Kenya’s livestock sector plays a critical role in the country’s social, economic, environmental and public health landscape, contributing 3.8% to the gross domestic product and 17.3% of agricultural value added. However, the sector’s productivity and sustainability are significantly hindered by the high cost of animal feeds. A new policy brief by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners puts
On 10 September 2025, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) announced the launch of a three-year, US$3.35 million project, Accelerating Reduced Emissions in Indigenous Breeds in Africa. The project is funded by the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub. Part of the Global Methane Genetics Initiative, the project will use cutting-edge science to help African countries breed cattle
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) signed a five-year memorandum of understanding to strengthen their existing collaboration and explore complementary research, institutional development, and capacity building opportunities towards transforming Kenya’s dairy sector for the benefit of millions of farmers, business operators, and consumers. The Kenya dairy sector is the largest in East Africa, contributing
In a Q&A article by Gilbert Nakweya in Nature Africa (Sept 2025), Appolinaire Djikeng, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and CGIAR senior director for livestock-based systems, shares his insights on how biosciences can boost food security in Africa. Below is an excerpt of the article. Professor Appolinaire Djikeng is a molecular biologist, based in Kenya, who
India’s contributions to global food systems and innovative solutions to enhance food security for a growing global population were a key part of the DialogueNEXT conference in New Delhi on 8–9 September, 2025. Held to mark World Agriculture Day, the event brought together more than 400 farmers, scientists, agribusiness leaders, and policymakers from across Asia and the world. Nobel laureate
When researchers from the gender team at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) met the team working on Maisha Makutano, an edutainment soap opera tackling challenging social themes from financial inclusion to reproductive health, there was plenty to talk about. As the production team was defining the social themes to highlight in the new series, ILRI researchers were trying to
For the first time in its history, the International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture (GGAA) Conference was held on African soil, marking a pivotal moment for the global livestock sector. The 9th edition of the conference, GGAA 2025, took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 5-9 October 2025, ushering in a new era of inclusive, globally representative dialogue on mitigating livestock
As the world marks International Open Access Week 2025 (20–26 October), the theme “Who Owns Our Knowledge?” invites us to reflect on the ownership, accessibility, and equity of scholarly research knowledge and information. In a time of global disruption and digital transformation, this theme challenges institutions to reassert community control over the knowledge they produce and share. At the International