World-class bio-science research lab opens

Posted on 18 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

After years of lagging behind in the scientific field, Africa’s bio-science research capability could now be effectively at par with research undertaken in the world’s most advanced institutes. A world-class bio-sciences research facility had just been launched in Nairobi and open to scientists and other stakeholders from Africa’s national research institutes and universities. The laboratory, … Continue reading →

Australia / Climate Change / Livestock / Sheep / Small Ruminants

Burp-less sheep to help tackle climate change

Posted on 17 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Australian scientists are hoping to breed burp-less sheep in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agriculture sector is the nation’s second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions behind the energy sector, producing about 16 per cent of Australia’s total emissions. Two-thirds of that figure is produced by livestock, and 66 per cent of … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Disease Control / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock / Vaccines

New vaccine to reduce East Coast Fever

Posted on 17 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The high livestock mortality in East and Central Africa due to East Coast fever is set to reduce following a near breakthrough in the development of a recombinant (dead) vaccine. The vaccine once developed will be used in the immunization of livestock against East Coast fever. According to Molecular Biology Scientist Roger Pelle working at … Continue reading →

BecA / Central Africa / East Africa / ILRI / Research

Bioscience facility offers research options to Africa’s scientists

Posted on 15 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

A world-class agricultural biosciences research facility based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Nairobi, is now open to scientists and students in Africa’s national research institutes and universities. The facility’s director, Dr Segenet Kelemu, is quoted as saying: “Our aim is in part to support research and build capacity by empowering scientists … Continue reading →

BecA / Biotechnology / Central Africa / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Research

Modern science lab opens in Kenya

Posted on 15 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Biotechnology / East Africa / Food Security / Genetics / Kenya / Research

Kenya testing ground for GMOs

Posted on 15 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

What happens here in Kenya could change the way the world views genetically modified food. Whether it really makes a positive difference in the lives of Africans remains to be seen. Why is Kenya key? Read more… (Pulitzer Gateway) Continue reading →

Africa / Human Health

Innovation in global health: A spoonful of ingenuity

Posted on 14 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

New ideas for raising money for medical care—and spending it In the old days, the job of eradicating disease fell to governments and inter-governmental bodies. Then charities, often led by celebrities or entrepreneurs, joined in. Finally, in the Western world at least, governments accepted the need to pool their efforts with those of private donors, … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Climate Change / Environment

Why farms may be the new forests

Posted on 13 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

For people who see stopping deforestation as the quickest climate-change win, Copenhagen seemed a success. Although there is still work to be done on the initiative known as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), the deal struck in Copenhagen made it into a real thing, not just an idea. The notion of reducing … Continue reading →

Animal Health / Drought / East Africa / Kenya / Livestock

Kenya’s Livestock ministry seeks more cash to replenish herds

Posted on 11 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The Livestock ministry is seeking additional funds from Treasury to help farmers replenish their herds after the recent biting drought and floods in parts of the country. It wants KES 700 million in addition to the KES 130 million earmarked for the exercise, said permanent secretary Kenneth Lusaka, adding that they had prepared a Cabinet … Continue reading →

Biodiversity / Indigenous Breeds / Livestock / Sheep / Small Ruminants

Rare breeds, frozen in time

Posted on 11 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

It didn’t take long for Chip, a Tennessee fainting goat sporting a luxuriant Vandyke beard and an impressive pair of curlicue horns, to live up to his breed’s name. When Peter Borden, accompanied by a stranger, entered the immaculate stable that Chip calls home, the goat pressed his velvety nose through the bars of his … Continue reading →