When it comes to talking about methane and cattle, few people can make the science sound both accessible and hopeful quite like Dr. Sara Place. A former UC Davis graduate student and now an associate professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, Place has built her career around understanding how livestock can be part of the climate solution — not just part of the problem.

Place, who grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, said she didn’t set out to become one of the leading voices in sustainable livestock systems. But her journey has come full circle — from her roots on the family farm to a role shaping how the world thinks about methane and cattle.

“I grew up on a dairy farm and went to school in New York,” she said. “Then I met Dr. Frank Mitloehner at a conference back in 2008, right when I was graduating with my bachelor’s, and learned about the research UC Davis was doing on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Intrigued, she applied to UC Davis for graduate school, earning her Ph.D. in animal biology in 2012. Her research focused on methane emissions in dairy cattle — a topic that would define much of her career. “Since then, I’ve shifted more toward beef cattle systems,” she said. “But the core question is still the same: how do we make these systems more efficient and sustainable?”

At Colorado State, Place leads research through AgNext, a collaborative focused on sustainable solutions in animal agriculture. The initiative brings together scientists across departments — from animal science to veterinary medicine — to tackle big, interconnected challenges.

“We do work on methane emissions and climate, but also animal health, welfare, worker training, and nutrition,” she explained. “It’s really about looking at sustainability from every angle — environmental, economic, and social.”

That collaborative mindset mirrors the growing recognition within agriculture that sustainability isn’t a one-dimensional goal. For Place, it’s about asking not just how to reduce emissions, but how to do so in ways that support producers, communities, and the animals themselves.

Why Methane Matters

So why focus mainly on methane, host Tracy Sellers asked of Place.

As Place explained, it’s a natural part of how ruminant animals — like cattle, sheep, and goats — digest food. Microbes in their stomachs break down fibrous plants through fermentation, and methane is a byproduct of that process.

“Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas in terms of its contribution to warming,” she said. “It’s produced naturally by ruminants, both domestic and wild, and also from manure. That’s why it comes up so often in conversations about cattle and climate.”

But Place emphasized that focusing only on emissions misses half the story. “There are potential opportunities here too,” she said. “Methane from manure can be captured and used as renewable natural gas — which we’re already seeing with dairy digesters, especially in California. And if we can reduce the methane animals produce naturally while improving feed efficiency, that’s a win-win. We lower emissions and make the system more productive.”

This systems-based thinking is what defines Place’s work. “It’s not about singling out cattle,” she said. “It’s about finding ways to make the entire system more efficient, resilient, and beneficial for everyone involved.”

The Bigger Picture of Sustainability

For Place, sustainability is always more than a single environmental metric. “Farmers have to be able to make a living first and foremost,” she said. “So we have to look at sustainability holistically — including economics and the social side of things — not just greenhouse gas emissions.”

That perspective helps explain her ability to connect with audiences well beyond academia. Whether she’s speaking at a summit, recording a podcast, or talking with producers, Place brings science down to earth, linking it to real-world choices and values.

“Everybody eats,” she said. “That means everyone is connected to agriculture in some way — whether you’re a farmer, a consumer, or someone working somewhere along the supply chain. I think a lot of people just don’t see those connections clearly.”

She gave an example from right here in California: “We produce about 80 percent of the world’s almonds in this state. After the almonds are harvested, you’re left with the hulls — the outer parts — which often end up in dairy cow rations. So when someone buys a gallon of almond milk, it’s actually connected to a gallon of cow’s milk. Those systems are linked, and it’s fascinating how agriculture ties everything together.”

That kind of storytelling, she said, helps people appreciate the complexity — and the ingenuity — of modern agriculture. “When you pull one thread in the food system, everything moves,” Place said. “So we have to be cautious and thoughtful when we talk about major changes.”

When Place finished her Ph.D. in 2012, the methane conversation was still niche. “It wasn’t talked about nearly as much,” she said. “Now the whole field has exploded — not just in research, but in industry interest.”

Private companies, cattle producers, and entire supply chains are now investing in methane reduction, driven by both climate goals and consumer expectations. “There’s been tremendous change,” Place said. “We’re seeing pressure, yes, but also a more positive, forward-looking approach — people really want to find practical, science-based solutions.”

That momentum was evident at the 2025 State of the Science Summit, where Place joined researchers, policymakers, and producers to discuss emerging tools and ideas. “Ten years ago, I couldn’t have imagined an event like this,” she said. “Now, there are people around the world working on these challenges, and that’s exciting. The more minds we have on this, the faster we’ll make progress.”

Looking Ahead: Science, Students, and Solutions

Despite the challenges, Place remains optimistic — both about the science and the next generation of scientists behind it. “Every time I come to a meeting like this, I leave inspired,” she said. “It motivates me to go back and keep working, keep publishing, and keep teaching.”

That teaching piece, she added, is just as important as the research itself. “A big part of my job now is helping train the next generation of professionals who are going to carry this work forward,” she said. “They’re the ones who will really make a difference in how we manage livestock systems in the future.”

And while there’s still work to be done, Place believes the industry is heading in the right direction. “Hopefully we’ll get to a place where we have a suite of options that are practical, economically viable, and safe for both animals and people,” she said. “Reducing methane shouldn’t come at the cost of animal health or performance — ideally, we’ll find tools that do all those things at once.”

At the heart of her message is balance — between productivity and sustainability, science and communication, progress and practicality. “We can’t just focus on one metric,” she said. “We need solutions that check all the boxes.”

For Place, that challenge is what keeps her inspired. “Well hopefully we’ll get to a place where we have a suite of options that are practical and make economic sense to reduce methane emissions and ones that are safe and effective. That’s the goal.”