Phil Vercoe

Phil Vercoe is a Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA) within the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment. His research focuses on ruminant production systems, methane emissions mitigation in livestock, and sustainable grazing practices. He leads the International Coordination of the Rumen Pangenome Project, aiming to enhance digestive efficiency through host-microbiome interactions. His work emphasizes 'Clean, Green and Ethical' livestock production, addressing genotype-environment-management interactions.

Key research areas include antimethanogenic properties of Australian native plants, feed manipulation strategies, and genetic selection for efficiency. Notable projects include the Enrich Project, which won the 2013 Landcare Eureka Prize for Sustainable Agriculture. His contributions align with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly climate action and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Vercoe has secured funding from organizations like the Department of Agriculture, Meat & Livestock Australia, and Australian Wool Innovation. Current projects explore native plant roles in grazing systems and bioactive compounds in plant secondary metabolites. He coordinates the Masters in Biotechnology, Genetics and Breeding at UWA, teaching courses on pasture-livestock systems and sustainable grazing.

His 141+ research outputs and 71 grants reflect expertise in rumen microbiology, molecular biology, and livestock systems. Awards include a 2024 Fellowship from the Australian Association of Animal Sciences. Collaborations span global institutions, advancing solutions for drought resilience and methane reduction in livestock farming.