Johann Sölkner

Johann Sölkner is a Professor at the Institute of Livestock Sciences, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). With a career spanning over three decades, his research focuses on animal genetics, livestock breeding, and sustainable agricultural systems, particularly in dairy and meat production across diverse geographic contexts including Austria, East Africa, and South America. His work integrates genomic analysis, community-based breeding programs, and digital innovation in dairying.

• Institutions: BOKU (Austria), São Paulo State University (Brazil), George Mason University (USA)
• Key Projects: D4Dairy digitization, LoCaBreed2.0, African Goat Improvement Network, community-based breeding in Ethiopia

His research emphasizes genetic diversity preservation, adaptation to climate stressors, and equitable collaboration between Northern and Southern institutions. He has pioneered genomic selection tools for cattle and goats, addressing challenges like inbreeding depression and disease resistance. Recent work explores methane emission reduction and mid-infrared spectroscopy for metabolic trait prediction.

Scientific awards include the 2023 EAAP Leory Fellowship and earlier recognitions from the Prof. Anton Kurir-Stiftung (1994) and Niederösterreich (1990). His articles reveal a strong focus on genomic applications for sustainable livestock, with specific sub-fields in dairy cattle, goat conservation, inbreeding metrics, and climate-adapted breeds.

As a project leader in 71 initiatives, he has addressed food security in Uganda, genetic preservation in Austria, and adaptive livestock systems in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. His international presentations (67 lectures) and media engagements highlight practical knowledge transfer to agricultural communities.