country intends to double agricultural production, reduce loses, enhance value addition, mitigate the effects of climate change and reverse micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger. To attain this, Kenya strives to enhance international cooperation in research, collaboration and investment in both public and private research activities to improve knowledge sharing, access to and application of
science by farmers to mitigate carbon sequestration practices and technologies in enhancing productivity and resilience.
It is against this background that Kenya would like to become a member of the GRA, in order to contribute to and benefit from modern and cutting-edge agricultural research to help achieve their climate change objectives.
The 66 member countries now participating in the activities of the Global Research Alliance are: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Swaine, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Samoa, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Call closing date for proposals: 14 September 2022
Managing and mapping agricultural soils for enhancing soil functions and services.
The European Joint Programme “EJP SOIL – Towards climate-smart sustainable management of agricultural soils” comprises 24 countries committed to the overall goal of providing sustainable agricultural soil management solutions that contribute to key societal challenges including climate change and future food supply.
The overall objective of this call is to foster farm management practices, which contribute to climate change mitigation and adaption. To achieve this aim, three main directions shall be taken into consideration and are subject to this call: A) Soil restoration practices and management, B) Managing soils in the context of climate change and C) Research and development of innovative methods and sensing technologies to provide an integrated monitoring and mapping of farm management practices.
Click HERE for further information.
We are pleased to welcome Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as the newest formal Partner of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases!
EDF has significant experience working with farmers, policymakers, and companies to advance and scale climate-smart agriculture in the U.S., China, India, and the EU. This includes working closely with industry-leading agricultural and food companies to develop innovative solutions, scale climate-smart practices, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across supply chains.
EDF’s Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative aims to put farmers at the center of climate adaptation and mitigation and embed principles of a just rural transition by focusing on productivity and technological solutions that work for all farmers. This includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and increasing science-based opportunities for carbon storage in agricultural soils and temperate forests
We are delighted that EDF, as a GRA partner, is looking forward to engaging with GRA members and sharing its experience and expertise in the agricultural sector in furtherance of GRA activities.
Last year the first virtual fair of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative was organised to align with the EU Green Week 2021. It was a great success, and they have decided to make it an annual event and a permanent resource for knowledge sharing, networking, and forging alliances. Networking activities will concentrate in June 2022.
The opening event of the 2022 edition will be held on May 30, 2022, as part of the European Green Week. The closing event will take place on June 30, 2022.
All partners and friends of the initiative are invited to increase their visibility by presenting their work (projects, technologies, methods, services, and other products) at the fair HERE.
Please submit your request for a booth HERE.
Contact Marc Bernard at 4 per 1000 for more information.
Closing date: 13 May 2022
Tiny Beam Fund (a charitable foundation based in the U.S.) offers fellowship awards and research planning grants to academic researchers interested in topics related to drivers and negative impacts of industrial animal agriculture, especially those concerning low- and middle-income countries.
FELLOWSHIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS:
- Amount of each award: US$25,000 (for a team of 2-4 led by PhD holder), $20,000 (for a single PhD holder), $15,000 (for a single PhD student).
- Eligibility: Academic researchers (including independent scholars) who hold PhD or are PhD students in advanced stage of their study. No restrictions as to applicants’ place of residence or citizenship.
- Duration: 4 months
RESEARCH PLANNING GRANTS FOR UNIVERSITIES
- Amount of each grant: US$2,000 – $10,000
- Eligibility: Applicants (or leaders of teams with 2-4 persons) must hold PhD. Applicants (or leaders of teams with 2-4 persons) should be employed by universities that can receive these grants. They need not be located in the U.S.
- Duration: 6 months
Click HERE for more information.
The EIP-AGRI brokerage event ’Get involved in the EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe’ will take place on 8-9 June 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. The event will be by invitation only. An open call for expression of interest is open until 22 April, 23:59 CET.
This event will offer matchmaking sessions through face-to-face meetings and networking amongst farmers, advisors, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders to support the preparation of proposals for the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ call that will be launched in May. Additionally, the activity will create conditions for exchanging knowledge and innovative ideas and practices (living labs and lighthouses), that may inspire potential applicants to take part in the next EU Mission call.
All information and updates will be posted on the EIP-AGRI website HERE.
The eleventh GRA Council meeting was held online over three days, 21-23 February 2022, hosted by Chile.
The meeting was attended by 137 representatives from 39 countries and 11 partner organisations. Australia has now officially passed the Council Chair role to Chile, with Spain accepting the Vice-Chair role.
The meeting included reports on the past year’s achievements from the GRA Special Representative, Research Groups and Working Groups (Innovation and Research Stocktake). Six proposals for new global Flagship Projects were presented for approval. Two new GRA Partner organisations presented to the Council. The meeting also involved a workshop related to mitigation for small holders and a review of the current GRA Operational Plan.
Key outcomes of the meeting include:
- Five new global Flagship Projects were approved during the meeting, with the sixth project proposal gaining approval shortly after.
- The two Working Groups established in 2021 will continue in 2022.
- GRA to become a ‘Supporter’ of the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and to invite Environmental Defence Fund to be an official GRA Partner.
- New Zealand will continue to host the GRA Special Representative and Secretariat, with additional support from members and no changes to the TOR for these roles.
The meeting report and recordings of the online sessions are now available to view by clicking HERE.