CANMILK, REPAIR and MGM-NEGAF: Collaboration Methane Reduction in Agriculture

On Monday, 12 May 2025, the projects CANMILK, REPAIR, and MGM-NEGAF came together for a joint internal workshop to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for collaboration in reducing methane emissions in agriculture. With each project addressing the issue from different scientific and technological perspectives, the meeting served as a valuable platform to identify shared challenges, discuss solutions, and strengthen synergies.

The workshop opened with remarks from Andreas Pilzecker and Valerio Abbadessa of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), who provided important policy context:

Methane emissions from agriculture pose a critical challenge that must be more effectively addressed in the future.
Future Common Agricultural Policy should better evaluate how best to support farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from their farming and livestock activities
EU-funded research and innovation are essential for developing new mitigation strategies. However, challenges remain in translating these innovations into practice, particularly due to limited awareness, financial constraints, and technical barriers at the farm level.

Following the opening remarks, each of the participating projects – CANMILK, REPAIR, and MGM-NEGAF – presented their individual approaches and current progress in addressing methane emissions in the agricultural sector.

CANMILK, presented by project coordinator Johanna Kihlman (VTT), focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture through plasma-based solutions. The project addresses the challenge of dilute methane concentrations in livestock barns and aims to develop a proof-of-concept for a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution for methane mitigation on dairy and meat farms.
REPAIR, presented by project coordinator Shareq Mohd Nazir (KTH), addresses the removal of non-CO₂ greenhouse gases through catalytic conversion and separation technologies, with a particular focus on methane. A comprehensive evaluation is being conducted to understand the technical, economic, environmental, and social compatibility of the technologies, as well as their potential policy relevance and impact on global warming mitigation targets.
MGM-NEGAF, presented by Sairam Sirigina (KTH), Emma Bromark (SLU), and Charlotte Flodin (UU), focuses on mitigating multiple greenhouse gases to achieve energy-efficient negative emissions in the agricultural sector through a novel multiple greenhouse gas mitigation (MGM) concept. The project also explores how MGM and direct air capture (DAC) compare to other negative emission technologies (NETs). Key methods include process modelling for techno-economic analysis (KTH), life cycle assessment to evaluate environmental impact (SLU), and stakeholder interviews and policy analysis to assess feasibility and acceptance (UU).

After the project presentations, a joint discussion explored two key challenges shared across the initiatives: Who should lead the charge on methane reduction and how best to assess the impact of mitigation strategies.

Lara Aleluia Reis (RFF-CMCC) opened the session with insights into methane’s role in climate change and the Global Methane Pledge. The discussion focused on the need for increased investment, clearer incentive structures, and better policy alignment to support methane reduction in agriculture. Participants highlighted the importance of making mitigation measures more accessible to farmers.

In the second part of the discussion, participants reflected on the strengths and limitations of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the context of methane mitigation in agriculture. Due to the complexity of agricultural systems, choosing a suitable LCA approach can be difficult. While LCA is a widely used method, it often focuses on specific products or processes, potentially overlooking wider environmental aspects such as biodiversity or carbon storage in soil and grasslands. Participants also pointed out that factors like the electricity source and how system boundaries are defined can significantly affect assessment results.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The workshop concluded with a reflection on key insights shared throughout the workshop. While the participating projects demonstrate promising technological advances in methane mitigation, several challenges remain – particularly regarding cost-effectiveness, practical implementation at farm level, and broader adoption across the agricultural sector.

Participants agreed that a broad, integrated approach is essential to achieve meaningful and rapid reductions in methane emissions. This includes both the prevention of emissions at the source, such as improved livestock and manure management, and the development of innovative technologies for capturing and mitigating methane already released.

Looking ahead, continued collaboration between research projects, policymakers, and stakeholders will be crucial. Joint activities such as follow-up workshops, knowledge exchange formats, and the formation of thematic working groups were identified as valuable next steps to align efforts and accelerate impact.