Visitors from New Zealand gained insight into the full range of technologies that will be on display at Agritechnica. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Farming professionals from New Zealand got a preview of Agritechnica 2025, a prominent agricultural machinery trade fair, in Hamilton, New Zealand, as topics specific to the region's farming sector, including the Digital Farm Centre, which presents practical digital tools for efficient farm management, were highlighted

The four-day event hosted daily receptions with representatives from the EU, Germany and the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture. 

Visitors from New Zealand gained insight into the full range of technologies that will be on display at DLG's Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, 9–15 November, covering all stages of the farming process—from tractors and tillage to sprayers, harvesters, and data-driven systems.

This year’s Agritechnica event introduces the new “7 Days – 7 Topics” concept, offering targeted programming for specific visitor groups such as family farms, large-scale operations, contractors, dealers, and international professionals. 

Under the guiding theme “Touch Smart Efficiency,” Agritechnica 2025 will demonstrate how smart technologies can enhance productivity while supporting sustainable resource use. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore equipment and systems hands-on—from combine harvester interfaces to digital farm management tools.

New Zealand’s arable farmers are increasingly adopting digital technologies such as spatial soil mapping and variable rate irrigation to improve efficiency and yields. However, challenges such as rural connectivity and cost-benefit uncertainty remain. Agritechnica 2025 addresses these issues with practical solutions, including sensor networks, cloud-integrated platforms, and smart farming systems designed to operate in low-connectivity environments.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi. (Image source: Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Kenya)

Ahead of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation's (FOCAC) summit following the 2024 edition, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, is in China, attending the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions of the summit

Attended by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives from all 54 African member states of FOCAC, the high level engagement is evaluating the progress since FOCAC 2024.

Mudavadi visited the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center at the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HUNAAS) in Mapoling, Changsha. Founded in 1984 by globally renowned Academician Yuan Longping—celebrated as the “Father of Hybrid Rice”—the center has made significant advancements in rice production through innovative research and technology. The hybrid varieties developed at HUNAAS can yield over 18 tonnes per hectare, marking a transformational leap in food production.

The visit presents an opportunity for Kenya to explore enhanced collaboration in agricultural innovation, aimed at strengthening national food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Expoliva is the ideal platform to share the exceptional results achieved with Alfa Laval’s vacuum-based extraction method. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Alfa Laval will showcase the outstanding performance of its Olive Oil Booster system at the XXII International Trade Fair for Olive Oil and Related Industries (Expoliva 2025), taking place from 14-16 May in Jaén, Spain

The region surrounding La Selva Del Camp in northern Spain is now at the forefront of modern innovation. A forward-thinking partnership between the century-old cooperative Coselva and Alfa Laval is driving a new era of premium olive oil production.

As the leading global event in the olive oil sector, Expoliva is the ideal platform to share the exceptional results achieved with Alfa Laval’s vacuum-based extraction method. At Coselva, this innovative technology enabled a 10% increase in the extraction of premium extra virgin olive oil and a 20% boost in polyphenol content, marking a major advance in both efficiency and nutritional quality.

With global food demand expected to rise 70% by 2050, innovation in food processing is critical. Alfa Laval’s technologies are designed to maximise the availability of nutritious food while minimising environmental impact.

The Olive Oil Booster system integrates advanced thermal and separation processes, including a plate heat exchanger and centrifugal decanter—to improve performance without disrupting traditional production flow. When combined with Alfa Laval’s crusher and vertical centrifuge, the system significantly increases both oil yield and antioxidant levels compared to conventional methods.

The International Dealer Centre will again serve as the central meeting point for the international agricultural machinery trade at Agritechnica 2025. (Image source: Agritechnica)

This year's Agritechnica 2025 will bring in a range of new developments aimed at advancing steady digitalisation on farms

As the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, Agritechnica 2025 will take place from 9-15 November in Hanover, Germany, bringing together manufacturers, dealers, farmers, and industry experts from around the globe, fostering international exchange and networking. This year’s edition introduces new formats aimed at enhancing visibility and connections within the sector. Registered dealers can be listed on the official website and in the trade fair app, making them easily accessible to both customers and exhibitors.

Agricultural equipment dealers have limited ability to respond to external pressures such as deferred purchasing by farms, extreme weather events, and political uncertainty – though some are countering with attractive sales or financing offers. When it comes to digitalisation, which poses a direct and internal challenge for the trade, the situation looks different: Success increasingly depends on the expertise, technical know-how, and the quality of digital solutions and services offered by machinery dealers. 

"Agricultural equipment dealers are expected to integrate digital technologies into their portfolios and provide tailored solutions to farmers. But this is often easier said than done. The technologies involved are complex and require extensive consultation, while rapid innovation cycles in systems, machines, and software demand constant upskilling," says Ralph Königs, Business segment dealer manager, Agritechnica.

The International Dealer Centre will again serve as the central meeting point for the international agricultural machinery trade at Agritechnica 2025. Trade visitors can access an exclusive lounge for dealers, business partners, customers, and employees. Daily 'Pop-up Talk Dealer' sessions will feature international speakers, followed by informal networking opportunities. An on-site information counter will also be available to address questions on training and professional development in the sector. 

AAGB-2025 featured a comprehensive scientific programme, including three plenary talks and a high-level panel discussion focused on outlining a roadmap for groundnut improvement over the next decade. (Image source: ICRISAT)

ICRISAT in collaboration with the Peanut Research Foundation organised the 13th International Conference on Advances in Arachis through Genomics and Biotechnology (AAGB-2025) which took place from 23-25 March 2025 in Goa, India

The AAGB-2025 served as a vital platform for bringing together a global community of scientists, researchers, and industry experts to explore cutting-edge developments in groundnut (peanut) genomics and biotechnology and the innovations aimed at enhancing crop resilience, productivity, and nutritional quality. The conference saw participation from over 250 delegates from more than 18 countries including India, China, the US, Japan, Mali, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Burkina Faso, among others.

AAGB-2025 featured a comprehensive scientific programme, including three plenary talks and a high-level panel discussion focused on outlining a roadmap for groundnut improvement over the next decade. The event also hosted 10 thematic scientific sessions, bringing together leading experts from around the world. In addition, the three-day conference also featured a dedicated poster session showcasing 26 posters. The conference provided a valuable platform for young researchers and students to present their work and interact with global experts.

These sessions covered a wide array of critical topics, including genebank genomics and pan-genomics, trait mapping and gene discovery, genomics-assisted breeding, food safety, nutrition and quality, functional genomics, genome editing, and other emerging technologies. Discussions also focused on strategies for effectively translating genetic innovations into practical applications in groundnut cropping systems. 

Awards were also presented by deputy director general – research and innovation, ICRISAT, Dr Stanford Blade for five outstanding posters and five exceptional presentations by young researchers during the conference.  Another key highlight of the event was the involvement from industry stakeholders, with exhibitions by organisations such as DSS Takara, the South Africa Groundnut Association (SAGA), and Premas Life Sciences, underscoring the strong industry-science partnership in advancing groundnut research.

“For dryland crops like groundnut, strong partnerships and collaborative efforts are essential to drive meaningful impact at the field level. It is encouraging to witness the active engagement of both national and international partners, including the Peanut Research Foundation, in advancing this critical area of research,” said director general of ICRISAT, Dr Himanshu Pathak. President of the Peanut Research Foundation, Dr Steve Brown joined the event virtually and expressed his pleasure regarding their partnership in organising the conference.