Access to poultry parent stock of improved dual-purpose breeds, such as breeds from Sasso, is sometimes limited for smallholder farmers in Africa. The parent stock are imported from outside Africa and this supply system can be disrupted by outbreaks of diseases such as avian influenza. The imported dual-purpose breeds perform better than local ecotypes. The project aims to improve access to those improved breeds for smallholder farmers in Sub Saharan Africa. Dual purpose breeds are key for smallholder farmers to reduce poverty with production of both eggs and chicken meat that provides nutritious protein to the growing African population.

SAPPSA is also making use of the strength of Hendrix Genetics, a multi-species worlwide operating breeding company to use the expertise and network for implementation of the project goals. For the first work package the goal is to increase the number of back up population and the number of GrandParant (GP) locations. Given the experience Hendrix Genetics has, we can improve the current number of backup populations for the Sasso birds. For the second workpackage, we will see an increase in the number of sold parent stock. This would be a clear indication that the improved breeds are used within Africa. For the third workpackage we will measure the number of performed field tests using different crosses. The genetic progress we can measure by analyzing the genetic trends of the breeds, although progress will be slow (0.5% / generation) . Genetic selection is a longterm investment.

SAPPSA is governed by a steering committee which consists of the CEO of Hendrix Genetics, the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and a Financial Manager. The reporting to the steering committee is done by the project manager of SAPPSA. SAPPSA has three work packages which are lead by three people. The first workpackage is to secure access to improved breeds. To achieve this, backup populations are better distributed across the world to circumvent disruption of deliveries of chickens to African countries. The second workpackges will increase the number of parent stock animals sold. This increase will be due to new markets where new initiatives to reach out to smallholder farmers are undertaken or running parent stock farms can extend due to success of the product. The third workpackage is to investigate which crosses of breed perform well give the different agro-ecologies within African countries. Additionally performance recording will be done in Africa to improve the breeding program for performance under challenging circumstances within Africa. Annual reports for the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation will be written and the Results Tracker will be used to monitor progress of the project per workpackage.

Hendrix Genetics, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation