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See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

Science-based solutions that benefit farms, animals, consumers and ecosystems

Through worldwide, transdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, farmers, partners and policymakers, we create groundbreaking solutions for agriculture and the environment using feed additives, ration balancing, technology and data modeling. Our scalable holistic solutions ensure the health of planet, people and livestock.

Research Priorities & Solutions

Purpose-driven science for people, animals and planet.

two men in a dairy barn look at an electronic device

Dairy systems monitoring is a powerful tool to inform dairy producer decision making, and model nutrient use and greenhouse gas emissions on farms. Cornell is a leading developer of data collection and management systems to support monitoring. 

Horned cattle on a typical smallholder farm in India, a country which is home to more than 300 million cattle and 85 million small farms.

The ability of dairy cattle to efficiently harness nutrients for milk production is key to reducing methane intensity and boosting dairy profitability. Working with international partners, we help smallholder dairies in South Asia and Africa improve their cattle and buffalo nutrition.

a smiling researcher holds a bag of feed

Feed additives that reduce ruminal methanogenesis is a fast approach to lower methane emissions from dairy production systems. By defining the mode of action for these additives and accelerating efficacy and safety testing, we encourage their development and adoption.

a researcher looking at notes stands in front of a large pool with a tractor

Manure from livestock agriculture represents a source of greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide, and nutrient waste such as phosphorus and nitrogen. We are committed to identifying farm management practices that best mitigate these negative environmental outcomes.

a hand holds a phone in front of a cow's face

Monitoring and measuring methane emissions from cattle are part of the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification plan required by any approach that reduces enteric methane emissions. We are strategically positioned to validate methane sensor technologies, including their protocols of use.

drone footage of Cornell's farm

The Northeast dairy industry has made significant progress in a range of sustainability measures between 1971 and 2024, especially greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to “Fifty years of environmental progress by U.S. dairy” published June 2024 in the Journal of Dairy Science.

Monitoring enteric methane in real time

Researchers working with ALIS are using Cornell’s new animal respiration chambers to measure and monitor methane and other gas emissions from cows. The climate-controlled chambers take measurements of oxygen consumption and gas emissions every 2 to 10 minutes. With this data, researchers can further investigate the effectiveness of different diets and feed additives in minimizing enteric greenhouse gas emissions.

two men look at a cow in a methane monitoring chamber

Cornell CALS Livestock Innovations at COP 28

CALS Associate Professor of Dairy Cattle Biology Joseph McFadden conducted a press conference at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 10., titled “Accelerating Livestock Innovations for Sustainability: Fast-tracking safe and effective enteric methane mitigation solutions."

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Our experts

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Joseph McFadden

Associate Professor of Dairy Cattle Biology

Animal Science

Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow

Joseph McFadden
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Julio Giordano

Professor of Dairy Cattle Biology and Management

Animal Science

Julio Giordano
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Quirine Ketterings

Professor

Animal Science

Quirine Ketterings
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Thomas Overton

Department Chair, Professor

Animal Science

Program Director

PRO-DAIRY

Thomas Overton
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Kristan Reed

Assistant Professor

Animal Science

Kristan Reed
  • kfr3 [at] cornell.edu
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Michael Van Amburgh

Professor

Animal Science

Michael Van Amburgh

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