Fasil Getachew Kebede

Fasil Getachew Kebede worked at ILRI’s Livestock Genetics program (2015–2018) as a research officer (I) – animal genetics and breeding. Between 2018 and 2022, Fasil was a Graduate Fellow at ILRI and a PhD candidate in Wageningen University and Research (WUR). In June 2023, he joined back ILRI as research officer (III) to lead on-farm chicken breed performance evaluations and support development of functional chicken value chains as part of Tropical Poultry Genetic Solutions (TPGS) program activities in Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Nigeria) and Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar). His research focuses on analysing multiple information sources (phenotypic, genetic, environmental, and socio-economic) to identify the best performing chicken strains and introducing them at scale to smallholder farmers through viable business models. Fasil’s research activities contribute to CGIAR’s mission to transforming food systems in the tropics, with anticipated positive impacts on productivity gains, nutritional outcome, income, job creation and women empowerment.

Fasil has 23 years of experience in agricultural research and development. Apart from ILRI, he served as a researcher in the Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) (2001-2006); as a lecturer of animal breeding and genetics, University of Gondar (2006-2011); animal breeder, the National Artificial Insemination Centre (NAIC), Ministry of Agriculture (2011); and national coordinator for domestic animal biodiversity research at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) (2011-2015).

Fasil holds a doctorate degree in animal breeding and genomics (from WUR, the Netherlands), as well as a master’s degree in animal genetics and breeding and a bachelor’s in animal science, both from Haramaya University.