National Methane Summit showcases a decade of Irish research in this area

The National Methane Summit took place in Portlaoise, County Laois on Monday, 12 October. Pictured (L-R): David Kelly, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Mary McCarthy, University College Cork, Karl Walsh, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Philip Carroll, Meat Industry Ireland, Elizabeth Walsh, VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and Donagh Berry, VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and Teagasc.

More than a decade of Irish research into cattle and sheep enteric methane emissions was highlighted at the National Methane Summit in Portlaoise. The event, Innovation is Changing the Methane Conversation, brought together researchers, funders, policymakers, industry, advisors, and farmers to highlight progress in understanding and reducing enteric methane emissions from Irish livestock.

The National Methane summit showcased research spanning Ireland’s dairy, beef, and sheep sectors. It demonstrated how sustained public and industry investment has helped Ireland move from measuring and understanding methane emissions, towards developing practical mitigation strategies for use on farms.

The event demonstrated how methane emissions are measured in cattle and sheep with greenfeeds, portable accumulation chambers and other technologies, including sniffers, discussed on the day.

The summit highlighted how research on methane management could inform the next stages of development and deployment on farms and into policy. Fiona McGovern outlined research into different grazing strategies with the potential to reduce methane emissions, while Ben Lehart presented research on feed additives and explored practical scenarios for incorporating them into everyday farm management. Results showed that methane reductions of approximately 20–30% are achievable through feed additives when animals are housed indoors. Results from grazing experiments also highlighted potential for methane mitigation through supplementation with feed additives, although the level of reduction needs to be carefully balanced with animal performance effects. These presentations illustrated how research findings are being assessed for practical use under Irish farming conditions.

Laurence Shalloo, Deputy Director of VistaMilk and Head of Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme at Teagasc, said: “The summit demonstrated the value of sustained collaboration across the Irish research and agricultural sectors. VistaMilk was established to develop and translate scientific excellence into real-world impact, and the wide range of information presented here today is a strong example of that ambition.”

He said: “Through collaboration with funders, industry, and the wider research community, we are generating the evidence needed to better quantify the enteric methane outputs of our animals and production systems. At the same time, we are developing the knowledge required to turn methane mitigation from a scientific challenge into practical solutions that are tested and evaluated in real-world settings.”

A central focus of the summit was the progress made in breeding. Results from the extensive Irish research presented on the day indicated that genetic differences between animals account for approximately 20% of the variation in methane emissions. Unlike interventions that must be applied repeatedly, the benefits of genetic improvement are cumulative and long lasting.

Philip Carroll, Chairman of Meat Industry Ireland, said: “By investing in methane genetics, the meat industry is demonstrating its commitment to finding practical solutions to reducing agricultural emissions. This research provides the knowledge and tools to breed cattle that naturally emit less methane, delivering reductions that accumulate from one generation to the next.”

The event’s final session focused on new horizons and innovation in methane research. Alongside emerging technologies and new scientific approaches, it examined consumer perceptions and the importance of communicating methane research clearly and transparently.

Mary McCarthy, Funded investigator with VistaMilk and Professor in Marketing at University College Cork, said: “Alongside research into methane mitigation strategies, VistaMilk is actively examining how consumers understand and respond to emerging technologies, and how their perspectives can inform research at an early stage. As we look to the next generation of methane solutions, this research will help us identify questions and concerns and build trust with the wider public. Giving the agri-food sector and consumers a meaningful role in that process is essential to developing innovations that can be understood, accepted, and put into practice.”

Event details

Event: VistaMilk Methane Summit – Innovation is Changing the Methane Conversation
Date: Monday, 12 October 2026
Venue: Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Notes to Editors:

Enteric methane is a gas produced during digestion in ruminant animals, such as cattle and sheep. Microbes in the rumen break down feed and produce methane, which is released mainly through belching.

About VistaMilk

VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre is Ireland’s national centre for science and digital innovation in pasture-based dairy, delivering research, tools and validated technologies that improve sustainability, productivity and global competitiveness.

VistaMilk is uniquely co-funded by Research Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and is hosted by Teagasc.

About Meat Technology Ireland

Meat Technology Ireland (MTI) is an industry-led Technology Centre, co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and industry members ABP Food Group, Ashbourne Meat Processors, Dawn Meats, Kepak and Liffey Meats. The industry/RPO collaboration is led by Teagasc as MTI host and involves the Irish Cattle Breeders federation (ICBF), University College Cork (UCC), Technical University Dublin (TU Dublin), Dublin City University (DCU) and includes three EI Gateways (TUS CircAB, TUS APT, MTU CAPPA) in addition to one other Technology Centre (IMR). MTI’s primary research interests cover genetic breeding, digitalisation, meat quality, nutrition, and the circular economy.