Co-Chair for the Global Research Alliance - Livestock Research Group

Background/purpose of the Grant
This grant will help deliver stated Defra policy objectives, which include ¡¥¡Ksetting global standards in protecting and harnessing value from the natural environment; Pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future; Lead the world in food and farming with a sustainable model of food production¡¦. It will enable increased engagement and collaboration for UK experts to help shape and deliver global research on agriculture Green House Gas emissions from livestock through an international research group. The UK co-chair will help shape and steer the Livestock Research Group¡¦s projects and access expertise in priority areas where UK has global leading knowledge.

Aims and objectives of the Funded Activities
By specifically engaging with LRG, the new co-chair will contribute to the group¡¦s agenda, share UK expertise on animal welfare and sustainable productivity, and also provide capacity to continue GRA¡¦s engagement with developing countries.
Defra¡¦s aims for this grant align with those of the GRA, for the LRG to deliver tangible outcomes such as shared resources, building capacity and joint calls for research, but also to shape the international research agenda on livestock and demonstrate leadership, with respect to the goals of the Paris agreement.
A UK co-chair would achieve -
- LRG research interests and direction are further developed
- GRA research contributes further to reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
-Expanded and strengthened UK networks/collaborative activities with other countries as the co-chair connects UK expertise and interests with wider GRA network
- Increased UK participation/learning from others on topics on which other countries are more knowledgeable/active and which are relevant for UK in future (e.g. impact of heat stresses (climate change) on productivity/welfare)
- Closer engagement with NZ and Canada, the principal funders of GRA secretariat and research groups) leveraging off their investment

Funded Activities
Grant funding will cover time and expenses for the co-chair and one or more assistants (forming a co-chair team), including covering costs of any workshops or meetings set up by the co-chair team. This also covers travel and subsistence costs for the co-chair team to attend LRG and GRA meetings. The grant funding is to be split between these items as deemed most suitable by the successfully selected co-chair. Work required by the LRG will be planned by UK co-chair and the other LRG co-chairs.

Objective
Aims and objectives of the Funded Activities
By specifically engaging with LRG, the new co-chair will contribute to the group¡¦s agenda, share UK expertise on animal welfare and sustainable productivity, and also provide capacity to continue GRA¡¦s engagement with developing countries.
Defra¡¦s aims for this grant align with those of the GRA, for the LRG to deliver tangible outcomes such as shared resources, building capacity and joint calls for research, but also to shape the international research agenda on livestock and demonstrate leadership, with respect to the goals of the Paris agreement.
A UK co-chair would achieve -
- LRG research interests and direction are further developed
- GRA research contributes further to reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
- Expanded and strengthened UK networks/collaborative activities with other countries as the co-chair connects UK expertise and interests with wider GRA network
- Increased UK participation/learning from others on topics on which other countries are more knowledgeable/active and which are relevant for UK in future (e.g. impact of heat stresses (climate change) on productivity/welfare)
Closer engagement with NZ and Canada, the principal funders of GRA secretariat and research groups) leveraging off their investment

Long term, the UK co-chair is expected to work towards the objectives of the LRG:
- Extend the global knowledge base on livestock greenhouse gas emissions
- Develop mitigation options
- Share knowledge and experiences
- Help strengthen the resilience of livestock farming