Visit to India

Signing MoU with the Government of Odisha.

I made a flying visit (literally) to India over the Easter weekend in April. We have been in discussion for some time with the Government of Odisha (formerly Orissa) in eastern India about a new project to improve livestock feeing systems. The negotiations were finally over and I signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha on 15 May in the presence of the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, and senior officials of the state government.

This is the first time a state government in India has invested its own money directly in the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The project ‘Feed and Fodder Production in Different Agro Climatic Zones and its Utilization for Livestock of Odisha,’ which is worth over USD 2 million, will map feed and fodder supply and demand, improve feeding practices as well as build capacity of key players in the feed value chain. I was surprised to arrive at Bhubaneswar airport to red carpets, flower garlands and police and army security. Alas, it was not for me – the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was due to arrive a few hours later for a big rally!  Thanks to Roma Oli and Habibar Rahman and especially Braja Swain for ensuring the signing event went smoothly.

Leadership development

I spent three days with some colleagues on a Leadership Training course in Nairobi (another group was in Addis at the end of May on the same course). It is interesting to compare how we have been increasingly investing in training and building staff capacity in the past few years compared to when I first joined ILRI and with my previous employer. In my previous institute (The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in the UK) staff were expected to spend at least five days each year on training or other form of continuous professional development (CPD). After I joined ILRI in 2006, I received only one day of training in five years (on interacting with the media). There was a serious lack of investment in training. I am glad to say that this has now changed and over the past few years we have been increasingly investing in training, through the Learning and Development Program, run by our colleagues in People and Organizational Development. Of course we could always do more and we have to prioritize training on the basis of the skills ILRI needs to be fit for purpose.

Board meeting and opening of new genebank

The 47^th meeting of the ILRI Board of Trustees was held in Addis on 23-26 April. The highlight of that week was the opening of the new genebank, laboratory and office facilities on the Addis campus. This is an important investment in the 19,000 accessions of forage grasses, legumes, trees and shrubs in the genebank which is a fantastic resource from which we can identify forage genetic material that can support livestock production in many countries. Well done to everyone in Addis who has worked hard on the planning and building of the new facilities.

May in the UK

I spent most of May in the UK, initially working from there for personal reasons and then on leave at the end of the month. On 26 May, Eric Fevre, Delia Grace, Barbara Weiland and I visited the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to discuss opportunities for collaboration. LSHTM is a partner in the Improving Human Health Flagship of the Agriculture for Nutrition and Health research program which Eric co-leads with Jo Lines of LSHTM. There was a lot of interest from staff and we identified a few areas of common interest that will be followed up.

Got married

Finally I cannot end this blog without mentioning the most important day of the past month. On 3 May Regina and I got married—and so begins an exciting new chapter in my life.

Till next month.

Iain