Sustainability & efficiency

Net-Zero Dairy Genome Project (NDGP): Leveraging genomics to achieve dairy net-zero by 2050

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Abstract

The dairy industry is one of Canada's most important agricultural sectors, generating $8.88 billion in net farm cash receipts in 2024, including $554.7 million from exports. To advance sustainability, the industry has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The Net-Zero Dairy Genome Project (NDGP), funded by Genome Canada and developed in collaboration with researchers and industry, aims to develop a roadmap to reduce methane emissions by integrating historical and novel datasets and technologies from nutritional and genetic research, with potential applications to the beef sector. Key milestones reached so far include a comprehensive review of GHG measurement models at animal and herd levels and validation using current datasets. New models are being developed to estimate emissions and quantify reductions achieved through genetic, nutritional, and management strategies. The NDGP database now contains phenotypes from 5,192 animals for methane production, 21,035 for milk parameters, and 19,847 for dry matter intake, with additional methane data being collected using 49 MooLogger units (sniffers) and four GreenFeed systems across Canadian commercial and research farms. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among feed efficiency, methane emissions, and related traits are underway, complemented by studies on rumen microbiota, milk urea nitrogen, and metabolizable energy intake to develop predictive models. Current animal trials include evaluating linseed dosage and extrusion method on methane emissions and lactation performance. Long-read sequencing has identified variants and have been submitted to the Bovine Long Read Consortium (BovineLRC). A survey was created to determine whether there is value in reduced-emission milk. Profit function models are under investigation to determine the economic value of emission reduction traits under different valuation systems (e.g., introduction of a carbon market, influence on interest rate, or incentivization scheme). Economic weights for a GHG emission index were estimated and Lactanet has launched an improved selection index (LPI) featuring an Environmental Impact subindex, making Canada the first country to incorporate methane emission traits into dairy cattle selection index. The impact expected from this project is a 55% reduction in GHG emissions in the Canadian dairy sector, generating an additional $100 million in revenue through secondary genetic gains. Ultimately, the end of the project will deliver a comprehensive roadmap and tools for managing bovine methane emissions, informing producers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to strengthen the sustainability of Canadian dairy sector.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Baes, C., Bapst, B., Berry, D., Butty, A., Cánovas, à., Clark, S., Cunha, S., Ellis, J., Fadul, L., Finocchiaro, R., Gervais, R., Gonzales-Recio, O., Houghton, T., Jahnel, R., Kebreab, E., Lassen, J., Malchiodi, F., Massow, M., Miglior, F., Peà±agaricano, F., Richardson, C., Schenkel, F., Stephansen, R., Stothard, P., Sweett, H., Wood, K. & Wright, T., (2026) “Net-Zero Dairy Genome Project (NDGP): Leveraging genomics to achieve dairy net-zero by 2050”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2295650. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24354

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