Pastoral issues must be part of ILRI’s research agenda into the future

Ian Scoones, Science Adviser to ILRI reflects on the recent conference on the future of pastoralism and the work of ILRI in this area. He argues that pastoralism ‘must be part of ILRI’s research agenda into the future.” He identifies two promising areas: First, to engage in technical research on production issues in pastoral areas and pastoral systems - to sustain the enormous economic potential of such areas. Second, to support the broader area of innovation. As pastoral systems change and evolve, there is enormous innovation in these systems themselves, he gives an example from camel markets in northern Kenya. “There is a great opportunity for ILRI scientists to engage with innovators outside the formal scientific research system, who are pastoralists themselves.” The Addis Ababa conference on the future of pastoralism in Africa (21-23 March 2011) was organized by the Future Agricultures Consortium with Tufts University.