Author Archives: James Stapleton

Largest-ever micro-insurance payout made to Ethiopian pastoralists
Africa / Agriculture / CCAFS / Climate Change / CRPs / Drought / Drylands / East Africa / Ethiopia / Event Report / IBLI / ILRI / Insurance / Kenya / Livestock / Livestock Systems / Pastoralism / Pro-Poor Livestock / SLS / Story Type

Largest-ever micro-insurance payout made to Ethiopian pastoralists

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More than 2,250 pastoralists received insurance payouts following the extremely poor rains this year in southern Ethiopia. Low levels of rainfall have led to the loss of approximately 300,000 livestock in 2017 in the Borana zone of the southern Oromia region. The insurance payouts of more than ETB5.233 million (USD220,000) was the largest-ever micro-insurance indemnity made in Ethiopia. Each insured pastoralist received an average of ETB2,255 (USD96), which will allow the herders to purchase feeds for their surviving animals and to restock their herds. Continue reading →

Creating a science hub in Ethiopia
Animal Feeding / Biodiversity / CGIAR / East Africa / English / Ethiopia / Event / FFD / Forages / ILRI / Launch / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / Research / Spotlight

Creating a science hub in Ethiopia

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With the opening of the latest high-tech forage genebank and bioscience research facilities, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Ethiopia is well on the way to realizing it dream of becoming a major science hub in eastern Africa. Speaking at the beginning of the launch of the new facilities yesterday, Siboniso Moyo, representative in Ethiopia for the ILRI director general, spoke of the new facilities as the beginning of a drive to upscale facilities on the campus. Continue reading →

ILRI opens state-of-the-art genebank and bioscience facilities in Ethiopia
Animal Feeding / Biodiversity / Biotechnology / Capacity Strengthening / CGIAR / Ethiopia / Event / Feeds / FFD / Forages / ILRI / Launch / Pro-Poor Livestock / Spotlight

ILRI opens state-of-the-art genebank and bioscience facilities in Ethiopia

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The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) officially opens state-of-the-art facilities for genebank and bioscience research on 24 April 2017. The facilities will help protect a crucial component of the planet’s biodiversity—the diverse grasses and legumes that feed the world’s food animals. Research conducted here on livestock feed materials improves the sustainability and productivity of the livestock sector in many low-income countries across the world. Continue reading →

Livestock and human health – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016
A4NH / AHH / Animal Health / Corporate Report / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Food Safety / FSZ / Health / ILRI / ILVAC / Livestock / Research / Vaccines / Zoonotic Diseases

Livestock and human health – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016

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The experience of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partner scientists in 2015–2016 unmistakably identifies the potential benefits to smallholder farmers and consumers of research into livestock and human health. Smallholder farmers could potentially save hundreds of millions of US dollars annually, following breakthroughs in the development of vaccines for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and Rift Valley fever, the latter posing a serious threat to human as well as animals. However, it was the participation in high-level fora and implementation strategies which are likely to deliver the rapid life changes for smallholder farmers on the ground. Continue reading →

Livestock feeds and forages – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016
Animal Feeding / ASSP / Corporate Report / Crop Residues / Feeds / FFD / Forages / ILRI / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / LIVESTOCKFISH / Research

Livestock feeds and forages – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016

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The experience of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partner scientists in 2015–2016 shows the positive benefits of implementing pioneering research and development interventions that increase the overall quantity and nutritional quality of feed biomass and help smooth seasonal feed variability, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for smallholder livestock keepers. But the real scope for spreading the knowledge in this research lies in the development of on- and off-line tools that can be used by isolated smallholder farmers in accessing approaches for assessing feed constraints and developing effective feed and forage improvement interventions. Continue reading →

Livestock genetics and breeding – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016
ACGG / ADGG / Animal Breeding / Biotechnology / Corporate Report / CTLGH / Genetics / ILRI / LiveGene / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / LIVESTOCKFISH / Research

Livestock genetics and breeding – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016

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The experience of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partner geneticists in 2015–2016 clearly demonstrates the positive benefits to smallholder farmers of the application of new breeding and genomic approaches, leading to more productive and climate- and disease resilient livestock. However, it is when these new technologies are combined with improved management practices that they are translated into enhanced food security and higher incomes for smallholder farmers. These are the findings from the genetics research and interventions, presented in the ILRI Corporate report 2015–2016 highlights on Livestock genetics and breeding. Continue reading →

Sustainable livestock systems – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016
Agriculture / CCAFS / Climate Change / Corporate Report / Environment / ILRI / Intensification / Livestock / Livestock Systems / Mazingira / Pastoralism / Rangelands / Research / SLS

Sustainable livestock systems – highlights from ILRI’s corporate report 2015–2016

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In 2015–2016, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners revealed extraordinary findings that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cattle in Kenya maybe up to 10 times lower than previous estimates, clearly making the case for improving Africa-specific understanding of GHG emissions to develop better-targeted climate change mitigation and adaption strategies. Continue reading →