The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is an international agricultural research institute based in Nairobi, Kenya, and founded in 1994 by the merging of the International Livestock Centre for Africa and the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases.[1] It is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and focuses its research on building sustainable livestock pathways out of poverty in low-income countries. ILRI works with partners worldwide to help poor people keep their farm animals alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity and find profitable markets for their animal products.[2]
ILRI works to secure the assets and market participation of the poor and to improve smallholder and pastoral productivity. The institute works with partners to enhance development of new knowledge and technological and policy information to help farmers improve their livelihoods by exploiting the potential of their animals.[2] ILRI carries out its research in East, Southern, and West Africa, in South and Southeast Asia, and in China.[2]
ILRI's research addresses seven global livestock development challenges including vaccine and diagnostic technologies for orphan animal diseases, animal genetic resources, climate change – adaptation and mitigation, emerging diseases, SPS and market access within broader market opportunities for the poor, sustainable intensification in smallholder crop-livestock systems and vulnerability of marginal systems and peoples.[2]