Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry invites applications to fund projects promoting climate change resilience of cattle feeding

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has announced a call for applications for projects aimed to support the development of solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production that will be open from 6 June to 18 July 2022. The application is part of the Catch the Carbon package of climate measures.

The European Union approved the first feed additive that reduces the formation of methane in the rumen, 3-nitrooxypropanol, in spring 2022. The additive was authorised to be used in feeds for dairy cows, suckler cows and inseminated heifers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is inviting applications for studies and projects to be funded that aim to develop feeding solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the digestion of bovines. 

The projects should seek solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to cattle feeding and, in particular, methane emissions produced in rumen fermentation. The projects should also enhance knowledge about the means for reducing emissions that are already available or will be introduced within the next 5 to 10 years, as well as incentives and steering instruments through which the introduction and use of such means can be promoted.

Projects are hoped to e.g.

• pilot the use of the additive that reduces the methane levels in cattle feeding
• produce new information on the consumer attitudes and expectations related to livestock production and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the production
• examine the incentives and steering instruments by means of which greenhouse gas emissions related to cattle feeding and digestion can be reduced.

A total of EUR 700,000 million in funding is being offered and the aim is to provide funding for 2 to 4 projects. Different actors can also join their forces and form project consortia. The duration of the projects can be 1 to 3 years and they must be completed by the end of 2024.

The application must be submitted to the electronic application system of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry by 18 July 2022 at 16.15. Read more about the process in the call for applications.

Call for applications, updated with Annex 1 on 20 June 2022)

Climate measures in the land use sector (mmm.fi)

The aim of the Catch the Carbon package of climate measures coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is to strengthen the competence and knowledge base related to climate work in the land use sector and support agricultural producers, forest owners and other parties who make land use decisions in developing and introducing climate change resilient practices. Read more about the package and about the projects that have already been funded at mmm.fi/en/climate-plan-for-the-land-use-sector

Inquiries:
Eeva Saarisalo
Senior Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
+358 295 162 366
eeva.saarisalo@gov.fi

Anna Salminen
Chief Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
+358 50 358 8793
anna.salminen@gov.fi