Advancing the gender agenda in small ruminant value chains in Ethiopia

A recent gender capacity assessment study by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) revealed that low or lack of gender capacities among research and development practitioners is one of the bottlenecks in the development of gendered livestock value chains in Ethiopia. Continue reading →

MoreMilkiT producer groups review shows steady progress towards sustainability in Tanzania

The MoreMilkiT project recently reviewed the sustainability of 30 dairy producer groups working with the project in Morogoro and Tanga to gauge their level of sustainability and existing gaps. Continue reading →

Gender integration in livestock and fish research

Between 2012 and 2016, the Livestock and Fish program’s Gender Initiative supported an integrated approach to gender in its technical research.

Today in Cali, Colombia, the CGIAR Gender and Agriculture Research Network Annual Meeting launches a book about these experiences, showing that attention to gender equality and an understanding of gender dynamics leads to better science, more effective interventions and more inclusive development. Continue reading →

Integrating gender analysis to understand dual-purpose cattle breeding practices in Nicaragua

This poster, produced for the Tropentag 2016 conference, shares findings from an evaluation of the impacts of intra-household gender influences on breed choice, productivity and the adoption of breeding technologies in central Nicaragua. Continue reading →

Sustainable milk and beef production in Nicaragua: actions and opportunities for an inclusive value chain

This poster, produced for the Tropentag 2016 conference, show how Livestock and Fish feed and forages work has improved the productivity of forage-based livestock production and increased carbon accumulation and at the same time reduced its ecological footprint as part of LivestockPlus. Continue reading →

Community-based livestock breeding programs focus of Tropentag 2016 workshop

On 19 September 2016, the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, the International Livestock Research Institute and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas host a workshop on community-based breeding at the Tropentag 2016 conference. Continue reading →

Tropentag workshop: Empowering livestock and fish smallholders through multi-stakeholder platforms and value chains

On 19 September 2016, ’empowering livestock and fish smallholders through multi-stakeholder platforms and value chains’ is the focus of a Livestock and Fish research program workshop at the Tropentag 2016 conference. Continue reading →

Brachiaria breakthrough: CIAT scientists home-in on apomixis

Since the late 1980s, CIAT scientists have been breeding Brachiaria with the goal of developing superior apomictic hybrids for the tropical forage market. Brachiaria has a number of advantages over other forage grasses: highly nutritious, it can help farmers increase the productivity of their cattle, while also capturing carbon dioxide and restoring poor soils – particularly when used in silvopastoral systems. Steady advances to improve brachiaria have been made over the years using classical breeding methods. Recently, however, CIAT forage breeder Margaret Worthington has been looking to accelerate these gains through modern molecular breeding strategies. Continue reading →

Livestock and Fish research contributes to Livestock Development Strategy for Africa

Earlier this month, on 14 Jun 2016, staff of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) helped organize a side event during the 7th Africa Agriculture Science Week on ‘How research is contributing to Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDESA)’. Continue reading →

What’s the beef? Giving livestock a break in Colombia

Cows are regularly portrayed as evil: four-legged, four-stomached, greenhouse gas machines chomping through forests and destroying the planet. It’s no wonder the idea of a climate-smart livestock system sounds like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, you can get a glimpse of these systems in Colombia’s mountainous, Cauca Department. Patía is also a microcosm of Colombia’s livestock conundrum. … Continue reading →