The work of ecologist Robin Reid, who spent 15 years conducting pastoral research at the Nairobi headquarters of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is featured in a current segment of the American television program ‘60 Minutes’, which aired last Sunday, 3 October 2009. View the segment on the 60 Minutes website here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/08/60minutes/main13502.shtml Read … Continue reading
Author Archives: ILRI Communications
Africa / Animal Diseases / Cattle / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Livestock / Regions / Research / Vaccines
African cattle to be protected from killer disease
Millions of African families could be saved from destitution thanks to a much-needed vaccine that is being mass-produced in a drive to protect cattle against a deadly parasite. East Coast fever is a tick-transmitted disease that kills one cow every 30 seconds – with one million a year dying of the disease. Calves are particularly … Continue reading
Climate Change / East Africa / Kenya / Tanzania / Uganda
Climate change to bring mixed fortunes for East African pastoralists
The anticipated climatic changes will present mixed fortunes for pastoralist communities in Uganda and her neighbours. This is according to an Oxfam briefing paper Survival of the Fittest which says that pastoralist communities across East Africa are starting to learn to live with the reality of climate change, adapting as they can to its impacts. … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Livestock / Tanzania / Vaccines
DFID funds mass production of East Coast fever vaccine
Millions of African families could be saved from destitution thanks to a much-needed vaccine that is being mass-produced in a drive to protect cattle against a deadly parasite. East Coast fever is a tick-transmitted disease that kills one cow every 30 seconds – with one million a year dying of the disease. Calves are particularly … Continue reading
Global crop diversity trust
Cary Fowler, in the latest issue of the Enews from the Global Crop Diversity Trust, argues that previously hidden national vulnerabilities were exposed in the 2007-8 global food price crisis. He says that crisis revealed weaknesses in national security, weaknesses that many capital-rich but land-poor countries are addressing by buying up farmland in developing countries … Continue reading
Africa / Benin / Livestock / Markets / West Africa
USADF signs three grants to support livestock markets in Benin
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) signed three grants to support livestock markets in Benin. The grants will benefit l’Association Locale de Gestion du Marché à Bétail Auto-Géré de Gogounou (ALGMB), l’Union Communale des Professionnels des Eleveurs de Ruminants d’Abomey (UCOPER Abomey), and l’Union Communale des Organisations Professionnelles des Eleveurs de Ruminants de Dogue … Continue reading
Group of 20 agrees on far-reaching economic plan
One year after a financial crisis that began in the United States tipped the world into a severe recession, leaders from both rich countries and fast-growing powerhouses like China agreed on Friday to a far-reaching effort to revamp the economic system. The agreements, if carried out by national governments, would lead to much tighter regulation … Continue reading
A revolution to combat world hunger
Last week, the world mourned the loss of Norman Borlaug, the agronomist credited with saving as many as a billion people from starvation by introducing high-yield crop varieties. Borlaug’s success in establishing food security — dubbed the Green Revolution — came at a time when the planet was far less populated than today. When he … Continue reading
What could 4 degree warming increase mean for the world?
The international conference at Oxford University dubbed “4 degrees and beyond” is the first of its kind to consider the global consequences of climate change beyond 2 degrees Celcius. Amongst the speakers include Dr. Philip Thornton of the International Livestock Research Instutite, speaking on sub-Saharan agriculture. “A leading climate scientist has presented new research findings … Continue reading
Africa / BecA / Capacity Strengthening / ILRI / Research
Working to increase the food spply in the developing world
Under a heading ‘career profiles’ in the AAAS Science Magazine, Jagger Harvey of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub, is profiled. “As a research scientist at the BecA Hub, today Harvey leads research on plant-viral diseases affecting African crops. He also coordinates the placement and training of international and local researchers and students, from … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 