Designed with the needs of sectors such as paints and coatings. (Image credit: Bühler)

Bühler has officially launched the Cenomic Horizon 3, a powerful addition to its wet grinding portfolio, aimed at transforming energy efficiency, product quality, and throughput for industries that rely on fine grinding and dispersion

Designed with the needs of sectors such as paints and coatings, printing inks, and agrochemicals in mind, the new bead mill offers a smarter, more sustainable solution for processing solids into liquids.

Unveiled globally from Bühler’s headquarters in Uzwil, Switzerland, Cenomic Horizon 3 is equipped with a 20-litre active chamber and 30-kilowatt drive power. This state-of-the-art machine represents a leap forward in processing technology, offering precise temperature control, reduced wear, and greater application flexibility. As explained by Patrick Schwager, Bühler’s Product Manager for Grinding & Dispersing, the new model is engineered to handle temperature-sensitive materials with improved stability, giving operators more confidence and control in production.

Significant design improvements are at the core of Cenomic Horizon 3’s performance. A newly optimised grinding chamber and an advanced bead separation system ensure efficient product flow and bead distribution. The integration of a silicon carbide inner liner dramatically improves thermal conductivity, enabling efficient cooling during continuous high-power operation. Pilot trials have shown that Cenomic Horizon 3 can reduce outlet temperatures by up to 15°C and increase flow rates by 20%, while also achieving energy savings of up to 30% compared to previous versions.

The mill also incorporates Bühler’s Premium V4 automation platform, offering digital control over recipe management, real-time performance monitoring, and predictive maintenance. This intelligent interface improves process safety, reduces downtime, and supports operational efficiency.

Cenomic Horizon 3’s versatility is one of its most attractive features. It is compatible with a wide array of formulations from primers and finishes to pigment concentrates and agrochemical suspensions enabling manufacturers to adapt quickly to changing demands without compromising on quality.

For current customers, retrofit kits are available, allowing upgrades to existing Cenomic 3 and Optima 3 systems. These modular enhancements expand process capabilities through a redesigned chamber and updated screen technology, offering a cost-effective path to modernisation.

Bühler is also providing hands-on access to the Cenomic Horizon 3 through its application centres in Switzerland, China, and Japan. These facilities offer full-scale testing environments where customers can run trials using their own formulations, fine-tune grinding parameters, and validate performance before making investment decisions.

With additional sizes set to roll out in the future, Cenomic Horizon 3 marks a bold step forward in Bühler’s mission to deliver innovative, energy-smart grinding solutions to global markets.

In agriculture, water isn’t just life. It’s livelihood.

In the world of African agriculture, few things are as vital and as overlooked as water

Not just for drinking, but for growing, irrigating, and sustaining life from soil to supper. In Sierra Leone, where farming still feeds most households, one partnership is quietly rewriting that story, drop by drop.

Enter So Pure, a local enterprise with a bold ambition: deliver clean, affordable drinking water across the country, while laying the groundwork for better agricultural resilience. But this isn’t just about hydration this is about farming futures. And now, with the support of capital lender Zvilo, So Pure is scaling its operations in ways that directly impact the agricultural landscape.

So Pure operates a fully integrated water value chain - purifying, packaging, and distributing safe drinking water through sachets and 20-litre bottles to over 500,000 Sierra Leoneans. While that may sound like a public health story, farmers know better: water security underpins crop planning, livestock health, and rural labour productivity.

Since 2019, So Pure has also been running a waste recovery facility collecting and recycling plastic sachets and packaging. This creates a circular economy that benefits not only the environment but also supports rural livelihoods. And with Zvilo stepping in to provide working capital, So Pure can now localise its packaging production, reduce reliance on imports, and stabilise supply chains—an urgent win for agricultural communities constantly disrupted by external shocks.

Scaling up to 10–12 million litres per month isn’t just a business milestone—it’s a watershed moment for farmers who rely on predictable water access, even if indirectly. And this impact grows with So Pure’s network of over 500 vendors and agents, many of whom are located in farming communities.

The initiative also aligns with Sierra Leone’s national 10-year WASH programme, “Securing Water, Enabling Dignity, and Advancing Development,” which targets 90% coverage by 2035. Farmers are at the heart of this goal because without clean water, there is no food security.

Support from development finance institutions like British International Investment, FMO, and Proparco, along with Ecobank’s risk-sharing facility, underscores how strategic finance can nurture grassroots change. As part of BII’s CARE for Water initiative, the project also ties into broader climate adaptation goals vital for African farms facing erratic weather and drought.

As So Pure and Zvilo push the boundaries of what clean water access can mean, they’re not just serving consumers - they’re fuelling the continent’s oldest profession with its most essential resource.

Condor, Tornado, and Dragon sprayers offer tailored solutions for farms of all sizes, backed by cutting-edge technology and smart usability.(Image credit: Agrifac)

 AgriFac has pulled the wraps off three brand-new sprayers that promise to change the way African farmers protect and feed their crops

Designed with precision, sustainability, and scale in mind, the Condor, Tornado, and Dragon sprayers offer tailored solutions for farms of all sizes, backed by cutting-edge technology and smart usability.

The launch marks a bold step forward in crop protection and fertilisation across Africa, where efficiency, resource management, and environmental care are increasingly critical to farm profitability. AgriFac’s focus is clear: help farmers do more with less—less waste, less cost, and less environmental impact.

At the top of the range, the Condor is built for large-scale operations. It’s robust, capable, and engineered to deliver maximum performance even under tough climate conditions. Its wide coverage and tech-driven controls make it ideal for commercial farms looking to scale up without compromising accuracy.

Next is the Tornado- a versatile, mid-sized sprayer that balances power and precision. Compact yet tough, it’s designed for farms that need flexibility, particularly where terrain or field layout demand nimble, accurate spraying.

For smallholders, AgriFac introduces the Dragon - a user-friendly, low-maintenance sprayer that doesn’t skimp on performance. It’s light, affordable, and built to last, giving smaller farms access to the same innovations transforming larger operations.

What truly sets these machines apart is their smart tech integration. Each model can sync with a mobile app, giving farmers real-time feedback on spray coverage, application rates, and performance data. This enables smarter decision-making and helps reduce over-application and input waste.

Environmentally, AgriFac’s new line leads the way. With low-pressure nozzles and adjustable booms, the sprayers deliver targeted application with minimal drift protecting neighbouring crops, water sources, and biodiversity.

In a farming landscape where every drop and decision counts, AgriFac’s latest sprayers deliver a timely boost. For African growers facing rising input costs and climate pressures, these machines offer a practical, forward-thinking solution to modern farming challenges.

The methane revolution is here, and it starts in the tractor cab.(Image credit: New Holland)

Biogas is no longer a buzzword—it’s breaking new ground in the fields. With New Holland’s powerful T7 Methane Power tractor, farmers like Christophe Rousseau in France are proving that clean energy can still pack a punch when it comes to heavy farm work.

A seasoned farmer and biogas innovator, Rousseau recently trialled the prototype of the T7 Methane Power, and the results were impressive: “During the silage season it worked eight hours from nine to five without refuelling,” he noted. The production model will boast 30% more fuel capacity, giving it even more stamina in the field.

The T7 builds on the success of New Holland’s earlier T6.180 Methane Power, but steps things up with 657 litres of onboard gas storage enough to match the diesel-powered T7.270 in performance, but without the emissions. Its autonomy and output are game-changers, especially for large-scale operations.

Yet it’s not just about machinery it’s about infrastructure. In the UK, CNH Industrial (New Holland’s parent company) has backed Bennamann, a renewable agri-tech startup, to bring on-farm biogas refuelling stations to life. In France, Rousseau’s own farm in Burgundy is already running a 500kWh biogas and cogeneration plant, powered by manure and organic waste, while a second commercial biogas plant in nearby Avallon supplies gas to the local network and potentially his own fleet.

The rise of methane-powered farming depends on smart policy, scale, and farmer-led innovation. The European Biogas Association reported nearly 1,700 biogas plants in Europe by March 2025, with France leading the charge. Subsidies and support mechanisms are critical to making CNG and biogas economically viable for farmers.

Rousseau is clear-eyed: the T7 Methane Power performs just like its diesel sibling. With the right backing, he believes biogas could power the future of European farming cleaner, cheaper, and just as capable.

Sustainable farming isn’t just about practices it's about partnerships. The methane revolution is here, and it starts in the tractor cab.