| External influences (issues and implications from Chapters 1 and 2) | Researchable factor (yes/no) | Affects ILRI priorities (yes/no) | Comments | |
| 1.1 ROLE OF LIVESTOCK. IN POVERTY REDUCTION, FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH | ||||
| 1.1.1 POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY | ||||
| Crop–livestock and grassland systems: Priority should be accorded to productivity- enhancing livestock R&D for mixed crop–livestock systems to have major economic impact on the bulk of the poor in developing countries. Grassland systems offer less scope for technical interventions that can directly benefit the poor, but natural resource conservation and management, and relevant policies to sustain livelihoods are researchable needs. | yes | yes | ILRI research will focus on crop–livestock systems. ILRI
will not be involved in developing technologies for grazing systems. However, ILRI will be
concerned with natural resource management issues, including plant and animal biodiversity
and policies affecting pastoral land use and
management.
Incorporated in ILRI’s agenda, see Table 2.1 |
|
| Changing livestock systems: Demographic and economic changes are causing rapid evolution of production systems within and across regions and agro-ecological zones. Setting priorities and designing research must take account of these evolutionary changes in identifying future needs. There are also opportunities for South–South exchange among regions at different stages of development. | yes | yes | ILRI will take these evolutionary changes into account in
setting priorities and designing research, and it will seek opportunities for
South–South
exchanges among regions at different stages of development.
Incorporated in ILRI’s agenda, see Table 2.1 |
|
| Distribution of the poor: The geographical distribution of the poor, at regional, sectoral, agro-ecological and system levels, needs to be considered, to assess priorities that will more effectively address their needs. | no | Yes | ILRI will give highest priority to sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where the majority of the poor live. And ILRI's research portfolio will be built on projects that will have high impact on reducing poverty. | |
| Projected food price trends: Animal-source food prices need to be monitored to establish if the projected decreases in price of animal food products actually occur and the poor have better access to meat and dairy products as a result of research-based technologies that increase productivity of systems. | yes | Yes | The effect of increased production on food prices will be a
feature of ILRI's ex-post evaluation of research products.
Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| Poverty and nutritional security: Technology and policy options are needed to optimally balance income generation with nutritional security and facilitate decisions that will improve diets in both the household and the nation. | yes | no | This area is of interest because of the nutritional value of meat and milk; however, other providers are better placed to address human nutritional and dietary issues including the assessment of nutrition needs, nutrition education and extension. | |
| Non-food uses of livestock including income generation: Non-food uses of livestock, though declining in importance relative to food production, will continue to be important in the livelihoods of smallholders and in the sustainability of crop–livestock systems. Of particular importance is the impact on the finances and labour of women and the value of livestock as an asset in building financial security. | yes | yes | The holisitc farming-systems approach ILRI has adopted will
encompass non-food uses of livestock, and ILRI’s ex-ante and ex-post impact
assessments will address gender and equity issues.
Incorporated in ILRI’s agenda, see Table 2.1 |
|
| 1.1.2 LIVESTOCK AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||||
| Livestock and the environment: Environmental impact methodologies and assessments are needed for all livestock R&D activities. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Crop–livestock systems: Livestock technologies need to optimise whole-farm productivity gains and environmental enhancement by integrating crop and livestock production. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Natural resource management: Livestock land-use practices affect air, soil, water management, and plant and animal biodiversity. Policies affecting access to common property, especially in extensive grazing areas, are critical for managing natural resources. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Industrial and peri-urban systems: Technological and policy options are needed to address the environmental and public health issues associated with industrial livestock production systems, which are often located in densely populated areas. | yes | yes | ILRI's research on environmental issues will contribute to
improved sustainability of different production systems, including industrial and
peri-urban systems. However, ILRI will directly focus on smallholder crop–livestock
systems. Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| Environment and public health: Technological and policy options are needed that mitigate the negative and promote the positive interactions between animal agriculture, the environment and human health. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Climate change: Research is needed on the impact both of livestock on climate change and of climate change on the evolution of livestock production systems, and the implications both have for livestock R&D. | yes | no | Research on climate change requires long-term and global coverage. ILRI will endeavour to reduce the adverse contribution of livestock but will not conduct research on global or regional climate change. | |
| Biodiversity: The effects intensified livestock production have on the continued survival of indigenous livestock breeds and their actual and potential use will be an important aspect. Studies of biodiversity also need to assess the impact that increased competition for land for cropping will have on animal and plant biodiversity of rangelands. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Wildlife–livestock interactions: Research is needed to provide information on wildlife–livestock interactions and to develop and validate tools used to support decisions on wildlife that will enable resource-poor livestock owners to make better decisions and obtain greater value from wildlife and thereby contribute effectively to conserving wild animal biodiversity. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| 1.1.3 HUMAN HEALTH | ||||
| Impact of improved nutrition, especially on women and children: There is a need to monitor the effect that changes in the price of livestock products have on consumption patterns and human nutrition status, especially of women and children. | yes | no | ILRI will continue to facilitate research by appropriate specialised institutions interested in quantifying the effects of meat and milk supplements to poor people's diets. | |
| Zoonoses: Regulatory policies and technological solutions are needed to minimise the threat of zoonotic diseases, especially those associated with increased intensification of peri-urban livestock production systems. | yes | no | Zoonotic diseases will feature in ILRI's research Where they impinge on smallholder systems. However, alternative providers are better placed for biological research on zoonoses, particularly those caused by bacteria and viruses. | |
| Food safety: Food safety and hygiene issues associated with industrial and smallholder production systems, food processing, and drug and pesticide residues in livestock products need to be considered in designing livestock R&D strategies. | yes | no | ILRI's approach to integrated disease management has as a principal objective reduced dependency and utilisation of drugs and chemicals. Others are better equipped to undertake research on food safety and hygiene. | |
| 1.2 LIVESTOCK DEMAND TRENDS | ||||
| Regional demand patterns: Demand growth for meat and milk products is expected to be greatest in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. These regions deserve a high priority for livestock R&D if appropriate supply responses are to meet the demand challenge. | no | yes | ILRI will give priority to sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. | |
| Demand growth for pig and poultry products: Demand growth for pig and poultry products will exceed that for other meats and will be primarily outside of sub-Saharan Africa. The interests of smallholder pig and poultry keepers require research to ensure that they participate in the economic benefits this demand growth will generate. | yes | yes | ILRI's production systems and policy research will help
advance smallholder interests in poultry and pigs. Biological research will continue to be
carried out by commercial research providers. ILRI will monitor to check that the needs of
smallholders are indeed met. Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| 1.3 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION TRENDS | ||||
| Making the Livestock Revolution work for the poor: Technology and policy options are needed to influence the course and direction of the Livestock Revolution to ensure that the poor reap their share of the available benefits, both as producers and as consumers. | yes | yes | ILRI's research will focus on developing technologies and enabling policies that will make smallholders either more competitive or better integrated with large-scale producers. | |
| Livestock demand and production trends: To guide decisions on priorities for livestock R&D, continual monitoring and analysis of demand and supply for livestock products are needed because of uncertainties about national and regional economic development, trade relationships, consumer capacity to pay, and competition for the required resources. | yes | no | FAO, World Bank and other agencies have comparative advantage for developing and analysing these databases, to which ILRI may contribute as appropriate. | |
| Trade in livestock and livestock products: Policy options are needed to allow resource-poor livestock keepers to engage more effectively in trade of livestock and livestock products and to identify and remove national and international constraints to trade. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Need to exploit livestock genetic diversity: Concerns about chemical drug resistance imply that the alternative of building genetic resistance to diseases and pests needs to be explored further. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| 1.4 THE PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGE | ||||
| Demand–productivity growth gaps: Emphasis on poultry and beef research is required in developing countries if demand is not to substantially outstrip production in the next 20 years, causing inappropriate responses with adverse consequences for the poor and the environment through pollution from animal wastes and increased pressure on land resources. Sub-Saharan Africa is at greatest risk of a demand-and- supply imbalance for all animal products. | yes | yes | Demand–productivity growth gaps for poultry and pork are
most likely to be met by private industrial production and R&D; those for ruminant
meat and milk, especially for smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa, are priorities for ILRI
and partners. There is a public policy and environment agenda for industrial systems.
Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| Technology exchange: Ineffective delivery and yes adoption of available and prospective technologies has been identified as a severe constraint to improving livestock productivity. The reasons for past poor performance need to be identified and innovative delivery pathways developed to overcome these constraints. South–South exchange needs to be encouraged. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| 1.5 EVOLUTION OF LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS | ||||
| 1.5.1 GRAZING SYSTEMS | ||||
| Grazing systems: Policies and technologies are needed to ensure grazing lands, which cover 25% of the earth's land surface, provide for the people who are dependent on them and at the same time fulfil their vital environmental roles in biodiversity, soil and water conservation, and carbon sequestration. | yes | yes | Technical interventions to extensive rangelands in developing countries have had little impact. The greatest need is for socio-economic and organisational innovations that enable pastoral societies to cope with demographic, economic and political change. | |
| Stratification of production systems: Policy and trade environments should encourage carrying out each of the different phases of livestock production under the most appropriate system and in the most appropriate location; this could include integrating wildlife with domesticated livestock | yes | no | ILRI will be concerned with inter- and intra-regional livestock trade policies that promote offtaking animals destined for finishing or slaughter. However, ILRI will not be concerned with developing finishing units, markets, and so on, because commercial interests adequately cover these production phase. | |
| 1.5.2 MIXED CROP–LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS | ||||
| Integration of crop and livestock production: Because of increasing land pressure, research to enhance complementarities between crop and livestock production has high priority. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| 1 .5.3 INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS | ||||
| Competition and integration between smallholder and industrial systems: Policy and technology options are needed to improve equity and enable smallholders to compete or integrate effectively with more intensive production systems. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Vertical integration with processors: Options are needed to facilitate cost-effective integration of smallholders and animal food processors, for example, by promoting participatory, collective-action organisations such as smallholder dairy cooperatives. | yes | no | ILRI will be concerned with the well-being and economic security of smallholders in relationships with food processors. However, because of their site specificity, ILRI will not address the organisation and management of collective marketing groups. | |
| Increased use of feed grains: The effects on world cereal markets of increased demand for feed grains need to be assessed to minimise the risk of worsening overall food security of poor people and increasing competition for land and other resources for animal feed versus human food grains | yes | yes | The increased demand for feed grains is important in the
research agendas of the crop research centres.
Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1.
|
|
| 1.6 TRENDS IN SCIENCE | ||||
| Trends in science: New science enables new approaches to solving the complex problems limiting livestock productivity in developing countries. Large-scale industrial systems will be served by the for-profit sector and often will transfer technologies from systems in developed countries. Publicly supported research drawing on new science can serve the poor and protect the environment. | yes | yes | ILRI's comparative advantage in applying new science (such as
from human health and genetics) was endorsed by its External Programme and Management
Review. These applications are central to ILRI's strategy for increasing effectiveness of
research on complex problems, making the Livestock Revolution work for the poor.
Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| Effect of new science on old problems: Effective application of new science options may radically increase the probability of successfully resolving long-standing problems. | yes | yes | Many long-standing problems are becoming more serious as
livestock concentrations increase, for example, the spread of trypanosomoses in Latin
America and SE Asia. Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| Access to new science: The existence of proprietary technologies in 'new science' acts as a constraint to the wider use of these technologies in developing countries, especially by NARS. A body to act as broker is needed to negotiate equitable access for developing countries. | yes | yes | Promoting and facilitating access to new science for NARS and
other developing country users is a primary raison d'être for ILRI.
Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| Genetically modified organisms: The international community has growing concerns regarding genetically modified organisms. Their precise definitions must be clear and the ethical issues involved well spelled out. | no | yes | ILRI will take guidance from its investors and host countries before engaging in research on genetically modified organisms. | |
| Intellectual property rights: To protect public interests and to ensure that the private sector is involved where deemed necessary, international centres need effective policies and protocols to protect intellectual property. This protection may require greater use of defensive patents than envisaged even recently. | no | yes | ILRI will follow the guidelines and recommended procedures and precedents established by the CGIAR in respect of intellectual property rights. ILRI's aim is to keep as much as possible of its products in the public domain. | |
| Biosafety: International centres will continue to carry out their research agendas with due diligence to ensure that they are following international standards of biosafety. | no | yes | ILRI will apply the international standards of biosafety and will closely follow developments in this area. | |
| Animal welfare: Recognising the concerns of the international community, research involving live animals must meet the highest international standards for animal welfare. | no | yes | ILRI will conform with the highest international standards for animal welfare. | |
| 1.7 TRENDS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH NARS | ||||
| Net-based technologies: Opportunities arising from advances in communication and Net-based technologies can be used to deliver cost-effective training and information services. | no | yes | ILRI will endeavour to make the best use of Net-based technologies to disseminate its products and gain access to information on livestock research and development. | |
| 1 .8 THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH | ||||
| Public vs private goods: International centres are primarily involved in generating international public goods; however, in some areas (for example, diagnostics, vaccine development), involving the private sector may be beneficial. But limited markets consisting chiefly of poor people may mean that centres will have to orchestrate creative incentive arrangements to interest the private sector in developing and delivering products. | no | yes | ILRI is committed to developing public goods. ILRI will enter into agreements with for-profit enterprises if that is the best means of developing and delivering products to the intended beneficiaries in adoptable and affordable forms. | |
| International conventions: International centres have an obligation to help accomplish the goals and objectives of international conventions that CGIAR members and their host governments have endorsed. | no | yes | ILRI will comply with international conventions, protocols and agreements that have been endorsed by its investors and host countries and contribute towards meeting their goals. | |
| Capacity of NARS: NARS must be strong to establish effective research partnerships and deliver research products in a timely way. International centres have an important role to play in strengthening and building the capacity of NARS. | yes | yes | ILRI will give particular priority to strengthening NARS
capacity in livestock research.
Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. |
|
| New partnerships: In response to international developments, international centres need to work with a wider range of partners, including NGOs, the private sector, and regional and subregional organisations. | no | yes | ILRI’s range of partners and allies will expand as it ensures that increased transaction costs are justified by increased research productivity and impact. | |
| Changing investor expectations: To attract sufficient investment, researchers will have to demonstrate that their products contribute to the investors’ goals and objectives. The paramount goal at this time is to reduce poverty. Distributing income and wealth more equitably, providing nutritional security and protecting the environment are additional important goals. Investors also urge that partnerships be forged and institutional capacity be built to increase impact. | no | yes | ILRI's public awareness and resource mobilisation strategies depend on developing investor support for high-priority research and on responding to investors' concerns for impact. | |
| Balanced portfolios: Given that the bulk of research funding comes from development agencies with short-term objectives, research institutes must develop a mix of research activities in which important long-term, high-impact research is deemed credible and is under-written because of the outflow of short-and medium-term research products. | no | yes | Maintaining a balanced portfolio is central to ILRI's strategies for achieving impact and securing the resources required to support the programme. | |
| 2.1 ILRI IN THE CGIAR | ||||
| Improved priority setting for research: Methods, techniques and data for ex-ante and ex-post impact assessment for development-oriented research on livestock are needed to improve priority setting, resource allocation and research design. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 3.4. | |
| CGIAR strategies and priorities: CGIAR emphasis is on poverty reduction, food security, environmental protection, international public goods, measurable impact, capacity building of NARS, scientific leadership and partnerships. IL RI should use these criteria in its strategic planning and priority assessment. | no | yes | The CGIAR priorities have been incorporated into ILRI's priority-setting criteria. | |
| Special needs of sub-Saharan Africa: The CGIAR has identified sub-Saharan Africa as a region requiring special attention. ILRI also recognises the particular needs of this region. | no | yes | The key research areas will contribute to Africa's priorities for livestock research defined in the context of the CGIAR Strategy for Africa. | |
| 2.4 REGIONAL PRIORITIES FROM CONSULTATION | ||||
| Livestock nutrition: To compete effectively with industrial systems, resource-poor livestock keepers require improved feed and feeding technologies, especially to remove seasonal constraints. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1 . | |
| Disease control: Disease control technologies and management are required to improve the productivity of smallholder intensive systems of production and the competitiveness of developing countries in international trade in livestock and livestock products. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Systems and species: The importance of mixed crop–livestock systems and monogastric species in Asia implies the need to focus on these if the Asian poor are to benefit from the Livestock Revolution. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| Livestock genetics and health: The genetic capacity of livestock breeds raised under the challenge of disease and parasites must be identified and pragmatic techniques developed to introduce these characteristics into breeds with desired productivity traits, thus developing livestock systems that are both sustainable and highly productive. | yes | yes | Incorporated in ILRI's agenda, see Table 2.1. | |
| 2.5 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY REGIONS | ||||
| Economic importance of regions and systems: Major differences exist among the geographic regions in the economic value of animal products, in the relative importance of different species, and the relative importance of livestock systems. International R&D priorities must accommodate this heterogeneity by focusing on pervasive problems and constraints where there will be large spillovers from region to region. | no | Yes | ILRI's research will focus on developing international public goods that have the greatest impact on the poor across broad recommendation domains. Strategic priorities will reflect the relative economic importance of systems and species. | |
