Appolinaire Djikeng, PhDBecA-ILRI Hub, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya

Panel 03: Food nutrition and safety

Under-research crops and livestock as key contributors to food security in Africa

Food and nutrition security in Africa

Photo courtesy: Daniel SilaJKUAT

Malnutrition/Undernutrition (There is 20% annual increment since 1990)Stunting in children under five (40% in Africa – 195 Millions total in developing countries)East Africa; Kenya and Tanzania, 2011 (< 5 years old: 44% stunting; pregnant women: 52% anemia)Food safety (toxins and microbes)

Innovations: Better crops and livestock animals Safe food Alternative to classical crops and livestock

We need more than classical large livestock and more than staple crops

CIAT monogastric project, 2009- 11

Leave and grain edible High protein contents (^30% more

than the common cereals), Essential fatty acids Micro-nutrients (vitamins and

minerals) It is highly tolerant of arid

environments

Amaranth

Under-research livestock (Cavies) as key contributors to food security in Africa

Shaded area of distribution after map by Ngoupayou et al. (1995)

Cameroon

Côte d‘Ivoire

DR CongoCongo

Tanzania

Mozambique

Nigeria

Guinea

Guinée

Malawi

Geo-referencedLocated from literature/key informant Known from region only; importance unknownFrom literature/key informant; not importantOnly used as pet

Kenya

Burundi

Rwanda

High protein value (19-21%) => the highest

High carcass yield (≈85%) Low fat contents (< 8%) Mineral contents (≈ 1%)

Our focus: Targeting women and children in

Cameroon and Cameroon: Cavies for more protein and income

Amaranth as key contributor to food security in Africa

Madiira 1Low to medium altitudeAbout 40 t/haNarrow leavesSweet tastingLong harvesting period

Madiira 2Low to high altitudeAbout 40 t/haBroad leavesSweet tastingLong harvesting period

Amaranth as key contributor to food security in Africa

Link with SME in Kenya Link with GAIN initiative

Photo courtesy: Daniel Sila

Key message

Non-staple crops and under-

researched livestock offer solutions to

food and nutritional security in Africa

Cavi

es(G

uine

a pi

gs)

Amar

anth

Photo courtesy: Daniel Sila

JKUAT

Photo courtesy: Brigitte Maass

CIAT

Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub)Mobilizing biosciences for Africa’s development

1. Research2. Capacity building and training3. Research and Technology-related

services4. Focal point for the agricultural

research community in eastern and central Africa

5. Promotion of product development and delivery

Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub)Mobilizing biosciences for Africa’s development

RESEARCH (and DEVELOPMENT) Food safety Nutritional security and income generation The food security (crop and livestock improvement) The biosciences for climate change mitigation The disease diagnostics (crops and animals) The “Low science input” crops and animals (orphan

crops and animals) The agroecosystem health

CAPACITY BUILDING Strengthening Individuals and institutions Visiting scientist program

Alignments:ABI, CAADP, ASARECA, RUFORUM, other …

The BecA Hub team10 countries Australia, Benin, Cameroon, England, Ethiopia, Italy, Kenya, Scotland, USA

Thank you

Together we can achieve food security in Africa

The Government of KenyaCanadian International Development Agency (CIDA)Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable AgricultureAusAID/CSIROThe Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationSwedish Ministry for Foreign AffairsSwedish International Development Agency (Sida)Rockefeller FoundationDoyle FoundationUNESCO, IFS, ASARECA, RUFORUM, etc …