Corporate strategy

Livestock is the fastest-growing and highest-value agricultural subsector globally. However, it is also the most neglected and often misunderstood. In low- and middle-income countries, ILRI works with partners to conduct research that supports the development of livestock systems. By harnessing the latest innovations in the sector ILRI contributes to wider development impacts in the context of food systems in a climate crisis.

The ILRI corporate strategy 2024-2030: Unlocking sustainable livestock’s potential through research for better lives and a better planet aims to deliver improved lives in the Global South through equitable and resilient livestock systems, contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits.

This new, ambitious strategy builds upon two mutually dependent objectives: developing and deploying solutions at scale, and influencing policies and investments which together, will achieve significant impacts for more than 300 million people’s lives.

What's new in the strategy?

Better targeting 

ILRI will tailor its solutions to drive sustainable, resilient, and equitable transitions through careful identification of priority commodities in specific locations. ILRI will focus on specific livestock value chains and deliver integrated solutions that take into account local contexts and needs.

Strengthening policies and investment

ILRI will provide balanced, evidence-based policy and investment advice on sustainable livestock-centred development solutions. It will also create agile mechanisms to be more demand-driven and engage with policymakers and investors. 

Impact focus

ILRI will engage strategically with its partners at the local level and contribute to national, regional and global investment priorities to develop and deploy relevant and integrated packages of solutions for specific commodities, systems and locations.

Intentional partnership and alliance-building

Building upon its diverse and deep partnerships, ILRI will be more intentional about co-creating solutions, sharing resources, supporting national and regional agendas, and forging strategic alliances to ensure innovations are reaching where they are needed most.

ILRI's newly revised mission seeks to impact the lives of more than 300 million people:

Peoples’ lives in low- and middle-income countries are improved through livestock science that contributes to equitable and resilient livestock systems in order to deliver food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits.

Five critical success factors guide the results that ILRI wants to achieve as an institute and provide a framework for choosing activities to pursue and not to pursue. They also guide operational and functional planning for allocating resources and monitoring progress.

Research with the end in mind

ILRI and partners co-develop and deploy at scale demand-driven livestock solutions and innovations that equitably improve people’s lives and respect planetary boundaries.

Champion the future of sustainable livestock systems

Increase recognition of, and investment in, the contribution of sustainable livestock systems to development and climate ambitions.

Partnerships and alliances with purpose

Cultivate purpose-driven partnerships and alliances to maximize impact on people’s lives.

Grow resources for livestock research and innovation

Secure sustainable and appropriate resources for ILRI and partners to conduct demand-driven research and deploy innovations in sustainable livestock solutions to achieve impact.

An agile and effective ILRI

Strengthen a culture of responsiveness, accountability and integrated working across the entire institute to be more effective and efficient.