Innovative pasture technologies for sustainable livestock farming.

Nigeria's ministry of livestock development is working with state governments, experts, and international partners to modernise the livestock sector and ensure sustainable pasture and fodder for farmers.

The new initiative, supported by the L-PRES project, aims to tackle the challenges facing pasturelands, including overgrazing, land degradation, and climate change.

A meeting held in Abuja brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including state governments, livestock experts, the World Bank, and the Israeli ministry of agriculture. The event, organized by L-PRES, focused on "technologies for sustainable pasture production and management in Nigeria."

 Idi Mukhtar Maiha, minister of livestock development, said, "As we confront pressing challenges ranging from overgrazing and climate stress to rising tensions over scarce pasture resources, it has become evident that innovation and collaboration must be our most potent tools."  He further highlighted that managing pasture sustainably is not just an agricultural issue but a means to promote environmental stewardship, social stability, and economic resilience.

Sanusi Abubakar, national coordinator of the L-PRES project, pointed out that pasturelands are essential for livestock production but face growing threats and said, "These challenges not only affect productivity but also contribute to conflicts over scarce resources." Nigeria is now looking at climate-smart and technology-driven solutions to restore and sustainably manage its pasture ecosystems.

The meeting explored various innovative technologies, such as GIS, remote sensing, and precision irrigation, to improve pasture management. Experts also discussed best practices in rangeland and soil health management, sustainable pasture enterprises, and policy frameworks for long-term success.

Israel expressed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s livestock sector. Daniel Werner, head of foreign relations of Israeli ministry of agriculture, said,"Israel has developed technologies that can help modernize Nigeria's livestock sector." 

Livestock farmers welcomed the initiative but called for a sustainable development model that benefits both farmers and investors. Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, the Emir of Nasarawa, urged experts to avoid past mistakes, such as those made with cassava farming, where farmers were encouraged to invest without sufficient market opportunities.

Some L-PRES participating states, like Borno and Gombe, have appealed to investors by offering incentives, such as free land ownership titles in Borno for anyone interested in investing in the state's 180 square kilometres of grazing land.

Tanzania can take control of its waters.

Tanzania’s fishing industry has long supported families, kept children in school, and sustained coastal communities

But behind the scenes, the sector is under serious threat. The problem isn’t natural disasters or predators, but something worse—illegal foreign fishing fleets quietly stealing Tanzania’s marine resources.

According to the Tanzania Relief Initiative (TRI), many of these foreign vessels disguise themselves under local names and operate in Tanzania’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Despite clear territorial boundaries, these fleets continue fishing without proper permits or accountability. The Global IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) Fishing Index has ranked Tanzania poorly, placing it among the worst-performing countries in recent years.

 Edwin Mugambila, TRI CEO has called for urgent action. “Foreigners must pay taxes so the country benefits. Locals should be the ones earning a living from our waters,” he said at a recent press conference. He urged the government to introduce strict laws, involve local fishing associations in licensing, and implement modern tracking systems.

One major concern is the depletion of key fish species. Once abundant and valuable fish like Robusta are now nearly extinct in Tanzanian waters. Mugambila also raised alarm over the capture of banned species, including whales and sharks, with foreign crews taking only the fins and discarding the rest. Many foreign operators reportedly use Tanzanian proxies to appear legitimate while keeping full control.

Despite having over 1,400 km of coastline and more than 61,000 square kilometres of inland water, marine fishing contributes just 1.7 to 1.8 per cent to Tanzania’s GDP. Most fishing is done by small-scale operators using outdated tools. Deep-sea fishing, where the real value lies, is dominated by foreigners. Meanwhile, aquaculture remains underdeveloped, contributing only about 1 per cent to the economy.

Local fishers and entrepreneurs are also struggling to compete. Sarah Mwambu from the Tanzania Association of Marine Entrepreneurs (TAOME) said foreign buyers pay much higher prices for fish, leaving locals unable to match them. “We used to buy at 15,000/- per kilo. Now they offer 40,000/-. We can’t keep up,” she said.

The TRI and local groups are calling for tighter enforcement, better infrastructure, and greater support for Tanzanian fishers. With bold leadership and proper investment, Tanzania can take control of its waters and ensure the ocean’s wealth benefits its people first.

The camera captures a bird’s-eye view of cows as they pass underneath.

A new camera and AI system is now helping dairy farmers improve cow health, productivity, and herd management

The cutting-edge HerdVision technology, now available exclusively through Wynnstay, measures body condition score (BCS) and mobility, giving farmers instant insights to act on. The camera fits into any parlour or race and captures a bird’s-eye view of cows as they pass underneath. It automatically provides a BCS and mobility score, which can be viewed on a desktop or app. The key benefit lies in how farmers use this data, supported by Wynnstay’s team of dairy experts.

Matt Dobbs, CEO of HerdVision,“This partnership brings the benefits of early identification of problem cows alongside support from Wynnstay's specialists, nutritionists and range of products, ensuring that a problem will be quickly addressed. Wynnstay's superior knowledge of dairy farming, range of expertise and wide product portfolio made them logical partners to bring the benefits of vision technology to UK dairy farming.”

Lameness is one area where the system shows real value. “With access to the data from the HerdVision reports, and working alongside the farm’s foot trimmer, we can identify problem areas which may be causing issues like sole bruising or white line disease,” says Rebecca Reed-Downes, dairy technical specialist at Wynnstay. He added,“If it’s an issue of digital dermatitis, we could dig into the farm’s footbathing routine, and refine the system.”

Nutritionists also benefit. “For nutritionists, this will provide vital data on BCS changes throughout lactation.Used correctly this information will allow for improvements in fertility, health and production”says David Jones, dairy nutritionist at Wynnstay.

The system costs £5,900 with a free first-year subscription and is eligible for funding through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

The African Union (AU) delivered a key presentation on fisheries and aquaculture policy in Uganda. (Image source: AU)

The African Union (AU), through its Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), delivered a key presentation on fisheries and aquaculture policy at a side event during the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) Conference in Entebbe/Kampala, Uganda, from 24 to 27 June 2025

Led by Simon Owani Olok, senior policy officer for Fisheries and Aquaculture at AU-IBAR, the presentation underscored the sector's critical role in the livelihoods of over 10 million Africans, "most of whom are among the rural poor." Despite their importance in food security and economic development, these sectors face threats from poor governance, institutional weaknesses, and over-exploitation of key fish stocks.

The AU has responded with major political commitments, including the 2014 Abuja Declarations and the 2015 World Summit on Sustainable Development, which led to the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS). Endorsed by Heads of State in Malabo in 2014, the PFRS aims to unlock the sector's full socio-economic potential through "market-led, sustainable strategies".

Key milestones include the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM), APRIFAS, and the PRNFAA. A pan-African strategy for data collection and evidence-based policymaking has been launched, with 16 AU Member States aligning policies with the PFRS.

Member States bear primary responsibility for implementation, integrating fisheries into national plans and engaging stakeholders. The AU "remains committed to providing leadership and technical support" to ensure fisheries and aquaculture drive Africa's economic transformation. Further details are available on AU-IBAR's official website.