Objective
The Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA)-ILRI Hub is a strategic biosciences platform that, through increased use of bioscience-based technologies, aims to improve the livelihoods of millions of resource poor people in Africa. The program’s portfolio comprises research projects on crop and livestock improvement, nutrition and food safety, technology platforms and capacity building.
Recent accomplishments
Over 1000 scientists from more than 20 countries benefited from short skill-enhancement training courses between 2015 and 2017.
Establishment of 13 communities of practice, linking African scientists of different disciplines with similar interests. Support to grant writing has resulted in proposals worth about USD 13 million.
Over 6000 dairy farmers in Kenya and Rwanda received seeds of a climate-smart Brachiaria forage. Due to the resulting extra forage, they reported increases in milk production of up to 40% and 50% higher live-weight gains in young cattle.
