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Global agriculture continues to expand, yet the agricultural machinery market is navigating a period of turbulence.

Economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies are reshaping where and how farm equipment is bought and sold. This evolving landscape was outlined during the press conference launching the 47th edition of EIMA International, the world’s leading exhibition for agricultural technologies, set to take place in Bologna from 10 to 14 November.

Mariateresa Maschio, FederUnacoma President, said, “Protectionist policies in some countries, economic sanctions, interference with trade routes, and tariff wars have led to market fragmentation and a sharp slowdown in trade which is weighing on the performance of the agromechanical sector.”

Traditional markets are feeling the strain. The United States recorded a 10 percent fall in tractor sales in 2025, while Germany, France and the United Kingdom also posted double digit declines. In contrast, southern Europe is showing renewed momentum. Italy and Spain both closed the year with strong growth, signalling cautious optimism within the European agricultural machinery industry.

India remains the standout performer. With tractor sales exceeding 1.1 million units, the country continues to dominate the global market. According to Maschio, this growth reflects deeper structural demand rather than a short term spike. “Over the past fifteen years, output in the primary sector has grown significantly,” said Mariateresa Maschio, “but to meet the needs of the world’s population it will have to grow by a further 14% by 2034, especially in India and in those countries of North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East that are experiencing the highest demographic growth.”

A new geography of agricultural production is emerging, driven by mechanisation, digital farming solutions and expanding demand in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Chinese manufacturers are rapidly increasing their presence across these regions and even gaining ground in Europe.

“In the coming years we will have a highly segmented agromechanical sector, with low-cost basic technologies alongside highly advanced technologies for complex operations,” added Mariateresa Maschio, underlining the importance of innovation, policy support and international cooperation as the sector looks ahead.

SecureDX, a US-based animal health diagnostics innovator, has announced a strategic partnership with Panacea Korea, a leading South Korean manufacturer of diagnostic testing solutions, to expand access to verified, affordable animal disease testing across North America.

The collaboration brings together advanced diagnostic manufacturing with AI-driven digital reporting to modernise how animal health data is captured, managed, and trusted.

Under the supply and exclusivity agreement, SecureDX will act as Panacea Korea’s exclusive importer and commercialisation partner in North America. The partnership introduces a new portfolio of validated animal disease testing kits and select diagnostic equipment, all integrated with SecureDX’s proprietary SecureOS AI-powered digital reporting and chain-of-custody platform.

The combined offering supports the detection of high-impact infectious diseases, including avian influenza, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and other critical pathogens affecting cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, and exotic or zoo animals. All tests are developed under strict validation and quality management protocols to ensure consistent accuracy across species and testing environments.

A core differentiator of the partnership is the seamless integration of diagnostics with SecureOS. The platform leverages mobile technology and AI-enabled workflow standardisation to streamline sample registration, track chain-of-custody, monitor testing status, and deliver secure, traceable results. This approach reduces manual errors, improves data integrity, and enables standardised reporting for veterinarians, producers, laboratories, and animal health professionals.

Affordability without sacrificing quality is central to the collaboration. Through efficient manufacturing, optimised logistics, and digital workflow automation, SecureDX aims to deliver premium-quality diagnostics at a more accessible price point, expanding reliable testing options for farms, veterinary practices, zoos, laboratories, and animal export operations.

“Accuracy, quality control, and affordability are the foundation of everything we do,” said Justin Jones, CEO of SecureDX. “By combining Panacea Korea’s diagnostic technology with our SecureOSplatform, we are simplifying how testing is performed, reported, and trusted, while keeping costs accessible for real-world animal health applications.”

The partnership will also include PCR instruments and select point-of-care diagnostic platforms, all designed to integrate seamlessly with SecureOS and supported by laboratory validation standards.

“Working with SecureDX allows us to pair high-quality diagnostics with intelligent digital reporting,” said Clara Shin, CEO of Panacea Korea. “Together, we are raising the standard for accurate, affordable, and scalable animal health testing.”

The integrated diagnostic solutions are scheduled to launch in Q1 2026, with tailored offerings for laboratories, commercial farms, veterinary clinics, zoological institutions, and export programmes.

Limex has unveiled its latest innovation in industrial washing technology with the introduction of the Modular 8, a highly flexible and configurable washing machine platform designed for crates, seed trays, flower buckets and floats.

The new line marks a significant shift towards modular engineering, allowing customers to build exactly the washing solution they need using standardised components rather than costly custom-built systems.

Unlike traditional crate and tray washers that often require extensive engineering work to meet specific customer requirements, the Modular 8 is built from individual modules that connect seamlessly into a single washing line. These include pre-wash units, one or more main wash modules, rinse sections and blow-off units. This modular approach enables users to tailor the system precisely to their operational layout, hygiene standards and processing capacity.

By installing multiple main wash modules in sequence, the system increases soaking time and washing power, delivering higher throughput without compromising cleaning performance. Each standard module also offers multiple configuration options, such as higher-pressure pumps or advanced filtration technologies. The platform supports both left-hand and right-hand configurations, ensuring maximum flexibility for different production environments.

"With the Modular 8, we make it easier to choose exactly the configuration that matches the customer's capacity, hygiene requirements, and budget," says Joep Janssen, owner of Limex. "Our engineers have designed the machines in such a way that they follow each other seamlessly."

With a tunnel width of 800 millimetres, the Modular 8 is suitable for a broad range of applications, including harvest crates, seed trays, flower buckets and DWC floats. The system has also been designed with maintenance efficiency in mind. Improved accessibility of components simplifies cleaning, inspection and servicing, helping to reduce downtime and improve overall operational efficiency.

The Modular 8 builds on Limex’s reputation for proven, high-quality engineering. Constructed from robust stainless steel, the platform delivers durability, reliability and long service life. Twelve Modular 8 lines are already in operation across multiple countries, demonstrating strong market acceptance.

This launch sets the foundation for future developments, with the Modular 10, Modular 14 and Modular 18 planned to follow. These larger, configurable models will eventually replace Limex’s existing cart washers and big box washers, reinforcing the company’s commitment to modular, future-ready industrial washing solutions.

Key Technology (Key), a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, has introduced its COMPASS optical sorter, a next-generation solution designed specifically for fresh-cut leafy greens processing.

Engineered to inspect product directly from the field, this belt-fed optical sorting system combines high-precision foreign material (FM) detection with gentle, hygienic handling to support food safety and operational efficiency.

Designed for early-stage processing, COMPASS helps processors address one of the most critical challenges in leafy greens operations foreign material contamination while maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness. As Jack Lee, Duravant Group President of Food Sorting and Handling, said,“Foreign material is one of the biggest challenges at this early stage of leafy greens processing, but many processors can’t justify the expense or complexity of traditional optical sorting systems. COMPASS changes that,” he said. “It delivers accurate and reliable FM removal in a user-friendly, cost-effective solution engineered to withstand the dirt and debris common at the front end of leafy greens lines.”

Ideal for spinach, arugula, salad mixes and other unwashed leafy greens, COMPASS accurately detects and removes a wide range of foreign materials, including dirt clods, rocks, sticks, insects and animal parts. When processing single varieties, it can also identify and reject product defects, enhancing overall product quality.

To reduce labour dependency and simplify training, COMPASS features a recipe-driven system with a touchscreen interface designed to mirror smartphone navigation. Operators can learn to run the sorter in under 30 minutes, quickly switch between products and create new recipes with ease. Intelligent belt control ensures precise tracking, reducing downtime and eliminating manual adjustments.

COMPASS offers flexible camera configurations with up to eight channels of multispectral sensor data, delivering advanced detection at a lower total cost of ownership. When equipped with Key’s Pixel Fusion technology, the sorter combines visible, infrared and shortwave infrared data to improve contrast and identify even hard-to-detect contaminants. An optional chlorophyll-sensitive channel further enhances detection accuracy.

The system is designed for optimal product flow, using specialised infeed conveying and optional air-assist features to prevent clumping and sticking. Sanitation is prioritised through an open-frame design, sloped surfaces and a clean-in-place system that supports fast, effective washdowns.

Each COMPASS sorter includes Key Discovery, transforming the machine into an IIoT-enabled data hub that provides real-time performance insights and quality analytics helping processors maximise uptime, safety and return on investment.