The Alliance of CGIAR Centers reached an important milestone at its workshop 9-12 February 2010 in Rome. Partners from the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR) and the CGIAR Science Council joined the Alliance in making significant progress in the development of the Strategy and Results Framework and the portfolio of Mega Programs. Immediately prior … Continue reading
Category Archives: Research
BecA / Central Africa / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock / Research
New bio-lab to link African scientists with the world
A multi-million dollar laboratory expected to boost research and put Africa at par with the world’s most advanced research institutions has opened its doors to African researchers. The laboratory — hosted under the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) hub — is based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. It is the … Continue reading
Grass-fed beef has bigger carbon footprint
Grass feeding produces more greenhouse gases than feedlot beef because of increased fermentation in the gut, research concludes. Red meat has a bad reputation among the green-minded for its emissions of heat-trapping gases that exacerbate climate change. Fertilizer derived from fossil fuels is required for growing grain to feed cattle, and cows’ digestion produces large … Continue reading
Agriculture / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Research
Africa to benefit from high-calibre labs
African scientists and students now have access to world-class laboratory facilities, with the opening of an agricultural biosciences research facility at the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) campus in Nairobi, Kenya. The laboratory facility meets the standards of the world’s most developed countries, said an ILRI spokesperson, and will enable Africans to “venture into new … Continue reading
BecA / Central Africa / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Research
New bioscience research facility to boost innovation
A world-class bioscience research facility that has opened its doors in Nairobi is set to move Africa closer to the developed world in agricultural technology. The aptly named Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) centre at the International Livestock Research Institute hub brings together a critical mass of scientists from Africa and abroad and is … Continue reading
Africa / Agriculture / BecA / ILRI / Research
Bill Gates: Africa is innovating in financial services, food sciences, health
In the second annual letter he has issued to the public to discuss his and his wife’s philanthropic work through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft founder Bill Gates issued an upbeat assessment on the prospects of overcoming the challenges faced by the world’s poorest people—many in Africa—in the fields of health and agriculture. … Continue reading
Drought / East Africa / ILRI / Insurance / Kenya / Livestock / Pastoralism / Research
Kenyan herders to be offered livestock insurance against drought
Herders in northern Kenya who suffered large cattle losses during recent droughts are to be offered livestock insurance in a pioneering project that uses satellite imagery of available grazing to determine when payouts occur. The scheme, billed as a world first by the International Livestock Research Institute, is being launched today in the arid Marsabit … Continue reading
Africa / Drought / East Africa / ILRI / Insurance / Kenya / Pastoralism / Research
Satellites to help Kenyans secure against drought
“This is a new approach to tackle an old problem,” Carlos Sere, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), said of the satellite-based insurance for cattle, goats and other animals. Satellite images will measure the greenness of vegetation in the Marsabit area of northern Kenya. A shift to brown will trigger payouts to … Continue reading
Science and innovation are key to improving lives in the developing world, claim top academics
A new book by two of the UK’s leading international development thinkers is a landmark in development thinking and practice. Science and Innovation for Development demonstrates how science and innovation can be harnessed to tackle today’s biggest challenges in poor countries, including climate change, HIV/AIDS and illiteracy. Case studies are described, including the use of … Continue reading
Africa / BecA / Biotechnology / Central Africa / East Africa / ILRI / Research
Biosciences research facility in Nairobi opens its doors to Africa’s scientists
A world-class state-of-the-art biosciences research facility has officially opened its doors to scientists and students in Africa’s national research institutes and universities in Nairobi’s International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). According to Biosciences east and central African (BecA) Hub Director Segenet Kelemu; ‘This means that, Africa’s scientists can comfortably venture into new realms of science without … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 