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In The Spotlight

The transition to solar-driven irrigation provides crucial relief for smallholders.

Water & Irrigation

More than 1,500 smallholder farmers in Bauchi State’s Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency are using solar-powered irrigation systems, which will not only unlock year-round farming but also cut operational costs

Distributed to the farmers by Mansur Manu Soro, the representative for the constituency in the House of Representatives, the aid package was designed by the government to transition local agriculture away from expensive petrol and diesel pumps toward sustainable energy. Each participating farmer was supplied with a DC solar engine pump along with three solar panels, giving them direct access to water for continuous cultivation without the burden of heavy fuel bills.

Addressing the initiative, Soro highlighted that the project directly targets key productivity bottlenecks—most notably the soaring expense of operating traditional irrigation equipment. By utilizing solar energy, farmers can dramatically cut production overhead, tap into available farmland more effectively, and cultivate crops well past the traditional rainy season.

“Turning sunlight into water, water into crops, and crops into income is the real story behind this initiative,” Soro said.

The transition to solar-driven irrigation provides crucial relief for smallholders facing high fuel prices. With dependable water access outside the wet season, farmers can expand into multiple cropping cycles a year and maintain steady yields even during dry spells.

By merging renewable energy with everyday farming, the intervention aims to build resilient livelihoods, cut operating expenses, and foster long-term agricultural growth across the Darazo/Ganjuwa constituency.

Innovations in feeding is a key area for improving economic efficiency.

Event News

Livestock industry platform, EuroTier 2026, will be organising the DLG Innovation Award EuroTier 2026, where an independent panel of experts will be evaluating industry relevant innovations based on practicality, animal welfare, labour efficiency, and environmental and energy efficiency

This year, the Innovation Award has been bestowed for solutions encompassing diverse industrial needs such as resource-efficient feeding and animal-monitoring sensors to automated barn control and climate adaptation, as well as new, integrated husbandry concepts. The common factor binding these innovative offerings is integration of animal welfare and health, reduced labour burdens, cost-effectiveness, and the efficient use of resources.

With 217 innovations submitted and 176 qualifying, as well as four gold and 27 silver medals, every technical developments honoured stands apart in practical application scopes. They reflect comprehensive development trends over individual product trends. The awards will be felicitating exhibitors from 10 different markets across three continents.

Innovations in feeding is a key area for improving economic efficiency and sustainability. As animal-related sensors are becoming integral to digital barns, a shift is visible from mere monitoring to preventative and automated control.

Future-oriented livestock management systems are integrated to include link sensors, control systems, actuators and workflows that operate independently of the manufacturer, optimising workload as well as resource utilisation.

Artificial intelligence, bots, imaging techniques and health monitoring are defining today's digital herd management systems. Modern sensors and cameras are gathering ever more information on behaviour, performance, health and animal welfare, enabling the early detection of diseases and abnormalities, as well as more targeted breeding and management decisions. 

EIMA 2026 aims to bridge demand-supply gap in agritech.

Event News

ICE will bring together as many as 830 business operators at a special programme of business-to-business meetings during the 47th edition of EIMA International that is set to convene at the Bologna Exhibition Centre from 10 to 14 November

With visitors already confirmed from 150 countries, the programme further scaled the event's international standing. “EIMA is in tune with new marketing requirements and allows for the ‘tailor-made’ planning of business meetings,” said Simona Rapastella, the director-general of FederUnacoma, the Confindustria federation representing the agricultural machinery sector and organiser of EIMA International. 

Manufacturing activities are becoming concentrated only to the most receptive regions, leading to a fragmented market. “To facilitate the ‘matching’ of supply and demand for technologies, the exhibition is expanding its international scope," Rapastella said, “and is rolling out specific initiatives for foreign businesses by strengthening the system of business-oriented services”.

There will be 650 foreign exhibiting companies at EIMA 2026 – out of a total of 1,800 already confirmed – representing 45 countries. The number of foreign visitors is expected to rise compared with the previous edition (2024), which recorded more than 63,000 attendances.

"EIMA is in tune with the new demands of marketing and promotes a ‘tailor-made’ approach to business management,” added Simona Rapastella, “but it also takes account of the macro-economic context, to focus on the variables that may influence the agricultural machinery sector; and the political context, which is crucial both for the development of sectoral strategies in different parts of the world and for identifying financial instruments that can support investment in the coming years.”

This year's theme, 'Drought in African agriculture: Economic and social costs', will take note of the current climatic and environmental emergencies facing the African continent and to analyse the repercussions these may have on the economies and social systems of many countries. 

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Tractor of the Year awards ceremony at EIMA 2021

The 44th edition of EIMA International 2021 will host the Tractor of the Year awards ceremony, and feature a parade of the fourteen finalist models

The Bologna-based event focuses on new products and offers a wide-ranging showcase for Tractor of the Year, the competition promoted by Trattori magazine, that selects the best models among those produced during the year, and awards prizes to the winners from different categories.

During the exhibition, the awards ceremony will be held for four models - Tractor of the Year, Best Utility, Best of Specialised and Sustainable TOTY - that have been selected on the basis of votes cast by an international jury of 26 journalists from trade publications.

The Tractor of the Year event will be a major attraction throughout the five days of the event. It is expected to be one of the most interesting new features of this year's EIMA International.

The open-air arena within the exhibition complex, between halls 37 and 35, has been chosen to display the finalist tractors. The audience can expect to see the fourteen models that competed for the "Tractor of the Year" on display in the open-air arena, while a speaker will introduce the technical features of each of the models. 

TOTY is an important promotional and marketing platform for the manufacturers of the tractor sector, which is able to develop substantial technological innovations every year, improve vehicle performance, and capture new user segments.

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Event News

IPM ESSEN unites global supply and demand in one place. (Image source: IPM ESSEN)

Event News

Global trade fair for horticulture, IPM ESSEN will be opening its doors to international partners for expansion accross new markets with wider networking and long-term business opportunities 

Set to be held in Germany from 26 to 29 January 2027, IPM ESSEN will be introducing a new international delegation programme, which will see partcipation from both key and emerging markets. There will be an engaging presentation of products, concepts and innovations in the green sector. The delegation will comprise not only international trade associations and industry organisations but political institutions and economic development agencies as well. 

“IPM ESSEN unites global supply and demand in one place. With the new delegation programme, we are systematically expanding this matchmaking function and creating additional opportunities to connect international IPM participants with one another. This is how personal encounters lead to new projects and long-term partnerships,” said Oliver P Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen. 

Participants can take away valuable practical insights from exchanges with horticultural businesses, breeders, nurseries and garden centres in North Rhine-Westphalia.

IPM ESSEN will have a dedicated Innovation Centre Horticulture Technology promoting future-oriented fields such as climate adaptation, resource efficiency, peat reduction, automation and artificial intelligence.

The IPM Discovery Centre will display innovative POS concepts and ensure modern shopfitting ideas for retailers are staged to maximum effect. Exhibitors from all areas of horticulture can tap into easy brand positioning by integrating their products and novelties into high-profile sales concepts. The presentation is practical, trend-oriented and emotive, directly within the application context. 

Innovations in feeding is a key area for improving economic efficiency.

EIMA 2026 aims to bridge demand-supply gap in agritech.

Livestock

Intraco has collaborated with Prognosis for rapid mycotoxin detection.

Cattle

In a move to strengthen its Detect & Protect mycotoxin management strategy, Intraco has added two new offerings to the Intra Toxinbind Xpro range -- Intra Toxinbind Xpro Plus and Intra Toxinbind Xpro Premium

The company has also collaborated with Prognosis for rapid mycotoxin detection. These developments equip Intraco to support faster identification of mycotoxin risks before it can adversely affect animal health and performance.

The company taps the growing demand for reliable detection and targeted mitigation tools as a result of increased mycotoxin pressure on livestock production. The Prognosis and Toxinbind offerings make up a complete package to address mycotoxin risks, with rapid screening solutions ensuring quick decision making when it comes to feed ingredients and raw materials assessment.

"Our customers tell us that mycotoxin challenges are becoming increasingly complex and less predictable, with a growing negative impact on animal performance, health, and profitability,' said Julie Feyaerts, global portfolio manager.

"Based on customer feedback, we see that the most important factors in assessing mycotoxin risk are the origin of raw materials, climatic conditions during cultivation and harvest, and the subsequent processing and storage conditions. Together with flock observations such as reduced growth performance, increased mortality, or gut health challenges, these factors help determine the most appropriate mycotoxin management strategy.

"To support our customers, we have strengthened our mycotoxin management approach in three ways. First, we help customers evaluate their mycotoxin risk based on raw material sourcing and flock observations. Second, we now offer rapid mycotoxin screening of raw materials through our partnership with Prognosis, providing a valuable quality check of suppliers and an additional decision-making tool. Third, we have expanded the Intra Toxinbind range with the introduction of Intra Toxinbind Xpro Plus and Intra Toxinbind Xpro Premium, completing our portfolio and allowing customers to select the most appropriate strategy for their specific mycotoxin risk and animal needs.

"By combining rapid detection, technical expertise, and a graded portfolio based on adsorption, bioprotection, and detoxification, we help customers apply the right level of protection locally, safeguarding animal health and performance while optimizing return on investment," Feyaerts said.

With this expanded offering, Intraco provides customers with practical tools, proven protection solutions and expert guidance, delivering a comprehensive Detect & Protect strategy tailored to local challenges and customer needs.

The event brought together more than 30 guests. (Image source: Aviagen)

Senegal has partnered with FAO to address livestock theft.

Crops

Agroecology can be the solution to food security.

Agriculture

Agroecology is driving the African Union Commission's food security policies as it calls for increased investments in the sector so that it generates employment opportunities for a growing youth population

Announced during the recently held Africa Regional Youth Summit on Agroecology and the Future of Africa's Food Systems in Kampala, this move will address the continent's food systems to reduce import dependency.

Haile Abebe of the African Union's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) who spoke during the summit highlighted the commercial significance of agriculture and how it can be more that just a tool for subsistence.

“Agriculture is no longer simply about producing food. It is about science, technology, entrepreneurship, finance, digital innovation, logistics, processing, manufacturing, trade, climate resilience and value addition,” Abebe said. 

With the right skills and technology, alongside financial means and market access, Africa's predominantly youth population can be channelised towards the region's wider agrifood sector. Prioritising the transformation of agrifood systems requires advancing agroecology.

“Agroecology can be part of this solution. It opens opportunities for young people across the agrifood system - from soil health, seeds and bio-inputs to irrigation, digital agriculture, processing, packaging, logistics, green energy and market development,” said Abebe.

Other opportunities include organic and bio-fertiliser production, ecological seed systems, agroforestry, water conservation, food processing, packaging and marketing.

Technology deployment can help smallholder farmers.

Technology

FederUnacoma offers tractors to levelling machines and weed-control robots. (Image source: FederUnacoma)

Machinery & Equipment

Highly specialised FederUnacoma machineries for operations in rice fields were on display at the recently concluded Riso – International Rice Festival in Vercelli, organised by the Province and City of Vercelli alongside the National Rice Authority (Ente Nazionale Risi) and Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MASAF)

From tractors to levelling machines and weed-control robots, there are technologies dedicated to each stage of production to ensure maximum efficiency. 

With more than 230,000 hectares under cultivation, and of high-quality varieties, rice production drives Italy's agriculture scene. To secure rice generation stability against factors such as drought, low market prices and foreign competition, technology is the most scientific way to manage uncertainties, according to FederUnacoma. The 17 innovative machines on display included tractors powerful and versatile enough to work across ploughing, sowing, irrigation and harvesting.

There were multi-purpose blades for constructing solid embankments designed to consistently maintain water level without leaks or seepage. Levelling blades ensuring uniform water distribution were displayed as well. In addition to these – also on display at RISO’ – were precision seeders, electric telescopic loaders for CO₂-free operation in the field, combine harvesters fitted with specialised harvesting attachments, and reaper-binders for harvesting in dry-farmed rice fields.

An agricultural robot was present demonstrating cultivation operations such as weeding with precision. “The technologies produced by Italian manufacturers are capable of managing rice paddies with extreme precision, complying with the phytosanitary parameters imposed by the European Union, conserving water resources and significantly reducing labour costs,” said Mariateresa Maschio, president of FederUnacoma, “and thus enable production costs to be kept in check in a sector...such as the rice industry, which currently offers low profitability”.

“Our Federation’s presence at the RISO event strengthens our collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry,” said Simona Rapastella, director-general of FederUnacoma, “and forms part of a comprehensive programme which, in recent years, has included exhibitions and machine demonstrations at the main events dedicated to agriculture. This is precisely to highlight how mechanisation is a fundamental tool for the competitiveness of Italian production, and how machinery can be a valuable ally for agricultural businesses.” 

 

 

The transition to solar-driven irrigation provides crucial relief for smallholders.

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