Africa / CapDev / Research

‘Science with Africa’ conference launches local fund for local research

‘This March, African science ministers resolved that 2011 would be the start of an African decade for science, promising increased research budgets and attempts to use science and technology to drive development. A small, continent-wide research-grant programme, modelled on the European Union’s framework programmes, is in the works, as is a pan-African training network for … Continue reading

Africa / Agriculture / Biotechnology / CGIAR / ILRI / Research / Vaccines / Women

Clinton cites CGIAR research for women and livestock as targets of US aid for agriculture

Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State, this week (16 June 2010) announced that this year’s World Food Prize would be bestowed on leaders of two leading non-governmental humanitarian organizations focusing on reducing hunger and poverty — Jo Luck, President of Heifer International, and David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World. In her speech, … Continue reading

Animal Diseases / Disease Control / ILRI / Vaccines

Do livestock vaccines help reduce global hunger and poverty?

Brian Perry, a former senior scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in Nairobi, Kenya, now a visiting professor of tropical veterinary medicine at the University of Oxford, in the latest issue of a newsletter produced jointly by Oxford, the Jenner Institute and the International Animal Health Institute, all in the United Kingdom, writes: … Continue reading

Animal Production / Climate Change / Directorate / Food Security / ILRI

Should we eat less meat to increase food security?

The June 2010 issue of People and Science contains a ‘spat’ – a debate between Vicki Hird and John McDermott (of ILRI) on whether we should eat less meat to increase food security. Some flavour of the discussions: Hird: “Meat-hungry western consumers can still eat meat and dairy, but less of it and only from … Continue reading

Africa / Agriculture / Ethiopia / ILRI / Innovation Systems / IPMS / Markets / Women

Opportunities for promoting gender equality in rural Ethiopia through the commercialization of agriculture

This working paper by Lemlem Aregu, Clare Bishop-Sambrook, Ranjitha Puskur and Ephrem Tesema on Opportunities for promoting gender equality in rural Ethiopia through the commercialization of agriculture was released on 31 May, 2010 This paper discusses gender issues in the context of the Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers’ Project being implemented … Continue reading

Africa / BecA / Biotechnology / ILRI / Research

BecA hosts ‘Agricultural Research Connections Workshop 2010′

This workshop by Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) brought together scientists based in sub-Saharan Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom to foster scientific collaborations with the potential to create new pathways … Continue reading

Africa / BecA / Capacity Strengthening / ILRI / Research

BecA: Fostering the next generation of African agricultural scientists

After more than 25 years of sojourn in the United States of America and Latin America that saw her garner numerous professional and state honours for an exceptionally fulfilling career as a scientist, Segenet Kelemu, executive director of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) Hub decided it was time to go home. At BecA … Continue reading

Africa / Animal Production / Animal Products / Cattle / Dairying / Ethiopia / ILRI / IPMS / Livestock Systems / Markets

Cattle milk and meat production and marketing systems and opportunities for market-orientation in Fogera woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia

This working paper by Belete Anteneh, Azage Tegegne, Fekadu Beyene and Berhanu Gebremedhin on Cattle milk and meat production and marketing systems and opportunities for market-orientation in Fogera woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia was released on 26 May, 2010 This study was conducted in Fogera woreda, South Gondar Zone of the Amhara National Regional State in … Continue reading