Event News

Producer profitability took centre stage during panel discussions. (Image source: Grain SA)

True to its theme 'Resilience through Innovation', Grain SA's 2026 NAMPO Harvest Day highlighted the economic realities facing South African grain producers as the country's agriculture industry continues to move forward despite challenges

While the sector evolves, experts observed that producer profitability, long-term competitiveness and practical market solutions will be the key factors driving change. 

The shifting price-cost dynamics between rising production costs and producer income are redefining profitability as broader food security and economic stability issues that surpass farming.

Producer profitability took centre stage during a panel discussion titled 'To Farm or Not to Farm: The Economic Reality', facilitated by Theo Vorster and featuring Grain SA chairperson, Richard Krige, Hansie Viljoen, Jaco Minnaar and Japie Grobler.

A central question posed to the panel asked, “If you were starting today, would you choose to farm -- and what would need to change for that answer to be yes?”

Panellists agreed that tackling climate change has been a big challenge for the agricultural sector, which has also adversely impacted the economy at large. Improved profitability, more predictable policy frameworks, stronger logistics systems, expanded market opportunities and greater long-term investment certainty were established as the needs of the hour.

“We cannot separate sustainability from profitability,” said Krige. “If producers are not profitable, investment slows, succession becomes uncertain, and food security is placed at risk.”

Throughout the day, Grain SA also highlighted the urgent need to improve market access and move surplus grain more efficiently through export channels and value-chain development.

Innovation and technology shape this year's VIV Europe agenda.

VIV Europe 2026 has released its full conference programme for this year's edition, taking place 2-4 June at Jaarbeurs Utrecht, The Netherlands

Scientists, entrepreneurs and industry innovators will gather to take on sectorial challenges and seek solutions across more than 70 sessions that make up this year's event.

Recognised as the world expo from feed to food for the animal protein chain, VIV Europe 2026 will see valuable exchanges on topics ranging from regenerative agriculture and antimicrobial resistance to AI-driven farm management and international trade. 

Innovation and technology shape this year's agenda with sessions such as the AgriBITs Seminar and Wageningen University & Research's Future Poultry Farming: From Science To Practical Solutions series that explore how AI, digital twinning, smart feedmill automation, and precision nutrition are moving from concept to competitive advantage on farms worldwide.

In animal health and welfare, Many Ways To Reduce The Need For Antimicrobials by World Veterinary Education In Production Animal Health (WVEPAH) brings together veterinarians and researchers from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Utrecht University, and industry to address antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and disease prevention, among the most urgent challenges livestock producers are facing today.

On global markets and trade, sessions including Hungry For What’s Next? The Future Of Poultry & Eggs In A Changing World by Rabobank and Bridging Continents: Partnerships For Sustainable Poultry Value Chains In Africa, by Netherlands African Business Council (NABC) equip decision-makers to navigate geopolitical risk and seize emerging opportunities. The event will also host the official launch of Developments In The Poultry Market In Kazakhstan & Launch Of The Partners International Business (PIB) Programme: ‘Poultry Forward Kazakhstan’, hosted By Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC), marking a significant new Dutch-Kazakh industry collaboration. 

Modern potato production includes diverse aspects from soil health to robotics. (Image source: PotatoEurope)

PotatoEurope 2026 returns to Germany from 9 to 10 September 2026 to showcase the latest technology and innovations in potato cultivation

The event will explore visionary ideas in future‑oriented arable and crop production, as well as machinery in live field operation. Experts will lead the event’s star segments such as DLG Spotlights and the DLG Expert Stage, opening up opportunities for meaningful networking.

The DLG Spotlight ‘Agricultural Logistics’ provides a platform for tractors and specialized trailers – including scraper‑floor systems, conveyor belts and potato boxes – as well as cover systems and logistics software. Martin Vaupel, Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony, will be available to answer visitors’ questions.

Another offering of the DLG Spotlight that will unite farmers, manufacturers, researchers and investors is FarmRobotix, presenting future-oriented technologies, including the workings of autonomous machinery and digital systems.

The open‑air exhibition will focus on the entire value chain, from breeding through to processing. Running alongside is the SugarBeet Expo, a specialist trade fair for innovative field technology and current trends in sugar beet cultivation.

Participants can expect internationally leading companies from breeding, crop protection, digitalisation, agricultural machinery and processing to exhibit the latest market offerings. New varieties as well as the effects of crop‑protection products and fertilisers will be showcased in dedicated demonstration plots.

As modern potato production includes diverse aspects from soil health to robotics, PotatoEurope has set up a technical programme to cover these issues, flag challenges and seek solutions in specialist forums, expert talks and practice‑oriented discussion formats.

Participants will be experiencing live machinery demonstrations and get a close up picture of the advanced technologies-driven workflows that support the whole process under real operating conditions in the field. Topics include planting, harvesting, loading and innovative crop‑protection technologies. Case IH is the technology partner.

EuroTier 2026 to Showcase the Future of Smart Animal Farming (Image credit: DLG Spotlights)

EuroTier 2026 is set to bring the global agricultural community together from 10 to 13 November in Hanover, Germany, highlighting the latest progress in animal farming and livestock management

With more than 2,100 exhibitors from over 50 countries, the event will present a wide range of innovations aimed at improving efficiency, sustainability and animal welfare across livestock systems.

Spanning an impressive 220,000 square metres, the exhibition will focus on practical solutions for modern farming. The central theme, “Intelligence in animal farming”, reflects the growing role of smart technologies in shaping the future of agriculture. From dairy and beef cattle to pigs and poultry, the event will explore how digital tools and advanced systems can support farmers in meeting both economic and environmental goals.

A key feature of the exhibition is the Inhouse Farming Feed and Food Show, which introduces forward thinking approaches to agricultural food systems. Topics such as aquaculture and alternative protein production will be explored, offering farmers insight into emerging opportunities and sustainable practices.

“As a leading innovation hub, we not only offer an international top class technical and exhibition program. This year, our visitors can also look forward to numerous new features. With the EuroTier Milky Way, exhibitors will present innovations and solutions covering the entire value chain of milk production across three halls. Further highlights include DLG VetCon, the new networking and professional training event for large animal and herd veterinarians including a foyer exhibition, as well as the Innovation Boulevard, where selected innovations from the two award schemes Innovation Awards EuroTier and EnergyDecentral 2026 will be showcased. This will allow EuroTier to set new standards not only in terms of product and topic diversity, but also as the world’s largest international business and networking platform,” says Ines Rathke, Show Director of EuroTier.

The event will also feature a series of DLG Spotlights, where live demonstrations and curated exhibits will present real world applications. These include advances in breeding, forage production, robotic milking, emission reduction and circular farming systems.

Alongside this, expert led stages will host discussions on animal health, feeding strategies, biosecurity and sustainable farm management, creating a space for knowledge sharing and practical learning within the agricultural sector.