Kenya Dairy Board, ILRI Join Forces to Transform Dairy Production

Kenya’s dairy industry has received a major boost after the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to accelerate growth, innovation, and sustainability across the sector.

The pact sets the stage for closer cooperation from “farm to glass,” ensuring improved production, better processing, and stronger consumer awareness. By combining ILRI’s cutting-edge research with KDB’s regulatory oversight, the partnership is expected to create new opportunities for smallholder farmers, processors, and consumers.

Source:bizcommunity

According to KDB’s Acting Managing Director, Dr. Kimutai Maritim, the collaboration will not only support livelihoods but also help Kenya achieve its bold target of doubling milk consumption by 2030. He emphasized that the partnership strengthens the board’s ability to regulate, promote, and grow the dairy industry while keeping innovation, integrity, and impact at the heart of its mission.

ILRI, which brings five decades of experience in animal health, genetics, feed, and dairy marketing systems, will contribute advanced, evidence-based solutions to make the industry more resilient and sustainable. One flagship initiative, the “More Milk 2” project, reflects this ambition by focusing on practical strategies to improve milk availability and quality nationwide.

Kenya remains the dairy powerhouse of East Africa, producing 5.33 billion litres annually. The industry contributes around 4.5 percent to the national GDP and over 12 percent to agricultural GDP, with Kenyans consuming an average of 92 litres of milk per person each year—the highest per capita milk consumption in the region. Rising demand, driven by population growth, is expected to further expand the sector’s importance.

Yet, challenges remain. More than half of the country’s milk is sold through informal markets, creating concerns about safety and nutrition. Ensuring that consumers, especially women and youth who rely heavily on the sector for livelihoods, have access to affordable and nutrient-rich milk will be a key test of the new partnership’s success.