P30914 LRG Newsletter December 2014_FA

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Updates from the Research Networks
Animal Health
Network
This Network brings together researchers (in veterinary science, epidemiology, animal science, modelling, GHG
research and food security) to explore links and synergies between animal diseases and GHG emissions intensities,
and possible mitigation through disease control.
The Network is coordinated by Professor
Ilias Kyriazakis (Newcastle University,
UK) and Tim Robinson (International
Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya)
and supported by the UK-based Network
Secretariat and Network Champions. There
are currently 58 members from 18 countries.
The inaugural Network workshop was held
in March 2014 (see the workshop report at
. The Network priorities include
facilitating the interaction of relevant
research communities via workshops and
online fora, complementing other GRA LRG
Networks, linkingwith relevant organisations
and initiatives, identifying research funding
opportunities, standardising modelling
methodology, improving accuracy of data
collections (incorporating numbers from
developing countries), and exploring the
potential for regional subgroups.
The Network recently launched an Africa
subgroup at its first regional workshop held
in Ethiopia in the margins of ILRI@40 and
alongside the regional meeting of the Global
Strategic Alliance for the Coordination of
Research on the Major Infectious Diseases
of Animals and Zoonosis (STAR-IDAZ).
The workshop, held on 5 November 2014,
brought together 19 delegates to discuss
relevant current research and research gaps
and to understand key drivers for funding
research in Africa. Discussions also covered
the potential human health and nutrition
benefits of animal health improvements,
alongside mitigation of GHG emissions.
The Network is actively creating linkages
with the Agriculture, Food Security and
Climate Change Joint Programming Initiative
(FACCE-JPI), the FACCE-JPI Knowledge Hub
on Modelling European Agriculture with
Climate Change (MACSUR), STAR-IDAZ and
the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock
(GASL).
The Network is promoted via the ‘UK Agri-
Science & Innovation Newsletter’, on the
GRA website, on Twitter and
through presentations delivered at relevant
events around the globe.
For further information, please contact