The International Congress on Biosolutions will take place over three days during Macfrut. (Image source: Macfrut)

The International Congress on Biosolutions is scheduled to take place during the upcoming Macfrut 2025 trade fair that will be kicking off from 6-8 May at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy

The congress is an integral part of the Biosolutions International Event (BIE), dedicated to natural products for plant protection, plant nutrition and biostimulation. The two key themes of the event include:

1. A deep dive into the needs of the peach market in Italy and around the world.

2. Emerging issues and related innovative biosolutions that can make peach growing a profitable and sustainable business.

The first session will feature presentations on the market for peach trees and the problems affecting them, followed by two international case studies. The second session will feature presentations on innovative biosolutions. The event will take place over three days during Macfrut and will include an exhibition area in the central South Hall with around 70 companies, the Biosolutions Innovation Award for innovative products, Technical Round Tables for exhibitors and sponsors, and meetings with foreign buyers of biosolutions, which are open to all exhibitors.

NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression. (Image source: NOVUS)

To support the dairy industry with the widespread challenge of milk fat depression, NOVUS is hosting a webinar series on milk fat depression awareness

The two-part educational initiative focuses on identifying this challenge and the causes behind it, along with providing actionable solutions to improve milk fat production and farm profitability. NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression, helping webinar participants to gain practical knowledge on identifying the issue in individual cows and herds, along with strategies to mitigate its effects.

“Milk fat depression is a multi-faceted challenge that significantly impacts dairy operations, particularly where farming conditions play a role,” said NOVUS expert, Edwin Westreicher. “Our goal with this webinar series is to empower producers and nutritionists with science-backed strategies to recognise and address this challenge effectively, helping them maximise both productivity and profitability.”

Another expert, Hannah Tucker highlighted that milk fat depression not only impacts profits, but can also disrupt the sustainability goals of modern dairy farms. “By offering actionable insights and reliable solutions, we aim to support producers in overcoming these challenges and achieving long-term success,” said Tucker.

The first two webinars titled: ‘Milk Fat Depression: What It Is and Why It Matters’ and ‘Is Milk Fat Depression Impacting Your Profits?’ are scheduled to take place on 13 March and 24 April 2025 respectively. 

To register for these free-to-attend webinars, visit: https://novusint.co/MilkFat

The show will create opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and deal-making. (Image source: Agri Africa)

The 2025 Africa International Agricultural Expo is scheduled to take place from 28-31 October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya and aims to enhance Kenya’s agricultural productivity

Ahead of this premier event, the Agri-Africa Exhibition Limited Kenya and Hongxing International Exhibition Co., Ltd. China recently signed a collaborative agreement facilitated by Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) China, marking the beginning of a dynamic partnership.  

Expected to attract key players, including government representatives, investors, technology providers, and agricultural entrepreneurs, the show will provide a robust platform for business interactions between African agricultural stakeholders and international players in the global agriculture ecosystem. 

The final day of the retreat began with a session on ECOWAS procurement codes and IT system development guidelines. (Image source: ECOWAS)

The Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) successfully concluded a five-day strategic retreat held from 10-14 February at Zuma Resort in Nigeria

The retreat brought together DARD leadership, project managers, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) experts, and staff working with DARD. The event focused on strategising, knowledge sharing, reviewing past achievements, aligning with ECOWAS’ vision for agricultural development, and fostering collaboration to achieve food security and sustainable rural development across West Africa. It was also an opportunity to provide technical onboarding for four new professional staff that joined ECOWAS between December 2024 and January 2025.

The five-day working session was opened by the director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alain Sy TRAORE, who welcomed all staff and Experts, including the newly recruited staff, and emphasised the importance of the event in aligning the directorate’s efforts with ECOWAS’ broader vision. “This retreat is a critical opportunity for us to reflect on our achievements, align our efforts with ECOWAS’ broader vision, and chart a course for the future. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we can ensure that our agricultural programmes have a lasting impact on food security and rural development across the region.”

Each unit within DARD gave detailed presentations highlighting their achievements, interactions with projects and programmes, and future perspectives. Participants also engaged in knowledge-sharing sessions on communication tools and internal management systems, including SharePoint, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook. One of the highlights of the retreat were the team-building activities anchored by the team building expert, Olubusola OGUNLOLU. Insights were given on work planning and reporting, with participants collaborating to prepare quarterly work plans and reports. Group presentations and discussions allowed for the exchange of ideas and best practices, ensuring alignment across the directorate. The retreat concluded with a session on various procedures and IT guidance, providing clarity on key operational processes.

The final day of the retreat began with a session on ECOWAS procurement codes and IT system development guidelines. The DARD director delivered a keynote address, outlining expectations for staff and encouraging innovative thinking to drive the directorate’s mission forward.