Barbara Ann Rischkowsky

Dr. Barbara Rischkowsky is program director of ICARDA’s Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Research Program. She is a livestock scientist with experience in production systems analysis and the development of technological and institutional interventions for increasing livestock productivity in resource-poor ruminant production systems.

Her current research interests are: the sustainable development of sheep and goat production systems in drylands, including research on meat and fiber value chain development; genetic diversity and adaptive traits; breeding programs for smallholders; and feeding systems based on locally available resources. She is also working on the characterization and sustainable utilization of animal genetic diversity. Dr. Rischkowsky is an expert in the acquisition and management of multidisciplinary projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Since 2006, Dr. Rischkowsky has led the small ruminant research group at ICARDA. She has developed management strategies for small ruminant production systems in non-tropical drylands with a special focus on adaptation to climatic variability and market opportunities. Prior to this, she coordinated the production of the first ‘State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources’ for the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Previously, as assistant professor at the Georg-August University, Goettingen, and the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, she focused on the analysis of livestock production systems in the tropics and subtropics.

Dr. Rischkowsky has authored more than 58 peer-reviewed journal publications, and 102 other publications, including books, book chapters, and extension guidelines. She is a member of the Iowa State University-led Global Forum on Food Security. She holds a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences from Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany.