Proceedings of the 4th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture 'The role of biotechnology in animal agriculture to address poverty in Africa', now available for download
 
The theme of the 4th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture was ‘The role of biotechnology in animal agriculture to address poverty in Africa: Opportunities and challenges’. The conference, which was held in Arusha, Tanzania, in September 2005, was organized by the All Africa Society for Animal Production (AASAP) in association with the Tanzania Society for Animal Production (TSAP), and partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The recently released proceedings contain over 50 papers by leading experts in biotechnology covering animal health, genetic diversity and improvement and animal feeds and nutrition. The technologies reported ranged from the rather conventional approaches to the more advanced molecular techniques.

ILRI’s director general, Carlos Seré, and ILRI’s director of biotechnology, Ed Rege, presented a paper on Agricultural biotechnology for poverty alleviation at the first plenary session. The paper highlights opportunities for livestock biotechnologies in the areas of animal health through new/improved vaccines and diagnostics, genetic improvement of livestock, conservation of indigenous breeds and genetic diversity, and improving the nutritional quality of feeds. They argue animal agriculture will continue to be of considerable importance for poverty alleviation in Africa for some time to come, and that appropriate applications of biosciences can increase the pace of Africa’s agricultural and economic development.

‘Economic development in Africa will, of necessity, have to be initially linked to agriculture (broadly defined to include crop, livestock, forestry and fish). Staple crops and livestock are most likely to promote economic growth in the continent. To date, public sector investment in biotechnology in Africa has led to few products.

‘However, similar to what is happening in Asia and Latin America, there is a great opportunity for Africa to mobilize science to create wealth for its people and achieve higher economic growth.

‘If a new technology is useful and the price is right, the spread is almost unstoppable. Clearly, biotechnology is not a substitute for other technologies, but is an additional arsenal which should be used as and when appropriate to increase the pace of agricultural development. It is simply another arrow in the quiver!’
Selected papers for download:
 Keynote address (HE Mme R. Kurwijila) 

Agricultural biotechnology for poverty alleviation: One more arrow in the quiver!
(C. Seré and J.E.O. Rege)


Copies of this new publication will be made available at the Africa Agricultural Science Week and the 4th Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly in Johannesburg on 10– 16 June 2007.

 

The role of biotechnology in animal agriculture to address poverty in Africa:
Opportunities and challenges (2007). J.E.O. Rege, A.M. Nyamu and D. Sendalo.

Download:
The book is available for download in PDF format as an entire document or by chapter.

Full book
(PDF: 2.2MB)

Front matter
(PDF: 85KB)

Table of contents
(PDF: 59KB)

Preface
(PDF: 22KB)

Opening statements_ Ed Rege_President, All Africa Society for Animal Production
(PDF: 39KB)

Opening speech_Hon A. Diallo_Deputy Minister for Water and Livestock Development, Tanzania
(PDF: 42KB)

Keynote address_HE Mme R. Kurwijila_Commissioner for Rural Economy & Agriculture African Union Commission
(PDF: 42KB)

Comments by the World Association of Animal Production (WAAP)
(PDF: 28KB)

Plenary Session 1_Biotech in agriculture-challenges and opportunities
(PDF: 197KB)

Plenary Session 2_Science and technology policy
(PDF: 377KB)

Plenary Session 3_Institutional arrangements and capacities for biotech applications
(PDF: 218KB)

Parallel Session 1_Animal Health
(PDF: 264KB)

Parallel Session 2_Human and environment health
(PDF: 210KB)

Parallel Session 3_Livestock genetic diversity – characterization and conservation
(PDF: 362KB)

Parallel Session 4_Animal genetic improvement
(PDF: 284KB)

Parallel Session 5_Animal feeds and nutrition
(PDF: 470KB)

Parallel Session 6_Trade in livestock and livesock products – national and regional policies to improve market access for the poor
(PDF: 269KB)

Side event_Animal health and poverty in Africa
(PDF: 72KB)

List of participants
(PDF: 70KB)

Supporting organizations
(PDF: 30KB)