Environment
Our goal is to foster the translation of academic innovations for real-world implementation to address climate change.
We support researchers in developing solutions to reduce methane emissions. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions today is the fastest opportunity we have to address climate change and dramatically reduce the rate of global warming. Our grants support research and development specifically in reducing methane from agricultural sources, one of the largest contributors of methane emissions globally.
Our Environment program also makes grants to tackle plastic pollution. Over 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year. We support solutions to reduce the production of single-use plastics and rethink and reuse plastic, with a focus on supporting solutions within the city of Boston, and research fellowships.
“Climate change is the defining issue of our time. By supporting researchers working on developing solutions to reduce methane and plastic emissions, we can slow down global warming within years and ensure a healthier planet for future generations. ” - ELIZABETH R. GERSTNER
Featured Grantee
rStream
rStream is developing compact, autonomous robotic systems that use AI to automatically separate recyclables from trash at the point of disposal—improving recycling outcomes before waste ever enters the stream.
Gerstner Philanthropies first supported rStream and its co-founders, Ian Goodine and Ethan Walko, through the Activate Fellowship, which supports early-stage innovators as they work to translate promising research into practical, real-world solutions. Following strong progress during the fellowship period, Gerstner Philanthropies made a direct grant to support the continued development and deployment of rStream’s technology in operational settings.
rStream’s progression from fellowship support to direct grant funding reflects Gerstner Philanthropies’ commitment to advancing translational research, bridging the gap between the lab and scalable solutions that address pressing environmental challenges.
Our Grantees
Major Environment Grants
Grants listed below may be from the Gerstner Family Foundation or another Gerstner family philanthropic vehicle. Amounts may reflect cumulative annual grants or multi-year grants. To see annual amounts, please see listings of grants paid each year.
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Smart Recycling On-Site: Long-term field validation of rStream Robotic Sorter
rStream | Visit Website
This grant supports the design and construction of rStream’s commercial demonstration unit, on-site deployment and evaluation, data and performance validation and expanded field operations.
$400,000
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Finding NEMO: AI-based exploration of molecules for Nickle Enzyme Methanogenesis Obstruction
Ratul Chowdhury, Ph.D., Iowa State University | Visit Website
This grant supports leveraging an AI-enhanced structural computational biology framework to accelerate the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors that can mitigate enteric methane production in cattle.
$795,012
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Engineering a Microbial System for Converting Plastic Waste into Compostable Bioplastics
Peter Nguyen, Ph.D., Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering | Visit Website
This grant supports Dr. Nguyen’s research to engineer a microbial system that uses synthetic biology to convert plastic waste, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET), into fully compostable bioplastics.
$615,303
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Activate-Gerstner Fellowship 2025
Activate Global Inc | Visit Website
This grant supports the Activate-Gerstner fellowship of Kathryn Williamson, founder of Unspent Co.
$500,000
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The Pew-Gerstner Fellowships in Ocean Plastics Research
The Pew Charitable Trusts | Visit Website
This grant supports three Pew-Gerstner Fellowships in Ocean Plastics Research. This cohort of fellows will be focused on advancing research that will inform solutions to the critical issue of ocean plastic pollution.
$750,000
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Genetic and management solutions to reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle
Francisco Peñagaricano, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison | Visit Website
This grant supports Professor Peñagaricano’s research to develop and implement genomic evaluations for methane emission traits and implement predictions of methane emissions based on milk spectra data.
$869,000
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Development of genetic selection tools for enteric methane emissions reductions
Sara Place, Ph.D, Colorado State University | Visit Website
This grant supports Dr. Place’s research in collecting methane emission phenotypes from beef cattle and building genetic selection prototypes.
$253,301
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Global-Scale Low-Cost Home Production Using Recycled Polymers
David E. Hardt, Ph.D. and A.J. Perez, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Visit Website
This grant supports Professor Hardt’s and Dr. Perez’s research to use recycled consumer plastics to locally 3D print environmentally friendly homes in distributed micro-factories.
$500,000
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Scaling feed Interventions to reduce methane from dairy livestock
Environmental Defense Fund | Visit Website
This grant supports the expansion of the scientific foundation of methane emissions solutions in the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), the scaling of CNCPS use for methane reduction, and the integration of CNCPS into MMRV tools.
$600,000
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Collaborative Fund Grantmaking
Plastic Solutions Fund, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | Visit Website
This grant supports the Plastic Solution Fund's grantmaking.
$1,000,000
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Activate Fellowship 2024
Activate Global Inc | Visit Website
This grant supports the Activate fellowships of Eli Hornstein, founder of Elysia Creative Biology, and Ian Goodine and Ethan Walko, co-founders of rStream.
$1,000,000
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Application of Early-Life Interventions to Curb Methane Emissions from US Dairy Herds
Dipti Pitta, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania | Visit Website
This grant supports Dr. Pitta’s research to imprint the rumen function and prevent methanogen colonization in dairy calves with the potential of permanently curbing methane emissions from dairy herds in the United States.
$508,884
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In situ microplastics sensor: A method to quantifying microplastics in water
Anna PM Michel, Ph.D., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute | Visit Website
This grant supports Dr. Michel’s research to develop a field-portable microplastics sensor.
$299,999
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Enteric methane mitigation: Advancing seaweed and bromoform feeding from novelty to practice
Joseph W. McFadden, Ph.D, Cornell University | Visit Website
This grant supports Prof. McFadden’s research to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bromoform feed additives that reduce enteric methane emissions.
$993,613
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Collaborative fund grantmaking: Agriculture research
The Global Methane Hub, Windward Fund | Visit Website
This grant supports the Global Methane Hub’s grantmaking, specifically for research in reducing agricultural methane emissions.
$1,500,000
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Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator
The Global Methane Hub, Windward Fund | Visit Website
This grant supports the Global Methane Hub’s initiative in accelerating progress in developing breakthrough technologies to reduce enteric methane.
$5,000,000
Environment News
