As AI tools begin to influence livestock production, health management, and advisory services, ensuring these technologies are farmer-centric, explainable, and context-appropriate is essential. This webinar brings together researchers working at the intersection of livestock systems, digital innovation, and responsible AI to explore how AI can be designed and deployed in ways that genuinely serve livestock keepers. 

We begin with Karen McGrath, whose work focuses on applying participatory and farmer-centred design approaches to digital and AI tools in livestock systems. She will share practical lessons on co-design with livestock farmers—how needs are identified, how tools are adapted for different production contexts, and what it means to meaningfully involve farmers in the design process. 

Following this, Mengisti Berihu will offer a deep dive into the role of explainability in livestock-oriented AI systems. Her presentation will examine why transparency matters for farmer trust and decision-making, and how explainable models can support safer, more effective livestock advisory and management tools. 

Ram Kiran Dhulipala (ILRI) will be our discussant, leading reflection on these themes from the perspective of CGIAR’s Digital Transformation Initiative and his work advancing digital innovation across livestock and mixed farming systems. 

Together, the speakers will explore how to design AI systems that align with farmer realities, respect local knowledge, and enable responsible, trusted adoption in livestock systems. 

Speakers

• Karen McGrath, Researcher, Agricultural Extension & Innovation, University College Dublin
• Mengist Berihu, Researcher, Digital Innovation & AI, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau

Discussant

• Ram Kiran Dhulipala, Digital Transformation Specialist, ILRI / CGIAR Digital Transformation Initiative

Moderator

• Eliot Jones-Garcia, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI; PhD Candidate, Wageningen University