Africa / Agri-Health / Asia / Consumption / CRP4 / Film and video / Food Safety / ILRI / MarketOpps / Nutrition (human) / PA / Project

Safe food, fair food: Making milk and meat safe and affordable for the world’s poor

Demand for milk and meat continues to rise in developing countries (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann). The New Agriculturist recently reported on a Safe Food, Fair Food Project led by scientists at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). ‘Rising demand for livestock products is providing opportunities to improve the livelihoods of smallscale livestock farmers across Africa. … Continue reading »

Agriculture / BecA / Biotechnology / Directorate / East Africa / Food security / ILRI / Interview / Kenya / Nutrition (human) / PA / Pro-Poor Livestock / Research

‘Livestock is the Cinderella of agricultural development’–An interview with Jimmy Smith

A lengthy interview with ILRI’s new director general Jimmy Smith is the leading post on the home page of the Syngenta Foundation website in Nov 2011 (image credit: Syngenta Foundation; credit for photo of Jimmy Smith: ILRI/Apollo Habtamu). ‘Jimmy Smith is the new Director General of [the International Livestock Research Institute] in Nairobi. He recently … Continue reading »

Drought / East Africa / Food security / Nutrition (human) / PA / Somalia

Barely breathing: The famine crisis in Somalia deepens

Photo on Flickr by IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation Turkey. Jeffrey Gettleman, the East Africa correspondent for the New York Times, reports that Somalia’s spreading famine and agony is testing the limits of aid. At Benadir Hospital, in Mogadishu, Gettleman watches children die. In Benadir, there is a room full of old blue cots, one after another, … Continue reading »

Africa / Agriculture / Australia / BecA / Biotech / Biotechnology / Capacity Strengthening / Directorate / Food security / ILRI / Nutrition (human) / PA

Australia to set up Africa-focused International Centre for Food Security

Gabrielle Persely at a March 2011 farewell seminar she gave at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), titled ‘Africa, science and agriculture: A 25-year perspective’ (photo credit: ILRI/Mungai). Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced a new initiative to share Australia’s world leading expertise in food production with the people of Africa. The Government will set … Continue reading »

Drought / East Africa / Food security / Kenya / Livelihoods / Livestock / Nutrition (human) / PA / Pastoralism / Presentation / Somalia / Vulnerability

Livestock critical to livelihoods and life in Africa – USAID advisor

Kenya cow bell, on loan from Gary K Clarke, of Cowabunga Safaris, for Africa Everyday Exhibit (image credit: Topeka & Shawnee Country Public Library). Livestock keeping means food security and livelihoods for the world’s poorest people. That’s the message delivered by Joyce Turk, senior livestock advisor at the United States Agency for International Development, at … Continue reading »

Agri-Health / CRP4 / Directorate / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Food Safety / Food security / Health (human) / ILRI / Nutrition (human) / PA / Research / Staff / Zoonotic Diseases

Livestock veterinary research director to head new global research program on agriculture for improved nutrition and health

John McDermott, currently deputy director general-research of the International livestock Research Institute has been appointed head of CGIAR Research Program 4, on Agriculture for Improved Nutrition and Health (photo credit: ILRI/Susan MacMillan). Shenggen Fan, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) announced on 6 Sep 2011 that John McDermott has been named … Continue reading »

Drought / East Africa / Nutrition (human) / PA / Pastoralism / Somalia / Vulnerability

Famine has spread to 3 new areas of southern Somalia–situation likely to deteriorate further

Projected food security situation in southern Somalia for August through December 2011 (map by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit for Somalia [FSNAU]). Two critical agencies—the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) and the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU)—reported this week (2 Aug 2011) that famine thresholds have been surpassed in … Continue reading »

Drought / East Africa / Ethiopia / Food security / Kenya / Nutrition (human) / PA / Pastoralism / Somalia / Vulnerability

Fasting and famine: When praying turns to preying

The new moon, which when sighted begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (photo on Flickr by On Being). As Ramadan begins this week, it is estimated that some 1.4 million Somalis are ‘internally displaced’, with an average of more that 12,000 people displaced every month this year due to drought. Most of these people … Continue reading »

Drought / East Africa / Eritrea / Ethiopia / Food security / Nutrition (human) / PA / Pastoralism / Somalia / USA / Vulnerability

Washington Post coverage of Africa’s drought/hunger crisis–From advice on livestock herding to presidential offers of partnership

Return to traditional agricultural approaches—William G Mosley A recent op-ed in the Washington Post, on the topic of the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, argues that ‘while reactions of grave concern over this unfolding tragedy are natural, its causes are not. . . . The semi-arid Horn of Africa and the entire Sahelian … Continue reading »