In The Spotlight
With an aim to double milk production over the next five years, Nigeria has begun importing dairy cattle from Denmark, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha announced
While Nigeria is known to have considerable cattle populations, its annual milk production is limited to 700,000 tonnes — less than half of its 1.6 million-tonne demand. As a result, around 60% of the country’s dairy needs are met through imports.
"Our goal is ambitious but achievable," says Maiha. “We aim to double Nigeria's milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years."
In a further move to modernise the sector, eight new pasture species — the first in nearly five decades — have been registered, while a national strategy for animal genetic resources has been rolled out in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“With over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats already, we are not starting from zero — we are building from strength,” Maiha said.
The R1 Single-Plot Research Combine by Alamco is designed to provide quick harvest without damaging the seeds
This is made possible by its advanced rotary technology that allows optimisation of the harvest process and improve data accuracy.
Unlike conventional plot combines that rely on high-speed threshing cylinders, R1 utilises exclusive top-fed axial rotors. This innovative design gently pulls material into the threshing chamber, which is over eight feet long, enabling higher throughput and greater efficiency. Operating at lower RPMs (350-500), the R1's rotary technology allows for the early harvest of large green plants, tough stems, and high-foliage crops, giving researchers a longer harvest window for faster decision-making. The self-cleaning system ensures easier cleanout and more pure samples for more reliable seed research data.
Equipped with Cummins QSF 3.8L FT4 Diesel Engine and Poclain rear Torque King 4WD wheel motors and tandem electronically controlled hydraulics, it delivers superior performance in tough field conditions.
The Animal Products and Inputs Quality Testing Center (APIQTC) under the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) has officially earned ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation
This milestone strengthens Ethiopia’s ability to ensure the safety and quality of animal products and inputs, prevent and contain the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and safeguard human, animal, and environmental health through a One Health approach.
The accreditation confirms the APIQTC’s technical competence in performing on 13 parameters on veterinary pharmaceutical quality; Aflatoxin residue monitoring in animal source food and feed, and microbiological analysis.
These functions are vital for independently verifying animal products and inputs quality and adherence to international trade requirements and supporting public confidence. In a country where livestock plays a central role in the economy, such capabilities are indispensable for market access, trade, and sustainable agricultural development.
Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente, said, “ISO accreditation is critical for Ethiopia’s agricultural sustainability and public health security. This international recognition reflects our commitment to quality assurance and our readiness to meet global food safety standards.”

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi. (Image source: Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Kenya)
Ahead of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation's (FOCAC) summit following the 2024 edition, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, is in China, attending the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions of the summit
Attended by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives from all 54 African member states of FOCAC, the high level engagement is evaluating the progress since FOCAC 2024.
Mudavadi visited the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center at the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HUNAAS) in Mapoling, Changsha. Founded in 1984 by globally renowned Academician Yuan Longping—celebrated as the “Father of Hybrid Rice”—the center has made significant advancements in rice production through innovative research and technology. The hybrid varieties developed at HUNAAS can yield over 18 tonnes per hectare, marking a transformational leap in food production.
The visit presents an opportunity for Kenya to explore enhanced collaboration in agricultural innovation, aimed at strengthening national food security and sustainable agricultural development.
With an aim to double milk production over the next five years, Nigeria has begun importing dairy cattle from Denmark, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha announced
While Nigeria is known to have considerable cattle populations, its annual milk production is limited to 700,000 tonnes — less than half of its 1.6 million-tonne demand. As a result, around 60% of the country’s dairy needs are met through imports.
"Our goal is ambitious but achievable," says Maiha. “We aim to double Nigeria's milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years."
In a further move to modernise the sector, eight new pasture species — the first in nearly five decades — have been registered, while a national strategy for animal genetic resources has been rolled out in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“With over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats already, we are not starting from zero — we are building from strength,” Maiha said.

Generative AI models support the agricultural industry in their small molecule discovery process. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Computational biology company, Evogene Ltd has developed a generative AI foundation model, version 1.0, for small molecule design, in collaboration with Google Cloud
The new model expands on Evogene's ChemPass AI by identifying novel small molecules that meet multiple complex product criteria.
Generative AI models support the agricultural industry in their small molecule discovery process by enabling the simultaneous consideration of multiple complex product requirements, all while creating truly novel molecular structures. This allows the industry to access strong, defensible IP portfolios.
Ofer Haviv, president and CEO of Evogene, said, "Completing our foundation model is a major milestone in our offering. It unlocks new frontiers for ChemPass AI, giving us the power to generate wholly novel molecules—ones that not only perform but also create new IP space. This is key to overcoming long-standing challenges in life-science R&D: from reducing late-stage failure in pharma to developing ag-chemicals that are effective, sustainable, and proprietary."
Boaz Maoz, managing director, Google Cloud Israel, said, "We're pleased to collaborate with Evogene's innovation in AI-powered molecule design. Their progress with ChemPass AI highlights the strength of pairing advanced AI infrastructure with deep scientific insight. We look forward to seeing the impact of this new model in drug discovery and agriculture."
The R1 Single-Plot Research Combine by Alamco is designed to provide quick harvest without damaging the seeds
This is made possible by its advanced rotary technology that allows optimisation of the harvest process and improve data accuracy.
Unlike conventional plot combines that rely on high-speed threshing cylinders, R1 utilises exclusive top-fed axial rotors. This innovative design gently pulls material into the threshing chamber, which is over eight feet long, enabling higher throughput and greater efficiency. Operating at lower RPMs (350-500), the R1's rotary technology allows for the early harvest of large green plants, tough stems, and high-foliage crops, giving researchers a longer harvest window for faster decision-making. The self-cleaning system ensures easier cleanout and more pure samples for more reliable seed research data.
Equipped with Cummins QSF 3.8L FT4 Diesel Engine and Poclain rear Torque King 4WD wheel motors and tandem electronically controlled hydraulics, it delivers superior performance in tough field conditions.