Methane mitigation in grazing and smallholder ruminant systems

Livestock systems contribute substantially to global greenhouse gas emissions, with enteric methane from ruminants representing a major source of agricultural emissions. As climate policies, national net-zero commitments, investor expectations, and corporate sustainability targets intensify, reducing methane emissions from livestock has become an urgent priority. However, much of the available evidence on mitigation has been generated in intensive, high-input production systems, particularly in the Global North. Grazing-based, extensive, and smallholder systems—including pastoralist landscapes and high-altitude Andean grasslands—remain comparatively under-represented, despite their importance for food security, rural livelihoods, biodiversity, and cultural identity. These systems present specific challenges, including limited access to technologies, variable feed quality, insufficient national emission factors, and diverse animal responses to mitigation interventions. Cattle, sheep, alpacas, and other locally adapted ruminants may require context-specific strategies. Furthermore, methane reduction must be considered alongside productivity, animal health and welfare, product quality, resilience, and farmer livelihoods. A stronger evidence base is therefore needed to identify mitigation pathways that are scientifically effective, economically feasible, and socially equitable.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of methane emissions and mitigation across grazing, extensive, and smallholder ruminant systems. It will bring together animal scientists, ecologists, geneticists, nutritionists, economists, social scientists, and policymakers to evaluate interventions across diverse production contexts. The Research Topic will seek to generate reliable, system-specific evidence on methane emissions and mitigation potential; improve the measurement and modelling of emissions from under-represented livestock systems; assess the co-benefits and trade-offs associated with mitigation strategies; and identify governance, financing, and extension mechanisms that can accelerate equitable adoption. Particular attention will be given to whether mitigation interventions can reduce emissions without compromising animal performance, welfare, food security, environmental integrity, or the livelihoods of smallholder and pastoralist producers.To gather further insights into methane mitigation in grazing, extensive, and smallholder livestock systems, we welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, and conceptual contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Enteric fermentation inhibitors, including 3-nitrooxypropanol, seaweed-derived compounds, and plant secondary metabolites such as tannins and saponins.Methane measurement, modelling, emission inventories, and system-specific emission factors, including the use of SF₆ techniques and respiration chambers.Selective breeding, animal genetics, and locally adapted breeds for low-methane livestock.Forage quality, grazing management, pasture improvement, and climate-resilient feeding strategies.Manure management, anaerobic digestion, biogas recovery, and nutrient recycling.Life-cycle assessment and comparisons of mitigation strategies across production systems.Economic feasibility, market incentives, co-benefits, and trade-offs involving productivity, welfare, and product quality.Adoption barriers, extension services, governance frameworks, and climate finance.Evidence from smallholder, pastoralist, Indigenous, and high-altitude systems, particularly in Latin America and the Global South. Topic editors: Carlos Gomez, Juan Carlos Ku-Vera Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83710/methane-mitigation-in-grazing-and-smallholder-ruminant-systems