Kenya Leads the Charge in Climate-Smart Livestock at GGAA 2025

Key Highlights

• Kenya hosts the 9th International Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA 2025) — the first ever held in Africa.
• Africa, home to one-third of the world’s livestock, contributes nearly 0.8 gigatons of annual livestock-related emissions.
• The conference brings together over 500 global experts to discuss livestock emissions reduction and climate-smart agriculture.
• ILRI Director General Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng emphasizes the need for farmer-ready, affordable, and equitable solutions.
• Research shows combined innovations can cut emissions by up to 50% while increasing productivity and income.
• New technologies include low-methane breeding, manure-to-energy systems, and digital emission tracking tools.
• The event highlights that Africa’s smallholder farmers must be central in shaping sustainable livestock futures.

Kenya is playing host to the 9th Edition of the International Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA 2025), marking the first time the prestigious global event is being held on African soil.

The conference, co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), brings together more than 500 scientists, policymakers, and industry experts. Their goal: to find practical solutions for cutting livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions while safeguarding food security and rural livelihoods.

Africa’s livestock sector, which supports hundreds of millions of people and contributes up to 80% of GDP in some countries, is also a significant source of emissions—nearly 0.8 gigatons annually. The GGAA 2025 conference recognizes Africa’s central role in shaping a more sustainable and climate-resilient livestock future.

“This meeting marks a pivotal shift toward inclusive global discussions on livestock emissions,” said experts at the forum. “It provides a platform for low- and middle-income countries to voice their realities and innovations.”

Farmer-Ready Climate Solutions

ILRI Director General Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng said the conference should catalyze lasting partnerships that translate science into practical, affordable tools for farmers.

“We do not have to choose between food security and climate mitigation,” he noted. “Farmer-ready solutions show that both can be achieved — higher productivity and lower emissions.”

He added that climate-smart livestock is not a distant goal but a reality already supported by research. Studies indicate that combining improvements in animal nutrition, health, genetics, and manure management can cut emissions by 20–50% while increasing yields and income.

African Science at the Forefront

According to Dr. Claudia Arndt, Senior Scientist at ILRI and Team Leader at the Mazingira Centre, the Nairobi conference gives long-overdue visibility to African livestock systems.

“Low- and middle-income countries have been underrepresented in global climate science. Bringing GGAA to Nairobi changes that,” she said. “We are showcasing research from 17 African countries, proving that local solutions can drive global change.”

Breakthrough Innovations Showcased

The conference is unveiling new scientific and technological advances designed to make livestock systems cleaner and more productive. Among the innovations are:

• Low-methane livestock breeds developed through genomic selection.
• Circular manure systems that cut emissions by up to 90% while producing renewable energy and organic fertilizer.
• Animal health modeling showing that reducing diseases can lower emissions intensity by up to 12%.
• Improved forages that enhance productivity and reduce methane output.
• Digital farm tools for emissions tracking and management.
• ‘Exhalomics’ cow breath analysis technology to monitor methane in real time.

The conference emphasizes that a “one-size-fits-all” approach does not work in agriculture. Solutions suitable for large-scale dairy systems in Europe may not be realistic for smallholder farmers in Africa, where livestock productivity levels differ greatly.

“For African farmers, the biggest emission reduction opportunities lie in improving animal health, feed quality, and genetics,” said Arndt.

Kenya’s Push Toward Low-Carbon Livestock

Kenya’s livestock sector remains a major contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through enteric fermentation and manure. The government is implementing climate-smart agriculture and productivity-focused strategies to reduce emissions while supporting livelihoods.

These include better feed efficiency, manure management, and rangeland conservation, aligning with Kenya’s low-carbon development goals.

As GGAA 2025 unfolds, Nairobi stands at the heart of a global conversation — one where African farmers are not just participants, but leaders in the pursuit of climate-smart livestock systems.