Feed resource availability, quality, accessibility and seasonal variations significantly affect food and nutritional security in Tanzania. Alongside climate variability, these factors are major determinants of animal health and…
In Mali, the small ruminant value chain is a cornerstone of the rural economy, particularly for women and their livelihoods. However, the sector faces significant challenges. These include a high burden of diseases such as peste des petits…
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) marked a significant milestone for Nigeria's livestock sector with the launch of the ILRI Ibadan Forage Genetic Resources Unit. This new unit is…
A recent workshop in Mali set the stage for a significant project tackling peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease. The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Livestock Compact program, funded by the African…
Over 54% of global terrestrial surface could be used as rangelands. However much of this land has been converted to other uses or is severely degraded. According to the Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists…
Iain Wright recently retired from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) after a respected 17-year tenure and now joins the ranks of ILRI’s esteemed emeritus fellows. Wright joined ILRI in October 2006 as the Regional…
Vietnam faces significant challenges in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), intensified by the inappropriate use of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture. The misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming has led to the emergence of resistant…
On World Zoonoses Day 6 July 2024, we celebrate the efforts of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in collaboration with Vietnamese partners at different levels to implement research, capacity development and…
In February 2024, the Sustainable Animal Productivity for Livelihoods, Nutrition, and Gender Inclusion (SAPLING) Initiative team held its “pause and reflect” session virtually, connecting the different country hubs over three weeks. All…
Having access to readily available and affordable safe food is critical for the health of every man, woman, and child. Issues with food safety, however, are abundant across the globe, causing sickness and death to many, especially…
7 June marked the fifth annual World Food Safety Day, with this year’s theme ‘Food safety: prepare for the unexpected’ emphasizing the importance of being prepared for incidents. According to the United Nations, World Food Safety Day aims…
On the 30 May 2024, the African Asian Dairy Genetic Gains (AADGG) project was launched in Rwanda to revolutionize and improve dairy farming by collecting, monitoring, and evaluating data about cattle from farmers. This will allow farmers…
Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM), developed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners, builds the capacities of communities to better manage, govern and restore their lands. In 2023, as part of ILRI’s…
The CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity for Livelihoods, Nutrition, and Gender Inclusion (SAPLING) was launched in Vietnam in 2022 and aims to transform the livestock sector in Son La Province by the end of 2024. Known…
Field days are events that bring people together. In this case, adaptation pioneers, other farmers, different partners, researchers – and everybody wants to share or learn something. The atmosphere is fascinating: there is all this…
Habtamu Sibilu sets a dynamic cone penetrometer upright on a flat patch of grass. He lifts up the weight, drops it, and records how many centimetres into the soil the penetrometer penetrates. After doing this as many times as it takes to…
African countries need accurate estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to work out sustainable livestock farming approaches. But inaccurate estimates can result if livestock emissions are not tailored using regional-specific…
African countries need accurate estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to work out sustainable livestock farming approaches. But problems can arise if livestock emissions have usually been calculated using data and methods…
For indigenous pastoralist groups like the Ilchamus, Pokot and Tugen in Baringo County, Kenya, life is governed by when and whether the rains will come. Weather forecasting is therefore an essential part of their planning and decision…
On 14 May 2024, stakeholders from Ethiopia explored the transformative impact of digital innovations on agri-food systems. Hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the workshop they attended—Digital Innovations to…
The livestock question is both complex and highly polarized, said Tara Garnett, the director of TABLE—a collaboration between six universities that looks at debates in and around the future of food. She was introducing a panel discussion…
A comprehensive integrated herd health management manual for the Kenyan dairy sector is being created by a team of researchers from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Kenyan government, and private sector…
New guidelines to support African governments to improve food safety across the continent’s vast informal food sector are set to be developed for the first time.
As we join the celebrations for World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2024, my memory takes me back to some of my favorite foods growing up including meat (and bushmeat) and fish-based dishes. These were available and affordable for all segments…
World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2024, will emphasize the importance of preparing for food safety incidents. These incidents, which pose health risks linked to food consumption, can arise from various causes including accidents,…
Ethiopia has long grappled with the challenge of malnutrition, especially among children under the age of two. According to the 2019 Demographic and Health Mini-Survey, 37 per cent of children under five years old were stunted (too short…
Ethiopia’s dairy sector boasts vast and diverse agroecologies complemented by a rich genetic pool of livestock. This, coupled with the surge in domestic demand for milk and milk products, improved market opportunities and accessibility to…
New research has revealed the health and economic impacts of foodborne diseases in Ethiopia, as well as the challenges and opportunities for improving food safety in the country. The research was conducted by six food safety research…
Flying a mere 9 meters above the grasslands at Kapiti, ILRI’s Research Station and Wildlife Conservancy, a drone not only took pictures of the landscape and livestock inhabitants, but was also measuring methane emissions from herds of…