How do we optimize livestock production systems to meet a growing global demand for food and nutritional security in economic, social and environmentally sustainable ways? Continue reading
Category Archives: Directorate
‘To turn the unknown into the known’: Inside the global effort to bring the fight to viruses
Dennis Carroll, chair of the Global Virome Project Leadership Board, an ambitious global effort to develop a comprehensive database of viruses and detect and track down the planet’s unknown and emerging viral threats, spoke with Jimmy Smith, the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) director general, at the institute’s weekly virtual meeting on 18 Nov 2020. … Continue reading
The world needs to learn how to live with COVID-19, says UK public health expert David Heymann
David Heymann, who has worked for more than 20 years with the World Health Organization (WHO), here gives his outlook on the current COVID-19 pandemic at an online weekly ‘Round-up’ meeting of ILRI on 28 Aug 2020. Continue reading
A One-Health approach is needed to protect both people and the planet—ILRI and UNEP leaders
Op-ed by ILRI’s Jimmy Smith and UNEP’s Inger Andersen arguing that human health, animal health and environmental health are inextricably linked, originally published in the Mail & Guardian (South Africa). Continue reading
The German Federal Government supports Kenya’s efforts for COVID-19 testing
A new partnership involving the Kenya Ministry of Health and ILRI with support from the German Federal Government was announced today. ILRI will utilize its laboratory facilities and staff to support the expansion of Kenya’s testing capacity for COVID-19. The testing was launched today, 18 May 2020, when the health director and German ambassador visited ILRI’s Kenya facilities. Continue reading
Governor Mutua visits Kapiti Research Station
The governor of Machakos County, Dr. Alfred Mutua, visited the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) Kapiti Research Station on Thursday, 27 February. ‘It was an eye-opening trip and I look forward to visiting them again,’ he said. Governor Mutua visited Kapiti at the invitation of ILRI Director General Jimmy Smith. ‘We wanted the governor to … Continue reading
We need a new approach, or another coronavirus is inevitable
‘Until we start thinking of human and animal health as linked, another coronavirus is inevitable’, warns Jimmy Smith, the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) director general in an op-ed published 26 February in the Independent. Continue reading
A tribute to Jean Ndikumana, a ‘gentle giant’ in African livestock research for development
The board, directors and staff of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) mourn the passing of a former colleague and lifelong friend—Jean Ndikumana, a plant and forage breeder by discipline who was born and raised in the Republic of Burundi and who became an exceptional leader in pan-African agricultural research for development. Dr Ndikumana died on 5 December 2019, in Nairobi, Kenya. Continue reading
Getting up close and personal: Building on long-standing CGIAR collaboration, a delegation of diplomats tours advanced livestock science facilities in Nairobi
On Thursday 5 December 2019, a high-level delegation of Nairobi-based diplomats visited the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to learn more about the its work in Kenya and across the world. Continue reading
University of Illinois bestows its 2019 International Alumni Award on ILRI chief Jimmy Smith
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has bestowed its Madhuri and Jagdish N Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement on Jimmy W Smith, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Established in 2000, this annual university award recognizes its international alumni who are highly distinguished in their profession, have made outstanding contributions to government, humanity, science, art, or human welfare, and exemplify the strength of their education at Illinois. Continue reading