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

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."

ICRISAT and University of Queensland collaborated to future-proof farming in Africa. (Image credit: ICRISAT)

Across the drylands of Africa, millions of smallholder farmers grow food in some of the most punishing conditions on earth.

Erratic rainfall, punishing heat and increasingly unpredictable growing seasons make every harvest a gamble. Now, two of the world's leading agricultural research institutions are joining forces to change that.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia have formalised a strategic partnership aimed at bringing the latest predictive breeding technologies directly into crop improvement programmes serving dryland farming communities. A Memorandum of Understanding signed between ICRISAT and UQ's ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures sets the foundation for what could be a transformative shift in how new crop varieties are developed for the world's most food-insecure regions.

At its core, the collaboration is about speed and precision. Traditional crop breeding is a long game, often taking well over a decade to move from a promising genetic combination to a variety that farmers can actually grow. Predictive breeding collapses that timeline by using genomic data to identify which plants are most likely to thrive before they are ever put in the ground. For communities already feeling the weight of climate change, that difference can be measured in meals.

 Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, said,"Dryland agriculture is on the frontline of climate change. Farmers in these regions cannot wait decades for improved crop varieties. Predictive breeding allows us to anticipate which genetic combinations will perform best before they are even field-tested. Through collaboration with one of the world's leading centres for predictive breeding at the University of Queensland, we are accelerating the delivery of climate-resilient crops that farmers urgently need to sustain productivity, nutrition, and livelihoods." 

ICRISAT already has strong foundations to build on. The institute has contributed to the release of over 1,200 improved crop varieties across more than 40 countries, and has been rolling out rapid breeding cycle protocols for crops including chickpea, pigeonpea and finger millet. The new partnership is expected to further sharpen those efforts, with genomic prediction woven into existing pipelines to deliver varieties capable of achieving yield gains of 20 to 25 per cent under drought and heat stress.

"This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to put cutting-edge predictive breeding tools into the hands of ICRISAT's breeders. Beyond the technology itself, building local capacity to implement and adapt these approaches is critical and will help ensure long-term impact for farmers across India and Africa," said Professor Lee Hickey, Director of the ARC Training Centre.

The collaboration will be coordinated by Dr Janila Pasupuleti, who will lead the development of a transition strategy to embed rapid-cycle genomic prediction across ICRISAT's breeding programmes. For farming communities across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, it represents something simple but profound: better seeds, sooner.

EuroTier 2026 Puts Forage Production in the Spotlight With New Forage Days and Smart-Farming Showcase. (Image credit: DLG)

Forage production takes center stage at EuroTier 2026, scheduled for November 10-13, 2026, in Hanover, Germany.

Organized under the guiding theme "Intelligence in Animal Farming," the event will feature a dedicated DLG Spotlight on Forage Production alongside the newly launched Forage Days on November 12 and 13 marking a significant expansion in programming for ruminant nutrition professionals, forage specialists and equipment manufacturers worldwide.

Forage quality directly determines the profitability and productivity of ruminant herds. Despite this, measurable losses continue to occur at every stage of the forage chain from field to feedbunk. Bridging that gap is the central mission of EuroTier 2026's forage programming.

High-performing dairy and beef operations depend on a steady supply of consistent, nutrient-dense forage. Research consistently demonstrates that premium forage quality reduces reliance on purchased concentrate feeds, lowers input costs and improves overall feed efficiency outcomes that directly affect a farm's bottom line.

Achieving stable forage quality calls for well-coordinated machinery and tight process management at each production stage: harvesting, preservation, storage and daily feeding. Fast, low-loss operations -- such as completing ensiling within 24 hours and ensuring rapid drying during haymaking are critical benchmarks that leading producers are working toward.

Modern sensors, compaction monitoring and airtight covering systems are enabling a new generation of precision forage management. Properly adjusted equipment minimizes contamination risk and fermentation inconsistencies, while low-emission manure application and verified silage additives support both forage hygiene and storage stability.

At the feedout stage, clean face management, appropriate daily advance rates and fresh-feed protocols prevent reheating and aerobic spoilage factors that can quietly erode the nutritional value of even well-made silages.

The curated DLG Spotlight on Forage Production will bring together exhibitors from across the equipment, technology and agronomy sectors to demonstrate how digital and smart-farming tools can optimize forage quality at every stage of the production chain from initial cutting through to ensiling. The dedicated DLG Expert Stage Ruminants will complement this showcase with targeted content on needs-based feeding strategies for dairy and beef operations.

The new Forage Days on November 12 and 13 extend the programming to offer deeper technical engagement, providing attendees access to expert-led discussions, live equipment demonstrations and direct networking with forage specialists from across the industry.

The Prime Minister of Mozambique, Benvinda Levi speaking during the International Women's Day celebrations in Maputo Mozambique. (Image credit: AGRA)

Across sub-Saharan Africa, women are not waiting on the sidelines of the farming revolution. They are in the thick of it, tilling the soil, leading cooperatives, and building agribusinesses that feed families and fortify economies.

Women make up nearly half of the continent's agrifood workforce, with more than three quarters of employed women working within these systems in some capacity. Yet despite doing so much of the heavy lifting, structural obstacles continue to block their path to finance, land, markets, and the tools they need to truly thrive.

To mark International Women's Day 2026, AGRA brought this conversation front and centre. Through its VALUE4HER initiative, the organisation convened women agripreneurs, policymakers, and development partners at the Joaquim Chissano International Centre in Maputo, Mozambique. The event served a dual purpose: honouring the women quietly transforming African agriculture, and officially opening applications for the 2026 VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards, known as WAYA.

The gathering was anchored by the theme "Give Agency to Gain Growth," a rallying call that spoke directly to what many women working in agrifood know all too well. The numbers make a compelling case for change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, if women farmers had the same access to productive resources as men, their yields could increase by 20 to 30 per cent, potentially cutting global hunger by up to 17 per cent.

Alice Ruhweza,AGRA's President, said, "Women are not just participants in Africa's agrifood systems — they are innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders driving transformation across the value chain. Investing in women's agency, leadership, and access to opportunities unlocks growth not only for women-led businesses, but for Africa's food systems and economies."

Maria Benvinda Levy, Mozambique's Prime Minister, said, "The National Program for the Eradication of Poverty places the improvement of people's living conditions at the centre of our national agenda. It prioritises support for the most vulnerable, reduces social inequalities, and advances inclusive development across Mozambique. Women agripreneurs are central to this transformation, driving productivity, strengthening food systems, and expanding opportunity in our communities."

The WAYA Awards, launched in 2021, have grown into one of Africa's most respected platforms for recognising excellence in women-led agribusiness. Winners receive grants of up to USD 300,000 to scale their work. This year's awards will be presented in September at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. Applications close 8th May 2026, and are open to women-led agribusinesses across the continent.

Last year drew nearly 2,000 applicants from countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, and beyond. Their stories told of innovation in ag-tech, value addition, sustainable farming, and grassroots community leadership. This year promises to be no different.