A Hub for global collaboration. (Image credit: VIV MEA)

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.

AAE 2026 will serve as a hub for innovation. (Image credit: Africa Agri Expo)

The Africa Agri Expo (AAE) 2026 marks the ninth edition of one of the continent’s most significant agricultural gatherings, proudly hosted in Kenya

More than just an exhibition, this event acts as a bridge connecting Africa’s thriving agribusiness sector with the global market. It brings together the best of agritech, innovation, and sustainable farming solutions, at a time when Africa’s agriculture industry is projected to grow to an impressive US$1 trillion by 2030.

Organised under the endorsement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya, AAE has become a trusted platform for farmers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. The event fosters collaboration and learning, encouraging meaningful dialogue that drives innovation, trade, and growth across the African agricultural value chain.

What makes AAE 2026 stand out from other agritech expos is its strong focus on practical partnerships and real business growth. It’s not just a showcase - it’s a movement pushing the continent toward a smarter, more sustainable agricultural future. Visitors will explore a wide range of innovations, from intelligent irrigation systems and modern machinery to precision farming technologies designed for African soils and climates.

The upcoming expo will feature an impressive mix of exhibitions, strategic conferences, networking lounges, and panel discussions, all aimed at empowering stakeholders with new knowledge and market opportunities. Attendees can expect to see the latest breakthroughs including AI-driven predictive analytics for crop management, drones capable of early pest and disease detection, and blockchain systems ensuring transparency from farm to fork.

There will also be demonstrations of autonomous robots for weeding and harvesting, advancements in gene-edited seeds, and integrated farm management software that uses IoT data to guide farmers’ decisions in real-time. AAE 2026 will serve as a hub for innovation, where technology meets tradition to create a resilient and profitable farming future.
For more information visit: https://africa-agriexpo.com/

The New Africa: Education, Training, and Education for Agricultural and Agro-Mechanical Technicians. (Image credit: Agrilevante)

As Africa braces for a population boom set to reach 2.5bn by 2050, the continent faces a dual challenge: ensuring food security while preparing a skilled workforce to drive agricultural transformation.

At Agrilevante 2025 in Bari, Italy, this challenge was met head-on with the unveiling of a new international initiative focused on vocational education and technical training for African agricultural and agro-mechanical professionals.

The conference, titled “The New Africa: Education, Training, and Education for Agricultural and Agro-Mechanical Technicians,” marked the start of a collaborative programme driven by FederUnacoma, the Italian Federation of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, and Internationalia Publishing House. The programme aims to assess and address skill gaps across the African agri-sector, starting with Tanzania, Tunisia, and Ghana - three pilot countries prioritised in Italy’s Mattei Plan for African development partnerships.

A key takeaway from the event was the potential of education as a catalyst for agricultural innovation. As highlighted in the conference, Africa holds over 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, and according to the African Development Bank, the continent’s agri-food market is expected to triple in value over the next five years from US$280bn to US$1tn.

“In a context like Africa’s, where education systems are characterised by numerous problematic elements and a sizeable school dropout rate,” said Gianfranco Belgrano, Director of Africa Affari and Internationalia, “training plays an essential role in meeting the demand for new skills in a constantly evolving market, especially in the agricultural and agro-mechanical sectors.”

The programme aims to go beyond traditional university-level exchanges and address the technical education gap, particularly in agricultural mechanics-a key area often overlooked in previous initiatives. The project will focus on technical and agricultural schools, helping to build a pipeline of trained technicians able to support the modernisation of local farming systems.

“There are great prospects for cooperation between Italian industries and African countries,” added Mariateresa Maschio, President of FederUnacoma. “From the design of technologically advanced agricultural machinery to the creation of high-precision irrigation systems, from supply chain implementation to capacity building, our companies possess excellent know-how that can meet the training needs of African agricultural economies.”

Belgrano reinforced the project’s initial focus: “We decided to launch the project with Tanzania, Tunisia, and Ghana because these are countries with a lot of agricultural area, which have structured school systems and can therefore already begin collaboration programmes with Italian companies.”

As Agrilevante showcases innovation in Mediterranean agri-tech, this new training initiative plants the seeds of long-term partnership, equipping Africa’s future farmers and technicians with the tools they need to succeed.

9th edition of the GGAA is co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

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.