Halter raises NZD $377m to drive global expansion as virtual fencing demand surges
New Zealand’s AI-enabled livestock tech unicorn hits US$2bn valuation and prepares for major UK, Ireland and South America launch
Animal health
Nofence pushes back on welfare concerns as it tops 200,000 collars and expands into Sweden
As UK regulators sharpen their focus on virtual fencing, Norwegian firm Nofence says evidence‑based evaluation will show the technology supports – not compromises – animal welfare. The company has also passed major commercial milestones, including...
DSM‑Firmenich’s €2.2bn ANH exit underscores ‘barbell’ reality in animal health investment
Divestment to CVC highlights how volatility is reshaping capital allocation in animal nutrition, while specialist investors continue to see upside in value‑add animal health plays
Exclusive news
AI meets plant breeding: Heritable Agriculture and KWS target feed trait breakthroughs
A new partnership between US-based Heritable Agriculture and German plant breeding giant KWS aims to accelerate genetic improvements in feed crops using AI-driven gene discovery – unlocking nutritional and sustainability gains across the agricultural...
BASF exits glycinates as Biochem and private equity step up in animal nutrition M&A
German chemical company to sharpen focus on vitamins and carotenoids
Spain probes lab link as ASF outbreak rocks Europe’s top pork exporter
Spain controls 26% of EU pork production and supplies roughly 25–30% of China’s pork, reports Kemiex
From lab to livestock: Why ProtonDx took its rapid diagnostic tech beyond human health
UK start-up ProtonDx, creator of the Dragonfly platform, hopes to redefine animal health diagnostics. After developing rapid molecular testing in human medicine, the Imperial College London spin-out saw a critical gap in agriculture – where waiting days...
Smarter antimicrobial design: Breakthrough paves the way for next-gen solutions to tackle multidrug-resistant bacteria
A team of scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism that could reshape the way antimicrobials are designed and combat multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Phagos secures approval to market personalized phage-based veterinary drugs in EU
French biotech raises €25m to scale AI-powered phage therapy
BASF reviews next steps for feed enzymes business
Focus on strategic partnerships to unlock full potential
De Heus set to acquire CJ Feed & Care, accelerating Asian growth strategy
Acquisition includes 17 feed mills
Natural astaxanthin sector gathers momentum with fresh entrants
Italian startup, Asteasier, has begun to commercialize microalgae strains while Corbion partners with Kuehnle AgroSystems on fermentation route
Can new satellite project boost grazing efficiency, reduce methane?
A new methane busting initiative has been launched this week to help farmers in Latin America and Africa monitor pasture availability and determine optimal grazing time
Suspected feed link under investigation in UK cattle botulism outbreaks
Agencies continue their investigations
AMR threat: Calls for tighter antimicrobial regulation in ag as salmonella found in 90% of Bangkok canals
Researchers are calling for tighter regulations in animal farms as a new study finds “alarmingly high” prevalence of antimicrobial resistant salmonella in Bangkok’s urban canal waters.
Animal health and nutrition industry heats up with strategic deals
Kemin and Balmoral Funds finalize animal health and nutrition transactions, while CVC Capital Partners is reportedly the leading contender for dsm-firmenich’s ANH business
Start-up profile
From cow herder to unicorn… What’s behind Halter’s hefty market value?
Virtual fencing start-up Halter became one of New Zealand’s rare unicorns when it raised $100m in June this year from a sweep of Silicon Valley tech investors at a $1bn valuation. Its president Andrew Fraser explains its allure
High-starch diets may help reduce salmonella in cattle, study finds
But animal health trade-offs must be considered
Fermented chives show promise as an alternative antibiotic for chickens in reducing E.coli
Fermented chives show potential as a natural alternative to antibiotics to tackle Escherichia coli infections in broiler chickens, a new study from Vietnam finds.
PLF pioneer SoundTalks plots growth after Boehringer distribution partnership winds down
SoundTalks continues to have backing of existing shareholders, illustrating a confidence in the company and the future of PLF, according to the CEO
‘Without a shared plan, supply chains fragment and progress stalls,’ warns genetics player about the EU’s agri food vision
Industry needs to look in the mirror and take maximum responsibility for the future of food, claims Dick Hordijk, CEO of swine genetics company, Topigs Norsvin
BiomEdit nets over $18m in Series B to commercialize engineered probiotic biologic
Participation from AgriZeroNZ set to accelerate US firm’s methane emissions reduction technology
USDA turns to sterile fly tech in fight against New World screwworm
New World screwworm flies pose a threat to North American livestock, but innovative technology can play a crucial role in preventing the pest’s resurgence in the US
Commercializing phages: Inside three pioneering companies
As the global agriculture industry wrestles with AMR, tighter regulations, and the call for sustainability, bacteriophage-based solutions have emerged as a promising - but complex - alternative to antibiotics
Shrimp farm in the supermarket? AquaEasy envisions using AI tech to shorten farm-to-table journey
AquaEasy wants to use AI-powered tech to bring shrimp farming closer to consumers, shortening the farm-to-table supply chain
Fungi fix for mad cow? Mush& targets animal feed market with cordyceps protein to combat BSE
A South Korean start-up specialising in mycelium-based protein is seeking out a partner to develop a solution that it believes could help combat mad cow disease
Cracking the code of calf resilience: What decades of milk research is revealing about immunity, efficiency, and longevity
It began with a question: what exactly is milk signaling to a calf?
State of VC funding: Lever VC discusses agtech opportunities, challenges
Lever VC searches for innovative agtech startups to round out its Fund II roster, as the firm watches the evolving macroeconomic climate for portfolio implications
Dubai start-up Greener Herd launches Arabic-language app for digital tools in livestock
Greener Herd, billed as the first Arabic-language livestock management platform designed for producers in the Middle East, has officially launched on the Google Play Store and App Store
Can an engineered probiotic tackle necrotic enteritis? Yes, says BiomEdit
Company looks to neutralize key toxins produced by C. perfringens
Ag innovation faces headwinds from policy and market shocks
‘Consistent, reliable capital is needed to scale innovation in agriculture and animal health’
Does US approval of PRRS-resistant pigs signal a new era for livestock innovation?
‘Beyond disease resistance, the technology also reduces the susceptibility of pigs to secondary bacterial infections’
Harnessing enzymes to tackle livestock methane: Hoofprint Biome’s bold bet on microbiome innovation
Methane busting startup closed $15m Series A round late last month
Myanmar earthquake: Impact threatens feed output to fall by up to 15%
Myanmar’s feed production is expected to decline by up to 15% this year as a result of the March earthquake’s disruption to production and supply chain.
Cobb-Vantress ramps up R&D investment to fast-track genetic gains
Cobb leveraging precision data collection, and improved prediction models to stay ahead in broiler performance
Knowing your onions: Peel could cut methane emissions, boost feed efficiency
A new study suggests that onion peel could become a powerful tool for the dairy industry to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve feed efficiency.
US poultry group adopts on-farm hatching technology
‘Benefits are clear but transition presents operational challenges’
FFAR accelerates agtech innovation to combat disease, boost US farm resilience
FFAR also aims to lower production costs, and help reduce prices for US consumers
From emissions to exhalomics: GreenFeed unlocks rumen health insights
C-Lock is eyeing smarter sensors to track heat stress, ketones, and feed intake in cows.
Genus PIC awaits FDA OK as global approval push for PRRS-resistant pigs intensifies
Disease continues to cause significant economic losses across global pork production systems
Can grass be turned into a sustainable protein source?
Grass protein has a superior amino acid profile to soy, claims Grassa.
Aquaculture advance: JAH Cultura’s tech accelerates shrimp growth, lowers feed use
Singapore’s JAH Cultura’s ceramic alloy tech has been found to boost shrimp growth while increasing microalgae, potentially lowering feed requirements.
Ceres uncovers top firms at risk from methane emissions - and how they can take action
‘Climate risk presents material financial risks to companies and their investors’
Exclusive
Seadling gets $1M to propel sustainable seaweed innovation
Malaysia-based Seadling, a biotech company specialising in sustainable seaweed-based functional ingredients, has announced the successful close of its US $1 million seed investment round.
French insect farming pioneer Ynsect faces collapse
Business seeks one or more buyers
Swedish company set to receive $4 million boost in effort to curb NZ livestock emissions
AgriZeroNZ, the industry-government partnership accelerating the development of emissions reduction tools, is investing around NZD $4.2 million (€2.25m) in Agteria Biotech, a Swedish company making strides to reduce methane emissions from cattle.
Shining a light on sustainability: UV-treated grass seeds may curb methane in livestock
BioLumic has seen major improvements in plant traits using UV technology
Back nature-based solutions over tech fixes to cut livestock emissions, investors urged
Investors should focus on financing nature-based solutions, rather than technologies that reduce emissions from current practices, to bring livestock farming in line with climate targets, concludes a report by food systems investor network the FAIRR...
Verifying EFSA-authorized insects in EU feed and food supply chains
A study outlines an effective protocol for identifying and authenticating insect species in feed and food
US gets new feed and pet food ingredients approval pathway
AAFCO partners with K-State Olathe on ingredient evaluation