The AgriBITs 2024 Summit promises to be an enlightening and engaging event for all stakeholders in the agriculture and technology sectors. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

AgriBITs, the new platform for agricultural technology innovations, has announced the opening of visitor registration for the highly anticipated AgriBITs 2024 Summit 

Early bird pricing is available until 25 May, 2024, offering a significant discount for those who register early.

The AgriBITs 2024 Summit, scheduled to take place from 5 to 6 of September in the Jaarbeurs Venue in Utrecht, promises to be an enlightening and engaging event for all stakeholders in the agriculture and technology sectors. The main focus is on the theme of Digitalisation in the Agrifood business ranging from AI implementation methods and tools to machinery transformation and bringing together experts, innovators, and thought leaders to explore the latest advancements and trends shaping the future of agriculture.

"We are excited to invite industry professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts to join us at the AgriBITs 2024 Summit," said Birgit Horn, managing director Agrifood at VNU Europe, the organisers behind AgriBITs, VIV and Horti Agri Next events. "This year's agenda is packed with insightful sessions, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, providing attendees with a rich and versatile overview of the current landscape and future possibilities in agrifood technology."

Key highlights of the summit include:

• 5 September, 10:00 am – 11:00 am | The Big Picture: AI Essentials - How to prepare for disruptive technologies
• 5 September, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Tech Transformation in AgriFood - Implementation of AI to match your strategy
• 5 September, 15:00 pm – 16:00 pm | The China Perspective - Exploring how strategy and execution come together in food production in China
• 5 September, 16:30 pm – 18:00 pm | Changing the business model - How did tech transform other industries?
• 6 September, 09:00 am – 10:30 am | Pushing the Boundaries in Agriculture - How far can AI go in Agriculture? Regulation, Research, Social Acceptance
• 6 September, 13:30 pm – 15:00 pm | Applications of AI in Agri-food in Northwestern Europe - Implementation in sustainable food production

Holding onto its promise to be a C-Level experience, the AgriBITs Summit, features industry innovators from across the Agrifoodtech landscape. Visitors can among others expect:

• Insights from leaders like Picnic, John Deere, KLM, Huawei, Priva and Lely.
• Exploring the crucial role of Blockchain in fostering trust in food production, presented by Unisot & Amped, facilitated by HubOrange.
• Cutting-edge research and developments from the renowned Frauenhofer Institute and University Medical Centers.

Besides enhancing the worldwide response to AMR, the symposium also promoted One Health concepts through collaborations with groups like AU-IBAR. (Image source: AU-IBAR)

The International Symposium on Pathways to Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials to Support Sustainable Livestock Transformation (RENOFARM) took place from 25-26 April in Chongqing, China

Stakeholders, experts and politicians from around the globe gathered at the RENOFARM symposium last month, to discuss the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is becoming a serious problem across Africa, particularly in the agriculture sector. By taking part, AU-IBAR demonstrated its dedication to fighting antimicrobial resistance and promoting sustainable livestock practices among African Union member states.

The symposium which was in line with the goals of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control (2020-2025), was convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to present the project, encourage participation, and pinpoint important approaches to put it into action. Besides enhancing the worldwide response to AMR, the symposium also promoted One Health concepts through collaborations with groups like AU-IBAR.

The significance of customised strategies for various livestock value chains was further emphasised at the symposium, which also brought attention to the priorities and difficulties encountered by African Union member states in executing RENOFARM. Throughout the symposium, various sessions and presentations addressed critical issues related to reducing the need for antimicrobials. Topics ranged from EU One Health actions and biosecurity measures to national action plans and good production practices. Key achievements included the launch of the RENOFARM initiative, the exchange of country and regional priorities, and the issuance of the Rongchang Statement outlining future actions. Participants emphasised the importance of accelerating the implementation of national action plans, strengthening evidence-based policy-making, and promoting international collaboration.

A presentation titled 'Alternatives to Antimicrobials to Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials - Examples from African Union Member States,' was also delivered by AU-IBAR's AMR Expert, Dr Joseph Magona, providing valuable insights into the key pathways for implementing RENOFARM within African Union member states. In addition, he also shed light on alternative strategies to mitigate antimicrobial use in various livestock value-chains, emphasising the importance of good husbandry practices, vaccination, and biosecurity measures.

This year, the primary focus lies on the theme of Digitalisation in the Agrifood business. (Image source: AgriBITs)

The new agritech innovations platform, AgriBITS recently announced  the opening of visitor registration for the highly anticipated AgriBITs 2024 Summit

Scheduled to take place from 5-6 September in Jaarbeurs Venue in Utrecht, the event promises to be enlightening and engaging for all stakeholders in the agriculture and technology sectors.

This year, the primary focus lies on the theme of Digitalisation in the Agrifood business, ranging from AI implementation methods and tools to machinery transformation and bringing together experts, innovators, and thought leaders to explore the latest advancements and trends shaping the future of agriculture.

"This year's agenda is packed with insightful sessions, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, providing attendees with a rich and versatile overview of the current landscape and future possibilities in agrofood technology," said Birgit Horn, managing director Agrifood at VNU Europe.

Early bird pricing is available until 25 May 25 2024, offering a significant discount for those who register early.

To register and learn more about the event, please visit https://agribits.nl/visit/registration/

Bank vice president Dr Beth Dunford, seen visiting a Bank-supported farmer in Ethiopia, is leading the Bank delegation to AFSH Summit. (Image source: AfDB)

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) leveraged its deep expertise and convening power to highlight the crucial role of agricultural technologies, fertiliser and healthy soils in driving sustainable agricultural growth at the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit, which took place from 7-9 May in Nairobi, Kenya

The event explored solutions to widespread declines in farmland soil quality and built consensus on an African Fertiliser and Soil Health Action Plan. The summit also adopted an African Union Commission initiative to enhance the health and productivity of African soils. More than 1,500 participants from across Africa, including Heads of State and Ministers attended the event.

One of the notable side events titled ‘Dakar 2 - the State of African Fertiliser and Soil Health: Policy, Governance, and Institutional Framework to Accelerate Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts,’ brought together representatives of agricultural ministries, the private sector, and other stakeholders to showcase successful efforts by Ethiopia and Mali to scale soil health interventions, raise crop productivity and bolster rural livelihoods.

Another side event, titled, 'Advancing the Soil Initiative for Africa through the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils,' showcased the strategic and developing relationship between the AfDB and the US-led Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), a movement to build resilient food systems grounded in diverse, nutritious and climate-adapted crops grown in healthy, fertile soils. VACS is aligned with the Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative, which delivers heat-tolerant, drought-resistant and other climate-smart certified seeds to millions of Africa’s smallholder farmers to produce 120 million additional tonnes of food in Africa and lift 130 million people out of poverty.

As part of its Feed Africa strategy to boost yields and build resilience, the AfDB is committed to ensuring African farmers have access to the inputs they need.