Manila, Philippines

For the first time in its history, the International Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA) has arrived on African soil—an historic moment placing the continent at the centre of the global dialogue on climate change, livestock, and sustainable agriculture

Now underway in Nairobi, Kenya, the 9th edition of the GGAA is co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO).

With over 500 scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society representatives attending, the event seeks to shape practical, science-driven solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock while enhancing food security, supporting rural economies, and building climate resilience. The conference makes it clear: Africa is not just a stakeholder in this global challenge—it’s a critical player.

Choosing Nairobi was a deliberate shift in narrative. Africa is home to one-third of the world’s livestock, and in several countries, the livestock sector contributes up to 80% of GDP. Yet smallholder farmers who form the backbone of this sector have historically been underrepresented in international policy-making. Hosting GGAA in Kenya offers these communities not only visibility but a platform to influence future strategies and innovations.

A core message emerging from GGAA 2025 is that “one size doesn’t fit all.” Solutions developed for high-output systems in Europe or North America such as methane-reducing feed additives are often impractical in African contexts, where productivity levels differ significantly. Instead, the focus is on improving animal health, feed quality, and breeding the most effective tools for reducing emissions per unit of product in smallholder systems.

Throughout the conference, cutting-edge climate-smart innovations are being showcased. These include breeding cattle for lower methane emissions using genomic selection, real-time methane monitoring via exhalomics, circular manure systems that convert waste into energy and fertiliser, and digital farm tools to streamline carbon tracking and management. Some models suggest that improving disease control alone could cut emission intensity by 12%.

Technical sessions are diving deep into topics such as methane measurement, rumen microbiome genomics, policy integration, and sustainable manure management. But alongside the science, a strong call echoes throughout the conference: solutions must be practical, inclusive, and accessible for farmers on the ground.

As ILRI’s Director General, Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, said, “The goal is to cut emissions while raising yields—that’s the win-win of climate-smart livestock.”

GGAA 2025 is more than a conference; it’s a turning point. It signals the rise of Africa as a driver of equitable, locally informed, and globally impactful climate action within the livestock sector.

The global conversation around food security, sustainability, and agriculture just got sharper and it starts with what we’re feeding our animals

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has kicked off its 2025 Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators, placing safe, sustainable feed production at the heart of agricultural transformation.

In a sector worth over US$400bn annually, producing 1 billion tonnes of feed and employing more than 250,000 professionals worldwide, the stakes have never been higher. The message from FAO Director-General QU Dongyu was clear: “This is where the role of feed regulators is crucial and is why FAO has convened this Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators.”

Held at FAO headquarters in Rome as part of Livestock Week, the two-day forum brought together policymakers, scientists, producers, and industry experts to address a critical but often overlooked pillar of food production animal feed. The Director-General called for stronger cooperation to boost feed availability, manage grasslands wisely, and reduce the environmental footprint of livestock systems, which are essential to both rural livelihoods and planetary health.

At the heart of the discussions: safety, traceability, and sustainability. Contaminants like mycotoxins, microplastics, and chemical residues don’t just harm animals - they threaten human health, disrupt international trade, and undermine consumer trust. Poorly managed feed chains contribute to deforestation, emissions, and biodiversity loss. And in many regions, feed legislation still lags behind international standards such as the Codex Alimentarius.

“There’s a need for science-based policies and regulations to manage feed systems wisely – protecting health, supporting trade, boosting productivity, and building resilience,” QU Dongyu stated. He also emphasised the importance of inclusivity, ensuring small and medium-sized farmers gain access to safe, affordable feed and services.

This year’s forum builds on momentum from 2023, offering a platform for real-world solutions. Key themes include increasing feed availability through locally-sourced ingredients, such as pasture, grains, and circular economy inputs, and scaling up innovative feed technologies that enhance productivity while lowering environmental costs.

One of the key outcomes? The identification of FAO Reference Centres for Animal Feed – collaborative hubs linking regulators, laboratories, researchers, and private stakeholders to fast-track innovation and global best practices in feed safety.

With plans to host the forum every two years, FAO is setting a rhythm for global collaboration and accountability in the feed sector. For farmers, feed manufacturers, and regulators alike, this marks a vital step toward a more secure, equitable, and climate-smart agricultural future.

Rwanda is stepping into the future of farming with the integration of machine learning and satellite imagery to modernise its agriculture sector

The government’s latest push aims to increase efficiency, profitability, and sustainability, with a strong focus on attracting young people into agribusiness.

According to Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, this shift marks a significant departure from traditional, labour-intensive field sampling previously used for agricultural data collection. "Today, we are moving forward using machine learning, using satellite imaging, where we are able to estimate the crop area and the crop growth condition, and therefore to be able to estimate the yield using technology," he said.

This season, the approach will begin with maize, Irish potatoes, and rice, with plans to expand to crops like cassava. Challenges remain with crops such as beans, which are intercropped and harder to detect via satellite, but advancements are ongoing.

Bagabe described the transformation as a move from smallholder subsistence to high-tech commercial agriculture, making the sector more appealing to young Rwandans. “You cannot create profit, you cannot make it a business, unless you standardise... That’s precision, that’s standardisation,” he explained, citing automated irrigation as an example of this modern approach.

Precision agriculture, which uses GPS, sensors, drones, and satellite data, allows farmers to optimise water, fertiliser, and pesticide use while increasing yields and sustainability. Already in Rwanda, automated systems are helping regulate irrigation based on real-time crop needs, cutting labour costs and conserving water.

The government plans to increase irrigated land from 70,000 to 130,000 hectares by 2029, aiming to build a resilient, tech-driven food system.

Youth-led businesses are embracing drone technology for crop monitoring and exporting these services across borders. “Technology has come to make agriculture much easier for us,” Bagabe stressed.

Cynthia Umutoniwabo, CEO of Loopa, urged young agripreneurs to build businesses around solving real problems. “Build solutions that are addressing real challenges... then it’s not going to be a hustle,” she advised.

Bühler has officially launched the Cenomic Horizon 3, a powerful addition to its wet grinding portfolio, aimed at transforming energy efficiency, product quality, and throughput for industries that rely on fine grinding and dispersion

Designed with the needs of sectors such as paints and coatings, printing inks, and agrochemicals in mind, the new bead mill offers a smarter, more sustainable solution for processing solids into liquids.

Unveiled globally from Bühler’s headquarters in Uzwil, Switzerland, Cenomic Horizon 3 is equipped with a 20-litre active chamber and 30-kilowatt drive power. This state-of-the-art machine represents a leap forward in processing technology, offering precise temperature control, reduced wear, and greater application flexibility. As explained by Patrick Schwager, Bühler’s Product Manager for Grinding & Dispersing, the new model is engineered to handle temperature-sensitive materials with improved stability, giving operators more confidence and control in production.

Significant design improvements are at the core of Cenomic Horizon 3’s performance. A newly optimised grinding chamber and an advanced bead separation system ensure efficient product flow and bead distribution. The integration of a silicon carbide inner liner dramatically improves thermal conductivity, enabling efficient cooling during continuous high-power operation. Pilot trials have shown that Cenomic Horizon 3 can reduce outlet temperatures by up to 15°C and increase flow rates by 20%, while also achieving energy savings of up to 30% compared to previous versions.

The mill also incorporates Bühler’s Premium V4 automation platform, offering digital control over recipe management, real-time performance monitoring, and predictive maintenance. This intelligent interface improves process safety, reduces downtime, and supports operational efficiency.

Cenomic Horizon 3’s versatility is one of its most attractive features. It is compatible with a wide array of formulations from primers and finishes to pigment concentrates and agrochemical suspensions enabling manufacturers to adapt quickly to changing demands without compromising on quality.

For current customers, retrofit kits are available, allowing upgrades to existing Cenomic 3 and Optima 3 systems. These modular enhancements expand process capabilities through a redesigned chamber and updated screen technology, offering a cost-effective path to modernisation.

Bühler is also providing hands-on access to the Cenomic Horizon 3 through its application centres in Switzerland, China, and Japan. These facilities offer full-scale testing environments where customers can run trials using their own formulations, fine-tune grinding parameters, and validate performance before making investment decisions.

With additional sizes set to roll out in the future, Cenomic Horizon 3 marks a bold step forward in Bühler’s mission to deliver innovative, energy-smart grinding solutions to global markets.