The Low Carbon Agriculture Show brings together four major sectors under one banner. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Next year's edition of the Low Carbon Agricultural Show, the UK's only event dedicated to sustainable farming and carbon reduction practices, is returning to NAEC Stoneleigh from 5-6 March 2025

The show will welcome forward-thinking farmers, landowners and industry operators, giving them a unique opportunity to experience cutting-edge technology, services, and solutions. Visitors will have access to those at the forefront of the sectors transition towards more sustainable and environmentally conscious farming practices. 

The show begins together four major sectors under one banner, each with its own dedicated conference theatre:

1. Environmental business: Provides insights into policy changes and opportunities for growth through improved environmental performance.

2. Clean energy: Showcases renewable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, and bioenergy, that are reshaping the future of rural energy generation.

3. Low emission vehicles: Highlights the latest innovations in low-emission vehicles that farmers can adopt to reduce their carbon footprint.

4. Farm technology innovation: Highlight innovations such as precision farming, automation, and AI-driven solutions that can enhance efficiency and sustainability on the farm.

The Low Carbon Agriculture Show uniquely addresses the pressing challenges of reducing emissions and promoting environmental stewardship in agriculture. Attendees gain direct access to industry leaders and pioneering solution providers, ensuring they’re at the forefront of the agricultural transition toward greener practices.

Overall, this show provides timely solutions and inspiration for farmers and landowners, and is a must-attend event for anyone in the agricultural sector looking to embrace sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.

The attendees could discover the potential of seaweed and yeasts technologies to provide solutions to reinforce immune response and gut health. (Image source: Olmix)

Olmix on 15 October, organised the Immuno'Science forum dedicated to immunity and gut health in Porto

The forum which was enriched by the presence of representatives from 14 different countries brought together international keynote speakers covering various species such as poultry, swine, ruminants, and aquaculture. The attendees could discover the potential of seaweed and yeasts technologies to provide solutions to reinforce immune response and gut health. 

Poultry session

In his multidisciplinary research, Dr Rami Dalloul, the R. Harold Harrison distinguished professor of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia in Athens, focuses on areas investigating host-pathogen interactions during enteric challenges, particularly coccidiosis and clostridial diseases in chicken and turkey. 

In his talk, entitled 'Enteric defenses in poultry: dynamics and potential modulation,' Dr Dalloul gave a comprehensive overview of the birds’ immune system, and introduced the unique bacterial and parasitic co-infection model developed in his lab, to mimic a necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge. He also summarised the results that several nutritional strategies targeting immunity, gut integrity and microbiota obtained using this model, opening the floor to Olmix speaker, Maria Garcia, immunity product manager, to present the results obtained using this coinfection model with Algimun, a seaweed based solution. 

In this trial on broilers, Algimun not only improved performance but also significantly reduced the inflammatory response and enhanced gut integrity, thereby indicating Algimun's ability to improve broiler performance and combat the negative effects of NE. 

Swine session

In his presentation, Nicolas Bertho, a senior scientist at INRAE in France provided an overview of key swine immunology concepts. He revisited previous collaborative research with Olmix and shared findings from the ongoing immunity project ONIRIS which focuses on the effects of oral seaweed extracts (MSP) supplementation during the delivery of an attenuated PRRSV vaccine. The study highlights that this supplementation modulates systemic inflammatory cytokines and improves the anti-PRRSV humoral response. 

Following his presentation, Francisco Rocha Pinto, product manager for the Vet range at Olmix, discussed the positioning and application of Searup in swine. A number of experiments have been carried out on Searup. Two types of effects namely short-term pro-inflammatory response and long-term anti-inflammatory and antiviral benefits have been observed on two types of immune cells: monocytes and alveolar macrophages. A second experiment also noted an enhanced immune response that was observed when Searup was administered one day before and two days after vaccination. A third and final experiment is planned for 2025, where further promising results from oral seaweed supplementation are anticipated to address the significant challenges posed by PRRS. 

Ruminant session

During his presentation, Matteo Mezzetti, who holds a PhD from the Doctoral School in the Agro-Food System Agrisystem brought interesting and deep information on the inflammation during the transition period and all the consequences on early lactation, health and performing in dairy cows. Matteo presented several nutritional strategies that can be used as tools to promote proper immune functions of the cows.

After Matteo’s presentation, Elise Nacer-Khodja, product specialist at Olmix, presented field applications of Algimun in dairy cows in heat stress conditions, in which the benefits of using Algimun during the transition period of dairy cows were highlighted. This included lower inflammatory status and improved immune response around calving, resulting in a higher milk production during the 3 first months of lactation.

Aqua session

Professor and head of the Aquaculture and Fisheries group at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, Dr Geert Wiegertjes in his presentation entitled 'Immunomodulation in aquaculture: managing expectations' provided deep insights into the challenges that affect fish health in aquaculture and an overview of the components of the immune system and mucosal barrier function. 

Following the presentation, Raquel Pereira, aqua specialist at Olmix, gave an overview of Algimun effects on fish and shrimp immune response and growth performance in both scientific and commercial conditions, highlighting how Algimun reinforces natural defenses in a complete approach, promoting systemic immunomodulation and mucosal barrier functions (gut, skin and gills).

By promoting overall health status and improving animal performance in different contexts, particularly in challenging conditions, Olmix has demonstrated to be a reliable partner and supplier of natural solutions to support the growth and sustainability of modern livestock farming stakeholders.  

Speakers at the event explained that the Mattei Plan, proposed by Italy, can play an important role in supporting African efforts. (Image source: EIMA)

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in centre stage, the first day of the Bologna event, EIMA International began with a conference promoted by Africa e Affari and FederUnacoma 

The deal is expected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, and generate an overall income increase of USD 450 billion by 2035. On the opening day, the meeting entitled “African Free Trade Area and the Mattei Plan: A Window on the Future of Agriculture”, was held, emphasising the goal of AfCFTA that aims to create the world's largest free trade area. 

Moreover, the AfCFTA aims not only to eliminate tariff barriers, but also to stimulate the development of regional value chains, by promoting key sectors such as industry and agriculture. The main objectives of the agreement include the creation of a single market for goods and services, establishing a continental customs union and promoting inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth. Concrete measures include the progressive elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers in trade in goods, with the aim of eliminating 97% of tariffs by 2030.

Speakers at the event explained that the Mattei Plan, proposed by Italy, can play an important role in supporting African efforts, strengthening collaboration with Italy in the sectors of agriculture and mechanisation, and promoting sustainable development as well as shared economic growth.

Moreover, the contents of the special publication produced by Africa e Affari in collaboration with FederUnacoma were also presented to examine the implementation status of the AfCFTA and its implications for the development of the agricultural sector in Africa.

For more than 25 years, ICBA has extended its reach to support communities in more than 50 countries. (Image source: ICBA)

The International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) reflects on a journey marked by resilience, innovation and commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture in some of the world’s most harsh environments

Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, ICBA was founded to address the urgent challenges of agriculture in saline and arid environments. Since its establishment in 1999, ICBA has grown from a regional initiative to a global leader in biosaline agriculture and climate-resilient farming solutions.

For more than 25 years, ICBA has extended its reach to support communities in more than 50 countries, addressing pressing global challenges such as food security, water scarcity, and adaptation to climate change. Through its revolutionary research and development, ICBA has helped equip these communities with solutions for sustainable agriculture.

Initially focused on identifying salt-tolerant crops and developing resource-efficient technologies to enable agriculture in water-scarce regions, ICBA today, leads pioneering projects that range from natural resource management and climate adaptation to agri-aquaculture. Moreover, the world’s largest collections of drought-, heat-, and salt-tolerant plants are contained within its genebank. 

ICBA has also taken part in groundbreaking initiatives including developments such as the Emirates Soil Museum and the Desert Life Sciences Laboratory, each contributing to a better understanding of soil and plant resources in arid climates. Additionally, ICBA has championed the use of climate-resilient crops, like quinoa and pearl millet, to strengthen food security and support sustainable production in arid regions.

With a strong focus on capacity development, ICBA has collaborated with organisations worldwide to empower farmers, scientists, and policymakers with expertise in sustainable agricultural practices. 

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, ICBA aims to deepen its research, expand its partnerships, and continue building resilient food systems to benefit communities around the world.