The African Goat Improvement Network: a scientific group empowering smallholder farmers

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dc.creatorTassell, Curtis P. van
dc.creatorRosen, Benjamin D.
dc.creatorWoodward-Greene, M. Jennifer
dc.creatorSilverstein, Jeffrey T.
dc.creatorHuson, Heather J.
dc.creatorSölkner, Johann
dc.creatorBoettcher, Paul
dc.creatorRothschild, Max F.
dc.creatorMészáros, Gábor
dc.creatorNakimbugwe, Helen N.
dc.creatorGondwe, Timothy N.
dc.creatorMuchadeyi, Farai C.
dc.creatorNandolo, Wilson
dc.creatorMulindwa, Henry A.
dc.creatorBanda, Liveness J.
dc.creatorKaumbata, Wilson
dc.creatorGetachew, Tesfaye
dc.creatorHaile, Aynalem
dc.creatorSoudre, Albert
dc.creatorOuédraogo, Dominique
dc.creatorRischkowsky, Barbara A.
dc.creatorOkeyo Mwai, Ally
dc.creatorDzomba, Edgar Farai
dc.creatorNash, Oyekanmi
dc.creatorAbegaz, Solomon
dc.creatorMasiga, Clet Wandui
dc.creatorWurzinger, Maria
dc.creatorSayre, Brian L.
dc.creatorStella, Alessandra
dc.creatorTosser-Klopp, Gwenola
dc.creatorSonstegard, Tad S.
dc.date2023-08-29
dc.date2023-10-31T12:27:29Z
dc.date2023-10-31T12:27:29Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T14:24:47Z
dc.descriptionThe African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) is a collaborative group of scientists focused on genetic improvement of goats in small holder communities across the African continent. The group emerged from a series of workshops focused on enhancing goat productivity and sustainability. Discussions began in 2011 at the inaugural workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya. The goals of this diverse group were to: improve indigenous goat production in Africa; characterize existing goat populations and to facilitate germplasm preservation where appropriate; and to genomic approaches to better understand adaptation. The long-term goal was to develop cost-effective strategies to apply genomics to improve productivity of small holder farmers without sacrificing adaptation. Genome-wide information on genetic variation enabled genetic diversity studies, facilitated improved germplasm preservation decisions, and provided information necessary to initiate large scale genetic improvement programs. These improvements were partially implemented through a series of community-based breeding programs that engaged and empowered local small farmers, especially women, to promote sustainability of the production system. As with many international collaborative efforts, the AGIN work serves as a platform for human capacity development. This paper chronicles the evolution of the collaborative approach leading to the current AGIN organization and describes how it builds capacity for sustained research and development long after the initial program funds are gone. It is unique in its effectiveness for simultaneous, multi-level capacity building for researchers, students, farmers and communities, and local and regional government officials. The positive impact of AGIN capacity building has been felt by participants from developing, as well as developed country partners.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/132569
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/78943
dc.languageen
dc.publisherFrontiers Media
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceTassell, Curtis P. van. et al. 2023. The African Goat Improvement Network: a scientific group empowering smallholder farmers. Frontiers in Genetics 14
dc.subjectadaptation
dc.subjectbreeding
dc.subjectcapacity building
dc.subjectcommunities
dc.subjectdevelopment
dc.subjectevolution
dc.subjectfarmers
dc.subjectgenetic variation
dc.subjectgermplasm
dc.subjectgoats
dc.subjectinformation
dc.subjectproduction
dc.subjectproductivity
dc.subjectresearch
dc.subjectstrategies
dc.subjectsustainability
dc.subjectwomen
dc.subjectgenomics
dc.subjectgenetics
dc.subjectcommunity-based breeding programs
dc.titleThe African Goat Improvement Network: a scientific group empowering smallholder farmers
dc.typeJournal Article

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Centro Internacional para la Investigación Agrícola en las Áreas Secas (ICARDA)