News Overview

Kenya’s food system faces mounting pressure from nutritional, environmental, economic and social challenges. Despite notable progress in agricultural development, undernutrition and food insecurity persist, while land degradation, climate variability and economic disparities continue to undermine the system’s resilience and long-term sustainability. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is collaborating with the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative in a ‘Building an interactive food

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) CapDev Grand Challenge is reaching an exciting turning point with its recently concluded Pitching Contest Award Ceremony. This event marks the grand finale of the intense pitching contest and the exciting start of the next stage: the ’10 in 10′ soft skills training. This includes bespoke short courses focused on developing soft, social, and

In a world facing mounting food security challenges, poultry research is becoming increasingly important. For communities in Africa and beyond, chickens have proven to be the gateway to nutrition and income. But for poultry to deliver on its potential, we need infrastructure that generates new knowledge and turns that knowledge into practical solutions. Established in 2018, the International Livestock Research

As climate change intensifies, Ethiopia’s vital livestock sector, a cornerstone of livelihoods for millions, faces escalating pressure. Persistent challenges, including limited access to quality feed, inadequate animal health, and marketing services compound this. These challenges significantly hinder the country from fully realizing its livestock potential. In response, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and its partners have developed innovative communication

Ethiopia’s livestock and fisheries sub-sectors represent some of the most promising, yet underutilized, engines of economic growth in the country. With the largest livestock population in Africa boasting over 70 million cattle, 52.5 million goats, 42.9 million sheep and 8.1 million camels Ethiopia has a vast biological resource base that can significantly boost food security, nutrition, employment and export earnings.

In Tanzania, like in many African countries, many women keep poultry as a means of contributing to their households’ incomes and food security. This venture requires relatively low capital investment compared to rearing other livestock, but women farmers still face significant challenges, including high chick mortality rates, poultry disease outbreaks, and limited access to training, veterinary services and inputs. To

Speaking at the opening session of the regional forage disease workshop held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 24 June 2025, Namukolo Covic, ILRI Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia and CGIAR Ethiopia Country Convenor, emphasized the urgent need for action in response to the growing complexity of climate-related challenges in the face of a changing climate. ‘We are living in a

A deadly disease has long plagued the animals and livelihoods of cattle farmers in Kenya. It is contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a bacterial disease which can kill up to 50-80% of a susceptible cattle herd. What will it take to eradicate it? We may know the answer within the next two years, as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is