Reality checks for advocates of jatropha and food safety standards for the poor

Posted on 3 Nov 2010 by Susan MacMillan • 3 Comments

Estevao Carlos, a pork seller in Morrumbala District, in Zambezia, the most populated province of Mozambique (photo credit: ILRI/Mann). Two useful reality checks have appeared this week for those of us in the agricultural research for development business. (1) The first concerns the hardy jatropha tree, widely heralded as a miracle biofuel source. Miyuki Iiyama, … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Disease Control / East Africa / Ethiopia / Kenya / Sudan / Tanzania

Veterinary officers meet to strengthen animal disease control in eastern Africa

Posted on 25 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Chief veterinary officers and heads of central veterinary laboratories from 10 countries met in Zanzibar from 24 to 26 Aug 2010 to plan how to enhance the preparedness, prevention and management of animal diseases. Participants recommended strengthening regional cooperation and collaboration, particularly with key partners such as the Africa Union/Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources, the World … Continue reading →

Animal Health / Animal Production / Climate Change / Emerging Diseases / Livestock Systems / Zoonotic Diseases

OIE examines links between animal production, climate change and emerging diseases

Posted on 5 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

The detection of links between animal production systems around the world, climate change and the epidemiological evolution of animal diseases was the focus of a meeting organised by the OIE with experts from several continents. “The experts confirmed that there are correlations between the various factors linking animal production systems, human influence on the environment, … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Livestock

Updated OIE technical disease cards and summaries online

Posted on 18 Feb 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Collaboration among scientists from OIE Reference Laboratories around the world and other relevant experts has led to an updated compilation of 33 technical disease cards, including 32 OIE-listed priority diseases such as foot and mouth disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza, rift valley fever and bluetongue. To make the information contained in some of the cards … Continue reading →

Climate Change / Environment / Livestock

World veterinary agency to probe meat-climate link

Posted on 22 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The world’s top authority in farm animal health announced on Thursday it would launch a study into the role of meat in climate change. The report, carried out by independent experts, is expected to be published “by the summer,” Bernard Vallat, head of the World Organisation for Animal Health, known by its French acronym of … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Cattle / East Africa / Middle East

Deadly cattle plague, once the bane of farmers, on its deathbed

Posted on 1 Dec 2009 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Sometime soon, rinderpest will officially be declared extinct, marking the first time mankind has ever eradicated an animal disease In animal health circles, it’s the equivalent of the Apollo 11 moon landing: some time in the next 18 months, FAO jointly with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other partners will officially declare one … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Zoonotic Diseases

Global animal health initiative: The way forward

Posted on 30 Oct 2009 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has commissioned Civic Consulting to conduct a study on the Cost of National Prevention Systems for Animal Diseases and Zoonoses in developing and transition countries. The aims of the study are twofold: (a) estimating the “peace time” costs of veterinary services allowing early detection and rapid response to … Continue reading →