For people living in absolute poverty and chronic hunger, the solution is not to rid the world of livestock, but to find ways to farm animals more efficiently and more sustainably
We need to conserve the most important livestock genetic diversity for possible future use – by poor and rich farmers alike
Livestock feed is a key constraint to the commercialization of smallholder livestock production
While vaccines remain the most cost-effective medical and veterinary interventions for controlling disease, opportunities also exist to improve animal health by improving existing veterinary services and access by poor livestock keepers to those services
Mixed crop-and-livestock farms will, more than the traditional breadbaskets and rice bowls of the past, feed the developing world over the next few decades
Human, livestock and environmental health are inextricably linked, Sixty-one per cent of all diseases are ‘zoonotic’ –that is, transmissible between animals and humans.
Making smallholder production more competitive is a powerful tool to reduce poverty, raise nutrition levels and improve the livelihoods of rural people in many developing countries
Expert opinion agrees that the best way to tap into the potential of the drylands is to build on the foundation of their livestock economies rather than ignoring them or seeking to replace them.
This question is being debated at ISDA 2010 (Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food), from 28 June to 1 July in Montpellier. This international symposium, organized by CIRAD, INRA and Montpellier SupAgro, sets out to understand, in the light of concrete examples, how research contributes and will continue to contribute to innovation, given … Continue reading
‘The [US] Food and Drug Administration is seriously considering whether to approve the first genetically engineered animal that people would eat — salmon that can grow at twice the normal rate. ‘The developer of the salmon has been trying to get approval for a decade. But the company now seems to have submitted most or … Continue reading
The genetic diversity of Africa’s indigenous livestock needs to be tapped before it is lost forever, researchers have warned. They said native breeds had adapted to tolerate parasites or produce “robust” milk yields in harsh conditions. Writing in the journal science, they added that these traits had yet to be unlocked by the scientific community. … Continue reading
The New York Times this week has some good news for Africa, and those who want to invest in it. ‘Africa is often depicted as a place of war, disease and poverty, with a begging bowl extended to the world. But a new report paints a much more optimistic portrait of a continent with growing … Continue reading
‘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
On January 13, 2009, Tyson—one of the world’s largest processors of chicken, beef, and pork—and the fuel company Syntroleum broke ground in Geismar, Louisiana, on a “renewable” diesel plant. The fuel will be produced in part with Tyson factory farm byproducts, including animal fat and poultry litter. (“Litter” is the euphemistic term for poultry poop … Continue reading
Funded by USAID-East Africa, this guide is written for people who want to design and implement a simple rangeland monitoring programme in eastern Africa. The guide outlines a series of steps that will enable community members and other land managers to decide what, where, when, and how to monitor, as well as how to interpret … Continue reading
Since the food crisis erupted in 2008, many global and regional food security initiatives have been launched or strengthened in response. While these developments are welcome, improving policy and implementation coherence is essential to ensure that the various programmes have the desired impacts. Farming First urges policymakers to: promote a clear joint focus on a … Continue reading
Kenya’s State-controlled livestock vaccine developer is preparing to tap into East Africa’s common market to shore up income as it targets emerging diseases. The Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Unit (Kevevapi), which was under Agriculture has now been transferred to the Livestock Development ministry. Read more … (Business Daily) Continue reading
If you ever worked with or studied at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) or its predecessors – ILCA or ILRAD – we are keen to hear from you. Join us online! ILRAD Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 