Advanced Animal Systems
Our Advanced Animal Systems Challenge Area supports research that improves animal health and welfare and pioneers practices that sustain our food system.
Program Contact
Dr. Jasmine Bruno
jbruno@foundationfar.org
Development Contact
Lauren Hershey
lhershey@foundationfar.org
Open Opportunities
Our research focuses on:
- Animal health and welfare
- Antibiotic stewardship
- Environmental sustainability
- Pest and disease management
- Producer stewardship and viability
- Public health
Learn more about Advanced Animal Systems’ research goals.
Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals
Advanced Animal Systems supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 17 global goals to enhance peace and prosperity, eradicate poverty and protect the environment. Specifically, this research bolsters the following SDGs:
Why Are We Tackling Animal Systems Challenges?
The demand for animal proteins continues to increase, as do the challenges for livestock producers. Producers are eager to reduce reliance on antibiotics, minimize environmental impacts, maintain productivity and improve animal welfare.
Scientific solutions to these challenges can help producers raise healthy, productive animals. Our research ensures that livestock, poultry and aquaculture producers thrive. These solutions also provide consistent access to affordable, nutritious food.
We created the Advanced Animal Systems Challenge Area to enhance animal production. We focus on rigorous scientific research that addresses the urgent problems producers face. Our Advanced Animal Systems research specifically develops solutions that improve animal health and welfare, bolster producer profitability and sustain our food supply.

We Pioneer Research to Advance Animal Systems
Congress established FFAR to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement USDA’s research agenda. Our public-private partnerships match federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment.
Our Advanced Animal System grants, programs and consortium use this funding to support research that improves animal systems.
Learn more about our Advanced Animal Systems grants, programs and consortia.
Advanced Animal System Awarded Grants
Integrating genomics, milk spectrometry & microbial manipulations to mitigate enteric methane emissions from dairy cattle
Awarded Amount $1,556,634
Year 2023
Matching Funders Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, ADM, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), Elanco, Genus plc, JBS USA, the National Dairy Herd Information Association, Nestlé and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC)
Hydrogen production and hydrogen utilization in the rumen of beef & dairy cattle: Key rumen microbiome measurements to understand mechanisms controlling methanogenesis & mitigating enteric methane emissions
Awarded Amount $1,066,820
Year 2023
Matching Funders Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, ADM, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), Elanco, Genus plc, JBS USA, the National Dairy Herd Information Association, Nestlé, the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
See all Advanced Animal System Awarded Grants
Grant Programs
Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research
Layer Hen Keel Bone Health Program
Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program
Scientific Workforce Development Programs
Veterinary Student Research Fellowship
Completed Research
Accelerating Advances in Animal Welfare

Advanced Animal Systems Consortia
The Latest
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