From 16 to 18 June 2026, Bernburg in Saxony-Anhalt will once again become the central hub for modern crop production as the DLG Feldtage returns to the fields of the International DLG Crop Production Centre.

Set on DLG’s expansive 600-hectare trial farm near Leipzig, the open-air event is gearing up to showcase practical farming innovations under the inspiring theme “Crop Production out of the Box”. With more than 150 exhibitors already registered, the organisers are still welcoming further participants via dlg-feldtage.de.

Recognised as the leading international field exhibition for crop professionals, DLG Feldtage brings together farmers, agronomists, machinery experts and researchers seeking hands-on insights into the future of crop production. This year’s programme spans everything from plant breeding and crop protection to fertilisation strategies and cutting-edge agricultural machinery. Visitors can look forward to a rich mix of demonstrations, expert knowledge and real-world trial plots, supported by popular formats including DLG Spotlights, Expert Stages and Pop-up Talks.

The thematic DLG Spotlights are set to be a major draw. The “Planting Green” Spotlight will delve into direct drilling into living cover crops, with live plots demonstrating soil-friendly techniques, nutrient efficiency and modern weed management approaches. Equally compelling is the “Value Chain for Quality Wheat” Spotlight, which traces how premium wheat quality is upheld from field to processing, illustrating the collaboration required across agriculture, trade and milling. Meanwhile, the “Organic Farming” Spotlight will highlight diverse rotations, robust crop choices and practical advice for organic growers looking to refine both production and marketing.

Across the site, visitors will find dedicated meeting zones for discussions on oil and protein crops, resilient cropping concepts and strategies for navigating weather-related risks. As always, machinery demonstrations are a core attraction. Across six themed areas from direct seeding and deep tillage to mechanical weed control 66 machine combinations will take to the field, each accompanied by expert commentary and presented once per day.

Following its successful debut in 2024, FarmRobotix returns with the latest robotics, automation tools and AI-driven innovations for crop production. A special demonstration area will spotlight autonomous field systems, offering a glimpse of how technology may redefine farming in the years ahead.

Beyond the plots and machines, the DLG Plaza will serve as the social and professional heart of the event, hosting expert talks, panel sessions, regional food and relaxed networking. Short and sharp Pop-up Talks will take place at exhibitor stands and Spotlight areas, covering timely topics such as fertilisation and crop protection. The popular DLG CropNight will also make its return, inviting attendees to unwind with live music, food and summer drinks. Camping facilities will be available for visitors wishing to stay on site.

For more information please visit www.dlg-feldtage.de

South African agritech pioneer SwiftVEE has successfully raised approximately US$10.1mn in a Series A funding round, marking a significant milestone in its mission to modernise livestock trading through technology.

The investment round was spearheaded by African venture capital firm HAVAÍC and private equity firm Exeo Capital. Notably, former Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson also participated, bringing a wealth of financial services experience. Existing investors, including fund managers Mike Kirsten and Carlo Dickson, along with private investment vehicle Zire Africa, joined the round, signalling strong confidence in SwiftVEE’s growth potential.

Founded in 2019, SwiftVEE specialises in digital livestock auctions, connecting buyers and sellers of cattle, sheep, goats, and game through online and live-streamed events. To date, the platform has facilitated over US$100mn in annual livestock and game sales through hundreds of auctions, proving the scalability and efficiency of its model.

With this new funding, SwiftVEE plans to expand across Southern Africa, targeting markets in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, while also aiming to grow its international reach via buyer syndicates in North America, Europe, the UAE, Asia, and Australia.

Beyond livestock trading, the startup intends to integrate fintech, insurance technology, and data-driven solutions into its platform. SwiftVEE aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem for farmers — providing access to digital finance, insurance services, data analytics, and other tools that simplify and secure agricultural value chains.

The company already operates PrysWys, an online marketplace for agricultural inputs where farmers can purchase essentials like fertiliser, feed, seed, and fuel. Earlier this year, SwiftVEE partnered with Nedbank Agribusiness to embed financing into the agriculture value chain, allowing farmers to purchase inputs through the platform with integrated credit solutions.

This approach reflects a broader trend across Africa’s agritech sector, where digital services and finance are increasingly embedded into agricultural platforms to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability.

According to CEO Russel Luck, connecting fragmented value chains has revealed opportunities beyond livestock: “The success of connecting fragmented value chains through the platform has revealed opportunities beyond livestock in other industries where similar inefficiencies exist.”

SwiftVEE’s journey from a simple livestock auction platform to a fully integrated agritech-fintech ecosystem demonstrates the growing convergence of agriculture, technology, and finance across Africa. With rising input costs and pressure on traditional value chains, platforms like SwiftVEE are positioning themselves as key drivers of a more inclusive, efficient, and digitally-enabled agricultural economy.

The African Agri Investment Indaba, held last week, shifted the continent’s agricultural conversation from individual innovations to a far more ambitious and unified vision.

Rather than celebrating isolated breakthroughs, the event framed African food security as dependent on an integrated technological ecosystem one where drones, circular bio-economies and intelligent infrastructure operate as interconnected components of a resilient agricultural system.

The dialogue quickly moved beyond the familiar question of what each technology could achieve. Instead, speakers explored the transformative potential unlocked when these tools work in concert. Gerrit van Rensburg of SkyFarmers opened the discussion by demonstrating how modern agricultural drones had evolved far beyond aerial spraying. These machines now collect granular, real-time data that identifies precisely where interventions are needed. He argued that such information forms the essential “foundational layer” of every smart and responsive farm.

Building on this, Gerald Nel of Grüner and FARA presented how that data could power the Integrated Bio-Circular Networks Africa (IBNA). Within this model, predicted crop residues and agricultural waste cease to be by-products. Instead, they become vital resources converted into renewable energy and organic fertiliser that feed back into farms and processing centres. This closed-loop system illustrated how data-driven production and circular resource use reinforce one another.

The system’s environmental benefits were then linked directly to financial opportunity. Sabrina Basson of EmitiQ explained how regenerative practices, supported by precision insights and circular processes, contribute to measurable carbon sequestration. She showed that these gains allow farmers to access carbon markets, effectively turning improved soil health into a new revenue stream. This, she noted, creates a powerful economic rationale for adopting sustainable farming practices.

Yet improved production meant little without safeguarding harvests. Bühler’s Marco Sutter highlighted the next critical step: smart storage solutions capable of drastically reducing post-harvest losses. With nearly 30% of Africa’s grain historically wasted after harvest, his presentation underscored how intelligent silos able to detect spoilage, pests and mycotoxins protect the value created throughout the farming cycle.

Finally, Roble Sabrie of the FAO brought the conversation full circle by linking technological progress to trade and food access. He emphasised that even the most advanced farming systems depend on reliable transport routes. Efficient pathways such as the Lobito Corridor, he explained, are essential: “Corridors are the circulatory system,” he said, “moving healthy produce from robust agricultural hearts to hungry markets.” Cutting logistics costs by nearly half, these corridors ensure that the gains made on farms reach regional consumers and global markets.

By the close of the Indaba, one message was unmistakable: Africa’s future lies not in isolated interventions but in a cohesive, interlinked agricultural framework. This vision where precision data enables circular economies, environmental gains are monetised, production is protected by intelligent storage, and goods travel efficiently to market offers investors a compelling, systemic opportunity. It promises an agricultural transformation that is resilient, competitive and genuinely future-ready.

Senegal is taking a major leap in modernising its agricultural pest-control systems.

The Direction de la Protection des Végétaux (DPV) has introduced six “new-generation” drones to strengthen surveillance and phytosanitary operations across the country. This initiative marks the first time drones are being deployed in Senegal’s plant-protection efforts and underscores the nation’s growing commitment to leveraging technology in agriculture.

According to a communication from the Ministry of Agriculture, the drones are capable of covering 25 hectares of farmland per hour, enabling the DPV which has overseen crop monitoring and phytosanitary control since 1974  to carry out its operations with far greater efficiency and precision.

Beyond increasing productivity, the drones are designed to make fieldwork safer for staff. The DPV emphasised that the technology will “reduce staff exposure to chemical treatments, improve response times, and elevate the overall quality of interventions.” This innovation not only accelerates pest control measures but also ensures that interventions are more targeted and environmentally responsible.

The successful integration of drones into Senegal’s agricultural system is credited to a strategic partnership with the country’s Air Force. Under the leadership of Colonel Ousmane Ngom, a dedicated team of remote pilots and technicians has been trained to operate these advanced machines, ensuring that the technology is used effectively and safely.

The introduction of drones is particularly timely given the ongoing pest challenges facing Senegalese agriculture. In its 2023 report, the DPV highlighted the spread of the Fall Armyworm, which was first detected in Senegal in 2018 and continues to migrate between departments, posing a significant threat to maize crops. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this pest alone accounts for losses of approximately 18 million tonnes of maize annually across Africa.

In addition to the Fall Armyworm, the DPV continues to monitor other damaging pests, including locusts, blister beetles, and fruit flies  the latter of which is especially destructive for mango production.

For Senegal, the adoption of drone technology represents a clear shift towards precision agriculture and modern farming practices. The country aims to enhance food security, improve agricultural resilience, and deliver faster, safer, and more effective pest control measures. As the DPV deploys these aerial tools for the first time, Senegal is positioning itself at the forefront of agricultural innovation in West Africa.