The project aims to enhance disease prevention, early detection, and coordinated response mechanisms across the region. (Image source: FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has joined forces with key stakeholders to strengthen One Health-based PPR in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GTVC)

From 11-14 February 2025, government representatives, PF project implementing entities, international organisations, and implementing partners meet in Kigali to align efforts and develop a comprehensive 2025 workplan for the Strengthening One Health-Based PPR in the Greater Virunga Landscape (SOHGVL) project. Supported by the Pandemic Fund Secretariat, the project aims to enhance disease prevention, early detection, and coordinated response mechanisms across the region.

The workshop will refine the project’s Theory of Change, establish reporting and coordination mechanisms, and facilitate field visits to assess on-the-ground challenges. Additionally, implementing entities—including FAO, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)—will review progress and define strategies to accelerate implementation. Delivery partners such as the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Gorilla Doctors, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) will also contribute expertise in conservation and animal health.

The project will further strengthen the intergovernmental collaboration of the three partner states especially the pillar of community conservation by working together with those communities in tackling the challenge of preventing pandemics and thereby protecting the people, their animals, the wildlife and the environment in which they live and depend for their livelihoods, says Dr Andrew Seguya of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). 

The meeting is set to finalise a detailed 2025 workplan and a broader three-year strategy, establishing a results-driven framework for tracking progress and strengthening health security in the region.

This initiative aims to teach the use of this simple tool, and to enable the people trained to benefit their communities. (Image source: Burkina Faso Hydromet Project)

Farmers from the Balés region in Burkina Faso participated in a training session on the installation and use of farmer rain gauges

The session was conducted by teams from the Burkinabe Red Cross (CRBF) and the National Meteorological Agency of Burkina Faso (ANAM). This initiative, mandated by the Hydromet Burkina Faso project, aims to teach the use of this simple tool, and to enable the people trained to benefit their communities. 

The objective of these sessions is to build community capacity to use meteorological and agrometeorological instruments and help communities identify the agroclimatic profile of their province to effectively determine the start and end dates of the rainy season. This method helps determine which inputs are best suited to their specific context. Training sessions have been held in the Central Plateau region of Burkina Faso in Boussé, Ziniaré, and Zorgho, as well as in Gaoua (Poni, Diebougou, Noumbiel, and Ioba), Dedougou Boromo, Manga and Koudougou.

Burkina Faso's recorded climate events are becoming increasingly unpredictable, frequent and intense. Besides having significant impacts on the lives and livelihoods of rural communities, the hardest-hit communities are also forcibly displaced by the impacts. Burkina Faso received financing from the World Bank Group and the Green Climate Fund under the Strengthening Climate Resilience Project (Hydromet) to address this situation. With a total budget of US$33mn, the project aims to help beneficiaries adapt their lifestyles and livelihoods to a changing climate to protect themselves against the increasing risk of climate-related disasters.

To improve the delivery of hydrometeorological services to end users, the Burkina Faso Hydromet Project, in collaboration with the National Meteorological Agency, acquired and distributed 9,700 rain gauges to farmers nationwide. A rain gauge is an instrument that measures rainfall at a given point. It measures the amount of rain that falls in an area over a period of time. The Hydromet Project will therefore help improve the reliability of weather forecasts by providing various types of support to the National Meteorological Agency, the General Directorate for Water Resources, and the Early Warning System in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Novonesis will vertically integrate the complete value chain of the Alliance, adding dsm-firmenich’s sales and distribution activities alongside its existing product innovation and production capabilities. (Image source: Novonesis)

Novonesis has signed an agreement with dsm-firmenich to take over the sales and distribution activities of the Feed Enzyme Alliance in exchange for a total cash consideration of US$1.5bn 

This acquisition aligns with Novonesis’ growth strategy and expands its presence across the animal biosolutions value chain. Financially, this transaction is accretive to revenue growth, adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS excl. amortisation, with attractive revenue synergies.

Novonesis will vertically integrate the complete value chain of the Alliance, adding dsm-firmenich’s sales and distribution activities alongside its existing product innovation and production capabilities. The fully integrated business will be better equipped to serve existing and new customers with strong insights into core markets and product technologies enhancing R&D and unleashing further innovation. 

Through the successful combination of Novozymes and Chr Hansen, Novonesis is now an industry leader in animal biosolutions with one consolidated go to market model and leading technological know-how. With this transaction Novonesis will have a greater customer reach and a broader offering of market leading biosolutions, combining enzymes and probiotics, for both animal nutrition and health. This acquisition will accelerate Novonesis’ sales growth of animal biosolutions by a low-single-digit CAGR above market growth.

“The Alliance has been a great success for both companies, establishing a global leadership position in feed enzymes," said CEO of dsm-firmenich, Dimitri de Vreeze. I am confident that this business will continue to thrive under the leadership of Novonesis, and I am pleased that the long-term commercial relationship with our Animal Nutrition & Health business will continue.” 

Dr Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, shares the story behind the documentary World Without Cows at a film screening in Kentucky. (Image source: Alltech)

Global leader in animal nutrition and crop science, Alltech has launched Planet of Plenty LLC, a new business entity dedicated to science-led storytelling, advocacy and educational initiatives that amplify agriculture’s vital role in creating a sustainable future

Building on Alltech’s vision of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty, this initiative unites the agri-food community in creating a world where agriculture thrives, nutritious food is abundant and accessible, and our planet’s natural resources are replenished for generations to come.   

While most families had ties to agriculture just two generations ago, many people today lack firsthand exposure to how the world’s food is produced. This disconnect can lead to misconceptions and oversimplified narratives about agriculture’s environmental impact, the role of farmers in creating climate solutions, and the complexity of feeding a growing population while protecting natural resources. Through powerful storytelling, advocacy and educational initiatives, Planet of Plenty LLC aims to bridge that gap.

“Through Planet of Plenty LLC, we can take viewers on a global journey—into fields, research labs and farming communities—where they will see firsthand the intricate relationship between agriculture, the environment and food and economic security,” said president and CEO of Alltech, Dr Mark Lyons.

Planet of Plenty LLC will serve as a collaborative hub where those within the agri-food community and beyond can promote science-based storytelling, advocate for the world’s agri-food producers, support educational initiatives and broaden the conversation about agriculture’s role in shaping a more sustainable future. Planet of Plenty LLC’s flagship project is World Without Cows, a feature-length documentary that amplifies the diverse perspectives of researchers studying methane emissions, farmers implementing regenerative practices, experts tackling the challenge of nourishing a growing population, and people in rural communities who rely on cows for their livelihoods.

As interest in World Without Cows grows, this initiative offers supporters a mechanism to strengthen the documentary’s impact by opening doors to new audiences. Financial contributions to Planet of Plenty LLC will directly fund efforts to expand the documentary’s reach—and will also support additional science-based storytelling and advocacy initiatives that keep the conversation going.