This working paper by Azage Tegegne, Berhanu Gebremedhin and Dirk Hoekstra on Livestock input supply and service provision in Ethiopia: challenges and opportunities for market-oriented development was released on 23 June, 2010 Livestock production in Ethiopia has, for long, remained subsistence with limited market-orientation and poor institutional support. Producing for the market requires re-orientation of … Continue reading »
Monthly Archives: June 2010
How can we innovate and with whom… for the agricultural and agrifood systems of tomorrow?
This question is being debated at ISDA 2010 (Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food), from 28 June to 1 July in Montpellier. This international symposium, organized by CIRAD, INRA and Montpellier SupAgro, sets out to understand, in the light of concrete examples, how research contributes and will continue to contribute to innovation, given … Continue reading »
Animal Breeding / Biotechnology / Fish / PA / USA
Genetically altered salmon get closer to US tables
‘The [US] Food and Drug Administration is seriously considering whether to approve the first genetically engineered animal that people would eat — salmon that can grow at twice the normal rate. ‘The developer of the salmon has been trying to get approval for a decade. But the company now seems to have submitted most or … Continue reading »
Africa / Animal Breeding / Animal Production / Biodiversity / Biotech / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Livestock
African livestock offers ‘untapped genetic resource’
The genetic diversity of Africa’s indigenous livestock needs to be tapped before it is lost forever, researchers have warned. They said native breeds had adapted to tolerate parasites or produce “robust” milk yields in harsh conditions. Writing in the journal science, they added that these traits had yet to be unlocked by the scientific community. … Continue reading »
Africa reported to have made ‘solid progress on economic fundamentals’
The New York Times this week has some good news for Africa, and those who want to invest in it. ‘Africa is often depicted as a place of war, disease and poverty, with a begging bowl extended to the world. But a new report paints a much more optimistic portrait of a continent with growing … Continue reading »
Africa / CaSt / PA / Partnerships / Research
‘Science with Africa’ conference launches local fund for local research
‘This March, African science ministers resolved that 2011 would be the start of an African decade for science, promising increased research budgets and attempts to use science and technology to drive development. A small, continent-wide research-grant programme, modelled on the European Union’s framework programmes, is in the works, as is a pan-African training network for … Continue reading »
Big meat: Fueling change or greenwashing fuel?
On January 13, 2009, Tyson—one of the world’s largest processors of chicken, beef, and pork—and the fuel company Syntroleum broke ground in Geismar, Louisiana, on a “renewable” diesel plant. The fuel will be produced in part with Tyson factory farm byproducts, including animal fat and poultry litter. (“Litter” is the euphemistic term for poultry poop … Continue reading »
Monitoring rangeland health: A guide for pastoralist communities in Eastern Africa
Funded by USAID-East Africa, this guide is written for people who want to design and implement a simple rangeland monitoring programme in eastern Africa. The guide outlines a series of steps that will enable community members and other land managers to decide what, where, when, and how to monitor, as well as how to interpret … Continue reading »
Farming First launches new guide to food security for G8 Summit
Since the food crisis erupted in 2008, many global and regional food security initiatives have been launched or strengthened in response. While these developments are welcome, improving policy and implementation coherence is essential to ensure that the various programmes have the desired impacts. Farming First urges policymakers to: promote a clear joint focus on a … Continue reading »
Africa / Animal Health / Disease Control / East Africa / Kenya / Livestock / Vaccines
Kenyan vaccine developer eyes emerging livestock diseases
Kenya’s State-controlled livestock vaccine developer is preparing to tap into East Africa’s common market to shore up income as it targets emerging diseases. The Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Unit (Kevevapi), which was under Agriculture has now been transferred to the Livestock Development ministry. Read more … (Business Daily) Continue reading »
