Food and nutrition security remains a challenge in Africa. However, biotechnologies for livestock conservation and development offer potential solutions. There are African instruments to support the needed transformation, those instruments are embedded in the Agenda 2063-The Africa we want, and in the STISA 2024 to “Accelerate Africa’s transition to an innovation-led, Knowledge-based Economy”, and in the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026-2035 (Building Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Africa). The Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) and partners institutions are developing and deploying livestock technologies to achieve these respective visions and missions. 

This side event will be in the form of 4 short presentations to set the scene, followed by a consultative roundtable on livestock biotechnology, innovation and emerging technologies for Africa’s rural economic transformation as envisioned in Agenda 2063 of the African Union Commission. 

Objectives:  
- To Provide simple factual ways of the contribution of biotechnologies for the transformation of tropical livestock and to generate discussion among stakeholders,  
- Create high-level awareness and an enabling environment to harness the benefits accruing from agricultural biotechnology, innovation and emerging technologies to transform the livelihoods of smallholder livestock farmers in African countries.  

Format and layout: 
Four (04) short presentations (10 min each) on innovative livestock technologies from CTLGH, focusing on their application to smallholder farmers, presenters are: 
  -Tom Burdon: stem cells (PGCs, PSCs/iPSCs) biobanking and the surrogate host technology for conservation and transformation of the African livestock industry.
  -Raphael Mrode: AADGG and AABNet: The data capturing platform and capacity building for multi-countries African livestock genetic evaluation and sustainable genetic gain.
  -Tad Sonstegard: Synergistic power of genetic engineering and Assisted Reproductive Technologies in the livestock revolution in Africa.
  -Billy Omboki Ratemo: AU Agenda 2063: Advancing science policies as game changer in the development and adoption of livestock biotechnologies in Africa.

The four presentations will immediately be followed by a roundtable discussion with partners on the role of Livestock Biotechnologies for the achievement of AU Agenda 2063.

 
The CTLGH / LiveGene programme and partners' activities will be showcased through poster sessions and videos at the ILRI dedicated booth. 

Format: Hybrid