Cracking the Methane Code: Genetic, Feed, and Farmer Solutions for Emission Reduction by 2030

Dr. Jan Dijkstra is an Associate Professor at the Animal Nutrition Group of Wageningen University (the Netherlands), and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph (Canada). He conducts research aimed at reducing the environmental impact of animal agriculture, with a particular focus on enteric methane emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus excretion from ruminants. In his research, Dr Dijkstra focuses on integration of experimental and modelling approaches. He is the editor of four books and has authored over 290 papers in peer-reviewed journals. As an authoritative scientist, he frequently appears as an expert commentator on various media platforms, including international television, radio, and newspapers.

My research focuses on sustainable livestock systems with emphasis on grazing systems. My aim is to study the contribution of grasslands to food systems and the ecosystem services and disservices that grazing systems provide. Furthermore, I have worked on the resilience of grazing livestock systems in South America as well as on carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture in Europe. I am working to support FrieslandCampina dairy farmers in increasing biodiversity on their farms and the whole chain and how to enable that from a business model perspective.

Areas of expertise: Animal agriculture and the environment, methane, sustainability and business, innovation and entrepreneurship John Tauzel is the senior director for Global Agriculture Methane at EDF. He facilitates EDF’s work to focus attention on the critical climate issue of agriculture methane, to spur development of innovative solutions to cut on-farm methane emissions, and to find pathways to support farmers in adopting new technologies and practices. Bringing experience in environmental policy, agribusiness, entrepreneurship and the commercialization of livestock health solutions to the role, John is passionate about helping farmers improve the economic and environmental sustainability of their farms to deliver global food security. He believes strongly in the power of co-created solutions to fight climate change.

I grew up in rural Lincolnshire, but moved around a lot during my twenties, primarily to study at University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham and Harper Adams University. I now live in Shropshire having completed my PhD at Harper Adams and fallen in love with the county. For all of my early career I worked for a mineral bolus company alongside my academic pursuits, but changed to work in Business Development for the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock, now known as the UK Agri-Tech Centre in February 2022. In this role I enjoy working with and connecting stakeholders across the livestock supply chain to facilitate innovation and work as a specialist for ruminant nutrition.

Jane has more than 20 years of experience as a journalist on news titles and trade press. She now writes about the international feed industry, including innovation, start-ups, regulation, and anything else that bites.