Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue

Livestock systems are at the heart of the most complex development challenges that the world grapples with today, from improving food security and livelihoods to addressing climate change and mitigating the threat of pandemic disease. These challenges that must be addressed in the context of increasingly frequent, complex, interrelated and often unexpected drivers. It is clear livestock systems must change to mitigate harm to the climate, environment, and human health. But they need to do this in a way that is socially just, does not compromise their multiple benefits of livestock for development, and meets anticipated growing demand for animal products – particularly in Africa and Asia.

This event will explore how novel partnerships in Africa have delivered solutions that address the specific situations in different countries.  It will also profile how the seeds of opportunity sown through the experiences of alumni from the Borlaug-Ruan International Fellowship who interned at ILRI over the decades are bearing much fruit.  Building on these examples the event will provide a forum to explore how such novel partnerships, spanning the globe and generations can be strengthened and deepened to so that research and diverse partnerships deliver sustainable livestock systems as a solution to food systems transformation in a climate crisis. 

The event will provide an opportunity to share and learn from experiences of diverse partnerships spanning US to Africa that are delivering solutions for livestock systems on the ground, impacting millions of lives.  By sharing results and examples of partnerships across continents and generations that have enabled a broad ecosystem of livestock research to make a difference to healthy, balanced human nutrition, livelihoods and the environment the event will also explore new future opportunities for novel science and partnerships.

Iowa State University

At Iowa State University of Science and Technology the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences address life’s greatest challenges in food, the environment, and plant-animal-health systems. 

The Borlaug-Ruan International Internship

The Borlaug-Ruan International Internship is a truly unique experience preparing students for high impact careers in science, agriculture and global development. The internship provides students a unique professional experience working with world-renowned scientists and policymakers at leading research and development organizations around the world.

International Livestock Research Institute 

As one of 15 CGIAR research centres, ILRI’s focus is to work with partners to undertake livestock research that addresses embraces the complex challenge of harnessing the latest innovations – not just to deliver more meat, milk, and eggs, but to do so in ways that contribute to wider development impacts.

The instrument creating ILRI as an international organization was signed in Berne, Switzerland, on 21 September 1994 and the centre started operations 1 January 1995. Thus, ILRI will be 30 years old in September 2024. This year also marks 50 years (20+30) since the creation of ILRAD (1973) and ILCA (1974), ILRI’s forerunners.