Africa’s Scientists and researchers can now access latest equipment and technologies related to science at a new world-class research facility in Nairobi.

The facility which is based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) will afford Africa’s scientists an opportunity to venture into new research areas without prohibitive costs and regulations to conduct the same research overseas.

Technology Manager Appolinaire Djikeng said on Thursday that the facility, which was developed at a cost of KES 1.5 billion ($21 million) would be shared by scientists in East and Central Africa and used in accelerating livestock and crop research.

“Specifically what we are looking at are the genetic determinants to help us select breeds that can resist many diseases and also provide us with high yield of that particular crop,” he said.

A scientist at the Institution, Roger Pelle, said research was already ongoing into finding a vaccine for East Coast Fever, (ECF) a dreaded animal disease that was responsible for killing over a million cows in the region annually.

Read more … (Capital News)