Category Archives: Africa

Africa / Animal Breeding / Biodiversity / Botswana / Capacity Strengthening / CapDev / Event / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / LIVESTOCKFISH / Southern Africa

Animal genetic resources workshop: Uniting Africa in preserving our future

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A workshop on Animal Genetic Resources in Sub-Saharan Africa was recently held in Gaborone, as an ILRI-SLU capacity building Project in collaboration with the FAO, AU/IBAR and Team Africa. The workshop ran from 26 to 29 November 2013 with the main objectives of catalyzing and enhancing regional collaboration in order to improve training in animal breeding and genetics for sustainable use of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR), plan and undertake research for development in prioritized areas of AnGR and improve capacity development including outreach activities in the relevant areas among others. Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Award / Capacity Strengthening

World Bank announces fellowship program for Africa

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The first World Bank Group Fellowship Program in the Africa Region has been launched tol further the Bank’s efforts to attract and build the capacity of local talent and the African Diaspora across the globe. The program will target highly talented and promising Ph.D. candidates, African or of African descent, and the program will help … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Event / Kenya / Livestock

Africa’s animal agriculture focus of All Africa livestock conference

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Nairobi, 27-30 October 2014 hosts the 6th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture. The theme of the conference, ‘Africa’s Animal Agriculture: Macro-trends and future opportunities’ will be addressed in several sessions: Future of smallholder livestock systems in Africa Market access: domestic and regional trade for livestock and their products Market access: high value international markets … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Event / Food Security / Gender / Presentation / Research / Women

African women feeding Africa

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Below are some highlighted remarks made by Vicki Wilde, director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), based in Nairobi, Kenya, at a presentation she made at the sixth Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW6), organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in Accra, Ghana, 15-20 July 2013. A full transcript of … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / ASSP / Capacity Strengthening / CapDev / Drylands / Event report / Farming Systems / Film and video / Fodder / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Interview / Nigeria / Uganda / Vulnerability / Zimbabwe

Voices from the sixth Africa Agriculture Science Week 2013

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Change mindsets, embed policymaking, make efficient use of declining biomass, engage the private sector. These and other recommendations of four participants attending the ongoing sixth Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW6) are captured in this short (2:40-minute) video. This science week, organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), is being held in Accra, … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / CCAFS / Climate Change / East Africa / Ethiopia / Event / ILRIComms / Innovation Systems / Kenya / Knowledge and Information / Research / South Asia / Southern Africa / West Africa

Next steps for climate change social learning initiative – implementation, incubation, partnering, testing, scaling…

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Climate change is a wicked problem, it requires wicked solutions, not business-as-usual. The CGIAR research program on climate change, agriculture and food security (CCAFS) recognised this when they joined up with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and other partners to look at the potential of social learning and communication approaches to support decision-making on climate change adaptation … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Breeding / Biotechnology / Film and video / Genetics / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Interview / LiveGene

Saving the world’s genetic wealth: Scientists in Kenya propose plans for first livestock genebank

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The indigenous, worm-resistant (and non-wool-producing) red Maasai sheep of East Africa (photo credit: ILRI). SciDevNet reports on a ‘livestock genebank’ that’s needed to help conserve breeds and populations of farm animals, especially the wealth of diversity remaining in Africa and other developing regions, that are fast being eroded through cross-breeding and importations of exotic stock. … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / BecA / Biodiversity / Cameroon / Central Africa / Congo-DR / East Africa / Genetics / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Livestock / LIVESTOCKFISH

Molecular study makes a difference to guinea pig producers in eastern Congo

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Domestic cavies (or guinea pigs) provide a high-quality meat source with high levels of protein in similar quantity as chicken meat. Here, Brigitte Maass explains how an innovation platform linking cavy producers and other organizations is helping to bridge molecular science with livestock production. An Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ACBF) project (led by the BecA-ILRI … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / CCAFS / Climate Change / Food Security / Kenya / Opinion piece

‘Adapt to climate shifts now’ – New research report advice to Africa’s farmers and policymakers

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A failed maize crop in Ghana. A report by CCAFS is advising Africa’s farmers and policymakers to adapt to climate shifts now to ensure communities are protected from climate change devastations (photo credit: Neil Palmer/CIAT). The many adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture—from increasing droughts and floods, to more unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, … Continue reading →

Africa / Innovation Systems

Agricultural innovation systems in Africa: reflections on an international workshop

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From 25-31 May, Nairobi was host to a ‘Week on Agricultural Innovation in Africa.’ Here ILRI’s Jo Cadilhon reflects on the International workshop on agricultural innovation systems in Africa held as part of the week. The meeting was co-organized by FARA, ILRI, CCAFS, KARI, JOLISAA, the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Wageningen University, Prolinnova, the World … Continue reading →