Leveraging Agri-advocacy to promote animal genetic diversity for climate change mitigation : Kenya and Tanzania perspective

Abstract

The role that genetic diversity in animal genetic resources (AnGR) plays in mitigating the effects of climate change on the global protein supply is of the utmost significance. East Africa historically played a pivotal role in the dispersal of domesticated livestock species across the African continent. At present, it maintains a substantial contribution to worldwide biodiversity as a result of its reservoir of a diverse array of AnGR, characterized by genetic and species diversity. A considerable reduction in the genetic diversity of AnGR has been documented in numerous studies, giving rise to concerns regarding the sustainability of animal protein supply in the face of climate change. The objective of this article is to outline prospective roles that advocacy and management organizations specializing in AnGRs may undertake to aid in the conservation of AnGR genetic diversity in East Africa. Moreover, it provides a prospective framework and structure for advocacy that extends from the farmers, to the higher-level (regional farmers association). We believe that advocating for the promotion of genetic diversity at the regional level will have a significant impact at the national and further at global scale.