Tropentag 2022, September 14 - 16, Prague, Germany "Can agroecological farming feed the world? Farmers' and academia's views."

Forty-five years of animal health research at the International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya

¹Natural Resources Inst. and International Livestock Res. Inst., Food and Markets, United Kingdom
²Independent Consultant, United Kingdom

Abstract

Livestock have been called the engine of development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). They support the livelihoods of the poorest and offer a pathway out of poverty; livestock is a sunrise sector, rapidly growing in response to demand and hence offering an opportunity for economic growth along with nutritional improvement.

2021 saw the launch of a book on the impacts of 45 years of research at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The book represented four years of effort from over 70 authors. Among the main findings were that the international community invested nearly US$12 billion in global livestock research from 1975 to 2018: most was financed in ILRI and most spent in sub-Saharan Africa and this had substantial and objectively verifiable impact.

Research covered all aspects of livestock, yet it is interesting to note that 9 of the 18 chapters are relevant to One Health. Among the main findings are:

• Veterinary epidemiological and economic impact sciences increased understanding of infection dynamics and generated a wealth of methodologies and approaches that have since been applied in every corner of the world.
• One Health approaches estimated the burden and risk factors for neglected as well as emerging zoonoses, identified their drivers and developed strategies for reducing those risks
• Field research on trypanosomiasis determined that rational use of curative and preventive trypanocidal drugs is the most sustainable and scalable control
• Research on food safety elevated the importance of informal markets where most of the poor buy and sell, introduced risk assessment to LMIC, conducted dozens of burden studies and developed new approaches to managing food safety.

The book captures ILRI benefits to research, capacity development and end users. It marshals substantial evidence to show that livestock research improved food and nutrition security, prosperity, and natural resource management in LMICs.

Keywords: Animal health, CGIAR, research

Contact Address: Delia Grace, Natural Resources Inst. and International Livestock Res. Inst., Food and Markets, Central Avenue, Chatham, United Kingdom, e-mail: d.gracecgiar.org