Project Overview
Introduction
The EQUIP FEED initiative is part of a broader effort to improve livestock feed systems in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. It aims to shift from research-driven approaches to private sector-led implementation of validated interventions. In Burkina Faso, EQUIP is engaging local stakeholders to identify and implement feed-related innovations that can enhance food security and livestock productivity. The project is currently in a strategic planning phase, with local partners evaluating potential interventions and preparing for implementation.
Faculty lead
- Dr. Adegbola Adesogan, University of Florida, Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI)
Goals and Objectives
Goal
To promote private sector-led interventions in livestock production to support food security and self-sufficiency in Burkina Faso.
Objectives
- Launch strategic initiatives aimed at improving food security in Burkina Faso through feed innovations.
- Promote private sector leadership in scaling validated agricultural innovations.
- Enable stakeholders to select and implement priority interventions from a set of 14 validated options.
- Facilitate collaboration among researchers, private sector actors, and policymakers to support sustainable livestock development.
Background
In Burkina Faso, the EQUIP FEED project is entering a new phase that emphasizes private sector participation. At a strategic partners meeting facilitated by GFSI and local collaborators, participants discussed how to build a more food-secure and self-sufficient Burkina Faso through livestock production improvements. Examples from Nigeria and Ethiopia—such as 90-day corn silage feeding trials and the use of mobile farm management tools—were shared to inform Burkina Faso’s approach.
Participants were asked to select two interventions from a list of 14 validated practices. Some of the options discussed included:
- Feeding corn silage to dairy and beef cattle.
- Urea treatment of crop residues.
- Use of Black Soldier Fly larvae as an alternative protein source.
- Improving seed availability and protein sources such as soybean.
While Nigeria has begun trials and Ethiopia has identified private partners, Burkina Faso is still in the process of selecting interventions and organizing logistics for implementation.
Research Approach
The research and implementation approach in Burkina Faso includes:
- Stakeholder Engagement: A strategic meeting held in June 2025 introduced the vision and gathered input from Burkinabè stakeholders. A follow-up meeting is planned for August in Ouagadougou to finalize strategies and engage additional partners, including banks, cooperatives, pastoralists, and universities.
- Selection of Interventions: Stakeholders were presented with 14 validated innovations and asked to select their top priorities for local implementation.
- Adaptation from Regional Models: The project draws lessons from experiences in Nigeria and Ethiopia, where corn silage feeding trials and mobile diagnostic apps are being used to improve feeding practices.
- Partnership Development: The project seeks to pair researchers with visionary private sector actors and engage youth by framing innovations as economic opportunities.
As of the most recent updates, Burkina Faso is preparing to move from strategic planning to active implementation, with emphasis on continued collaboration, business case development, and scaling through private investment.
