In a major step toward improving livestock health and productivity in Africa, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has partnered with global animal health company Ceva Santé Animale to establish an Animal Health Innovation Hub at ILRI’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Formalised through a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (Mou), the partnership seeks to tackle the estimated $9 billion annual losses Africa incurs due to preventable livestock diseases. These losses, which deeply impact food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience, represent one of the most pressing yet under-addressed development challenges on the continent.

Unlike conventional research programs, the Innovation Hub will serve as a translational platform, bridging the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and real-world implementation. The hub aims to fast-track the development and deployment of vaccines, disease surveillance technologies, and digital tools tailored specifically to Africa’s livestock ecosystems.

“This partnership goes beyond research—it’s about translating innovation into impact,” said Dr. Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI Director General. “With Ceva’s industry expertise and ILRI’s longstanding engagement in African agriculture, we are creating a pipeline of solutions that respond directly to farmers’ needs.”

Key priorities for the Innovation Hub include:

• Strengthening local vaccine and diagnostic production

• Enhancing real-time disease monitoring systems

• Facilitating South-South collaborations in veterinary science

• Positioning Africa as a global centre of excellence in animal health innovation

The initiative also reframes livestock health as a multidimensional development issue, recognising its far-reaching effects on food quality, farmer incomes, and greenhouse gas emissions. Poor animal health not only reduces meat and milk output but also contributes to higher emissions per unit of product, exacerbating climate vulnerability.

Ceva’s Chairman and CEO, Marc Prikazsky, echoed the urgency and ambition of the initiative: “We believe innovation must reach the field to make a difference. This hub will bring together science, business, and policy to enable that.”

The Innovation Hub will act as a collaborative ecosystem where startups, researchers, policy makers, and private sector partners can co-create practical solutions. Early-stage discussions for regional rollouts and pilot programs are already underway across East, West, and Southern Africa, with full operations expected to commence within the next year.

By embedding innovation into local systems and aligning efforts across sectors, the Animal Health Innovation Hub has the potential to not only redefine veterinary care in Africa but also to transform the continent’s livestock economy for generations to come.

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo/Google

https://www.ilri.org/news/ceva-and-ilri-sign-mou-establish-animal-health-innovation-hub-africa