Conversations in Development: Livestock—the Unsung Heroes of International Development

By Michelle Geis Wallace, April 2, 2014

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Cattle, goats, chickens and other farm animals are the unsung heroes of international development. More than 600 million rural poor depend on their animals to survive, and livestock contribute up to 80 percent of agricultural GDP in developing countries. Perhaps no group understands this better than the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), which conducts research on livestock to improve food security and reduce poverty globally. Susan MacMillan, Head of Public Awareness at ILRI, sat down with BurnessGlobal’s Michelle Geis in Nairobi to discuss the critical role of livestock in international development and how to communicate the urgency of ILRI’s work to audiences who might never step foot in a developing country.