This document outlines the mission, vision, and strategic objectives of the Coalition for Tropical Livestock Genetic Gains (CTLGH). The mission is to advance genomic science from temperate livestock and transfer it to tropical systems to increase sustainable productivity and resilience. The vision is for livestock producers in tropical developing countries to benefit from new, tropically adapted breeds that are more productive, profitable, healthy, and resilient to climate change. The strategic objectives are to 1) develop new genetic and genomic tools to address challenges in tropical livestock productivity, 2) strengthen capacity and training of livestock researchers in developing countries, and 3) develop partnerships to scale up new breeds and technologies for tropical environments.

1. Mission
Support science and innovation to underpin
tropical livestock genetic gains: To advance and
adapt the genomic science and innovations that
have delivered genetic gains in temperate livestock
systems so that these scientific advances can also
be transferred and underpin increases in sustainable
productivity and resilience in tropical livestock
production systems.
Develop new genetic and genomic tools and
technologies: To mobilise a global research
partnership of scientists in developing and industrial
countries to develop and apply modern genetic
and genomics tools to address the challenges of
improving the productivity, profitability and resilience
of tropical livestock species in developing countries.
Establish partnerships to deliver genetic gains to
farmers: To develop a range of private and public
sector partnerships to drive the adoption of new,
genomic based technologies and new breeds
suitable for small-scale livestock producers
in a range of tropical environments.
Vision
Livestock producers in tropical developing
countries will benefit through improved food
security and increased incomes, as a result of
greater access to and adoption of new, tropically
adapted breeds of cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep and
goats, which are more productive and profitable,
healthy, feed efficient and resilient to future climate
and environmental shocks, in a wide range of
production systems and environments, especially in
Africa.
Overview of interlinked
CTLGH R&D Programs
There are currently five CTLGH R&D
Programs, which are inter-related and
inter-connected, as illustrated. A brief
description of each current program is
given on the right.
Implementation of the
research strategy through
CTLGH R&D Programs
CTLGHA GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
TO DELIVER GENETIC
GAINS IN TROPICAL LIVESTOCK
CTLGH is a joint venture founded by the University of
Edinburgh/The Roslin Institute, Scotland’s Rural College
(SRUC) and the International Livestock Research Institute
(ILRI). It has two nodes, one in Edinburgh, Scotland at The
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh and the other in
Nairobi at the International Livestock Research Institute
(ILRI) and the Biosciences eastern and central Africa
(BecA)-ILRI Hub. These two founding nodes form the basis
of an expanding network of research and delivery partners,
around the globe, as illustrated below.
CTLGH: A global partnership
extending beyond the CTLGH
nodes in Edinburgh and Nairobi
March 2018
Acknowledgements
CTLGH’s inaugural program of research commenced with the support of the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation (BMGF), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the UK
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) together with substantial
resources provided by the three founding partners, the University of Edinburgh, SRUC and ILRI.
CTLGH gratefully acknowledges the strong support provided by these organizations.
Strategic Objectives
1Research to innovate around bottlenecks:
Develop and apply new genetic and genomic
tools, breeding strategies and modern reproductive
technologies to address the challenges of improving
tropical livestock productivity, profitability and
environmental sustainability, by improving traits
for tropical adaptability; productivity; resilience; and
efficiency, for target species, production systems
and environments.
2Education and training: Strengthen the
capacity and capability of livestock researchers
in developing countries to adapt and utilize new
genetic and breeding tools to improve the range of
new, tropically adapted breeds available to livestock
keepers in tropical production systems, especially in
Africa.
3Partnerships for the delivery of genetic gains:
Develop partnerships with private and public
sector entities to adopt, adapt and take to scale
the new breeds and breeding technologies for
target livestock species in a wide range
of tropical environments.
RESEARCH
PROGRAM ON
Livestock