NAIROBI, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) said on Tuesday that it has joined a global initiative worth 27.4 million U.S. dollars to reduce methane emissions by livestock.

Sponsored by organizations including the Bezos Earth Fund and Global Methane Hub, the initiative will support research and breeding programs across the globe to help identify and upscale climate-resilient livestock systems.

Appolinaire Djikeng, director general of the ILRI, said the initiative marks a significant milestone in the quest for climate-proofing livestock systems in Africa to achieve food security and boost rural incomes.

"It is a bold step toward aligning Africa's livestock systems with global climate goals, while enhancing livelihoods and food security," Djikeng said in a statement.

He added that by harnessing the power of genetics and data, it will be possible to equip farmers with the tools to breed more productive, resilient and low-methane-emission animals.

According to the statement, the new project will screen more than 100,000 animals, collect methane emissions data, and integrate findings into public and private breeding programs to deliver long-term but low-cost climate benefits.

The research institute also backed the Low-Methane Forage project to deliver climate-smart livestock solutions for the Global South, tackling enteric methane emissions from genetic and nutritional fronts.

The ILRI underlined cattle as the largest contributors to livestock-related emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas that is more than 80 times as powerful as carbon dioxide over 20 years.

It is expected that the use of age-old selection practices will help identify and promote naturally low-emitting cattle, unleashing climate benefits for future generations, said Andy Jarvis, director of the Future of Food Program at the Bezos Earth Fund.

The new initiative, according to the ILRI, will reduce methane emissions from cattle by 1 to 2 percent annually, adding up to a 30 percent reduction over the next two decades without altering diets, infrastructure, or productivity. Enditem

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