Outreach, society, policy

Understanding Stakeholder Awareness and Willingness to Adopt Genetic Solutions for Methane-Mitigation in Sheep Breeding

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Abstract

This study based on a survey aimed to establish a multi-country baseline of stakeholders' (e.g. farmers, breeders, researchers, technical advisors) knowledge, perceptions, and willingness to adopt genetic tools for methane mitigation in sheep production. The survey, conducted as part of the Sustain Sheep project (Green ERA-Hub initiative) was translated into six languages, and distributed in Ireland, France, Norway, the United Kingdom (UK), Uruguay and other Latin American countries. A total of 473 valid responses were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and cross-country comparisons. Of these, 47% were commercial farmers and/or stud breeders, 23% were technical advisors, and 13% were researchers. The study found regional differences in awareness and attitudes: 29% of respondents recognized sheep as meaningful contributors to methane emissions, while nearly half perceived their impact as limited. Among those aware of sheep's contribution, the proportions were: Uruguay 33%, UK 27%, Ireland 25%, and France 22%. Forty-four percent of respondents agreed that sheep methane emissions should be reduced, with Uruguay showing the highest support (55%), followed by France (47%), Ireland (40%), and the UK (28%). Familiarity with the concept of methane mitigation in ruminants was moderate to high, with 62% of respondents having previous exposure to the topic. Country-level familiarity ranged from 70% in Uruguay and 68% in Ireland to 59% in the UK and 36% in France. However, only 53% reported awareness of specific genetic tools for reducing methane emissions, indicating a gap between general awareness and technical knowledge. Ireland (65%) and Uruguay (60%) exceeded the overall average, while France (47%) and the UK (47%) were below it. The most frequently mentioned tool was genetic selection through Estimated Breeding Values, cited by 55% of respondents, and 72% of respondents expressing their willingness to support the use of genetic tools to reduce emissions. The survey also asked about genetic tools for animal adaptation to climate change. Most participants (72%) believe genetic tools can aid ruminants in adapting to climate change, and 82% see them as important for sustainable sheep farming. Agreement was high in Uruguay, France, and Ireland, but lower in the UK (62%), indicating a certain degree of skepticism. The survey also explored preferred communication channels and formats for knowledge transfer. Email (69%) and WhatsApp (28%) were the most cited channels, while written articles (70%) and short videos (49%) were the most requested formats. Respondents expressed a preference for receiving updates only when significant results were available, suggesting a need for concise and impactful communication strategies. In conclusion, the survey highlights broad international openness to genetic solutions for climate-smart sheep breeding but also underscores the importance of tailored communication and capacity-building strategies to address regional differences in knowledge and perception.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Ciappesoni, G., McGovern, F., McLaren, A., Tortereau, F., Jakobsen, J., Anderson, J., Smith, E., McHugh, N., De Barbieri, I., Marie-Etancelin, C., O’Connor, E., Navajas, E. & Lambe, N., (2026) “Understanding Stakeholder Awareness and Willingness to Adopt Genetic Solutions for Methane-Mitigation in Sheep Breeding”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2276916. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23426

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