Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sezen Ocak Yetişgin of Ondokuz Mayıs University’s (OMU) Faculty of Agriculture will represent the University as lead researcher in RUMINATE, a major European Commission-funded project aiming to develop more climate-resilient and sustainable livestock systems.

Prof. Dr. Levent Mercan of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology will also contribute to the project as a researcher.

Bringing together 17 partner organisations, the four-year project has been awarded a total budget of €5.7 million under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

Integrating Genomics, Environment and Livestock Management

The project, officially titled “Advancing Climate-Resilient RUMinant Farming Systems INtegrating Genomics, Environment, and Management StrATEgies,” was selected for funding under the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-07.

Coordinated by the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) in Greece, RUMINATE will bring together researchers, agricultural organisations, farms, and industry partners from several countries. OMU will participate as one of the project partners.

The project seeks to develop, validate, and promote resilient and sustainable ruminant farming systems by integrating genomic, environmental, nutritional, and management-based strategies in line with the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

Genetic and Nutritional Solutions to Climate Change

RUMINATE will investigate innovative approaches supporting the identification and selection of genetic traits associated with lower methane emissions and greater tolerance to heat stress in ruminant livestock.

These genetic approaches will be combined with nutrition-based interventions designed to maintain optimal levels of animal performance, health, and welfare under changing climatic conditions.

Through this integrated approach, the consortium aims to provide livestock producers with scientifically validated strategies for responding to increasing temperatures and other environmental pressures while also improving the sustainability of livestock production.

A Multinational Research Consortium

The RUMINATE consortium includes internationally recognised universities, research institutes, agricultural organisations, farms, and innovation-focused companies.

Alongside OMU, participating academic and research organisations include CERTH in Greece, the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, McGill University in Canada, the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Belgium, and the Institute of Biology and Animal Nutrition in Romania.

The consortium also includes White Research and Stemble, as well as industry and innovation partners such as Reframe Food, Innovation for Agriculture, and Techna France Nutrition.

Agricultural organisations and farms participating in the project include the Chamber of Agriculture of the Brittany Region in France, Vardalı Assaf Farm in Türkiye, the Agricultural, Livestock and Industrial Co-operative Society of Prosotsani–Menoikio in Greece, and Ovis Cap Negru in Romania.

The participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sezen Ocak Yetişgin and Prof. Dr. Levent Mercan is expected to strengthen international research cooperation in sustainable agriculture and contribute to the development of practical solutions for climate-resilient livestock production.

OMU Congratulates the Research Team

OMU congratulates Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sezen Ocak Yetişgin and Prof. Dr. Levent Mercan and wishes the entire project team success in their work, which is expected to contribute to research and practice in sustainable agriculture and livestock production.