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In The Spotlight

The company’s slurry handling equipment come with competitive price ranges.

Machinery & Equipment

SlurryKat has introduced its new SlurryKat farmline range to especially cater to the needs of part-time farmers, weekend farmers and smaller livestock enterprises

Available from 1,350 to 2,500 gallons, covering a diverse range of farms, the farmline tanker boasts of advanced level durability. Farmline slurry tankers are made of high-tensile steel with premium paint system to meet the manufacturing standards for light weight agricultural slurry tankers.

The company’s slurry handling equipment come with competitive price ranges and ensure shorter lead times.

SlurryKat’s slurry tankers are now available in three ranges, including Farmline, Premium Plus or Elete slurry tanker range. The ranges are designed to serve all kinds from owner-operated farms to large-scale farming businesses and contractors.

The company brings extensive experience to the industry, which helps in generating sleek and portable slurry tankers that are equipped to perform equally well on the road as well as the field.

The tanker and spreading system are especially designed reduce overall weight by more than 20%.

Other special features include highly capable filling and discharge cycles by up to 28%; fuels-saving capacity by more than 15%, and reduced soil compaction. These tankers are equipped to operate as a fully integrated and balanced unit. 

Farmline tankers run on a powerful onboard pump (such as a 9,000 L MEC pump) and suction hoses that draw liquid slurry up from farm storage tanks or lagoons into the high-tensile steel tank. The organic waste is disposed safely across farm tracks and roads from the yard to the target field. The nutrient-rich material is directed onto crops and grassland with the help of either a traditional rear splash plate or a compact 9m/10.5m dribble bar/trailing shoe system for precise nutrient uptake. 

Sorghum and cowpeas flour.

Agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently held a Diversity Seed Fair in Chikwawa, a district in southern Malawi

This comes as part of FAO’s initiative to revive lost crops. Such types are often nutrients-rich indigenous and drought-resistant varieties that can naturally survive dry environments but lack the reach to be picked up for research or investments.

Around 75 farmers joined the seed fair, exhibiting biscuits made of sorghum and cowpeas to more than 200 visitors, including government researchers, private sector representatives and community leaders. These are indigenous kinds of flour that can be traced back to generations of Malawian farmers. While its produce in Malawi peaked through the 1950s and 1960s, soon these became overshadowed as global staples, such as maize, wheat took the market by storm.

Now Malawi farmers are facing drought challenges, and FAO together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development of Malawi, is supporting communities in coping with water scarcity by exploring sustainable indigenous alternatives.

"In the past we used to plant many maize seeds in one planting station but now we have been trained in conservation agriculture," says Elda Saliva, a farmer from Thimba village in Makanda. "With these new methods, our yields have increased, allowing us not only to feed our families, but also to earn income from the surplus." 

Running a pilot in Malawi, this initiative,

FAO began the Addressing Water Scarcity in Agriculture and the Environment (AWSAMe) initiative with a pilot in Malawi that involved skills sharing on data analysis and drought screening. Around 20 government researchers and extension officers were selected for capacity development training in collecting and analysing high-quality agricultural data alongside field water management techniques for drought screening.

Government experts evaluated 24 cowpea varieties and 30 sorghum varieties across irrigated as well as dry situations. The seeds were sourced from rural communities and the national gene bank, and data generated from them regarding which perform best under drought.

Addis Ababa is ideal for high-level deal-making potential.

Event News

Food and agriculture investments platform organised by the African Agri Council, African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 16-18 November at the Addis International Convention Center 

This year the guiding theme of the event will be 'Scaling for Impact: Transforming Private Sector Commitments into Zero Hunger Realities'. 

According to the Council, Ethiopia was chosen as the preferred venue over Durban, which was announced previously. This was a strategic decision, given Ethiopia is the headquarters of the African Union, and a critical hub for continental agricultural policy and trade negotiations. The region holds significant influence in the rapid digitalisation of the entire nation's agricultural sector because of its strategic positioning near the East African and Middle Eastern trade corridors. 

These factors make Addis Ababa ideal for high-level deal-making potential. "Relocating the Indaba to Addis Ababa represents a monumental step forward in our mission to catalyse private sector capital across the entire continent," said Ben Leyka, chief executive officer at the African Agri Council.

"While Durban served as an incredible launchpad for regional investment, moving to Ethiopia places our stakeholders at the direct intersection of policy, trade finance, and large-scale industrial expansion."

The move aligns with the Indaba's growing role as a platform that bridges policy, capital, and implementation; a space where the commitments made in continental policy frameworks can be translated into bankable investment pipelines. 

This year's edition will be introducing new segments for a better connected agribusiness value chain, from early-stage tech to industrial mega-projects. These include the Agribusiness CEO Forum where C-suite executives talk currency volatility, supply chain resilience, and operational strategy. The Agri-Trade Finance Congress aims to strategise on commodity finance, warehouse receipts, and digital trade tools to close US$80bn agri-trade liquidity gap.

Agro-Industrial Park Forum will be returning for its second edition, connecting global park developers, SEZ authorities, and anchor tenants to activate regional processing hubs. The exhibition will unite top ag-tech innovators and early-stage ventures from the region, giving them a platform to take their business concepts to venture capital and impact funds at the Seeds & Startups Showcase. 

Local commercial producers can directly approach international retail procurement heads and global off-takers at Market Access Africa.

The Investment Discovery Sessions will see pre-vetted Investment Discovery Session (IDS) connecting project owners with institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

The Agri Investment Indaba Awards will acknowledge excellence and innovations of the continent's agrifood sector.

To learn more and discover further information, visit www.agri-indaba.com

 

 

VIV Africa

Without food safety, there is no food security

AF FEAGAccording to EatSafe research, pandemic safety measures has been widely adopted in traditional food markets in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria

In 2015, the WHO reported that more than 400,000 people died annually from food borne diseases. In 2018, the World Bank estimated that food safety costs US$110bn a year in lost productivity through illness and health costs, with sub-Sahara Africa affected the most. But more reliable and current data is required to understand consumer values and perceptions as well as the impact of poor food safety.

The Interview Cruncher was hosted by EatSafe, the five-year research and learning programme sponsored by USAID and led by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). It was moderated by Bonnie McClafferty, director, Food Safety and EatSafe at GAIN.

The panel was made up of Mohamed Nasser, regional advisor Food Safety and Quality Assurance, World Food Programme, Dakar/Senegal; Prof Olugbenga Ben Ogunmoyela, executive director, Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI); and Priya Prakash, founder and CEO of HealthSetGo and Youth Champion for Act4Food Act4Change.

Bonnie McClafferty, director, EatSafe, said, “The human and financial costs of poor food safety are appalling yet it is being widely ignored. That has to change and we need to take action now to achieve better health outcomes for the 600 million people who each year get sick from unsafe food.”

“We know the pandemic has promoted new food hygiene practices that can have a positive impact on food safety in traditional markets. EatSafe’s research shows that there is a lot more to do. We’re calling on governments and donor groups to provide resources and further research so that evidence-based decisions about food safety measures can be taken to strengthen traditional markets, to ensure safer foods,” continued McClafferty.

Traditional food market vendors apply COVID-19 measures

In parallel to EatSafe’s core mission of engaging consumers to demand food safety, the programme recently expanded efforts to include gathering key data from traditional markets to understand how they have been impacted by COVID-19 through GAIN’s Keeping Food Markets Working programme. EatSafe is interested in what is needed to ensure the availability of affordable, safe, nutritious food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected from traditional food markets in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Bangladesh bi-weekly during the last quarter 2020. Interviews and focus groups are continuing throughout 2021 to learn how consumer behaviour has changed and how resilient the traditional market supply chains are.

“We can build on the fact that safety measures are now a reality in people’s lives. With better surveillance and education regarding food safety measures, consumers getting their foods from traditional markets can help create an enabling environment to start closing the system's gaps and upgrading markets to support the safety of foods,” concluded McClafferty. 

Top Stories

Grid List

Event News

Addis Ababa is ideal for high-level deal-making potential.

Event News

Food and agriculture investments platform organised by the African Agri Council, African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 16-18 November at the Addis International Convention Center 

This year the guiding theme of the event will be 'Scaling for Impact: Transforming Private Sector Commitments into Zero Hunger Realities'. 

According to the Council, Ethiopia was chosen as the preferred venue over Durban, which was announced previously. This was a strategic decision, given Ethiopia is the headquarters of the African Union, and a critical hub for continental agricultural policy and trade negotiations. The region holds significant influence in the rapid digitalisation of the entire nation's agricultural sector because of its strategic positioning near the East African and Middle Eastern trade corridors. 

These factors make Addis Ababa ideal for high-level deal-making potential. "Relocating the Indaba to Addis Ababa represents a monumental step forward in our mission to catalyse private sector capital across the entire continent," said Ben Leyka, chief executive officer at the African Agri Council.

"While Durban served as an incredible launchpad for regional investment, moving to Ethiopia places our stakeholders at the direct intersection of policy, trade finance, and large-scale industrial expansion."

The move aligns with the Indaba's growing role as a platform that bridges policy, capital, and implementation; a space where the commitments made in continental policy frameworks can be translated into bankable investment pipelines. 

This year's edition will be introducing new segments for a better connected agribusiness value chain, from early-stage tech to industrial mega-projects. These include the Agribusiness CEO Forum where C-suite executives talk currency volatility, supply chain resilience, and operational strategy. The Agri-Trade Finance Congress aims to strategise on commodity finance, warehouse receipts, and digital trade tools to close US$80bn agri-trade liquidity gap.

Agro-Industrial Park Forum will be returning for its second edition, connecting global park developers, SEZ authorities, and anchor tenants to activate regional processing hubs. The exhibition will unite top ag-tech innovators and early-stage ventures from the region, giving them a platform to take their business concepts to venture capital and impact funds at the Seeds & Startups Showcase. 

Local commercial producers can directly approach international retail procurement heads and global off-takers at Market Access Africa.

The Investment Discovery Sessions will see pre-vetted Investment Discovery Session (IDS) connecting project owners with institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

The Agri Investment Indaba Awards will acknowledge excellence and innovations of the continent's agrifood sector.

To learn more and discover further information, visit www.agri-indaba.com

 

 

VIV Africa is returning to the Kigali Convention Centre on 7 and 8 October. (Image source: VNU Exhibition)

Pottinger's V 6520 C. (Image source: Pottinger)

Livestock

GEA takes AI dairy farming to the next level with New Belfast Software Lab.(Image credit: GEA)

Poultry

GEA has opened a brand new software development lab in Belfast, Northern Ireland, marking a bold step forward in its mission to reshape modern dairy farming through technology. Housed at The Innovation Centre, the lab will bring 20 new roles in software development and UX design to the region, all dedicated to advancing GEA's flagship AI livestock solution, CattleEye, alongside its wider digital farming portfolio.

CattleEye is no ordinary piece of kit. The system is built to detect and predict lameness in cattle at an early stage and gather vital data on body condition scores, giving farmers the kind of precise, timely insight that can genuinely change how they manage their herds. Already active on more than 140 farms spanning the UK, Europe, the United States and Australia, the technology is currently keeping watch over more than 200,000 cattle across 23 countries as part of GEA's DairyNet herd management platform.

GEA acquired CattleEye in 2024, and the Belfast expansion represents the next chapter in embedding that technology deeper into its farming ecosystem. "With our new software lab in Belfast, GEA is strengthening its role as a technology leader in digital dairy farming," says Andreas Seeringer, CEO of GEA Farm Technologies. "By improving animal health and well-being through AI-based solutions like CattleEye, dairy farms become more efficient, more sustainable, and ultimately more profitable. That is why we commit to accelerating development in this area, driving technology innovation in our digital herd management solutions."

Northern Ireland was a natural fit for the venture, given its deep rooted dairy farming heritage and a tech sector that is quietly making a name for itself. Terry Canning, CattleEye co-founder and Senior Director at GEA, describes what the lab means in practice: "The new software lab will be a significant milestone in integrating CattleEye fully into our state-of-the-art herd management systems and will extend our digital footprint in farming. In the future, farmers can expect features which help reduce additional investments in equipment and necessary animal treatments. It will also help customers to farm more efficiently and cut greenhouse gas emissions through automated data insights."

Regional development agency Invest NI, backed in part by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, is supporting the project financially. Vicky Kell, Director of Innovation, Research and Development at Invest NI, was clear about what it signals: "This investment in R&D is a vote of confidence in our talent, infrastructure and capabilities in Northern Ireland. The benefits of investing in R&D are rich, and the CattleEye solution is a testament to how R&D can further develop innovative products which can drive competitiveness in the global agri-tech market."

The pilot will serve as a review of the BCG vaccine.

The participants gained access to both local expertise and global best practices.

Crops

Uganda’s coffee steps into the global spotlight.(Image credit: The Independent)

Agriculture

Uganda’s presence at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo has moved beyond simple visibility.

What once drew curiosity is now drawing scrutiny, as international buyers begin to assess whether the country is ready for premium markets. Uganda’s coffee is no longer just being tasted, it is being judged on its ability to meet higher expectations.

Australia stands as one of the most disciplined coffee markets in the world, where quality is carefully measured and consistency is expected every time. For years, Uganda’s coffee has quietly played a role here, mainly through blends where its Robusta adds body and balance. Yet this contribution has often gone unnoticed.

That is beginning to change. Feedback from cupping sessions at the expo points to a shift in how Uganda’s coffee is perceived. Buyers are recognising its depth and improving quality, while showing growing interest in traceable sourcing, distinct origins, and reliable espresso performance. Uganda appears well placed to respond, but simply being ready is no longer enough. It must now prove it can deliver.

High Commissioner to Australia, Dorothy Hyuha Samali, has made it clear that Uganda is stepping forward not only to be recognised, but to be trusted. This signals a deeper level of commitment, where honesty and consistency will define long term success in a market that values credibility above all else.

A key moment came through the presentation by Gordon Katwirenabo, which helped shape a clearer understanding of Uganda’s progress. It highlighted improvements in quality control, post harvest handling, and value addition, while also acknowledging areas that still need attention.

Compared with giants like Brazil and Vietnam, Uganda offers a different story. It combines strong production with a value chain that is still developing. This creates opportunity, but also pressure to build systems quickly and effectively.

Uganda now stands at a turning point. Interest is growing and perceptions are improving, but the real test lies in execution. In global coffee markets, attention may open doors, but only consistent delivery will keep them open.

Sorghum and cowpeas flour.

Ghana Opens Timbuktoo AgriTech Hub to Power Digital Agriculture.

Technology

The company officially launched its Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) equipment and services at its Africa headquarters in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.(Image credit: xylem)

Machinery & Equipment

Water scarcity and wastewater management have long been pressing concerns across South Africa, and Xylem, a globally recognised water technology company, has just made things a great deal more manageable.

The company officially launched its Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) equipment and services at its Africa headquarters in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, marking a significant step forward in accessible, practical wastewater treatment for the region.

The launch drew attention from a wide range of industries that deal with the daily challenge of treating and recycling water responsibly. Mining operations, municipalities, agricultural businesses, aquaculture farms, food and beverage producers, paper and pulp mills, chemical manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies are all in the frame as potential beneficiaries of this technology. It is a broad reach, and deliberately so.

At its core, DAF is a pre-treatment and solids-separation system designed to slot into existing wastewater management frameworks. It works as a standalone unit or as part of a larger treatment process, sitting alongside biological treatment, filtration, and water reuse systems to help facilities meet compliance targets and achieve their recycling goals. What makes it particularly attractive is its compact, modular build, which means it can be installed even in tight or congested spaces where traditional systems simply would not fit. Rental options are also on the table, making it viable for smaller operations or those with seasonal demands.

The science behind DAF is clever but straightforward. Xylem's systems use Hellbender pumps to generate microscopic air bubbles that, after the water undergoes coagulation and flocculation, latch onto suspended particles and drag them to the surface where they can be skimmed off. The result is water that is significantly cleaner, with total suspended solids, fats, oils, greases, and biochemical oxygen demand all reduced efficiently.

Three models are available, the RT-50, RT-100, and RT-240, catering for flow rates ranging from 100 to 1,000 GPM. Each unit is built from durable stainless steel, comes with an integrated flocculation tube, and includes a pre-wired control panel that makes setup relatively straightforward.

Chetan Mistry, Strategy and Marketing Manager at Xylem WSS (AMETI), was candid about what this launch means for local customers. "We are very excited to bring cutting-edge DAF solutions to our local customers. Xylem has introduced our DAF solutions to several other markets, where they have become a big hit among companies of various sizes. They appreciate the logistical benefits of DAF's compact designs and convenient deployment, supported by our expert technicians. South African organisations in the private and public sectors can now also leverage DAF to expand their choices for water treatment and recycling."

The support offering goes well beyond simply supplying equipment. "Xylem's expert staff and our experienced partners customise each solution as required. We deliver and manage components such as mixer tanks, weir tanks, pumps, and conveyors, as well as catwalks and accessories. Our skilled technicians can support on-site staff or run the process on behalf of our customers," added Mistry.

For too long, fully industrialised water treatment felt out of reach for many South African organisations, put off by the cost and operational complexity involved. Xylem's DAF range changes that conversation considerably, offering a flexible, scalable entry point into serious water management without demanding enormous upfront commitment. Whether a business is running a pilot programme or upgrading an established treatment system, there is a configuration to suit the need.

The launch plants Xylem firmly on the map as a hands-on, solutions-driven partner for industries and municipalities that are serious about using water wisely.

The company’s slurry handling equipment come with competitive price ranges.

The project is set to become an exemplary climate-smart agriculture.

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