December 4, 2024

 

Amazon boss invests US$9.4 million in methane emission research for livestock

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has pledged $9.4 million through the Bezos Earth Fund to advance research aimed at significantly reducing methane emissions from cattle.

 

The funding will support a collaboration between the Pirbright Institute and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the UK to explore vaccines as a potential solution.

 

Livestock account for approximately one-third of global methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. The ambitious research project will utilise advanced biotechnology to determine how a vaccine could reduce these emissions by over 30%.

 

The initiative aligns with data from the Global Methane Hub, which indicates that cutting methane emissions by 45% within this decade could deliver a cooling effect of about 0.3°C by 2040. In addition to vaccine development, the Bezos Earth Fund supports a portfolio of strategies to lower livestock emissions, including improved feed, low-methane genetics, and enhanced ranch management practices.

 

Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, highlighted the transformative potential of the research. He stated, "Vaccines have proven to be incredibly effective in global health, and if we can apply this approach to cattle, the potential for reducing emissions is immense."

 

The research comprises two primary components. The first focuses on understanding the early immune response to methane-producing microbes, known as methanogens. Scientists at the RVC, in partnership with Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), will study how methanogens colonise the digestive tracts of calves and how their immune systems respond. Using advanced techniques like multi-omics and immunology, researchers aim to gain detailed insights into these early interactions.

 

The second component centres on developing effective antibodies and vaccines. Teams from the Pirbright Institute and AgResearch in New Zealand will identify and characterise specific antibodies that target methanogens. This involves isolating antibodies from immunised cattle and evaluating their effectiveness under laboratory conditions. The goal is to establish proof of concept for a methane vaccine by driving targeted immune responses.

 

Professor John Hammond, leader of the immunogenetics group at Pirbright Institute, explained, "We're not developing a methane vaccine per se, but rather defining what a successful vaccine needs to achieve."

 

The research also addresses critical knowledge gaps, such as how antibodies inhibit methanogen growth and which surface antigens on methanogens are most effective for vaccine targeting. These insights aim to accelerate the development of a methane vaccine, reducing the trial-and-error phase.

 

Dirk Werling, professor of molecular immunology at RVC, added, "Our work aims to provide the foundational knowledge needed to develop effective interventions."

 

The project is part of the Global Methane Hub's Enteric Fermentation R+D Accelerator and involves collaboration among international experts, including those from CSIC and AgResearch. This coordinated effort is intended to translate research findings into scalable, practical solutions for reducing emissions in agriculture.

 

The Bezos Earth Fund has described the project as a high-risk, high-reward endeavour with the potential to achieve planetary-level impacts. In a statement, the organisation said, "The potential success of this vaccine could lead to a monumental shift in emissions reduction, demonstrating the power of targeted scientific research in addressing global environmental challenges."

 

-      The Fence Post