Record Details

The African Goat Improvement Network: a scientific group empowering smallholder farmers

MELSpace

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title The African Goat Improvement Network: a scientific group empowering smallholder farmers
 
Creator Van Tassell, Curtis P.
 
Contributor D. Rosen, Benjamin
Woodward-Greene, Jennifer
Silverstein, Jeffrey
Huson, Heather
Sölkner, Johann
Boettcher, Paul
Rothschild, Max F.
Mészáros, Gábor
Nakimbugwe, Helen
Gondwe, Timothy
Catherine Muchadeyi, Farai
Nandolo, Wilson
Mulindwa, Henry
Banda, Liveness
Kaumbata, Wilson
Getachew, Tesfaye
Haile, Aynalem
Soudre, Albert
Ouédraogo, Dominique
Rischkowsky, Barbara
Mwai, Ally Okeyo
Dzomba, Edgar
Nash, Oyekanmi
Guangul, Solomon
Masiga, Clet Wandui
Wurzinger, Maria
Sayre, Brian
Stella, Alessandra
Klopp, Gwenola
Sonstegard, Tad
 
Subject community-based breeding programs
small-holder
 
Description The African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) is a collaborative group of scientists focused on genetic improvement of goats in small holder communities across the African continent. The group emerged from a series of workshops focused on enhancing goat productivity and sustainability. Discussions began in 2011 at the inaugural workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya. The goals of this diverse group were to: improve indigenous goat production in Africa; characterize existing goat populations and to facilitate germplasm preservation where appropriate; and to genomic approaches to better understand adaptation. The long-term goal was to develop cost-effective strategies to apply genomics to improve productivity of small holder farmers without sacrificing adaptation. Genome-wide information on genetic variation enabled genetic diversity studies, facilitated improved germplasm preservation decisions, and provided information necessary to initiate large scale genetic improvement programs. These improvements were partially implemented through a series of community-based breeding programs that engaged and empowered local small farmers, especially women, to promote sustainability of the production system. As with many international collaborative efforts, the AGIN work serves as a platform for human capacity development. This paper chronicles the evolution of the collaborative approach leading to the current AGIN organization and describes how it builds capacity for sustained research and development long after the initial program funds are gone. It is unique in its effectiveness for simultaneous, multi-level capacity building for researchers, students, farmers and communities, and local and regional government officials. The positive impact of AGIN capacity building has been felt by participants from developing, as well as developed country partners.
 
Date 2023-12-29T15:01:14Z
2023-12-29T15:01:14Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier https://mel.cgiar.org/reporting/download/hash/02f73874bccb2472da44d087390551a3
Curtis P. Van Tassell, Benjamin D. Rosen, Jennifer Woodward-Greene, Jeffrey Silverstein, Heather Huson, Johann Sölkner, Paul Boettcher, Max F. Rothschild, Gábor Mészáros, Helen Nakimbugwe, Timothy Gondwe, Farai Catherine Muchadeyi, Wilson Nandolo, Henry Mulindwa, Liveness Banda, Wilson Kaumbata, Tesfaye Getachew, Aynalem Haile, Albert Soudre, Dominique Ouédraogo, Barbara Rischkowsky, Ally Okeyo Mwai, Edgar Dzomba, Oyekanmi Nash, Solomon Guangul, Clet Wandui Masiga, Maria Wurzinger, Brian Sayre, Alessandra Stella, Gwenola Klopp, Tad Sonstegard. (29/8/2023). The African Goat Improvement Network: a scientific group empowering smallholder farmers. Frontiers in Genetics, 14.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/68956
Open access
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-4.0
 
Format PDF
 
Publisher Frontiers Media
 
Source Frontiers in Genetics;14,(2023)