The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation views the CGIAR as a crucial partner in the fight against hunger and poverty, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The CGIAR’s proven track record in enhancing smallholder productivity growth has inspired the Foundation’s strategy for investing in smallholder agriculture as an engine of overall economic growth and … Continue reading
Author Archives: ILRI Communications
Agriculture and Rural Development Day 2009 on 12 December
With a focus on “The road after Copenhagen: priority strategies and actions for ensuring food security and rural development in the face of climate change”, the event will bring together policy makers and negotiators, rural development practitioners, producers, civil society and the agricultural and climate change scientific community to highlight the importance of agriculture in … Continue reading
Don’t blame cows for climate change
Despite oft-repeated claims by sources ranging from the United Nations to music star Paul McCartney, it is simply not true that consuming less meat and dairy products will help stop climate change, says a University of California authority on farming and greenhouse gases. UC Davis Associate Professor and Air Quality Specialist Frank Mitloehner says that … Continue reading
Asia / Cattle / Livestock / Southern Africa
ACTESA urges Africa to raise meat exports
ALLIANCE for Commodity and Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has said Africa’s share in meat exports has continued to remain less than one per cent. According ACTESA manager for Livestock Programmes Abdiweli Mohamed, this is despite an increase in global demand for meat. “There is therefore need for African countries to put in … Continue reading
Climate Change / Dairying / Livestock / UK
Livestock hold key to Copenhagen
Livestock production is one of the major causes of the world’s most pressing environmental problem – global warming. The United Nations estimates that livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, a bigger share even than transport. Monday, (December 7), world leaders from 192 nations will join 15,000 people from across the world … Continue reading
The future of animal agriculture
Look in the crystal ball and envision what animal agriculture might look like in 2030. Sound like a tough assignment? Now try getting people from the Humane Society of the United States and the National Pork Producers Council to agree on what animal agriculture should look like in 2030. Sound impossible? It probably is. But … Continue reading
International centers and donors warily eye sweeping changes
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is facing what could be the biggest shakeup in its 38-year history as members meeting in Washington, D.C., on 7 and 8 December vote on far-reaching reforms. The delegates—representing donors, countries, international foundations, and development organizations—will likely vote to convert CGIAR from a voluntary association into a … Continue reading
Satellite insurance to pay farmers if land turns brown
Insurers will use satellite images of vegetation to assess Kenyan farmers’ claims for cattle deaths during drought. In a pilot project due to start in early 2010, the Kenya-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) will analyse freely-available satellite data to observe changes in vegetation in northern Kenya. The technology works by detecting changes in light … Continue reading
Betting on Copenhagen
Setting: A casino in a luxury space cruiser currently in the vicinity of the star that Earthlings call “The Sun.” Characters: Four rich aliens from different planets in the galaxy; they are standing by a window, looking out at the Earth. First alien: What a beautiful planet! Don’t you like the way the clouds swirl? … Continue reading
Livelihoods / Livestock / Netherlands / Pigs / Research
Scientists grow pork meat in a laboratory
SCIENTISTS have grown meat in the laboratory for the first time. Experts in Holland used cells from a live pig to replicate growth in a petri dish. The advent of so-called “in-vitro” or cultured meat could reduce the billions of tons of greenhouse gases emitted each year by farm animals — if people are willing … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 