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In The Spotlight

Simona Rapastella, general manager, FederUnacoma. (Image source: FederUnacoma)

Event News

Based on an emphatic response for participation, FederUnacoma has announced the expansion of exhibition grounds to accommodate a grand display of high quality equipment at EIMA International 2026, an influential agricultural machinery trade show in Bologna

Set to be held from 10-14 November, more than 60,000 models of machinery and technologies are estimated to be on display. “EIMA brings together much of the technical, economic and relationship-building work carried out by the Federation, all aimed at fostering cooperation among countries,” said general manager, Simona Rapastella. 

FederUnacoma has received confirmation from 1,800 exhibiting companies till date (with more than 100 still on the waiting list). This means the exhibition grounds will be full to maximum capacity (with over 60,000 models of machinery and technologies on display). Visitors from 150 countries are expected, while official ICE delegations from 90 countries have been confirmed, in addition to those of Italian and European parliamentarians; the area known as “Extend” will also host government institutions and representatives of the agri-food sector.

“This year, the fair will have an even more impressive visual impact,” added Rapastella, “given the quality of the booth design proposals that exhibiting companies are sending to our organising staff."

According to FederUnacoma -- which provides trade show management training through its AFI Academy -- trade shows and exhibitions play a major role in advancing the agricultural machinery industry. This belief is also backed by statistical and economic surveys from the Manufacturers’ Federation, a co-organiser of EIMA. In collaboration with the University of Bologna and the Italian trade agency ICE, the Federation has developed specific training programmes for member companies to prepare them for trade shows. These will train in leveraging trade shows as venues for communication and networking, promote awareness in trade show marketing, and advanced stand design methodologies, among other things.

“The trade show optimises marketing efforts, curates technologies, highlights new trends, and builds relationships of trust among industry professionals from around the world,” said Rapastella, “and this is invaluable at a historic moment when protectionism and geopolitical tensions are holding back the sector.” “But above all,” she added, “the EIMA exhibition bridges the gap between countries and fosters all forms of cooperation, from commercial and industrial collaboration to scientific and technological research.”

Robotics and automated systems in livestock farming. (Image source: DLG)

Event News

Innovations in milking technology that are shaping the dairy barns of the future will be a DLG Spotlight at EuroTier's 'Barn Robot Event' in Hanover to reflect livestock precision practices such as automated milking, feeding and cleaning systems which are simplifying farm work

These advancements are driven by robot-assisted automation, which is also ruling modern animal welfare, animal health and environmental performance.

Robotics and automated systems in livestock farming have eliminated the backbreaking and time-intensive tasks for farmers, boosting operational accuracy while addressing labour shortage in agriculture.

With menial works such as milking, feeding, manure removal and bedding now automised, farm managers and employees can invest in critical areas such as animal monitoring and farm management.

When it comes to dairy farming, a milking robot can carry out up to 200 milkings per day. For farmers, this represents a considerable relief, as fixed milking times in the early morning or on weekends are no longer necessary.

Modern feeding robots pick out individual feed components so that animals get fresh rations multiple times a day. This significantly reduces feeding time by up to two-thirds. Automated feeding systems retrieve hay, silage as well as mineral and protein supplements from storage units and prepare precisely balanced rations. During feeding, the systems also push the feed towards the edge of the feed table so that animals can access it easily at all times.

In addition to milking and feeding robots, cleaning and manure removal robots are becoming increasingly important. They clean barn alleys and housing surfaces autonomously, ensuring hygienic conditions in the barn. Scraper robots are now considered indispensable on many farms and are often integrated directly into newly designed housing systems.

The Barn Robot Event will reflect practical solutions in livestock farming, with three main focus areas: retrofit solutions (conversion from conventional milking parlours to robotic systems), new-build solutions, and milking in large herds.

EuroTier will take place from 10 to 13 November 2026.

Finance still remains inaccessible for small and medium agricultural enterprises. (Image source: FAO)

Agriculture

Africa's agrifood systems are facing a crisis and require urgent financial addressing to eliminate hunger and food insecurity, finds a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the African Union Commission (AUC) 

The report has highlighted a sharp gap between current public and private financing of agriculture, pointing to the need for substantial and consistent economic support to transform Africa’s agrifood systems. While increased government investments have been observed on agriculture, forestry and fishing in Africa, it still has a long way to go in bringing visible transformation on the face of multiple fiscal pressures on the nation. 

External flows such as official development assistance reflected less than 27% allocation to food security and nutrition. Private investment also remains low, with bank credit to agriculture accounting for less than four percent of total credit. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in food and agriculture remains poor, with annual flows hardly crossing US$2bn. 

Finance still remains inaccessible for small and medium agricultural enterprises, as their requirements exceed the capacity of microfinance and also falls short for banks.

Titled, Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, the report foreward read "financing for agrifood system transformation in Africa should provide the financial resources that contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms". 

“The findings call for urgent actions and increased financing for a sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in Africa.” 

The foreward has been penned by FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel; the Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of ECA Hanan Morsy; the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the AUC, H.E Moses Vilakati; and the Assistant Executive Director of WFP Rania Dagash Kamara.

To make meaningful progress, the report calls for a strengthened policy and institutional environment that encourages public-private collaboration and de-risks agrifood investments. It outlines a roadmap that includes enhancing access to affordable credit, building the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises, and leveraging climate finance and blended finance solutions. 

African Farming

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. 

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Event News

Event News

Advancing food sovereignty, SPACE will be returning for its 40th year as the Rennes Exhibition Centre bring together the expertise, innovations and key players of the livestock sector

The event will showcase the best of livestock farming with a commitment to global standards of animal health & safety. There will be farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, researchers, vets and pharmaceutical companies and every stakeholders comprising the agriculture sector.

Every year, the event will focus on the latest sectorial solutions, build and strengthen partnerships, and share approaches to tackle universal challenges head-on: climate adaptation, competition, animal health & safety, regenerative approaches and the technological transition.

This perfectly demonstrates the irreplaceable role of agricultural trade shows, which create a meeting point for producers, facilitate the exchange of innovations, allow expertise to be shared, and support business development.

"On the occasion of this 40th edition, I would like to pay tribute to the dedication of all the organisers, exhibitors and professionals who have kept SPACE alive for four decades. Through its international outreach, high technical standards and ability to anticipate industry trends, this trade fair plays a vital role in maintaining a strong, modern and widely recognised French agricultural sector," said Didier Lucas, President of SPACE.

Simona Rapastella, general manager, FederUnacoma. (Image source: FederUnacoma)

Robotics and automated systems in livestock farming. (Image source: DLG)

Livestock

Pigs

Trouw Nutrition’s latest piglet nutrition innovation, Milkiwean ActiBar, helps activate pre-weaning feeding behaviour and ease the transition to solid feed

The patent-pending bar targets both gut development and feeding readiness ahead of weaning.

Trouw Nutrition’s Milkiwean ActiBar aims to ease piglet weaning transition. Its patent-pending shape and composition tap into piglets’ natural instincts to root, chew, and explore, encouraging earlier interaction with creep feed. By promoting early feeding behaviour and supporting gut development, Milkiwean ActiBar helps piglets arrive at weaning better prepared to eat, grow, and maintain performance.

“With Milkiwean ActiBar, we are introducing a completely new way to prepare piglets for weaning,” says Rick van Oort, Global Strategic Marketing Manager Swine at Trouw Nutrition. “It is a unique solution designed specifically to activate pre-weaning feeding behaviour. We are incredibly proud to bring this innovation to the swine industry and to offer producers a practical, science-based tool that helps piglets transition more smoothly and perform better from the very start.”

Young piglets are naturally curious and motivated to root, chew, and explore their environment. According to Trouw Nutrition’s statement, Milkiwean ActiBar is designed to activate these instinctive behaviours, encouraging piglets to interact with solid feed earlier. This early engagement supports digestive stability and helps piglets maintain growth momentum through the transition to solid nutrition. It complements existing creep feed programmes by ensuring piglets are both physiologically and behaviourally prepared to consume solid feed.

Tsetse eradication restores Senegal's livestock quality.

Cost-effective formulation for broiler chickens in Tanzania.

Crops

Agri-Expo has bagged the Industry Innovation Award. (Image source: Agri Expo)

Agriculture

Ahead of the 31st Commonwealth Agriculture Conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) in Cape Town, the event organiser, Agri-Expo, has bagged the Industry Innovation Award at the 2026 Western Cape Economy Innovation Awards by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

Acknowledging the award as an encouragement to the agricultural society's vision in building industrial partnerships and uplifting rural economies, Agri-Expo's general manager, Breyton Milford, said, “For us, this award is ultimately about people – the producers, entrepreneurs, innovators, volunteers and communities who help drive agriculture forward every day.” 

“Thank you to Agri Western Cape for nominating us and for championing collaboration across the agricultural sector. We are proud to share this achievement with our members, partners and the broader agricultural community,” he said 

The company hitting its 195th anniversary in 2026 is another milestone which makes the award extra special for the team. “The award highlights the organisation’s ability to honour its legacy while continuing to evolve in step with the needs of the agricultural sector. From the introduction of the Hollard Game Changer Award and the South African Preserve Championships to the ongoing evolution of the South African Dairy Championships and our support of agricultural shows, innovation remains at the heart of everything we do,” Milford says.

“This acknowledges the impact of our unique multi-platform model that brings together producers, industry, government and markets to create opportunities for growth across the agricultural value chain,” Milford says. “We are particularly proud that this award recognises both new initiatives and the continuous renewal of longstanding projects.”

Nominees were assessed against strict, results-based criteria, including measurable economic impact, practical innovation and the number of local businesses and employees directly benefiting from each initiative. The awards also highlight 'systemic innovation' – the redesign of interconnected systems, supply chains and collaborative models that generate shared value across multiple stakeholders.

Awareness play a significant role in expanding subsidy reach.

Finance still remains inaccessible for small and medium agricultural enterprises. (Image source: FAO)

Technology

Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model. (Image source: MyBitSecure)

Machinery & Equipment

Designed for emerging farmers, cooperatives and smart agricultural programmes across sub-Saharan Africa, the MBS SmartFarm Platform has been deployed following a three-month applied research pilot at the Sustainability Institute in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch

The platform reported marked improvements in soil health and water management, after close monitoring of soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, water consumption, and real-time climatic conditions across the SI’s community garden.

With this platform, Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model to embed enterprise-grade cybersecurity at its architectural foundation. Community food production initiatives, and institutions operating within sustainability-driven and development-finance supported programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa can leverage the application.

“The integration of smart agriculture technologies within our garden is not only about improving yields and resource management, but also about deepening experiential learning; transforming the garden into a living laboratory for innovation,” said Mulweli Nethengwe, research and strategy analyst, Sustainability Institute. 

“Soil health is the foundation of food security and for too long, the intelligence needed to protect it has remained out of reach for the farms and communities that need it most. The MBS SmartFarm Platform changes that. What we are bringing is a contribution to the long-term resilience of food systems across this continent, backed by evidence, built for African conditions, and designed to serve the people who feed us.” said Tandi Rouse, co-founder and director, MyBitSecure Technologies (Pty) Ltd. 

Trackman’s proven track technology for commercial applications.

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