Livestock and human health: Directions for ILRI

On 9 and 10 November 2011, the ILRI Board of Trustees held a 2-day 'liveSTOCK Exchange' to discuss and reflect on livestock research for development. As part of a session on 'livestock and human health' Brian Perry interviewed a panel of ILRI staff on future research in this area as part of the new CGIAR Research Program (CRP4) on Agriculture for Improved Nutrition and Health. Topics addressed by Delia Grace include the topical and geographic focus of the new CRP, how gender will be addressed, the involvement of partners, monitoring and impact indicators, and the role on One Health. Bernard Bett explained how risks of emerging diseases will be addressed, and ILRI's comparative advantages in this area. Vish Nene elaborated on the 'biotechnology' and diagnostics aspects of the new work; and Appolinaire Djikeng talks on ways the BecA hub can be used to link genomics and meta-genomics technologies with work on emerging infectious diseases. ILRI Director General Jimmy Smith concluded by arguing in favour of work on the prevention and surveillance side of such diseases.