Science Center for the Development of Climate Neutrality for Beef in Tropical Regions

• Grant number: 21/11922-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Science Centers for Development
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Renata Helena Branco Arnandes
• Grantee: Renata Helena Branco Arnandes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Nova Odessa
• Principal investigators: Ana Cláudia Ruggieri ; Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz ; Flávio Dutra de Resende ; Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante ; Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha
• Associated researchers: Abmael da Silva Cardoso ; Alexandre Berndt ; André Maciel Crespilho ; Augusto Hauber Gameiro ; Daniela Andressa Lino Lourenco ; Eduardo Marostegan de Paula ; Enilson Geraldo Ribeiro ; Fabio Morato Monteiro ; Fernando Sebastián Baldi Rey ; Flavia Maria de Andrade Gimenes ; Geraldo Balieiro Neto ; Joao Mauricio Bueno Vendramini ; Joslaine Noely dos Santos Goncalves Cyrillo ; Lenira El Faro Zadra ; Márcia Helena Machado da Rocha Fernandes ; Márcio Machado Ladeira ; Marcos Inácio Marcondes ; Maria Emilia Franco Oliveira ; Maria Lúcia Silveira ; Mateus Pies Gionbelli ; Nedenia Bonvino Stafuzza ; Pedro Del Bianco Benedeti ; Philipe Moriel ; Regina Kitagawa Grizotto ; Ricardo Andrade Reis ; Ricardo Lopes Dias da Costa
• Associated research grant(s): 24/02261-0 - Productive and environmental aspects of integrated agricultural production systems in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome, AP.R; 24/02255-0 - Multiomic application to investigate feed efficiency and methane emissions in Nelore bulls, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/14995-1 - Algorithms for construction and reconstruction of inventory databases and prediction of greenhouse gas emissions, BE.PQ; 25/24549-9 - Genetic and phenotypic variation of antral follicle count and its relationship with reproductive efficiency in Nellore females, BP.TT; 25/25870-5 - Genomic associations integrated with transcriptome and proteome analyses for reproductive precocity in Nelore cattle., BP.PD; + associated scholarships 25/13458-2 - Machine Learning Approaches for Gap-Filling in Irregular Greenhouse Gas Time Series, BP.PD; 24/20994-5 - Genomic reaction norm models under metafounders approach for evaluating heat stress in Angus, Brangus, and Nelore cattle considering adaptive and fertility traits, BP.PD; 25/08449-4 - Phenotypic evaluations of antral follicles number and correlation with age at puberty in Nellore heifers, BP.PD; 25/10578-7 - Development of consequential life cycle analysis based on carbon balance and nitrous oxide fluxes in managed tropical pastures, BP.TT; 25/04022-6 - Feed Efficiency Test and Resilience Indicators, BP.TT; 24/22081-7 - Modeling causal relationships between residual feed intake, enteric methane emission, metabolome and nutrient digestibility in Nelore cattle using structural equations., BP.PD; 24/21276-9 - Development of advanced algorithms for filling gaps in greenhouse gas emissions databases, BP.TT; 24/13847-6 - EVALUATION OF RUMINAL METHANE EMISSION FLOWS FROM NELORE ANIMALS, BP.TT - associated scholarships

Abstract

Brazil's beef cattle production sector is largely responsible for economic growth and makes the country the largest beef exporter globally. However, high productivity can have detrimental environmental impacts such as the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Fundamentally, the core goal for the country is to supply the world demand for animal protein without disregarding sustainability, food security, and animal welfare aspects of beef production. Therefore, it is imperative the development of a research center that aims to achieve carbon neutrality in beef cattle production systems. In addition, it is necessary to disseminate the information generated through a communication committee that has links with industry, universities, and international partners. For this proposal, the Animal Science Institute will be a host institution. The private companies of beef production sector will be partner institutions and the national and international research institutions and will be the Associated Institutions. The research center will also be collaborating with international consultancy agents. The technical proposal aims to quantify GHG emissions in beef cattle production systems and develop and disseminate technologies that can reduce their environmental impact. This proposal involves the development of mechanisms for measuring and evaluating enteric methane and other GHG, carbon balance in grazing ecosystems, nutritional strategies, fetal programming, reproduction, calf welfare, and the integration of genomic strategies to optimize production systems. This information will be used to create an optimization platform that improves the utilization of genetic, economic, and environmental resources, compiling the entire set of data generated by this knowledge network. In collaboration with the partnership committee, the communication committee will be responsible for disseminating this center and the information generated by this proposal. It will also be the responsibility of the collaboration committee to source and organize investments in order to continue the proposed activities. It is projected that this research center will be able to fulfill the demand for expansion of sustainable livestock production and consolidation of the ABC+ plan (Economic of Low Carbon Emission in Agriculture). (AU)