The Potential of Novel Gene Editing-Based Approaches in Forages and Rumen Archaea for Reducing Livestock Methane Emissions

Udaya Subedi, Kazi Kader, Kethmi N. Jayawardhane, Hari Poudel, Guanqun Chen, Surya Acharya, Luiz S. A. Camargo (), Daniela Matias de C. Bittencourt () and Stacy D. Singer ()
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Udaya Subedi: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Kazi Kader: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Kethmi N. Jayawardhane: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
Hari Poudel: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Guanqun Chen: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
Surya Acharya: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Luiz S. A. Camargo: Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Juiz de Fora 36038-330, MG, Brazil
Daniela Matias de C. Bittencourt: Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília 70770-917, DF, Brazil
Stacy D. Singer: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Rising emissions of anthropogenic greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and methane (CH 4 ) are a key driver of climate change, which is predicted to have myriad detrimental consequences in coming years if not kept in check. Given the potency of CH 4 in terms of trapping heat in the atmosphere in the short term, as well as the fact that ruminant production currently contributes approximately 30% of anthropogenic emissions, there is an impetus to substantially decrease the generation of ruminant-derived CH 4 . While various strategies are being assessed in this context, a multi-faceted approach is likely required to achieve significant reductions. Feed supplementation is one strategy that has shown promise in this field by attenuating methanogenesis in rumen archaea; however, this can be costly and sometimes impractical. In this review, we examine and discuss the prospect of directly modulating forages and/or rumen archaea themselves in a manner that would reduce methanogenesis using CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene editing platforms. Such an approach could provide a valuable alternative to supplementation and has the potential to contribute to the sustainability of agriculture, as well as the mitigation of climate change, in the future.

Keywords: climate change; CRISPR/Cas; environmental sustainability; greenhouse gas emissions; ruminant livestock production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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