ILRI

Global land and livestock frameworks are approaching a rare convergence in 2026. This presents a vital window to reshape how the international community views pastoral ecosystems and the communities that sustain them. Key takeaways for the sector:
🔹 Rangelands are essential to global survival, supporting food security, biodiversity, and pastoral livelihoods.
🔹 Rangelands and indigenous livestock breeds cannot be separated—they function as one interconnected system.
🔹 Women and youth are the driving force behind these pastoral economies, taking the lead in preserving indigenous breeds. Explore the carousel to understand the path forward for the livestock sector ahead of the upcoming UN summits.

➡️ Join the ILRI side event on Thursday, themed 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, where we’ll take this conversation further.

📍 Noom Hotel, Dakar, Senegal
📅 11 June 2026
🕒 15:10–16:10 | Room 2
🔗 https://on.cgiar.org/4v3fPsf

Did you know that the specific breeds of livestock we raise can actually help us adapt to—and fight—climate change? 🌍🐄

Livestock are essential for livelihoods and nutrition, especially in growing rural communities. But as our climate changes, these animals and the systems they rely on are at risk. The good news? Strategic management of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) offers massive potential to make our food systems more resilient and climate-smart!

We are teaming up with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for a special webinar to explore the fascinating relationship between climate change and livestock diversity.

Webinar Details:

📅 Date: 10th June 2026

🕑 Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EAT

📍 Where: https://fao.zoom.us/j/98280258179?pwd=JSsTys3WAwVKCzcTaP10BpiGbHlJqu.1

(Meeting ID: 982 8025 8179 | Passcode: 56906826)

Yesterday, key agricultural and development stakeholders gathered in Addis Ababa for the Dairy Stakeholders' Consultative Workshop and World Milk Day Celebration. Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, the event focused on driving collaboration for a resilient, inclusive, and competitive Ethiopian dairy sector. H.E. Dr Fikru Regassa, State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted that milk production from major livestock species has doubled. He emphasized the critical need to scale proven technologies and standardize quality assurance to maintain this momentum. 📈🔬

Representing CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa and ILRI, Namukolo Covic delivered a keynote address focusing on the vital intersection of dairy and household health. Key takeaways included:

🍼 Milk consumption is directly linked to reducing child stunting, particularly during the critical first 1,000 days of life.

👩🏾‍🌾 Women play a central role in the dairy value chain, from livestock management to milk processing.

⚖️ Empowering women and improving their access to productive assets and decision-making power is essential for driving sector growth and improving nutrition outcomes.

🥛 The sector must ensure that increased milk production actively translates into greater consumption for vulnerable groups, rather than focusing exclusively on market sales.

To help bridge current coordination gaps, ILRI Scientist Getachew Legese introduced the Ethiopian Dairy Innovation and Development Platform. 🤝 This initiative aims to unite stakeholders across genetics, animal health, processing, and research to work collaboratively for greater, large-scale impact. 🌍💡

We were privileged to attend an incredible week of innovation and dialogue at Week!

At ILRI, we believe that translating complex research into actionable solutions is key to global food security. Here is a look at our highlights from the week:

🎤 Thought Leadership: Siboniso (Boni) Moyo delivered an essential keynote on Research Resource Mobilization in the Post Aid Era, sparking vital conversations on the future of research funding.

🤝 High-Level Engagement: We were honored to welcome Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak , Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation in Kenya, to our booth to explore our latest livestock and climate resilience innovations.

A huge thank you to the organizers and all the partners who engaged with our work. Together, we are advancing science for society!