Nairobi, Kenya: A significant boost for livestock health across Africa is on the horizon with the establishment of a groundbreaking Animal Health Innovation Hub at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Nairobi. This strategic partnership between ILRI and global animal health giant Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) promises to inject vital innovation, research, and skills development into the continent’s livestock sector.

The collaboration underscores ILRI’s growing commitment to engaging with the private sector to tackle critical agricultural challenges. The stark reality is that poor animal health currently costs Africa an estimated $9 billion annually, a staggering 6% of the total value of its livestock industry. This translates into significant economic losses, particularly for the pastoral and smallholder farmers who rely heavily on their animals for their livelihoods. Diseased livestock are less productive, yielding less meat and milk, and paradoxically, contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions relative to their output.

The newly unveiled Innovation Hub is poised to be a game-changer, focusing on several key areas to revolutionize animal health across the continent:

• Vaccine Development for Africa: Spearheading research and innovation to create vaccines specifically tailored to the unique disease challenges faced by African livestock.
• Data-Driven Disease Management: Implementing advanced data monitoring systems to track and analyse animal health trends, providing crucial insights for proactive interventions.
• Knowledge Transfer Across the Continent: Facilitating the sharing of expertise and building local capacity in animal health through comprehensive training initiatives.
• Real-Time Market Intelligence: Generating up-to-date market research to empower informed decision-making within the livestock sector.
• Fostering an Animal Health Ecosystem: Attracting startups and animal health service providers to inject further innovation and investment into the industry.

The Hub will serve as a dynamic meeting point, bringing together leading scientists from around the world to collaborate with their African counterparts, blending global industry experience with ILRI’s deep-rooted research expertise and local partnerships.

Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI’s Director General, emphasized the transformative potential of the collaboration, stating, “This partnership with Ceva underscores our shared commitment to improving livestock health and productivity in Africa by bringing research solutions to the market. Leveraging ILRI’s research expertise and links to local level partners and Ceva’s global experience in animal health, we aim to create sustainable solutions that will benefit farmers and communities across the African continent.”

Echoing this sentiment, Marc Prikazsky, Chairman and CEO of Ceva Santé Animale, added, “Innovation is at the core of Ceva’s mission, and Africa represents a key priority for our efforts to improve animal health. Through this Innovation Hub, we will work closely with ILRI and other stakeholders to ensure that scientific advancements translate into real-world impact for African farmers.”

The establishment of this Innovation Hub is widely anticipated to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, drawing in researchers, industry pioneers, and policymakers to collaboratively tackle the most pressing animal health challenges facing the African continent. It represents a significant step towards safeguarding livelihoods, enhancing food security, and promoting more sustainable livestock production across the region.