Cattle GHG Inventory and Mitigation in the Philippines

“𝐖𝐨𝐰! 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐞𝐬 🏆 𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩…”

The 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗚𝗛𝗚 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 congratulates 𝗠𝘀. 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮 for bagging the 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 in the 10𝘵𝘩 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝗦𝗔𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) last 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭-𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 at 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼, 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺.

She presented the study entitled “Potential of 𝘓𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢 and crude coconut oil to reduce enteric methane in tropical dairy cattle”. This study was supervised by the project Co-leader, 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗼.

She is one of the researchers under the UPLB GHG Team and is currently taking her MSc in Animal Science, minor in Biochemistry.

Agriculture

Captions by DESoriano
PubMat by DESoriano

“𝙇𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙙 ✈️ 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢..”

The 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗚𝗛𝗚 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗠𝗛 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 went to 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼, 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺, for the 10𝘵𝘩 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝗦𝗔𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) last 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭-𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. They represented the 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬 𝐁𝐚ñ𝐨𝐬 as one of the 𝐂𝐨-𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐬 of the event.

𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 presented the study entitled “Tier 2 inventory of cattle greenhouse gas emissions (1994–2024) in the Philippines” as a keynote speaker. This study was the fruit of labor of the UPLB GHG team alongside various consultants and collaborators.

𝗠𝘀. 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮 presented the “Potential of 𝘓𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢 and crude coconut oil to reduce enteric methane in tropical dairy cattle”, a feeding trial study supervised by 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗼. Ms. Cala also bagged the best oral presenter award at the event.

𝗠𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼 presented the poster “Policy recommendations for improved cattle Tier 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) data reporting in the Philippines”. As well as 𝗠𝘀. 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴 and 𝗠𝘀. 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗼 from UPLB GMH Team, with a poster “Variability of chemical composition of some feed ingredients in cattle-dense regions of the Philippines”.

𝗠𝘀. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼, a recent graduate and member of the UPLB GHG Team, presented her undergraduate study “Fat, protein, and chitin composition of Black Soldier Fly (𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴) larvae fed different ratios of vegetable wastes and by-product concentrates”. Along with 𝗠𝘀. 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼, a recent graduate who conducted the study, “Enteric methane and carbon dioxide production in Philippine native cattle fed diets with and without concentrate supplementation”. This was the first study that utilized the GreenFeed equipment of the UPLB GMH team. Ms. Cala, Ms. Soriano, and Ms. Solitario were among the scholar recipients of the SAADC 2025 Young Investigator Scholarship Program.

This participation would not be possible without the support of our funding agency. We would like to thank the New Zealand government’s Climate Smart Agriculture initiative as part of its contribution to the GRA on agricultural greenhouse gas.

Agriculture

Captions by DESoriano
Photos by SAADC 2025 Committee, DESoriano, AGSolitario

🌱 One step ahead in reducing our GHG hoofprint! 🐄🌍

The Study Tour on 'Methane Mitigation and Inventory for Livestock' was successfully concluded on August 29, 2025, at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). ✅

This pivotal event, sponsored by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), brought together key national agencies such as Dost-Itdi, DENR Climate Change Service, DENR-EMB, Department of Energy - Biomass Energy Management Division, DA-PhilRice, DA-Philippine Carabao Center, DA-CRAO Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture - AMIA, Climate Change Commission PH, and DA-BAI, which are all involved in GHG initiatives in the Philippines. Attendees explored techniques for measuring methane from livestock, focusing on cattle and discussed practical strategies for mitigation.

Mr. Gerard Guadayo, the Project Co-leader, spearheaded the study tour together with Dr. Amado Angeles, the Dean of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science and the Project Leader of the GHG Study. The event featured a discussion and a farm visit to the UPLB Headbox Respiration Chamber Facility. With the help of Dr. Rommel Sulabo, the former Director of UPLB-IAS, the group also toured the Uplb Ias Animal Climate Chamber Facility. Meanwhile, Ms. Ronela Angelika Narag discussed the mechanism of the GreenFeed System, an equipment used for GHG measurement in cattle.

This collaboration is a crucial step towards strengthening our national GHG inventory which is crucial for NDC reporting and building a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for the Philippines.



Captions by DRSoriano
Photos by DRSoriano and RMRamos

🐄 UPLB DTRI Headbox Respiration Chamber Facility Visit 🐄

On 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗠𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘁 (NZ MFAT), 𝗠𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗸 (NZ Embassy), 𝗠𝘀. 𝗝𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗟𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮 (PSA), and 𝗠𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹 (CCC) visited the 𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗕 𝗗𝗧𝗥𝗜 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. They observe the implementation progress of the project and its impacts not only on smallholder cattle farmers but also on a more sustainable cattle industry in the Philippines.



Captions and Photos by DRSoriano

🐄 Farm Visit at DH Magpantay Farm 🐄

A farm visit was conducted at 𝗗𝗛 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 in Batangas on 𝟮𝟱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, with 𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗼 from NZAGRC, 𝗠𝗿. 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 from NZ MFAT, the 𝗚𝗛𝗚 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 led by 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗼, in collaboration with farm owner 𝗠𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘆.

This visit to DH Magpantay Farm provided valuable insights into the role of smallholder dairy farmers in Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Mitigation in Cattle, and how the results from the mitigation studies can benefit the cattle farmers. By working directly with farmers like Mr. Danilo Magpantay, we're exploring practical ways to reduce emission intensity while improving farm productivity through research.



Captions and Photos by DRSoriano

🌱 Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture Through Science and Policy 🌱

The recent 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 (𝟮𝟰 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) at the New Zealand Official Residence marked a significant step forward for agricultural climate mitigation. This gathering was made possible by the 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 - 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, which brought together leading experts to discuss sustainable agricultural solutions and highlight NZ's role in helping PH in sustainable agriculture.

𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗰𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘀𝗵 inaugurated the session, outlining bilateral efforts in climate-smart agriculture. The subsequent technical session featured in-depth presentations by 𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗼 (NZAGRC), 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 (UPLB), 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗼 (UPLB-DTRI), and 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗲 𝗟𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗮 (PCC) covering localized emission factors and livestock-related (Cattle & Carabao) GHG emissions data, respectively.

The session continued with valuable insights from 𝗠𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹 (CCC), 𝗠𝘀. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘇 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘆𝗲/𝗝𝗮𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻 (DA-CRAO), and 𝗠𝘀. 𝗝𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗟𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮 (PSA), followed by 𝗠𝗿. 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼 (PSA), 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘁. 𝗦𝗲𝗰. 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗮 (CCC), and 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮 (DA-CRAO). Lastly, 𝗡𝗭 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲 provided closing remarks.

Such collaboration between scientists and related agencies is essential for developing evidence-based, sustainable agricultural solutions, and we look forward to the continuous collaboration effort.



Captions by DRSoriano
Photos by MUycoco

Two days of intensive training on 𝙄𝙋𝘾𝘾 𝙏𝙞𝙚𝙧 2 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙨 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙤𝙭 𝘼 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 last February 2 and 3, 2025, was spearheaded by Dr. Amado A. Angeles, Project Leader of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Mitigation in Cattle for the Philippines project. 🧠🐄🌱

On 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The training shifted towards practical application. In the morning, the participants toured the DTRI Farm and the Headbox Respiration Chamber Facility, where Mr. Guadayo demonstrated the mechanism of the Headbox Respiration Chamber.

A technical lecture by Dr. Hegarty regarding Headbox Calculations followed, providing participants with knowledge for GHG data analysis.

Then, Mr. Guadayo and Ms. Catherine Cala guided a hands-on calculation activity in gas measurements.

Afterward, the SUC collaborators toured the UPLB-DTRI laboratories, wherein various equipment and their uses were shown.

The training ended with a social dinner, providing an opportunity for networking among participants.



Photos by JJSastrillo, DRSoriano, and RMRamos
Captions by DRSoriano

Two days of intensive training on 𝙄𝙋𝘾𝘾 𝙏𝙞𝙚𝙧 2 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙨 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙤𝙭 𝘼 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 last February 2 and 3, 2025, was spearheaded by Dr. Amado A. Angeles, Project Leader of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Mitigation in Cattle for the Philippines project. 🧠🐄🌱

On 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The program started with a Prayer led by Ms. Ronela Narag followed by Opening remarks by Dr. Angeles.

The training consists of various talks. IPCC Methodologies for Greenhouse Gas Inventories were presented by Ms. Danica Rose Soriano and Ms. Thalia Bacorro.

It was then followed by Dr. Roger Hegarty from NZAGRC, who presented Measurement Systems for Livestock Enteric Methane Emissions. These Measurement Systems are Open Path Systems (FTIR or laser), SF6 tracer, GreenFeed, O/C Respiration Chambers, Headbox, Laser, and Portable Accumulation Chambers.

Lastly, our Project Co-leader, Mr. Gerard Guadayo discussed Methane Measurement using the Headbox Respiration Chamber, Recovery Test, and Troubleshooting.



Photos by JJSastrillo and AAngeles
Captions by DRSoriano

As climate change remains a pressing global issue, understanding the role of livestock, particularly cattle, in greenhouse gas emissions is crucial.

Last November 21, 2024, Dr. Amado Angeles enlightened the 4th Ruminant Forum at IAS, UPLB with an insightful presentation on greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement in cattle.

Dr. Angeles discussed the measurement of methane emissions from cattle, highlighting the importance of the UPLB Headbox Respiration Facility funded by the New Zealand Government for GHG measurements. He emphasized the significance of improving animal performance by utilizing easily digestible feeds which is also one way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in cattle.

By sharing this information, we can contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and raise awareness about sustainable and smart agriculture. Let's work together to build a more sustainable future for our planet.



Captions by DRSoriano

🧐What is GHG Inventory in Livestock?

It is an estimate of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted to or removed from the atmosphere through livestock production activities in a given calendar year.

Under the Paris Agreement, all Parties should submit a national GHG inventory as part of the Biennial Transparency Report. Additionally, Parties make Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with targets to reduce GHG emissions.

🧐What are the IPCC Methodologies for Greenhouse Gas Inventories?

📌IPCC Tier 1
📌IPCC Tier 2

References:
2010 Philippine Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report Executive Summary
Presentation of Dr. Andreas Wilkes from NZARGC, 2022










Captions and Pubmat by DRSoriano

Last Wednesday, September 11, the UPLB DTRI GHG Team convened a meeting with IRRI and OSTROM Climate Solutions representatives.

Prior to the meeting, the group visited the DTRI headbox site and IRRI field to observe their respective methane emission measurement setups. The primary objective of the meeting was to explore potential areas of collaboration in methane measurement. The discussion focused on the capacity building of the participating institutions through the establishment of a laboratory equipped with advanced methane measurement instrumentation.




Captions by DRSoriano
Photos by TJBacorro