Nairobi: Kenya is hosting the 9th Edition of the International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA), marking the first time this event is held on the African continent. Africa, home to one-third of the world's livestock, sees this as a pivotal moment to address livestock's significant contribution to both national GDP and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Kenya News Agency, the GGAA 2025 in Nairobi underscores Africa's crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for the livestock sector. The conference has attracted over 500 participants, including leading scientists, policymakers, industry experts, and civil society representatives. They are gathering to tackle the pressing challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock while ensuring food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience.
"This meeting marks a pivotal shift towards inclusive, globally representative dialogues on mitigating livestock emissions," experts stated during the meeting. The event also aims to amplify the voices of low- and middle-income countries in global climate discussions, providing a platform to address the unique opportunities and constraints faced by smallholder farmers, who are central to livestock production in the region.
Co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), the conference seeks to forge lasting partnerships. Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of ILRI, emphasized that the GGAA 2025 should be a springboard for solutions that are farmer-ready, affordable, and equitable, supporting resilient livelihoods.
Prof. Djikeng highlighted the potential for climate-smart livestock practices, which aim to cut emissions while raising yields. Research indicates that integrated strategies in animal nutrition, health, genetics, and manure management can reduce livestock greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 50 percent, simultaneously boosting productivity and farmer incomes.
Claudia Arndt, Senior Scientist at ILRI, noted that the conference will showcase research particularly from Africa, with 17 countries represented. The event seeks to forge a sustainable future for the global livestock sector through context-specific solutions.
The conference will unveil scientific breakthroughs and showcase scalable technologies. These include breeding low-methane livestock, circular manure systems that reduce emissions, and animal health interventions that could decrease emissions intensity significantly. Digital farm tools and carbon accounting systems for managing emissions will also be demonstrated.
The agenda builds on the principle that "one size does not fit all," with solutions tailored to the needs of different livestock systems. In Kenya, livestock are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through enteric fermentation and manure. The country is actively working to reduce these emissions by implementing climate-smart agricultural practices and improving livestock productivity in line with its low-carbon development goals. Strategies include enhancing feed efficiency, optimizing feed formulation, better manure management, and improving rangeland management.