At the invitation of Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISA), Prof. Karen Beauchemin paid a visit to ISA for academic exchange from October 24 to November 2nd.

Prof. Beauchemin, senior scientist of Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada(LRC,AAFC), is internationally recognized for conducting research of distinguished quality in the area of ruminant husbandry and environment. She also serves as an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Alberta. Dr. Beauchemin leads a broad based research program aimed at developing nutritional knowledge and technologies to help reduce the environmental impact of ruminant production, without compromising farm profitability. Her research focuses on mitigation of methane emissions, reduction of nitrogen excretion and ammonia emissions from ruminants, and conducting farm-based life cycle analysis of greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions from beef and dairy cows. In addition, she also investigates the ways of enhancing the efficiency of meat and milk production and the livelihood of agricultural producers.

During her visit, Prof. Karen Beauchemin gave a presentation on characterization and mitigation of methane emissions from ruminants. She firstly explained the biological methanism of methane producing in the rumen and then proposed many creative methods of methane measuring. Finally, she gave a broad overview about many strategies to reduce GHG emissions from livestock. She emphasized that both the scientists and farmers should strengthen communication and make great efforts to reduce the GHG emissions in the long term.

Prof. Beauchemin’s report roused the enthusiasm of the teachers and students, broadened their horizon about GHG emissions and enabled them to take the greenhouse effect seriously. As a whole, her visit gives a good opportunity to further strengthen exchange and cooperation between ISA and AAFC in the future.