https://www.ilri.org/ en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:59:48 +0300 Wed, 03 Jun 26 15:00:00 +0300 https://www.ilri.org/news/can-we-accurately-map-soil-health-space-or-do-we-still-need-get-our-hands-dirty <p>In the fight against climate change and food insecurity, soil is one of our most important allies. Grasslands and savannas cover more than half of sub-Saharan Africa’s surface. They support around 40% of the continent’s livestock, underpin the food security of hundreds of millions of people, and store more carbon than all of Africa’s forests combined. Yet, they are disappearing quietly and faster than most people realize. </p> <p> Across sub-Saharan Africa, soil degradation isn't just an environmental statistic; it is a direct threat to the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and pastoralists. While much of the global research focus has been on the visible decline of croplands, the vast grasslands that support livestock and store massive amounts of carbon are often overlooked.</p> <p>In the fight against land degradation, which is accelerating across sub-Saharan Africa, it’s not always easy to know where to start. There is not even a uniform definition of what “degradation” actually means or what a degraded grassland looks like on the ground. This is what our study wanted to answer.</p> <p>In our <a href="https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/12/451/2026/">recently published paper</a> in the journal “SOIL”, we took a closer look at the tropical grasslands of western Kenya, specifically in Nyando (Kisumu County) and Kuresoi (Nakuru County). Our goal was to answer a high-stakes question for modern conservation: can we accurately map soil health from space using satellites, or do we still need to get our hands dirty to get the real story?</p> <p></p> <img alt="Sheep grazing on pasture with bare patches of exposed soil (Uni Lancaster/John Quinton)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="49ae2044-b507-4504-8d82-34739c5c7eef" height="560" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Picture%201_Heavy%20sheep%20grazing_John%20Quinton%20Uni%20Lancaster_0.jpg" width="747"> Sheep grazing on pasture with bare patches of exposed soil (Uni Lancaster/John Quinton). <p>The challenge: Remote sensing vs. reality</p> <p>Remote sensing is a powerful tool for environmental science. It allows us to monitor huge areas of land cost-effectively by measuring vegetation greenness and moisture from space. By analyzing data from 2013 to 2018, we classified various grassland sites into three categories: equilibrium (stable), transition, or degraded.</p> <p>However, soil is a complex, living system. A satellite might see a patch of green from miles above, but that doesn't always tell us what is happening with the chemistry and biology underneath the surface. We wanted to see if these satellite descriptions actually matched the physical and chemical reality of the soil. To find out, our team sampled 90 different sites to bridge the gap between satellite data and ground-level truth.</p> <p>What the soil told us</p> <p>Our research revealed a nuanced story. While satellite classifications are a fantastic starting point, they don't always align perfectly with the nutrient levels in the ground. Here is what we discovered:</p> <ul> <li>The microbial connection: Interestingly, soil microbial biomass carbon (a measure of the living organisms in the soil) was the only variable that consistently matched the satellite classifications across both study regions. This suggests that soil microbial growth responds to land degradation, and this is closely tied to what satellites see from above.</li> <li>A tale of two landscapes: The relationship between satellites results and soil measurements varied by location. In Kuresoi, the satellite data aligned well with nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH levels. However, in Nyando, healthy sites (at equilibrium) were characterized by high carbon and phosphorus levels but lower pH and bulk density. The same satellite signal can mean different things in different places. </li> </ul> <p>Stable vs. transient indicators: We found that not all soil properties are equally useful for tracking long-term health. Stable soil variables (those that don't change overnight, like soil texture or pH) are often more reliable indicators of long-term health than transient variables (like plant-available nutrients or microbial enzymes) that fluctuate with the seasons and can be misleading if you only measure them at one point in time. For monitoring purposes, the stable indicators are the ones worth anchoring to.</p> <p><img src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Picture%202_Soil%20erosion%20exposing%20deep%20soil%20horizons_John%20Quinton%20Uni%20Lancaster.jpg" data-entity-uuid="5e0b503e-b506-4949-a0b5-c5a5bab79e0b" data-entity-type="file" alt="Soil erosion exposing deep soil horizons (Uni Lancaster/John Quinton)." width="343" height="610" class="align-right"></p> <p>Why this matters for the future</p> <p>The takeaway for land managers, NGOs, and policymakers is clear: satellites are a great first step, but they aren't a silver bullet. To truly understand land degradation, we need a hybrid approach.</p> <p>By combining large-scale remote sensing with a targeted set of "boots-on-the-ground" soil tests that focus on a set of indicator parameters (microbial biomass, total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH), we can create much more accurate maps of where our soils are thriving and where they are failing to better target restoration efforts.</p> <p>In sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 65% of productive land is already degraded and the people most affected are often the least able to absorb the losses, that precision matters. Getting restoration wrong — targeting the wrong land, using the wrong approach — wastes money and time that communities don't have.</p> <p>For the communities in western Kenya, these insights are more than academic. Grassland degradation shows up in thinner cattle, smaller harvests, and rivers running brown with eroded topsoil. By identifying transition zones before they become fully degraded, we have a critical window of opportunity to intervene. Restoring these grasslands doesn't just protect the soil. It secures the future of the people who depend on it.</p> <p>You can read the full paper in SOIL here: <a href="https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/12/451/2026/" target="_blank">https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/12/451/2026/</a></p> Terry Mwenda 813bcbe7-e7aa-4da8-8f73-242de6e85451 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/local-pastoralist-institutions-can-regenerate-rangelands-through-better-organized-management <p>A study recently published by researchers at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) indicates that pastoralists and their local rangeland management institutions are often able to lead and deliver on regenerative grazing management across large community rangelands. The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742426000254">study</a>, published in “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742426000254">Rangeland Ecology and Management</a>”, looked at long-term changes in the condition of 10 rangelands, each managed by a local pastoralist institution, covering over 5,000,000 ha (50,000 km2) in total.</p> <p></p> <blockquote><p>“Despite the prevailing narrative that often overlooks pastoralists as effective land stewards, our research shows that local knowledge is a vital, yet underutilized, resource for rangeland restoration," says Jason Sircely, senior scientist at ILRI.</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <p>Over 17 years, areas with bare soil declined by between 200 and 500 hectares per year in the 10 rangelands located in Ethiopia and Kenya. Half of these sites reduced bare soil more than neighboring reference areas, indicating that local pastoralist institutions supported with capacity building had a significant role in reducing bare soil and improving rangeland condition.</p> <p></p> <img alt="Cattle graze in a pasture reserved for the dry season in a conservancy under community-based rangeland management in Kajiado County, Kenya (photo credit: ILRI/Jason Sircely)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f68af954-0813-4568-8868-897575b3cdcd" height="775" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Acacia%20Report%20pic%20below%202gb.png" width="1452"> Cattle graze in a pasture reserved for the dry season in a conservancy under community-based rangeland management in Kajiado County, Kenya (photo credit: ILRI/Jason Sircely). <p>Effectiveness of local management</p> <p>The effectiveness and sustainability of rangeland management by local pastoralist institutions have long been debated, yet little conclusive evidence is available. Many rangelands are at least somewhat degraded, and improving them is a long-standing challenge, to which the solutions are often unclear and methodology for assessing management success is limited. Pastoralists and their local rangeland management institutions are not always seen as effective land stewards, meaning their local knowledge is often neglected more than utilized, yet some communities may be making progress, partly in response to facilitative capacity building efforts known as community-based rangeland management.</p> <p></p> <p>Most communities in the study used traditional patterns of seasonal grazing and resting, as opposed to intensive rotational grazing, and only a few practiced a coarse form of rotational grazing. In seasonal grazing, different pastures are alternately grazed during different seasons of the year, with all pastures rested sometime. Intensive rotational grazing uses rapid, planned movements of livestock among many smaller pastures, while coarser rotations use fewer pastures and less frequent movements guided by real-time forage availability. This evidence provides support for the foundational importance of local knowledge for grazing systems.</p> <p></p> <p>The changes in rangeland condition observed by satellite remote sensing, and the apparent roles of local institutions in restoring community rangelands, further suggest a possible “rangeland transition”, comparable to the better-known “forest transition”. In these transitions, land degradation and changes in how land is valued eventually begin to drive large-scale restoration. The study provides evidence suggesting that pastoralists and their local management institutions may be equally as sustainable as other agricultural producers. This initial framework for monitoring the response of rangelands to changes in governance and management is a step toward measuring and monitoring sustainable management, and the results clearly indicate that local pastoralist institutions can implement restorative management of rangelands.</p> <p></p> <p>Facilitative approaches to capacity building such as community-based rangeland management, use multi-stakeholder engagements to increase transparency, potentially improving accountability and acting as a catalyst for improved governance and management of rangelands. More active and effective local institutions are more likely to revitalize traditional management practices, such as seasonal grazing and resting of pastures in alternating seasons, a common local practice in drylands throughout East Africa. </p> <p></p> <p>By testing this remote sensing method for measuring changes in rangeland health, we can better measure responses to improved local institutional capacity to govern and manage rangelands. This approach will also improve knowledge, theory, and methods for tracking and supporting sustainable management of pastoralist lands. It will also help identify effective strategies for improving rangeland health, restoring ecosystems, enhancing livestock production which is important in East African economies, and improving habitat quality for wildlife and biodiversity.</p> <p></p> <blockquote><p>“We now better understand how we can support pastoralists to improve rangeland management, and how to monitor progress. However, the evidence the study provides is not unequivocally conclusive. More research is needed on assessing the contributions of various actors in the process of improving management, and we need more and better evidence on what cost-effective management looks like,” Sircely says.</p> </blockquote> <p>Related content</p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145167">Participatory rangeland management: Guidelines for practitioners</a><br><a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169263">Assessment of potential for participatory rangeland management to increase carbon sequestration</a><br><a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102150">Participatory rangeland management toolkit for Kenya</a></p> <p></p> <p>Acknowledgements</p> <p>The authors are grateful for financial support to the US Agency for International Development (grant AID-BFS), the World Bank (grant P173398), the CGIAR Research Programme on Livestock, and the One CGIAR Initiative on Livestock and Climate.</p> <p></p> Polycarp Onyango 440315a1-6779-4819-9185-497296ff6bc0 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/slaughterhouses-markets-making-pork-safer-vietnam <p>Early each morning at Kim Lan market in Hanoi, Dao Thi Duyen prepares her pork stall for the day. She cleans her cutting board, separates knives used for raw meat, and places fresh pork neatly on trays. These simple steps may seem routine — but they help reduce a risk that affects millions of Vietnamese consumers each year: bacteria contamination in fresh pork.</p> <p>Just a few years ago, these practices were not a regular habit for Duyen. </p> <blockquote><p>“I have been selling pork in this market for more than ten years,” she said. “Before the training, I did things mostly based on experience. Now I understand much better how to keep meat safe for customers.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Duyen is one of dozens of pork vendors who have adopted improved hygiene practices through a food safety initiative led by the International Livestock Research Institute (<a href="https://www.ilri.org/">ILRI</a>) and partners in Vietnam. </p> <p>Together, these efforts aim to make pork safer—from slaughterhouses to traditional markets where millions of Vietnamese consumers buy their daily food.</p> <p>Duyen's day usually starts at 4:30 a.m. She collects pork from a supplier three kilometers away and arrives at the market around 6 a.m., selling about 20–30 kilograms of pork each morning to regular customers from nearby villages.</p> <p></p> <p>After attending the ILRI training, she began changing several daily practices. She now separates knives used for meat and organs, keeps different products in separate trays and cleans tools regularly with soap.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5aa55991-acae-4385-bdee-103d142135f0" height="451" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_113.jpeg" width="601"> Dao Thi Duyen sells pork to a customer at Kim Lan market in Hanoi, applying improved hygiene practices learned through food safety training (photo credit: ILRI/Sinh Dang). <p></p> <p> </p> <blockquote><p>“These things help prevent contamination,” she explained. “Customers can see that the stall is clean. They trust the meat more.”</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <p>Maintaining hygiene in a traditional market can be challenging. Vendors work in crowded spaces and handle large quantities of meat during busy morning hours. “But once you understand why hygiene matters, you try to do it properly,” Duyen says.</p> <p></p> <p>She estimates that the number of customers at her stall has increased by about 10 percent since she started applying improved hygiene practices. “When people see that the meat is clean and well organized, they feel more confident buying from me,” she said.</p> <p></p> <p>A food safety challenge</p> <p>Pork is the most widely consumed meat in Vietnam. On average, <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77739">people eat around 30 kilograms of pork per person each year</a> — one of the highest pork consumption rates in the world. </p> <p>Most pork is sold through traditional markets, which are also the main source of fresh meat for households. Research by ILRI and partners <a href="https://fifty.ilri.org/stories/safer-pork-healthier-people">has shown</a> that contamination with bacteria such as Salmonella is common at various points along the pork value chain, from slaughterhouses to markets. </p> <p>In some markets, half of pork samples may carry Salmonella, meaning that many consumers risk exposure to foodborne illness each year. Much of this contamination occurs during slaughtering and meat handling, where poor hygiene conditions can spread harmful bacteria.</p> <p>In many traditional small slaughterhouses, pigs are killed and butchered directly on the ground. Contact with contaminated surfaces can increase the risk of people getting sick. To address this challenge, researchers introduced a simple intervention: a raised stainless-steel grid that keeps carcasses off the ground during slaughtering.</p> <p>In Thai Nguyen province, slaughterhouse owner Vu Van Tien adopted this practice. Tien has been running this business for nearly ten years, and kills about five to seven pigs each day. Before the intervention, carcasses were often processed on the floor.</p> <p></p> <blockquote><p>“Now we slaughter the pigs on a raised stainless-steel grid, he said. “When we wash the carcass, dirt and contaminants flow away instead of staying on the meat.”</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84242277-7175-4a48-b0d7-fa8bac50a2af" height="451" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_114.jpeg" width="601"> Raised grids at Vu Van Tien’s slaughterhouse in Thai Nguyen province improve hygiene during pig slaughtering. After the initial support, Tien co-invested to expand the system (photo credit: Vu Van Tien). <p></p> <p> </p> <blockquote><p>“At first it felt unfamiliar,” Tien recalled. “But after a few days, we realized how much cleaner it was. Now we cannot imagine working without it.”</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <p>The project initially paid for two grid panels — which cost 25 million Vietnam Dong (about USD 950) — but after seeing the benefits, Tien decided to expand the system himself with two more grid panels. </p> <p></p> <p>Improved hygiene has helped Tien attract new customers. “People say the slaughterhouse looks much cleaner now,” he said. “Some buyers prefer to purchase meat from here because they know the hygiene conditions are better.” Today, his slaughterhouse supplies pork to 24 schools in the district, in addition to local market vendors.</p> <p></p> <p>The initiative has also worked with pork vendors in traditional markets, where most consumers buy their meat. In many markets, vendors often display pork on cardboard or cloth surfaces, believing that these materials help absorb moisture, but such materials can increase contamination risks.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="03c6e340-fb7b-4b20-befa-320bc6187414" height="1926" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_19.jpg" width="2568"> Pork retailers in Thua Thien Hue Province receive training and equipment to improve hygiene practices during meat handling and sale (photo credit: ILRI/Sinh Dang). <p>In Dien Bien and Son La provinces, 60 pork vendors across six markets received training and equipment to improve hygiene practices during meat handling and sale. Monitoring found that Salmonella contamination in pork dropped significantly: from 60% to 47% in Dien Bien and from 83% to 60% in Son La. </p> <p>Scaling across the country </p> <p>The hygiene interventions were first piloted between 2022 and 2024 under the <a href="https://cgspace.cgiar.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/3f19d84b-f9fa-4ce1-b8ff-663aead89e6c/content">CGIAR One Health Initiative</a>, which tested improved practices in seven slaughterhouses across four provinces in Vietnam. </p> <p>Building on these results, the approach is continuing under the <a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/sustainable-animal-and-aquatic-foods">CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods</a> (SAAF) science program, which works to improve food safety and nutrition across livestock and aquatic food systems. Today, 21 slaughterhouses in six provinces continue to apply improved hygienic practices, including the use of raised grids and better cleaning routines.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b36e56c1-0d26-414b-8799-46e4c52e084b" height="574" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/6_2.jpg" width="1280"> Slaughterhouse workers received training on good hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks during pig slaughtering in Thua Thien Hue Province (photo credit: ILRI/Trang Le). <p></p> <p>Importantly, the model is spreading beyond the original project areas. While the program’s core activities focus on five provinces in Vietnam (Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Hue, Can Tho and Dong Nai), similar approaches have recently been adopted in Son La and Dien Bien provinces in the northwest of Vietnam.</p> <p></p> <p>Another sign of success is that these practices are also being adopted by local authorities.</p> <p>In Hue, the local government has incorporated the hygiene intervention package into its routine slaughterhouse supervision activities. By 2025, 11 of the city’s slaughterhouses had adopted improved hygiene practices, and the province plans to expand the approach further through training and inspection programs.</p> <p></p> <p>Combining technical guidance with infrastructure improvements and government supervision has helped create sustainable change, said Ho Thi Hoa, Deputy Head of Community Veterinary Services in Hue.</p> <blockquote><p>“These interventions help improve both management capacity and hygiene practices,” she said. “They protect consumers and strengthen food safety in the pork supply chain.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Read related stories:</p> <p><a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/field-intervention-policy-food-safety-innovations-becoming-routine-practices-pig">From field intervention to policy: food safety innovations becoming routine practices at pig slaughterhouses in Hue City, Vietnam</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/cgiar-one-health-initiative-pilots-rating-system-improve-pork-safety-traditional-markets">CGIAR One Health Initiative pilots a ‘rating’ system to improve pork safety in traditional markets in Vietnam</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/safeporks-interventions-have-contributed-safer-pork-and-food-systems-vietnam">SafePORK’s interventions have contributed to safer pork and food systems in Vietnam</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/new-study-confirms-efficacy-low-cost-interventions-reducing-pork-contamination-vietnam">New study confirms efficacy of low-cost interventions in reducing pork contamination in Vietnam</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/investing-upgraded-pork-offers-opportunity-improve-food-safety-and-incomes-vietnam">Investing in upgraded pork offers opportunity to improve food safety and incomes in Vietnam</a> </p> <p> </p> Chi Nguyen 91a8021f-ab02-40e7-8f1e-4229a8fd377c Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/facilitative-humility-finding-resilience-farmers-own-innovations <p>In Gudoberet Kebele in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, a widow who could not afford commercial livestock feed began experimenting with what she had: lucerne leaves, crop residues, and local knowledge accumulated from years of farming. By drying and mixing tree lucerne with homemade concentrate made from leftover grains, she developed a feed formulation that sustained her sheep through dry seasons and changing weather conditions.</p> <p>What began as a survival strategy gradually transformed her livelihood. Sheep that once took nearly two years to fatten could now be prepared for market within a few months, helping her cover school, household, and agricultural expenses without relying on credit. Her accomplishments eventually attracted the attention of researchers at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), who saw in her work practical farmer-developed solutions to climate and feed challenges.</p> <p>Her experience was one of the examples discussed during a recent seminar at ILRI in Addis Ababa, which explored pioneer positive deviance (P-PD), a methodology for identifying "outliers" who succeed despite facing systemic constraints. Titled “Positive deviance and locally- led practices in Ethiopia: Reflections on working with pioneers”, the session focused on facilitative humility, which uses scientific research to validate and scale the ingenuity already existing within farming communities.                                                                                                                                                                         </p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e1980011-e626-4d6e-bc31-fc3693402b80" height="652" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Tenagne%20showing%20preparation%20of%20home%20made%20feed%20for%20sheep%20fattening_0.jpg" width="1203"> A pioneer farmer in Gudoberet, Amhara Region, prepares a nutritious homemade feed blend for sheep fattening (photo credit: ILRI) <p>This discussion comes at a critical moment for Ethiopia, where a transition into a pluralistic extension system may create opportunities to rethink which innovations are adopted and whose innovations they are. The new system aims to shift the country's agricultural production from subsistence to commercialized farming by integrating public, private, non-governmental, and cooperative advisory services.</p> <p>The seminar held on 21 April 2026 was led by Arvind Singhal, a global authority on positive deviance who has spent decades documenting how communities solve their own problems. Rather than passive recipients of expertise, Singhal encouraged participants to view local communities as sources of innovation, often invisible to formal research systems.</p> <p>To illustrate this idea, Singhal shared a story from the Bolivian highlands. While malnutrition plagued a village, a few children remained healthy. The difference was not access to food, but the depth of a mother’s ladle: while others skimmed thin broth from the surface, "positive deviant" mothers dipped deep to retrieve the nutrient-dense sediment at the bottom.</p> <p>This story resonated with Ethiopian researchers confronting similar questions around livestock feeding, adaptation, and resilience in climate-stressed communities. The crux of P-PD is that solutions lie not in new resources but in better ways of engaging with what is already present.</p> <p>Shifting the lens</p> <p>For researchers, adopting P-PD requires a major shift in perspective. Instead of beginning with external recommendations, the approach starts by identifying farmers who are already succeeding under difficult conditions and understanding what they are doing differently.</p> <blockquote><p>"Our role is not to teach, but to make existing successes visible," ILRI research officer Tigist Worku observed. "Solutions often exist within a community for years; our task is to give them a platform."</p> </blockquote> <p>Worku and fellow research officer Elizabeth Getahun described how documenting farmer innovations can transform both agricultural practice and farmer identity. Once these innovations are <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/155294">formally recorded, tested and shared, </a>farmers are recognized as innovators; they are no longer just beneficiaries of external knowledge and inventions.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="308a9867-9304-4e23-b4e9-747eda907701" height="3808" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Seminar%20photo%20with%20Professor%20Arvind_EAlene%2C%20Agegnehu_photo7_0.jpg" width="5712"> Participants at the seminar (photo credit: ILRI/ Agegnehu Alene). <p>Bridging research and policy</p> <p>While recognizing the benefits of P-PD, seminar participants also acknowledged the challenges that come with scaling local innovations. For instance, participatory research is often critiqued as time-consuming, and practices that succeed in one ecological or social setting may not automatically transfer elsewhere.</p> <p>Speaking on the research pace, Hiwot Workagegnehu of the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) described P-PD as a strategic, front-loaded investment that requires a significant initial commitment to "deep listening", a principle championed by the methodology's founder, Jerry Sternin. However, this strategic investment can reduce dependency on costly external interventions over time.</p> <blockquote><p>"I see P-PD as a process where we invest heavily at the beginning in identifying the pioneers. Once that identification is complete, the upscaling often occurs organically," Hiwot explained.</p> </blockquote> <p>As the conversation shifted towards national impact, Getahun Endale of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture stressed a critical requirement: integration. Local innovations must be embedded within the government’s existing livestock extension machinery, which includes thousands of extension workers working in rural areas. </p> <p>"We must align this positive deviance with the ministry's existing extension approaches to ensure these practices are implemented across our system," Endale stated. “Such integration could eventually influence the country’s national livestock strategy, helping transform isolated farmer innovations into broader models for climate resilience.”</p> <p>Rooting expertise in local knowledge</p> <p>Scientific collaboration is essential in this integration. Birgit Habermann, a scientist at ILRI, clarified that in P-PD, the scientist’s role is not to judge whether farmers possess knowledge, but to generate the evidence needed to strengthen and scale successful local practices responsibly.</p> <p>For example, by analyzing a pioneer’s homemade feed in a lab, researchers can identify its nutritional composition and explain why it performs well. That technical evidence helps local innovations gain legitimacy within national agricultural systems without disconnecting them from their local origins.</p> <p>The session closed with a reflection on Abraham Lincoln’s famous remark. When asked how tall he was, he replied, "Tall enough that my feet reach the ground."</p> <p>One of the hardest gaps to bridge in global research is the distance between the researcher and the ground. Whether in the Bolivian highlands or the Ethiopian drylands, the pioneer is already standing on firm ground. The goal is to meet them there, ensuring that science supports local expertise rather than questioning or replacing it.</p> <p>The next agricultural breakthrough may not first emerge from a laboratory or policy document. It may already exist in a farmer’s field, waiting to be noticed.</p> <p>Further reading </p> <p><a href="https://cgspace.cgiar.org/items/d38a4755-63fb-4e87-b411-b95e7430b2e4">Pioneer-Positive Deviance—Applications for the agricultural extension system in Ethiopia: Guideline for practitioners</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.ilri.org/adaptation-pioneers">Reimagining research</a></p> Rahel Abiy aaf070ba-6a5f-4791-814e-293520c7fb5b Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/aabcf-fellowship-strengthens-climate-smart-livestock-research-links-between-africa-and-asia <p>Scientists and livestock experts from Africa and Southeast Asia gathered in Hanoi, Vietnam in March 2026 to strengthen collaboration, share practical solutions and develop new skills for climate-resilient livestock systems through the <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/projects/africa-asia-bioscience-challenge-fund-aabcf-building-next-generation-bioscience">Africa-Asia Biosciences Challenge Funds</a> (AABCF) initiative.</p> <p>Implemented by the International Livestock Research Institute (<a href="https://ilri.org">ILRI</a>) in partnership with two Australian universities - the University of Queensland (UQ) and the University of Melbourne (UoM), and funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the AABCF initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of scientists and institutions working on sustainable livestock systems across Africa and Asia. The fellowship focuses on climate-smart livestock production, biosciences and applied research that can help countries respond to climate change, animal diseases and food security challenges.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dca14978-0d10-4443-b043-a211d20151c1" height="937" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_10.jpg" width="1600"> AABCF fellows from Africa and Southeast Asia participate in a three-month research and training program at ILRI headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, beginning in late 2025 (photo credit: ILRI). <p></p> <p>As part of the initiative, 16 early- and mid-career scientists from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were selected for a three-month research and training program linked to the BecA-ILRI Hub. Fellows gained hands-on experience in laboratory research, diagnostics, genomics, data analyses, and climate-smart livestock approaches while also strengthening regional networks and peer learning.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="df9ff6f5-656f-4533-b559-eb5f14e45790" height="367" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_108.jpeg" width="601"> AABCF fellows from Africa and Southeast Asia participate in a three-month research and training program at ILRI headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, beginning in late 2025 (photo credit: ILRI). <br> <blockquote> <p>“The fellowship gave me valuable exposure to new laboratory techniques, climate-smart breed selection and regional collaboration. Beyond the technical skills, I learned how scientists from different countries are addressing similar livestock and climate challenges. The experience strengthened my confidence and will help me contribute more effectively to livestock research and capacity development in Cambodia,” said Menghak Phem, fellow from Cambodia National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI) under Cambodia Agriculture Science Academia.</p> </blockquote> <p>A key highlight of the program was the AABCF Regional Workshop on climate-smart livestock operations in Hanoi from 23–27 March 2026, which brought together fellows, scientists, government officials and regional partners from across Africa and Southeast Asia. Through technical sessions, discussions, presentations and field visits, participants exchanged experiences and explored practical approaches to climate-smart livestock systems, animal health and sustainable livestock transformation. The workshop also connected fellows with policymakers, researchers, development partners and private sector during the regional conference on “Sustainable livestock transformation for food systems in Asia and the Pacific.”</p> <blockquote><p>“As a national research institute, we strongly believe that investing in human capacity is essential for long-term agricultural development. The knowledge and experience gained through this program will not only benefit individual fellows, but also strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to national livestock development priorities,” said Ngo Thi Kim Cuc, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Institute of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (VIAVS) that supported the organisation of the worshop and has a staff member participating in the fellowship program.</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3483be50-86c7-4b57-b4a9-2dfccdb276ca" height="1161" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/STT_4729_0.jpg" width="1742"> Cambodian AABCF fellows present key challenges in their country around climate-smart livestock resilience during the regional workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam (photo credit: ILRI). <p>Throughout the week, participants were trained on <a href="https://epi.vet.unimelb.edu.au/Courses/ACIAR_climate_change_Jan-2026/">topics </a>including methane reduction, livestock genetics, nutrition, animal disease surveillance, low-emission production systems and data-driven livestock management. Experts from ILRI, UQ and UoM shared experiences and case studies from Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia, while fellows discussed how these approaches could be adapted to livestock systems in their own countries.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="92783d6f-b874-4c91-8382-9d9e52dff9d0" height="806" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/STT_5351_0.jpg" width="1209"> Cambodian AABCF fellows present key challenges in their country around climate-smart livestock resilience during the regional workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam (photo credit: ILRI). <p>Fellows from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia conducted research on topics related to sustainable livestock development and climate. Their work covered on One Health issues, diseases, resource recycling, black soldier fly, and genetics. During the Hanoi workshop, emission from livestock in Southeast Asian context was identified as an important gap. ILRI and partners express interest to strengthen collaboration with regional partners to produce regional-specific data on livestock greenhouse gas emission. Similar work was conducted by <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/facilities/mazingira-centre">Mazingira center </a>in Nairobi where all the fellows were exposed to gas mission measurement techniques during their fellowship program in Nairobi.</p> <p>Along the AABCF workshop, the <a href="https://www.ilri.org/events/regional-conference-sustainable-livestock-transformation-food-systems-asia-and-pacific">regional conference on sustainable Livestock in food transformation in Asia and the Pacific</a> held on 24–25 March brought together more than 200 policymakers, researchers, development organizations and private sector representatives from 25 countries. Discussions focused on how livestock systems in Asia and the Pacific can become more productive, climate resilient and sustainable while improving livelihoods and food security. Key themes included One Health approaches, regional cooperation, innovation, biosecurity and investment in sustainable livestock systems.</p> <p>Fellows shared experiences from their own research areas, including methane mitigation, animal disease control, climate-resilient feeding systems and genomics, helping participants better understand common livestock challenges across regions and identify opportunities for future collaboration.</p> <p>The training program also emphasized practical learning through field visits. On 26 March, participants visited the Ba Vi Cattle and Forage Research Center and the MONCADA Frozen Semen Research and Production Station under the Vietnam Institute of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (VIAVS). Delegates observed practical applications of forage development, feed formulation and genetic improvement technologies supporting more sustainable livestock production systems in Vietnam.</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bdb3c5ad-20fd-4f39-a311-25b11acd0cad" height="734" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/A1206354_0.jpg" width="1102"> Participants visit the Ba Vi Cattle and Forage Research Center and the MONCADA Frozen Semen Research and Production Station in Vietnam (photo credit: ILRI). <p>Watch a recap video about this program: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIcUf-prATo">Africa–Asia Bioscience Challenge Fund (AABCF)- Building the next generation of bioscience leaders</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> Chi Nguyen 2b887dcb-039f-405b-b91d-4392c18828e6 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/capdev-program-builds-skills-better-position-livestock-development-african-national-priorities <p>Across sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture, including livestock keeping, supports a large share of livelihoods and remains the backbone of rural economies. Beyond providing meat, milk, and income, livestock systems support cultural identity, social stability, and the sustainable use of the continent’s vast rangelands. But these livestock systems are increasingly under pressure from climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and growing demand for food. At the same time, the livestock sector is often viewed as a major greenhouse gas emitter, while its potential contribution to climate adaptation, land restoration, and economic resilience remains under-recognized in policy and financial circles.<br><br>A 2025 a continental policy and capacity stocktaking exercise by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) revealed significant gaps in the ability of Africa’s institutions and professionals to integrate climate-smart practices, biodiversity conservation, greenhouse gas monitoring, and climate finance into livestock development planning. To address this gap, the LiveSys project has developed a capacity development (CapDev) training program to equip African Union member states with skills to advance climate-resilient livestock development. It will do this by strengthening understanding and use of climate risk assessment, policy design, and evidence-based decision-making tools. The first module of the training was delivered in February 2026 at ILRI Campus Nairobi with a one-day field visit to Kapiti Research Station and Wildlife Conservancy by GIZ, ILRI, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) — lead parters of LiveSys — the Kenya State Department for Livestock Development, and the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES). The module covered the intersections between livestock systems, climate change and gender. It was attended by more than 38 policymakers, government officials, farmer organizations, and civil society actors from Kenya, Zambia and Nigeria. <br> </p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="311b7712-2caa-43cc-a89a-5fb154777109" height="915" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_IMG_1138_Benard%20Kimoro%20delivering%20a%20session%20on%20Measurement%2C%20Reporting%20and%20Verification-MRV%20in%20the%20Livestock%20Sector_0.png" width="1627"> Benard Kimoro, head of the Climate Change and Livestock Sustainability section, at the State Department for Livestock Development-Kenya, delivering a session on Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) in the Livestock Sector. Photo credit: GIZ <p>Building practical skills for transformation</p> <blockquote><p>“Improving livestock systems requires stronger institutions, better policies, and professionals who can connect climate, agriculture, finance, and social inclusion,” said Laura Cramer, ILRI Scientists. </p> </blockquote> <p>The CapDev program will address this need through a six-module course covering climate change and livestock systems, sustainable rangeland management, biodiversity conservation, the Rio Conventions, policy engagement, and the development of bankable projects. The curriculum examines the risks, constraints, practices and incorporate gender considerations that are needed for long-term sustainability of livestock development in Africa.  The first module explored the links between climate change, the sustainable development goals, and livestock systems, as well as the multifunctional role of livestock, climate-resilient practices, gender and social inclusion, and monitoring and evaluation. Through expert-led sessions, case studies, and field-based learning, participants connected theory to practice. At the ILRI Kapiti Conservancy, they saw first-hand how climate, gender, and socio-economic factors interact in real livestock systems. The visit demonstrated the role of livestock as a key entry point for climate adaptation, land restoration, and biodiversity conservation.</p> <p>Integrating climate, gender, and evidence into livestock policy<br>Otiteh Mercey, assistant director at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in Nigeria, noted the practical value of the training, especially in providing knowledge on climate and livestock systems, as well as gender and social inclusion. </p> <blockquote><p>“Providing this knowledge can significantly improve lives in Nigeria by increasing household income by 10–12%, enhancing food security, and boosting the climate resilience of smallholder farmers,” said Otiteh Mercey.</p> </blockquote> <p>Other participants expressed greater confidence in integrating these dimensions into program development, and institutional planning. They praised the communication and advocacy aspects of the training saying it would help them ensure the broader benefits of livestock systems are incorporated in development discussions in their countries.</p> <blockquote><p>“I plan to apply these skills within my department to implement projects and potentially establish a new sub-unit focused on livestock and climate change,” noted Nkole Mampa, forage development and rangeland manager from the State Department of Livestock Development in Zambia. </p> </blockquote> <p>Hillary Chege, a livestock economist from the State Department of Livestock Development in Kenya said he would “include the climate concept in concept papers, project documents and in training at the county level.”</p> <p>Unlocking finance for livestock development<br>The LiveSys CapDev program also explores ways of strengthening the design of credible, evidence-based investment proposals to attract funding for climate-resilient production, rangeland restoration, and sustainable value chains. It supports this through training in project design, monitoring, and evidence-based planning that will be integrated into climate considerations for institutional and national livestock structures.</p> <p>Looking ahead<br>February training is the start of a broader learning journey for livestock sector stakeholders in Africa. LiveSys will deliver five additional training modules through 2026––2027, covering:<br>1.    biodiversity/rangeland conservation in livestock landscapes;<br>2.    Rio 3 and climate governance;<br>3.    evidence-based policy development;<br>4.    advocacy and communication; and<br>5.    climate finance for the livestock sector.<br><br>Participants who complete the full program will join a LiveSys alumni network—a peer learning community supported by ILRI, AU-IBAR, and GIZ technical advisors. The network will support continued learning, collaboration, and access to funding opportunities. Crucially, the program includes follow-up. LiveSys advisors will conduct remote coaching sessions with participants' home institutions to support the integration of training insights into policies, investment plans, and program designs. Course materials will also be made available in African countries free of charge.<br><br>A model for long-term transformation<br>LiveSys is a five-year initiative (2024–2028) funded by BMZ and implemented by GIZ in partnership with ILRI, AU-IBAR, CIAT, AGNES and other partners. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of key actors, including government officials from African Union member states, regional economic communities, livestock producer organizations, and national focal points for the Rio Conventions, to develop policies and financing mechanisms for climate-resilient, biodiversity-friendly, and gender-responsive livestock systems. This initiative reflects a broader understanding that transforming livestock systems requires more than technology. Lasting change requires capable institutions, informed policies, and professionals who can navigate climate science, agricultural practice, finance mechanisms, and social inclusion. By investing in the people shaping Africa's agricultural future, the CapDev program will unlock the livestock sector's potential as a climate solution while securing livelihoods for millions of rural families. The experience from the first module shows that combining practical learning, peer exchange, and real-world experience can build both the knowledge and the confidence needed to drive lasting change.<br> </p> Polycarp Onyango d827dc45-1493-404c-adfe-4c5c1e959716 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/women-working-ugandas-pig-sector-how-challenging-prejudices-can-unlock-opportunities-research <p>In some communities in Uganda, women aren’t supposed to work with pigs. This stems from restrictive social and gender norms, some of which are rooted in culture and religious beliefs.</p> <p>Until recently, eating pork was associated with drunkards because the meat was typically served alongside home-brewed alcohol in local bars. That’s changing, as “pork joints” become popular everyday eating places. What’s more, pigs are unfairly thought of as dirty and therefore some people think the people who work with them must be dirty too. Women, in particular, according to prevailing social norms, are meant to keep themselves clean.</p> <p>The pig sector is growing rapidly in east Africa on the back of rising demand. Uganda is <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/ilri-celebrates-12-years-supporting-transformation-ugandas-livestock-sector">one of three top pork producers</a> in Africa, after Nigeria and Malawi. The country also has the <a href="https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/cgiars-sapling-initiative-targets-ugandas-pig-and-cattle-sectors-to-expand-benefits-for-farmers">highest per capita consumption</a> of pork in the region, estimated at 3.4 kilograms per person per year. This has led to job opportunities in pig farming, trading, butcheries, food stalls, artificial insemination, and feed and veterinary supply shops.</p> <p>Across Africa, social and gender norms determine whether a woman can work, what kind of work she can do, where she can work, with which animals, and how much she gets paid. This is the case in Uganda. In some parts of central Uganda, while the management – and cleanliness – of piggeries have improved, resulting in better perceptions about pig hygiene, lingering prejudices have meant women working in the pig industry have little bargaining power and lower incomes, and may feel pressured to work covertly. All this results in missed opportunity for women to develop professional skills and support their families, and reduced food safety for everyone.</p> <p>In 2022/2023 we conducted a <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/empowering-women-livestock-addressing-gender-barriers-ugandas-pig-sector">study</a> in two districts to understand how local gender norms affected women in the pig farming sector. The findings revealed that women faced restrictions in conducting artificial insemination, castrating animals, taking sows to boars for mating, and transporting pigs on motorcycles. Additionally, certain activities – including slaughtering, trading livestock, producing feed, and owning large farms – were deemed inappropriate for women.</p> <p>We also found systemic barriers such as lower wages, lack of control over income, restricted physical mobility, and exclusion from influential networks blocked them from fully reaping the benefits of the sector.</p> <p>These findings led us to launch a range of interventions in the districts. Working with the international NGO <a href="https://rippleeffect.org/">Ripple Effect</a>, my team at the International Livestock Research Institute and I trialled a range of <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/projects/gender-equality-and-social-inclusion">interventions</a> in Uganda’s Masaka and Mukono districts.</p> <p>The results, evaluated a year later in December 2025, showed that social norms can be both accommodated and transformed for the benefit of all. For example, radio shows and conversations challenged widely held sentiments and sought to normalise roles that were taboo for women – such as providing pig insemination services to other farmers and contributing to a growing pig sector.</p> <p>Our findings have lessons that are of value across many industries and in many places.</p> <h2>Doing things differently</h2> <p>We worked with pig farmers, business people, regulators and community members in five different communities to address the restrictive norms that prevented women from engaging in pig businesses. The work was carried out in Masaka district (south-west of Kampala) and Mukono district (east of the capital).</p> <p>The interventions we put in place <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/addressing-gendered-constraints-womens-empowerment-and-restrictive-gender-norms-case-engaging">included</a>:</p> <ul> <li>providing women farmers with weigh-bands to estimate live pig weights and make sure they weren’t being cheated</li> <li>offering training for women farmers to help them negotiate better prices and animal services</li> <li>providing branded lab coats and badges to certified professionals to help combat the lack of respect for women in technical roles like artificial insemination</li> <li>providing aprons, head wraps and boots to women working in slaughterhouses and butcher shops, so they would not be seen wearing dirty clothes.</li> </ul> <p>These interventions provided solutions to accommodate existing norms without directly challenging them.</p> <p>We also trialled some interventions aimed at transforming gender norms. We organised broadcasts on local radio talk shows, featuring a panel discussion between gender officers from Ripple Effect, community leaders and local men who explained why they supported their wives and daughters to work in the pig industry.</p> <p>For instance, in one broadcast, one local leader shared his family’s story:</p> <blockquote><p>My wife rears pigs in large numbers, and I help her look for markets. When I travel, I bring her feeds for them. A home without money is unhappy. Piggery projects are family enterprises … When a woman earns an income, her husband is relieved financially; an empowered woman is a responsible woman.</p> </blockquote> <p>We also held large community meetings, and used recordings from these shows to spark dialogue about these issues.</p> <h2>The changes</h2> <p>Over a year we observed changes.</p> <p>Women butchers, farmers and artificial insemination agents felt more confident and accepted, and their services were sought after, especially by other women.</p> <p>They were able to negotiate higher prices for their pigs. They invested their savings in their piggeries; some were able to use the profits to buy their own land and build houses.</p> <p>There has been movement towards policy changes, too. Traditionally, pigs have had to be killed in official slaughterhouses – male-dominated spaces. Women did not feel welcome there, and men felt women would not be able to cope with the practical act of slaughter.</p> <p>After our work in the sector, including inspection officials, authorities are now allowing some women to slaughter their pigs at home.</p> <h2>Lessons</h2> <p>Norms are powerful. Any efforts to improve livelihoods, boost community health, or grow a particular industry will be shaped by these norms. Ignoring them is a recipe for failure, while understanding them – and, where appropriate, moving beyond them – can benefit a whole community.</p> <p>To transform restrictive norms, both men and women must be included in dialogues that encourage critical curiosity about their impacts. Religious, political and community leaders – people who often enforce these unwritten rules – must also be part of the conversations and solutions.</p> <p>Radio talk shows and social media can showcase women successfully performing traditionally masculine tasks and supportive men, to normalise new behaviours and reduce shaming. And something as simple as professional clothing can send a signal that women are competent – and clean.</p> <p>Gender norms can change, and these social changes can have practical and economic effects. Livestock development, as we have seen in Uganda’s pig industry, can be an entry point to promote gender equality.</p> <p>At the same time, removing barriers to women’s participation can boost families’ incomes, bolster rural industries and alleviate poverty.</p> <p>Challenge norms, empower women, and everyone benefits.</p> Saleef Nyambok 407719b5-629a-41e4-85d4-4065ec670606 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/honoring-eugene-robert-terry-giant-african-agricultural-science-11-june-1937-7-april-2026 <p><img src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Eugene%20Terry_k_0.jpg" data-entity-uuid="418ea205-0aa2-403b-bded-e1a1f423eac1" data-entity-type="file" alt="Eugene Robert Terry" width="433" height="347" class="align-right">It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of our great colleague, <a href="https://www.ilri.org/people/eugene-terry">Eugene Terry</a>, who passed away in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, 7 April 2026. </p> <p>Eugene was a towering figure in African agricultural science and for many of us, a deeply trusted colleague and mentor. His wisdom, generosity of spirit, and unfailing commitment to Africa's farmers were felt by everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.</p> <p>At the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Eugene served as chair of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA)-ILRI Hub Advisory Panel. </p> <p>Born in Sierra Leone, Eugene earned a BSc in agriculture, an MSc in plant pathology from McGill University in Canada, and a PhD in plant pathology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. That education launched a career of remarkable breadth and impact. He served as plant pathologist and director of international programs and training at the <a href="https://www.iita.org/">International Institute of Tropical Agriculture</a> (IITA), as land and crops advisor at the World Bank, as founding director of the <a href="https://www.aatf-africa.org/">African Agricultural Technology Foundation</a> (AATF) in Nairobi, and as senior technical adviser at TransFarm Africa. Most notably, he served as the inaugural director general of WARDA — now<a href="https://www.africarice.org/"> AfricaRice</a> — from 1987 to 1996, guiding the institution through its formative years and establishing a legacy of scientific excellence and regional cooperation. </p> <p>Eugene gave generously of his time and expertise across the CGIAR family and beyond. He served on boards of the <a href="https://avrdc.org/">World Vegetable Center</a>, <a href="https://www.cifor-icraf.org/">World Agroforestry</a>, <a href="https://www.iwmi.org/">International Water Management Institute</a> (IWMI), and <a href="https://www.syngentagroup.com/syngenta-foundation">Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture</a>. He also chaired the Advisory Board of the <a href="https://wacci.ug.edu.gh/">West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement.</a></p> <p>"What made Eugene so special to us at ILRI was his character. He brought warmth and intellectual curiosity to every conversation, a genuine belief that science could and should serve the most vulnerable, and an unfailing encouragement to the next generation of African scientists," said Appolinaire Djikeng, director general of ILRI. "In the BecA-ILRI Hub Advisory Panel he engaged deeply, asked hard questions, and always left us with a clearer sense of what mattered most."</p> <p>His legacy will endure in the generations of scientists, institutions, and farmers whose lives have been enriched by his work. </p> <p>We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the honor of knowing Eugene. He will be greatly missed.</p> Paul Karaimu 532aaacc-99bd-40b7-8b80-7fd4c9773e1f Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/regional-conference-advances-action-sustainable-livestock-transformation-asia-and-pacific <p>As countries in Asia and the Pacific transform food systems to provide safer, more nutritious and sustainable diets, the livestock sector is becoming increasingly important. Rising demand for meat, milk and other animal-source foods is intensifying the pressure to produce more, but this must go hand in hand with environmental conservation, disease management and livelihood improvement.</p> <p>These challenges were the focus of a regional event held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 24–26 March 2026. The “<a href="https://www.ilri.org/events/regional-conference-sustainable-livestock-transformation-food-systems-asia-and-pacific">Sustainable livestock transformation for food systems in Asia and the Pacific</a>” conference brought together more than 200 policymakers, researchers, academics, development partners, financiers and private sector representatives from 25 countries. </p> <p>Optimization of resources was high on the agenda. As Scott Newman, senior animal health and production officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) pointed out:</p> <blockquote><p> “The challenge is not simply producing more livestock but producing more efficiently—improving productivity while using land, water and other resources more sustainably.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Asia and the Pacific account for nearly 60% of the world’s population and about 44% of its livestock. The sector contributes 18–30% of agricultural GDP in many countries and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers.</p> <p>However, livestock systems across the region face mounting pressures. Climate change is affecting feed availability, animal productivity and water resources, while transboundary animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza continue to threaten livelihoods, food security and public health. According to Moyo Siboniso, deputy director general, International Livestock Research Institute (<a href="https://ilri.org">ILRI</a>), these challenges are increasingly interconnected and require stronger collaboration across sectors and countries. </p> <blockquote><p>“No single country or institution can address these challenges alone. Sustainable livestock transformation requires coordinated action linking science, policy, investment and local implementation,” she said.</p> </blockquote> <p>Mapping priorities for development</p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="232b8848-4ac0-4460-933a-ab050f3c3ef0" height="3507" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/STT_6901.jpg" width="5261"> Participants in a group discussion to identify priorities for sustainable livestock transformation (photo credit: ILRI/Tran Ngoc Son). <p>Panel discussions and working groups at the conference highlighted five priorities in addressing these challenges:</p> <ol> <li>A One Health approach: Human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected, and cross-sector efforts achieve better outcomes. Strengthening disease surveillance systems, improving coordination and expanding One Health field site models are crucial to disease management.</li> <li>Government leadership: Many countries are moving from fragmented smallholder production towards more organized, biosecure, and technologically advanced livestock systems. Strong policies, regulation and public investment play a central role in shaping the disease management, infrastructure and farmer capacity development necessary for this transition. </li> <li>Science and innovation: Advances in animal genetics, climate-smart livestock practices, feed management and disease monitoring can improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts.</li> <li>Investment and partnerships: Existing innovations can be scaled through public–private partnerships that mobilize capital, enable policies and strengthen value chains across the livestock sector.</li> <li>Regional cooperation: Coordinated research, surveillance, and responses are key to addressing livestock disease outbreaks and climate risks across national borders.</li> </ol> <p>Charting pathways for transformation</p> <p></p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="35c9b052-c065-4372-b770-930337a0094a" height="806" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/STT_5633.jpg" width="1209"> Vietnam’s vice minister Phung Duc Tien makes his remarks at the conference (photo credit: ILRI/Tran Ngoc Son). <p>During the panel sessions, speakers from Cambodia, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam shared national strategies for livestock development. Although contexts are different, many countries share similar priorities, including improving animal health systems, modernizing production, strengthening value chains and supporting smallholder farmers to adopt more sustainable and commercially viable livestock systems.</p> <blockquote><p>“Sustainable livestock transformation is not only a national priority but a regional and global responsibility, requiring strong cooperation, innovation and capacity building,” vice minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized.</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4203699f-1ea2-4aab-bbd9-b64fef29f3a6" height="335" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_112.jpeg" width="505"> Speakers from Cambodia, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam share national strategies for sustainable livestock development (photo credit: ILRI/Tran Ngoc Son). <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Financing emerged as a major constraint to scaling sustainable livestock systems across the region. Representatives from institutions such as the International Finance Corporation and Asian Development Bank highlighted the need for stronger data systems, clear policies and risk management to attract investment. Blended finance models combining public, private and development funding were identified as a promising approach.</p> <blockquote><p>“Many pilot projects demonstrate strong technical solutions, but scaling them requires the right enabling conditions,” said Pham Hoang Van of IFC. “Clear policies, reliable market demand and strong risk management, particularly for biosecurity and disease, are essential to make livestock investments bankable.”</p> </blockquote> <p>From recommendations to action</p> <p>The conference concluded with draft recommendations organized around four thematic priorities: One Health in agrifood systems, climate-smart livestock systems, livelihoods and inclusive economic development, and food security and nutrition. The recommendations emphasized the need to integrate livestock more fully into national food systems transformation pathways and move proven innovations from pilot projects to wider adoption at scale.</p> <p>Specific recommendations included establishing national One Health coordination mechanisms, strengthening integrated disease surveillance systems, developing country-specific livestock emission factors and climate-smart innovation packages, improving food safety along livestock value chains, and increasing support for smallholder farmers through training, digital extension tools and better market access. Participants also highlighted the importance of blended finance models, stronger regional coordination and cross-ministerial collaboration to support sustainable livestock transformation.</p> <blockquote><p>“The conference demonstrated that the region already has many proven livestock innovations and successful experiences,” said François Roger, regional director for Continental Southeast Asia at French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). “The priority now is creating the enabling environment, partnerships and investment needed to scale these solutions and ensure they benefit producers, consumers and the environment.”</p> </blockquote> <p>The framework will be reviewed by the co-hosts before being circulated to conference participants for feedback and endorsement. Major regional and international events will serve as platforms to advance the recommendations.</p> <p>This event strengthened regional cooperation and advanced a shared vision for sustainable livestock transformation, aligning priorities across science, policy, and finance. Translating the commitments made into investment and implementation will reinforce the livestock sector’s role in building resilient and sustainable food systems.</p> <p>The conference was co-hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). </p> <p>View all posters from the Marketplace Session at: <a href="https://virtualsharing.ilri.org/regional-conference-sustainable-livestock-transformation-food-systems-asia-and-pacific">https://virtualsharing.ilri.org/regional-conference-sustainable-livestock-transformation-food-systems-asia-and-pacific</a> </p> <p>Media articles about the event:</p> <p><a href="https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/1777994/greener-livestock-key-to-global-supply-chains-conference-hears.html">https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/1777994/greener-livestock-key-to-global-supply-chains-conference-hears.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://news.fundsforngos.org/2026/03/26/hanoi-summit-tackles-future-of-livestock-in-asia-pacific/">https://news.fundsforngos.org/2026/03/26/hanoi-summit-tackles-future-of-livestock-in-asia-pacific/</a></p> <p><a href="https://van.nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/science-and-tech-are-key-to-transforming-livestock-systems-d802768.html">https://van.nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/science-and-tech-are-key-to-transforming-livestock-systems-d802768.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://congthuong.vn/xanh-hoa-chan-nuoi-dieu-kien-moi-de-tham-gia-chuoi-gia-tri-toan-cau-448498.html">https://congthuong.vn/xanh-hoa-chan-nuoi-dieu-kien-moi-de-tham-gia-chuoi-gia-tri-toan-cau-448498.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://hanoimoi.vn/giu-sinh-ke-trong-dong-chay-hien-dai-hoa-nganh-chan-nuoi-chuyen-gia-ilri-742286.html">https://hanoimoi.vn/giu-sinh-ke-trong-dong-chay-hien-dai-hoa-nganh-chan-nuoi-chuyen-gia-ilri-742286.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://tapchimoitruong.vn/su-kien-hoat-dong-27/chuyen-doi-chan-nuoi-ben-vung-trong-he-thong-luong-thuc-thuc-pham-o-chau-a--thai-binh-duong-33019">https://tapchimoitruong.vn/su-kien-hoat-dong-27/chuyen-doi-chan-nuoi-ben-vung-trong-he-thong-luong-thuc-thuc-pham-o-chau-a--thai-binh-duong-33019</a> </p> <p><br> </p> Chi Nguyen 0ca212dc-b8d1-48c6-9b88-322473fc45de Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed https://www.ilri.org/news/ethiopia-bundled-forage-innovations-are-closing-livestock-feed-gap <p>Since 2023, ILRI’s bundled forage interventions have benefited 50,000 farmers, advancing livestock productivity and building climate resilience across five regions in Ethiopia.</p> <p>For many years, Kebebush Admasu’s day began with the same anxious question: would she find enough to feed her dairy cow? The mother and farmer in the Hadiya Zone of Ethiopia's highlands knew that her family's well-being was tied to the well-being of the animal. But like millions of other smallholders in the country, she faced a relentless challenge – the scarcity of quality livestock feed. During the dry season, the search for fodder would consume hours of her day, her cow would grow weak, its milk production would drop and with it a source of nutrition for her children, and source of income. </p> <p>Smallholder mixed crop-livestock farms are central to the livelihoods of millions in Ethiopia. They offer powerful economic links between the land, animals, and the people who tend them; providing a buffer against climate shocks and income from sale of animal products. But lack of adequate and high-quality feed for animals reduces livestock productivity, limits the supply of milk and meat for a growing population, and traps families in a cycle of subsistence.</p> <p>The<a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/radio-and-mobile-voices-cultivate-climate-smart-farming-changes-ethiopia"> International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),</a> through <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/themes/livestock-climate-and-environment">Livestock Climate and Environment (LCE) </a>program and bilateral projects, is tackling this problem by introducing improved forages whose cultivation can be scaled easily. The aim is to increase feed access and build lasting resilience for farming communities like Kebebush’s. </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d914e68-b6e7-4ce9-94ed-83eeebf385ea" height="477" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kebebush.jpg" width="714"> Kebebush Admasu harvests a fresh bundle of green fodder from her forage plot in central Ethiopia. Photo credit: MoPIX  <p>For example, in 2025, across the Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, and Central Ethiopia regions, ILRI piloted a bundled innovation approach that involves developing and scaling climate-smart forage options such as high-yielding desho grass, oat-vetch mixture, elephant grass, tree lucerne, dual-purpose maize and improved legumes like alfalfa. At the same time practical feed utilization methods including feed troughs, choppers and silage makers are introduced to reduce waste. </p> <p>To ensure adoption, these efforts were complemented by capacity sharing using a revolving forage seed supply arrangement, training, media engagement (radio and mobile messages) and on-farm demonstrations. Capacity sharing was integrated in the roll-out of the bundled innovations. Farmers like Kebebush received the bundled innovations, along with on-farm demonstrations. This allowed them to see the benefits of using improved forages to increase milk production, reduce feed wastage through better feed utilization, and improve animal health with nutrition.</p> <p>Forage seed commercialization systems were developed to improve market access and sustainability. Led by LCE bilateral projects such as <a href="https://aiccra.cgiar.org/">AICCRA</a>, <a href="https://taat-africa.org/">TAAT II </a>and CGIAR <a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/sustainable-farming">Sustainable Farming</a> and<a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/scaling-impact"> Scaling for Impact</a> programs, the project piloted local forage seed multiplication systems in 98 hectares of dedicated land in 2024 and 2025. These activities are centered in the North Shewa Zone of Amhara, and Hadiya and Kembata zones of Central Ethiopia. These systems created a local supply chain and engaged private sector actors such as the Eden Field seed company.</p> <p>By integrating technical solutions with institutional and communication support, ILRI’s innovation has optimized resource use, mitigated adoption risks and addressed farmers' complex food and feed needs from multiple angles. This approach has enhanced adoption rates and community resilience, making a real difference in the lives of smallholder livestock keepers.</p> <p>As highlighted in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-cnHK8phwc">Bundling of feed and forage innovations for adoption and impact </a>video, Kebebush now harvests nutritious feed from the oat-vetch, tree lucerne, and desho grass, providing her cow with a consistent, high-quality diet. "I now have a consistent milk supply," she shares proudly. Her children can drink milk regularly and she has surplus to sell at the local market, boosting her household income and food security. </p> <p>She is one of over 31,900 smallholder livestock keepers who have been directly reached by the initiative across Ethiopia in 2025. Critically, the project has ensured that 23–25% of the direct beneficiaries are women, recognizing their central role in livestock management and household nutrition. Women, who often bear the burden of feed collection, are now experiencing the labor-saving and income-generating benefits of access to improved fodder.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="97162a4b-9259-4aa4-b1f2-a0226b62fa55" height="664" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kebebush%20with%20her%20son%20.jpg" width="995"> Kebebush Admasu shares coffee with her family, a moment of joy after a long day. Photo credit: MoPIX  <p>A robust network of partnerships and a deliberate dissemination strategy has paved the pathway from innovation to widespread impact. Key partners in this work include Werabe and Debre Berhan agricultural research centers, Jimma and Wachemo universities, development organizations like SNV, and government bureaus of agriculture at regional and zonal levels. Local extension workers, development agents, and farmer cooperatives are a crucial link, translating research into practice on the ground. To scale the impact, a major multi-channel campaign using <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/radio-and-mobile-voices-cultivate-climate-smart-farming-changes-ethiopia">community radio, mobile messaging</a>, and digital advisory tools has extended the reach of the project messages to over 283,000 additional beneficiaries, spreading best practices on forage management and utilization far and wide. This mass communication campaign has been complemented by intensive in-person capacity-building for over 6,000 farmers, extension agents, and technical experts, who continue to support their communities. </p> <p>Kindu Mekonnen, senior scientist at ILRI, who has led the mixed farming system development efforts for over a decade, reflected on the outcomes, emphasizing the scientific basis for the approach. "Our research over many years has consistently shown that technology alone does not guarantee adoption," he explains. "The feed gap in Ethiopia is not merely a seed deficit problem; it requires an integrated effort to solve. By bundling improved forages with capacity building and digital advisory tools, we are addressing the multifaceted constraints farmers face, from lack of knowledge to poor access to quality feed and forage utilization technologies."</p> <p>Today, the result is a strengthened and more resilient farming system in Ethiopia. By closing the feed gap for tens of thousands of households, this bundled approach is nourishing families, empowering women, and building a more productive and climate-resilient future for Ethiopia's smallholders.</p> <p>Call to action </p> <p>By aligning resources and planning jointly, development partners, the private sector, and local decision-makers can build on these successes to widely scale validated feed and forage innovations. Setting clear and shared targets will drive the joint scaling effort that delivers tangible productivity gains and strengthens the resilience of livestock farmers across Ethiopia for 2026 and beyond.</p> <p>Learn more about the LCE program: <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/themes/livestock-climate-and-environment">https://www.ilri.org/research/themes/livestock-climate-and-environment</a></p> Haimanot Seifu bace0f53-cfd9-44ff-8b12-ca99ac422bd1 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed