Van Marle-Koster, EsteWebb, E.C. (Edward Cottington)2015-06-032015-06-032014Van Marle-Koster, E & Webb, EC 2014, 'A perspective on the impact of reproductive technologies on food production in Africa', Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol. 752, pp.199-211.0065-259810.1007/978-1-4614-8887-3_10http://hdl.handle.net/2263/45374Africa for the largest part is still regarded as part of the developing world and has a history of political instability, natural disasters, floods and droughts that all had an effect on the development of livestock production systems and the potential application of biotechnologies. It is expected that the human population in sub Saharan Africa will experience a growth of 1.2 % per year over the next 30 years. There is therefore pressure to increase sustainable productivity of livestock. Reproductive technologies such as Artificial Insemination in Africa were driven primarily by the need to control or prevent venereal diseases like Trichomoniases and Campylobacter fetus venerealis in cattle. Reproductive biotechnology had a limited impact in Africa due to several factors including a lack of infrastructure and animal recording systems, clear breeding objectives and continuously changing production systems and markets. Africa has a large variety of genetic resources adapted to the diverse environment and production systems and biotechnology should be applied within this context for an increase in food production.en© Springer Science + Business Media New York 2014. The original publication is available at : http://www.springer.comseries/5584Reproductive biotechnologyArtificial inseminationEmbryo transferIndigenousCattleSheepGoatsAnimal recordingAnimal identificationAdaptationPostprint Article