Today, more than a hundred key partners in African livestock development, including African ministers, senior policymakers and other dignitaries, have gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, to launch new and notable products that improve our understanding of the incalculable value held in Africa’s indigenous animal genetic resources, many of which are threatened by extinction and must be protected Continue reading
Category Archives: Genetics
New insights into the diversity of Napier grass: More productivity in fully irrigated systems
A recent study, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, has identified significant diversity in a Napier grass collection. Continue reading
Statement of condolence on the loss of Kodjo Glato, a fine young agricultural scientist from Togo
Kodjo Glato was one of the 157 passengerswho tragically perished in the crashof flight ET302 on 10 March 2019. Continue reading
ILRI’s Jimmy Smith on farm animal diversity for more sustainable and resilient global food systems
Jimmy Smith, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), this week made a short presentation at the annual meeting of the Food Forever Initiative held in Wilmington, Delaware, 23–24 Sep 2018. Food Forever is a global partnership to raise awareness on the importance and urgency of conserving and using agricultural biodiversity. Smith is one of 30 Food Forever champions advocating this important cause. Smith spoke on the central importance of better conserving, characterizing and using the world’s remaining livestock diversity to ensure future food security in the face of climate and other changes. Continue reading
German agroecological livestock research investments are benefiting both people and the planet
ILRI was honoured this week (3 Sep 2018) to host a high-level German delegation including Maria Flachsbarth, parliamentary state secretary to Germany’s federal minister for economic cooperation and development, and Stefan Schmitz, deputy director of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as senior staff of the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, including Andrew Tuimur, chief administrative secretary, and Ann Onyango, agriculture secretary; and representatives from several other CGIAR centres working in Kenya, including Tony Simons, director general of ICRAF, and representatives from the Nairobi-based International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe). Continue reading
In Tanzania, a better cow is the way to a better future
Farmers who participate in the breeding programs and collect routine data on their cows’ health, growth and productivity receive personalized coaching and advice from livestock outreach specialists via routine visits and SMS messages on their phones. Continue reading
DNA sequencing of indigenous African cattle reveals vital clues to increasing productivity
Important sources of meat, milk, traction and manure across Africa, cattle will become even more significant as demand for meat and milk is expected to more than double in sub-Saharan Africa from 2000 to 2030. Continue reading
Art underlines the precious value of poultry genetic research
‘The Incubated Worlds art exhibition clearly communicates the importance of poultry production, genetic diversity and the interdependence of communities worldwide. The facility will be more than a place of research, but also of learning and innovation for farmers, poultry businesses, associations, cooperatives and communities’, said Siboniso Moyo, the ILRI director general’s representative in Ethiopia. Continue reading
Art and science bring poultry genetics to life in Ethiopia while celebrating local diversity in all its forms
Art and science unite to serve Ethiopian farmers—’Incubated Worlds’ explores genetic diversity of poultry to boost nutrition and incomes. Continue reading
New advanced poultry facility combines art and science to boost nutrition and incomes in Ethiopia
On 26 April 2018, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partner scientists and government officials join forces with Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen to launch the research facility and art installation, Incubated Worlds, a unique combination of art and science that aims to improve nutrition and incomes in East Africa with disease-resistant, climate-resilient poultry. Continue reading