Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng is currently the Director General, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and Senior Director, CGIAR Livestock-based Systems. He holds vast experience in research, capacity building and international development. He has over 20 years’ experience leading multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional and global research and development programs focused on agricultural development and human health. His interests are focused on genetic improvement for sustainable and profitable livestock development in low- and mid-income countries (LMICs).

Prior to joining ILRI and the CGIAR in April 2023, Appolinaire was the Director of the Center for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) based at the Roslin Institute, and Professor and Chair for Tropical Agriculture and Sustainable Development at the University of Edinburgh.

 Appolinaire’s work and interests have been primarily centred around bioscience (and particularly genomics and related disciplines) and their applications in agriculture (both animals and crops), human and environmental health. He co-founded the African Animal Breeding Network (AABNET) with the aim to drive the development and dissemination of livestock improved and most suitable genetics and broader sustainable genetic improvement solutions in Africa. He also co-founded the African Bio-genome project (AfricaBP). AfricaBP is a community of practice of scientists, and a wide range of professionals, policy makers and stakeholders with the aim to harness the power of genomics for the characterisation, conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity in Africa.

Djikeng is Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland, Center for Animal Science (Australia), Professor at The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh (UK), and Distinguished Professor at the University of South Africa. He serves on numerous science advisory boards and has received many awards including the Nelson Mandela Peace Award.

Prof Appolinaire Djikeng holds a PhD from Brunel University, London, where he studied the Genome of the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei.