Research to improve the health and productivity of farmed animals in tropical climates has received a £4 million boost from the UK Government.
The investment from the Department for International Development (DFID) was announced by the Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, during a visit to the University of Edinburgh.
Funding will enable scientists in Scotland, Africa, Australia and the USA to tackle challenges faced by livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
It will support research in the Center for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health – a joint venture between the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the latter of which has major research facilities in Kenya and Ethiopia.
This latest investment builds on a £10m award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced in 2015, supported by matched funding from the three partners.
Research at the Center aims to improve the productivity of livestock breeds that are available to small-holder farmers in Africa and enhance the animals’ resilience and resistance to disease.
The Center involves UK, Africa, Australia and USA-based scientists working together primarily at two major hubs, in Edinburgh and in Nairobi. It has five research strands focusing on dairy genomics, chicken genomics, the genetics of health, new breeding technologies and data management.
Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, Director of the Center for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, said: “The additional support from DFID is truly appreciated and is indeed a welcome addition to CTLGH resources, which will greatly increase our ability to support ongoing work and to attract other outstanding and highly committed scientists to tackle challenges of tropical animal agriculture and sustainable development.”
Professor Eleanor Riley, Director of The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Livestock farming offers a route out of poverty in many parts of the world. It can also help to provide protein nutrition for children, which is key for child development and lifelong health. This welcome investment from the UK Government will build on the long-term engagement of the University of Edinburgh with partners in Africa and adds considerable momentum to the new Center.”
Nearly 900 million people rely on livestock for their livelihoods and the loss of animals through disease devastates people’s lives.
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal & Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “SRUC is delighted to be a founding partner of this important Center. It reflects our ethos of strong translational, challenge-led research. The added value of this partnership will result in a more efficient and climate resilient improvement program for sub-Saharan Africa.”
ILRI works to improve food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for better and more sustainable use of livestock. ILRI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global partnership of 15 centres working with additional partners for a food-secure future.
Dr Jimmy Smith, Director General of ILRI, said: “CTLGH brings together an innovative mix of livestock genetics and health expertise working on the front lines of science-for-development impact. This important investment from the UK Government will strengthen links between UK and African researchers for the benefit of millions of people as well as sustainable livestock development.”
