Cows. (No, really.) Kenya’s International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) recently cracked the code on a formula that could change cattle-herders’ lives — or at least line their pockets. The single biggest risk cattlemen in Kenya’s dry north face is drought. If seasonal rains fail, grasses don’t grow. And if nothing green grows, the hundreds of … Continue reading
Climate change is expected to bring greater extremes in weather conditions, but climate models disagree about which problems – droughts, flooding, temperature increases – are most likely in much of northern, central and western Africa. In east Africa, however, the models largely agree: dry areas will suffer more prolonged droughts and wet areas will see … Continue reading
In the fall of 2009, a pair of Kenyan interns at the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute were trying to post an interview with an Australian member of parliament on the organization’s blog. They hoped to put the interview online, as the organization was trying to secure Australian funds to help finance its work. Nancy … Continue reading
Climate change in Africa and the world at large has impacted on many fronts resulting in drought and floods hence resulting in food shortage. Consequently, poverty levels have increased leading to low development among many developing nations. It is against this backdrop that leading agriculture and climate scientists, policymakers, farmers, and development experts from around … Continue reading
If you educate a whole family it follows that a nation will be educated; women bare, sucker and most often are the prime educators of children. Many women, in the developing world, would increase their propensity to educate if they had greater access to livestock ownership and all the benefits it would inevitably produce. Recently … Continue reading
Insurance is about protection against loss — and so, in many ways, is conservation. The similarities between these two industries mean both could gain from a closer relationship. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) recently announced the trial of an innovative insurance scheme for traditional herders in northern Kenya. There’s a severe need for such … Continue reading
Insurance is about protection against loss — and so, in many ways, is conservation. The similarities between these two industries mean both could gain from a closer relationship. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) recently announced the trial of an innovative insurance scheme for traditional herders in northern Kenya. But it has been almost impossible … Continue reading
On 15 April, ILRI staff gathered in Addis Ababa for their annual meeting. With more than 180 participants, the normally quiet campus is buzzing. More than 40 posters have been prepared for the meeting, showcasing the many different aspects of ILRI work. View them on slideshare. We have also started to upload all the presentations … Continue reading
To expand cooperation and exchanges with African countries on tropical agricultural technology, experts of livestock, vegetable and cassava from Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) recently visited the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding with the ILRI, marking a new start … Continue reading
Later this month, many staff, partners and members of the board of trustees of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) will gather in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the institute’s annual program meeting. On the ILRI blog, Alan Duncan, chair of the organizing committee, introduces the theme of this year’s meeting: ‘Livestock: The good, the bad … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 