Indigenous Livestock Innovations in Africa (iLINOVA): A Project Report

Abstract

This presentation focuses on key experiences as a country partner of an EU-funded indigenous livestock innovations study over a four-year period. The main objective was to address critical gaps in the application of science, technology and innovations (STI) in the management of indigenous livestock (MIL) resources in Eastern, Southern and Western Africa. Broad range experiences covered inter-institutional linkages and networks across Africa, and capacity building in STI related to Animal Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (ABGG). Highlights of accomplishments under iLINOVA included: (a) situation analysis of the status of the application of STI for MIL, (b) multiple stakeholders’ fora (with livestock farmer organizations and industry players), (c) 3-layered Summer Camps with themes covering ABGG and grantsmanship. Over the four-year period, programs covered vibrant academic exchanges among institutions across partner countries of Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria. These included a project inception workshop, three international Summer Camps devoted to ABGG, biodiversity, biostatistics, grantsmanship, etc, hosting of a 1^st World Congress on Innovations for Livestock Development, multiple graduate research studies with topics covering ABGG reproductive physiology, career building opportunities for graduate students especially in ABGG through training workshops, internship and mentorship opportunities. Overall, these experiences serve to create a new paradigm on robust opportunities in graduate training in ABGG facilitated through a culture of STI and grantsmanship.