Associated organisationsUniversidade de São Paulo · University of OxfordEurope PMC affiliations are not treated as award recipients or mapped locations.
Funding£635K
PeriodDec 2025 — Dec 2028
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Pig farmers across Brazil will test a new toolkit designed to cut methane emissions and reduce disease outbreaks in their herds. This matters because pig farming produces large amounts of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—and can spread infections that threaten both animal and human health. Until now, no one has combined data on farm-level health outcomes and environmental impact at this scale. The project will build a dataset from roughly 500 Brazilian farms, then use that evidence to create practical, farm-specific guidance. A cluster-randomised controlled trial will measure whether the toolkit actually works. If successful, the approach could transform one of the world’s largest livestock sectors. Brazil’s fast-evolving pig industry serves as a testbed for solutions that could scale globally. The research also examines the social, political, and cultural factors that help or hinder farmers in adopting sustainable practices. The outputs aim to inform policy, support farmers directly, and advance international discussions on how livestock systems can reduce their climate footprint while improving public health.
View original technical description
PROJECT HAM will address the twin challenges of methane emissions and public health risks in Brazilian pig farming. By working with ~500 farms across Brazil, we will build the largest, most comprehensive dataset on farm-level health and environmental outcomes in this sector. This evidence will feed into a co-designed information toolkit, tailored to provide practical, farm- specific guidance on reducing methane emissions and improving health outcomes. A rigorous, cluster-randomised controlled trial (RCT) will test whether toolkit use delivers measurable improvements.The project has two parts: the RCT and an in-depth investigation into contextualising, horizon scanning, and scenarios development. The latter will explore socio-political, cultural, and systemic drivers that enable or hinder adoption of sustainable practices. Through stakeholder engagement, discourse analysis, and scenario development, we will map contested visions of livestock futures in Brazil. This dual approach ensures both rigorous evidence and strategic insight to support transformative, scalable interventions.By integrating behavioural science, systems thinking, and participatory design, PROJECT HAM can catalyse sustainable change in a major methane-emitting sector. Brazil’s fast-evolving livestock landscape offers an ideal testbed for scalable, globally relevant solutions. The outputs will inform policy, support farmers, and advance international discussions on livestock, health, and climate transformation.
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