Examples of work done by members of this group and others follow. By modifying the bacteria in the animal's rumen, scientists have found livestock yield more meat, wool and milk - and less methane. This reduction, if applied to the whole Australian herd and flock, would significantly lower Australia's emissions. A vaccine is in the process of being made available to industry by development and commercialisation.
Forests produce valuable products like timber and paper, but also store carbon.
Such a reduction takes time to reach its full effect and would last for the approximately 30-year commercial life of the forest. The net effect depends somewhat on the fate of the products of foresting. The 2020 Vision for Plantations in Australia proposes a trebling of the plantation estate by adding an extra 80,000 hectares every year. These include species selection to suit climate change and other environmental factors, as well as selective breeding and gene manipulation for faster growth and better timber, and improved processing technologies. The most cost-effective greenhouse mitigation might be achieved by combining sink creation with commercial forestry.