8th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture
Introduction to the Conference
World food production systems, particularly in Africa, have recently faced unprecedented challenges from climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. For food of animal origin in particular, these recent challenges are in addition to already existing challenges of animal diseases and parasites, human-wildlife conflicts, cross-border diseases, long droughts, lack of markets, under-funded research, and lack of viable extension services leading to deficiency in management skills in animal farming. All these negative impacts on sustainable livestock production have weakened Africa’s food production capacity. One other emerging challenge that African animal agriculture has to contend with is the de-campaigning of meat production by environmentalists. Even the message to consumers to lessen the consumption of red meat, especially from ruminants, has reached unprecedented proportions based on purported greenhouse gases from ruminants. These challenges need consistent research and science-based evidence from both African and international scientists to provide solutions to our farmers. The lack of inter-African trade in animal products, goods, and services has also undermined food security in the continent. Localised cattle rustling in some regions of Africa is a long-standing problem that skipped the eye of researchers and scientists. However, it has the potential to fuel civil strife among communities, diplomatic rows among countries, and spread diseases. Can animal scientists propose innovative sustainable solutions to this and many more challenges facing African animal agriculture? Therefore, this 8th All Africa Conference in Animal Agriculture endeavour to assemble esteemed scientists from the continent and from abroad to share and discuss research results and other relevant information with a view to recommending possible strategies to turn the challenges of African agriculture into opportunities.
Sub Themes:
- Transforming African animal agriculture
- Animal health and food safety
- Ecological goods and services in African animal agriculture
- African animal agriculture in a rapidly changing technological environment
A Topical Collection will be published after the AACAA8 conference in the journal Tropical Animal Health and Production. Both oral and poster presenters at the conference will have a chance to be invited to submit their papers to the journal. All full paper submissions in this topical collection will be peer-reviewed and evaluated by the journal’s editors before acceptance.
Our Sponsors & Partners
Meet our Keynote & Plenary Speakers
Republic of Botswana Minister Of Agriculture:
Honourable Fidelis Mmilili Macdonald Molao
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities – Majoring in English Grammar and Literature in English and History of International Relations. He also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Education – Majoring in Educational Psychology and Teaching Methods which he completed in 2000 and 2001 respectively both from the University of Botswana. Mr. Molao also completed various short courses in Security Sector Governance, Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations, Civil and Military Relations, and Parliamentary oversight at various institutions. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree program in Research and Public Policy with the University of Botswana.
Prof. Edward Rege
Prof. Edward Rege (Ed) is the founder and CEO of Emerge Centre for Innovations – Africa (ECI-Africa). He is an animal scientist with a strong background in agriculture and rural development. He holds a PhD in Genetics, M.S. in Animal Science, and a BSc in Agriculture.
Prof. André M. de Almeida
Prof. André M. de Almeida is an Animal Scientist (1998) with a PhD in Biology (2005) and habilitation in Agronomy (2022). He was a Researcher at the Tropical Research Institute (Lisbon, Portugal) and a Professor of Animal Science at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (West Indies). Read more…
Prof. Armanda Bastos
Armanda Bastos is Professor of One Health in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria and manages the One Health platform at the Hans Hoheisen Wildlife Research Station, bordering the Kruger National Park. Read more…
Assoc. Prof. Zahra Mungloo-Dilmohamud
Prof. Zahra Mungloo-Dilmohamud is an Associate Professor at the Department of Digital Technologies, Faculty of ICDT at the University of Mauritius. Zahra has an MSc in Information Technology from the University of Nottingham, UK, and a PhD in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics from the University of Mauritius.
Dr. Sadye
Paez
Dr. Sadye Paez, PhD, PT, MPH, leads efforts to decolonize science using social justice principles to address the processes and policies that shape the culture and climate in the biodiversity genomics community. Read more…
Prof. Michiel
Scholtz
Prof. Michiel Scholtz is a Specialist Researcher in Applied Animal Breeding at ARC-Animal Production and an Affiliated Professor at the University of the Free State. Although he retired in 2018, he is continuing with his research and mentoring of students. Read more…
Dr. Moetapele Letshwenyo
Dr. Moetapele Letshwenyo is the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Sub-Regional Representative for Southern Africa (or SADC). He is a veterinarian by profession, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Edinburgh University and a Master of Preventative Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Botswana. Read more…
Dr. Siboniso Moyo
Dr Siboniso Moyo is the Deputy Director General for research and development – Biosciences at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Previously she was ILRI Director General’s representative in Ethiopia. Between 2014 and 2017, Dr Moyo was the Global Program Leader of ILRI’s Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) Program. Read more…
Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng
Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng is the Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). He also serves as the Senior Director for Livestock Based-Systems for the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) and Managing Director for Resilient AgriFood Systems (CGIAR). Prof Djikeng has close to 20 years of experience leading multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and global research and development programs focusing on agricultural development and human health. Read more…
Dr. Alexander Toto
Dr. Alexander Toto is the Team Leader and Livestock Specialist of the Technical Assistance to Implementing the EU-SADC EPA Support Programme in South Africa, funded by the European Union. Before joining the Support Programme in November 2021, Alexander was SATOTO Livestock Projects’ Principal Consultant, providing advisory services in animal agriculture, particularly on sanitary requirements for the export of animals and animal products. Read more…
Committee members
Local Organising Committee Chair
Dr John Cassius Moreki
Head of Secretariat Committee
Ms Chandapiwa Moses
Scientific Committee Leader: Prof. Cuthbert Banga
Members
Dr Pranisha Soma
Mr Kealeboga Mokgalagadi
Fund Raising Committee Leader
Dr Wame Shimane Boitumelo
Communication and publicity leader
Mr Tsaone Sekambo
