ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar
A review meeting on the research project “Proof of Concept for Ruminants Expressing Ligninase to Reduce Carbon Footprint” was held at ICAR-CIRB, Hisar on 23 April, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Dr. T. K. Datta, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, WBUAF&Sc, Kolkata and Dr. T. K. Bhattacharya, Director, ICAR-CIRB presiding over the session. The project, funded by the Gates Foundation, is led by ICAR-CIRB, Hisar, with collaboration from the FLI-Federal Research Institute of Animal Health, Germany, and NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram. The study focuses on enabling ruminants to express ligninase in saliva to break down lignin of crop residues, improving feed digestibility. This innovation aims to reduce stubble burning, methane emissions, and overall carbon footprint, supporting climate-smart livestock farming. The expert panel appreciated the project’s novelty and impact, and provided constructive recommendations for further improvement.
