Global Methane Genetics kick-off sparks collaboration and concrete next steps

Participants and organisers look back on a fruitful meeting that set concrete plans in motion. “I was blown away by the energy, enthusiasm and commitment in the room,” says Andy Jarvis from the Bezos Earth Fund, reflecting on the kick-off. The meeting began with updates on the GMG initiative and the running projects in dairy, beef, sheep, Africa, Latin America and the MicroHub. Then came the action: participants got out of their chairs for speed dating and group discussions. This created plenty of interaction. “There were a lot of new faces, and meeting each other generated real energy to get started”.

Part of something bigger

Representatives from the Global Methane Hub share the enthusiasm. “People felt part of something bigger,” says Robert Banks. “They saw others, often in different countries or working with other species, asking the same questions and facing the same challenges. And they realised they could help each other by sharing their knowledge. That was very tangible.” His colleague Hayden Montgomery agrees: “The whole can be much greater than the sum of the parts.”

Get out there and measure

The next step is clear: get on with collecting data across breeds, species, and countries. “It all starts with data,” says Andy. “The faster the database gets populated, the more we accelerate progress. Get out there and measure!” Robert stresses the importance of communication: “There’s quite a lot going on, and simply sharing it with a wider audience can create momentum. Even people not directly involved in genetics but interested in methane will benefit, so ramping up communication is important.”

To keep the energy alive, webinars, working group sessions, and project meetings
will be held in the coming months. The next in-person meeting of those present
at the kick-off will take place before WCGALP in Madison (US) in July 2026.

For more information or questions, please contact gmg@wur.nl.