The University of Nebraska–Lincoln aims to better evaluate the environmental impact of the ranching industry through a new $5 million grant. Galen Erickson, a professor of ruminant nutrition and head of the Beef Innovation Hub at the university, noted that beef producers are often asked to implement changes without having scientific evidence on the benefits or the ability to measure their impact. His team recently secured a five-year, $5 million Grand Challenges grant to address this need, focusing on developing scientific methods and technology to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions from grazing cattle.
The research will be conducted at three of the university’s research sites: the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Barta Brothers Ranch near Ainsworth, and the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory near Whitman. The Grand Challenges program, funded by the Chancellor’s Office and the Office of Research and Innovation, offers grants exclusively to Husker faculty for projects addressing one of seven focus areas. This specific grant, titled “Advancing Development of Assessments, Practices and Tools (ADAPT) to Produce Climate Smart Beef in Grazing Systems,” aligns with three of these priorities: climate resilience, sustainable food and water security, and enhancing scientific literacy.
Erickson explained that the project’s objective is to create tools that are easy to use and cost-effective, enabling producers to assess whether certain practices benefit the environment. The ADAPT team includes experts in grazing systems, remote sensing, greenhouse gas monitoring, ecosystem resilience, soil science, and data modeling. Erickson highlighted the unique interdisciplinary approach, bringing in researchers from various fields, including those with no prior involvement in beef systems.
Derek McLean, Dean of the Agricultural Research Division, emphasized the economic and ecological significance of the beef industry to Nebraska and praised the project for its potential to provide scientifically sound and data-driven insights to support industry efforts in reducing their environmental footprint. Homer Buell, a Nebraska beef producer involved in the grant proposal, underscored the importance of understanding the environmental impacts of ranching practices, enabling the industry to communicate its role in greenhouse gas management more accurately.
The ADAPT project will focus on measuring greenhouse gas variations in grazing areas, accounting for absorption by vegetation and soil. Grazing systems, which are complex and diverse, have often been overlooked in greenhouse gas studies compared to closed confinement systems like feedlots, where technological advances only recently made accurate emission measurement possible. The ADAPT project will leverage satellite, airborne, and on-ground remote sensing to capture variations in greenhouse gases in areas where cattle graze.
Erickson noted that the team will apply well-established scientific techniques in innovative ways to achieve meaningful results. The project builds on existing research from the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network and uses tools that have been successfully applied in crop production to measure greenhouse gas variations.
Carbon, often discussed in environmental contexts, typically refers to carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that plants convert into oxygen. For some grazing-based cattle producers, carbon credits present a potential revenue stream. However, the accuracy of these credits relies on assumptions about carbon dioxide absorption by the soil compared to emission levels. The ADAPT project seeks to provide reliable data to inform practices that may support beneficial greenhouse gas levels, giving producers realistic, scientifically supported expectations for carbon contracts.
The Beef Innovation Hub has streamlined collaboration between researchers, producers, and industry representatives, fostering a practical, results-oriented approach. Erickson emphasized the project’s commitment to developing accurate, cost-effective technology with real-world applications in the beef industry. A producer advisory panel will provide ongoing feedback to ensure the research aligns with industry needs, helping producers make data-informed decisions that balance environmental impact with profitability.
Buell noted the importance of accurate research, which he believes will allow the industry to focus on effective, positive changes.
