Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

VIV MEA 2025 is set to return to Abu Dhabi from 25–27 November, bringing together an impressive showcase of international agricultural innovation.

Held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), this year’s event will feature dedicated pavilions from the United States, France, and Korea—each presenting technologies designed to strengthen the Middle East’s food security, boost sustainability, and improve efficiency across the animal protein supply chain.

American Pavilion: Advancing Regional Food Security

With the support of the U.S. Commercial Service, the American Pavilion will unite 20 leading suppliers offering solutions across the full animal production spectrum. Exhibitors will present innovations in feed ingredients, livestock genetics, poultry production technology, feed processing systems, grain storage, and more.

Madison Martin, VIV North American Representative at IMEX Management, emphasises that the USA Pavilion highlights technologies that enhance sustainability, productivity, and biosecurity. Both long-standing suppliers and first-time participants will introduce advancements in animal health, feed efficiency, and production technology responding directly to the region’s rising need for reliable and efficient food production systems.

French Pavilion: Leading Innovation Across the Value Chain

The French Pavilion will host 28 companies, including five exhibitors making their debut at VIV MEA. Covering farm equipment, breeding, feed solutions, processing technology, and veterinary care, the pavilion underscores France’s strong reputation in high-quality agricultural systems.

Anne-Marie Brault, Operational Activities Project Manager at Business France, notes that French exhibitors offer solutions rooted in quality, durability, and innovation. A key trend this year is the use of plant-based and natural products, including probiotics and phytotherapy, to enhance animal health.

Highlights include Agri Réseaux International’s ARIonline market intelligence platform; Difagri’s DIFATOX, which blends yeast and plants to combat mycotoxins; Laboratoires ACI’s AGRICHOC TOTAL; SIPENA’s protected potassium carbonate for supporting cows under heat stress; STI Biotechnologies’ METALAC Postbiotic; and Technivet Equine’s phytogenic and bioresonance-based animal health products.

Korean Pavilion: Advanced Veterinary and Diagnostic Solutions

Organised by the Korea Animal Health Products Association (KAHPA), the Korean Pavilion will feature 11 companies specialising in vaccines, diagnostics, and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Gee-Myung Kim, Team Leader of KAHPA’s Planning Department, explains that Korean exhibitors aim to deepen partnerships in the Middle East and Africa by offering “proven quality veterinary medicine.” Korean companies will present poultry vaccines including those targeting Newcastle Disease—advanced diagnostic systems, and functional formulations that strengthen immunity and energy metabolism to boost livestock productivity.

Recognising the region’s diverse species, Korean exhibitors will also showcase specialised products for camels, racehorses, and companion animals.

A Hub for Global Collaboration

Together, the American, French, and Korean pavilions will provide a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to explore new technologies, connect with global manufacturers, and build long-term partnerships that support the region’s agricultural advancement.

Nigeria is stepping up its fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with an innovative agricultural research project aimed at finding safer, home-grown replacements for antibiotics commonly used in livestock and fish farming

A team of scientists from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Spain are joining forces at the University of Ilorin to develop a locally produced and affordable solution that supports farmers while protecting animal health.

The project, named BAC4RumA, is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). Its goal is to create bacteriocin-rich extracts from specially engineered lactic acid bacteria - natural substances that can effectively replace antibiotics in treating diseases in cattle and fish.

Project leader in Nigeria, Dr. Ismail Odetokun, explained that early laboratory results are encouraging. The new extracts have shown stronger results than traditional antibiotics in tackling infections such as mastitis in cattle and bacterial diseases in fish. According to him, the research team is now preparing for field trials, with many farmers already showing interest in adopting these safer and more sustainable solutions.

Highlighting the growing danger of AMR, Najete Safini of IDRC described it as a “silent pandemic” that threatens both food production and public health. She emphasised the need to build Nigeria’s own capacity to respond, saying that home-grown solutions would offer stronger, long-term protection for the nation’s food systems.

 Mahmoud Eltholth of Royal Holloway University of London added that the partnership focuses on sustainability by empowering Nigerian scientists and research institutions to develop animal health innovations locally, reducing dependence on imported drugs.

With livestock and aquaculture contributing over US$33 trillion to Nigeria’s economy annually, experts believe this research could transform the agricultural sector. By providing farmers with safer alternatives to antibiotics, the project has the potential to boost productivity, protect animal welfare, and safeguard millions of livelihoods.

If successful, the BAC4RumA initiative could position Nigeria as a leading example for other African countries seeking to reduce antibiotic use in agriculture while strengthening their food security and export potential.

The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has introduced a new and intensive training programme for its inspectors, aiming to raise cocoa quality standards and boost Liberia’s position in the international cocoa market.

The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening the country’s agricultural value chain, with a strong focus on hands-on learning and long-term farmer support.

Dahn Sayee, Director General  explained that the programme is designed to give inspectors the technical knowledge needed to distinguish between different cocoa qualities and to guide farmers and cooperatives towards producing cocoa that meets global expectations. “The training is intended to empower our inspectors, who will get involved with our extension programs, train farmers, and train cooperatives to be able to deliver quality cocoa both locally and internationally,” said, Sayee.

He further stressed the need for Liberia’s cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and other agricultural commodities to meet the requirements of international buyers. “We want to make sure that we impart quality knowledge to our staff so that they are able to provide quality training for farmers,” he said. According to him, LACRA’s role is deeply rooted in supporting farmers at every stage of production, adding, “Our work at LACRA is to empower farmers. This is where the empowerment starts--with staff who will engage with farmers in their villages and farms, through cooperatives, to understand the entire process of marketing cocoa--from harvesting, fermentation, and drying to getting the cocoa to the market.”

The training, which began on Monday, 17 November 2025, brings together more than 30 inspectors. Once trained, they will serve as master trainers, helping farmers and cooperatives nationwide adopt best practices in production, processing, and storage. The sessions placed heavy emphasis on practical fieldwork, such as assessing cocoa beans, inspecting farms, and evaluating warehouse standards to ensure consistent quality control.

“This training is mostly practical because we want our inspectors to be able to identify the different types of cocoa beans and learn how to conduct inspections on the warehouses,” said Godia Alpha Kortu Gongolee, LACRA’s Deputy Director for Operations. She highlighted that “Quality control begins on the farm,” emphasising the need for inspectors to ensure full compliance with production standards.

The programme also addressed common issues such as mould, which often results from poor harvesting and storage techniques and has previously affected exports to high-demand markets, including the European Union. Conducted in partnership with GROW-2, and supported by UNIDO and the Swedish Government, the training will conclude with an assessment to evaluate participants’ competencies.

Following similar training in October 2025, LACRA’s continued investment in inspector development demonstrates Liberia’s dedication to improving agricultural standards and expanding its footprint in global markets.

Twelve Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) producers from Amboim, in Angola’s Cuanza-Sul Province, recently received a payment of US$23mn thanks to sales of their coffee and a partnership with Portuguese coffee company Angonabeiro

The ceremonial handover, held in Luanda, was attended by the Portuguese Ambassador Francisco Duarte, Angonabeiro executives João and Rui Nabeiro, and Lucinda Mário de Castro Cunha, coordinator of the Amboim Women Farmers' Association.

Of the total amount, US$15mn were delivered immediately, with the remainder set to follow in a phased support process until December. The funds are earmarked for purchasing equipment to enhance coffee production, boosting productivity, sustainability, and autonomy among local women farmers. This partnership is designed to strengthen the coffee supply chain in Amboim while promoting innovation and long-term growth.

Rui Nabeiro highlighted Angola’s growing role in the company’s international revenue, now accounting for 15% of total earnings, with projections showing a 12% increase this year. Delta, part of the Nabeiro Group, is Angola’s largest buyer, processor, and exporter of green coffee, handling 1,200 tons last year and estimating around 1,000 tons this year. This trade directly supports 20,000 to 40,000 producing families per harvest, reflecting the sector’s vital socio-economic impact.

The initiative also aims to revitalize Angola’s green coffee supply chain by providing technical training, improving farming conditions, and mitigating logistical challenges, ensuring farmers continue producing high-quality coffee and maintain ownership of their land.

Portuguese Ambassador Francisco Duarte praised the strong Angola-Portugal economic relations, noting that over 5,000 Portuguese companies export to Angola, with Portugal being the country’s second-largest supplier after China. Many of these companies employ local staff, contribute taxes, and build human capital, creating thousands of jobs.

Lucinda Cunha of the Amboim Women Farmers’ Association emphasized the significance of the Angonabeiro partnership. Despite challenges such as vandalism and illegal purchasing of coffee, farmers managed to harvest up to 800,000 kilos, and the financial support will help maintain and expand coffee production, from cleaning plantations to preparing new planting sites.

Operating in Angola for almost 27 years, Angonabeiro continues to support national farmers while promoting innovation, quality, and sustainability in the country’s coffee sector.