Animal Agriculture needs to evolve, and these innovators are ready to help the industry survive and thrive.

The Industry Needs Innovation

The animal agriculture space is an exciting place to be in 2024. Where there are challenges there are new technologies. Truly inspiring solutions are on offer, with more coming from emerging start-ups, growth-stage companies and established businesses with R&D aspirations. Like all big industry round the globe, livestock management must evolve to meet demands for environmental responsibility while maintaining efficient production and ethical standards. “Despite the trend towards more plant proteins, animals remain key for a healthy and diversified diet. Start-ups are without a doubt a driving force behind the progress we see in animal agtech. They bring new ideas and technologies that can improve animal welfare, sustainability and food security. It is crucial to support these entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of agriculture.” Patrik Haesen, CEO, AGRI INVESTMENT FUND

Animal AgTech Loves Start-Ups

The Animal AgTech Innovation Summit is proud to highlight novel solutions and this year is no different as we present the 19 growing companies that have been selected to present, pitch and exhibit in Amsterdam on October 9-10. The summit provides a platform for start-ups to meet potential investors and partners, raise their profile, and position their technology alongside the industry heavyweights who attend from around the world each year. "As a showcased Start Up company at the recent Animal AgTech Innovation Summit, I had a fantastic opportunity to meet with potential collaborators, partners and to find out more about the current key targets for disease management. As we are a veterinary diagnostics testing company, with a platform technology, it is important for us to focus our innovation on the most relevant market needs and align with drug and vaccine development programs. This event gave us an excellent stage for discussion, outreach, and 1 to 1 meetings and has led to some exciting follow ups." Eve Hanks, Founder & CEO, MI:RNA

The 19 Start-Ups You Need to Meet in Amsterdam

This year’s featured companies offer solutions that promise to reduce emissions, track biodiversity on farms, safeguard against preventable disease spread, and decrease waste by only breeding genetically superior animals. Browse the start-ups below and don’t forget to register for your summit pass to meet them in Amsterdam on October 9-10. Agteria Biotech’s (Sweden) patent-pending feed additive reduces cows’ methane emissions by 70%, leveraging a stable compound used safely in mammals for decades. Biofractal (Portugal) offers precision animal nutrition & health powered by gene expression & AI. Chirrup AI (UK) use sound recording technology and a machine learning platform to measure local bird populations and species diversity in farm settings, providing measurable sustainability and biodiversity assessments. Dyneval (UK) provide fast-action, mobile semen quality assessments. This assures farmers that bulls can create a next generation of animals that are robust, resilient and productive. ExciPlex (USA) develop novel diagnostic technologies that apply photochemical techniques and instrumentation for the detection of toxins in animal feed and feed inputs. GlasPort Bio (Ireland) is an award-winning, environmental SME that presents viable, sustainable offerings to farmers and energy producers. Innogando (Spain) is an Agrotech company developing advanced technology for livestock monitoring and tracking, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural sector. Lakto Wash (Turkey) create the only automatic washing and cleaning machine for mobile bucket milking mechanisms. This improves udder health and livestock welfare, leading to increased milk yield and quality. Meridia (Netherlands) is a tech platform that helps ag and food businesses trace their inputs to ensure they doesn’t come from deforested areas or other potentially harmful supply chain sources. metaBIX Biotech’s (Uruguay) technology is based on AI and population-level diagnostics to quantify viral and bacterial diseases early in livestock, enabling preventive actions, reducing economic losses, and decreasing the use of antibiotics. MicroXpace (France) transforms aquaculture with cutting-edge probiotic solutions that control parasites, boosting fish health and productivity. Nerit’e (Germany) is a platform that uses accurate measurement to recommend actionable interventions that can help improve soil health, carbon stocks, and biodiversity. Phagos (France) deploys a sustainable alternative to antibiotics for animal farming. The company uses a mix of machine learning and optimised microbiology to fight ever-evolving infections with ever-evolving medicines. Rare Earth Global (UK) are reviving hemp. Hemp is fast growing, easy adapting, soil regenerating and requires no pesticides or herbicides. As a feed crop it contains all the nutrients to make it an excellent soy replacement. Regrowth (Italy) integrated systems solve the challenges of early disease detection, health management and welfare for farmers both in commercial farms and extensive systems. Rumin8 (Australia) has developed a patented, highly scalable and cost-effective pharmaceutical approach to stabilize, manufacture, and deliver Tribromomethane (TBM) to ruminating livestock to reduce methane emissions. RumenAI's (Germany) state-of-the-art solution leverages the remarkable potential of ruminal fermentation to optimize livestock nutrition, and promote "One Health." Smartbell (UK) are a machine learning/AI startup improving early development of calves in dairy and beef systems. A tag goes on at birth and relays key metrics, alerting the farmer if something is wrong. It’s simple, easy to install and gives actionable data. Virovet (Belgium) are a novel health company working on controlling viral spread in livestock.

The Summit’s Start-Up Schedule

There are two Start-Up Showcases to look forward to at this year’s event, with day one (October 9) seeing companies presenting solutions for animal health and precision livestock farming. Biofractal, Dyneval, Smartbell and Phagos will pitch to Wasutee Poowuthichai, Ventures, Investments & Partnerships Lead at BETAGRO VENTURES, and Patrik Haesen, CEO of AGRI INVESTMENT FUND. Day two (October 10) offers up solutions from companies tackling challenges in emissions reduction and regenerative agriculture. Katherine Mellis, Venturist at SANDWATER and Simon Evill, Founding Partner at PELICAN AG will make up the judging panel, asking questions before opening the floor for an audience Q&A. Summit delegates can find the start-ups providing insights as panellists and showing off their technology at booths in the networking exhibition area.

The Global Dairy Challenge

Another exciting part of the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit programme this year is the Global Dairy Challenge, hosted by The Yield Lab and supporting partners Nestle, GOKE and Wageningen University. After an extensive search for the most innovative start-ups shaking up dairy production around the world, 100 companies applied and six companies have been chosen to take part in a final pitching session the day before the summit. The winner of the challenge will be announced live on stage during the summit and awarded €100,000 in investment. Applications have now closed, finalists to be announced soon.

Register to Join the Summit in Amsterdam

The Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Amsterdam on October 9-10 will bring together 305+ global leading food producers, animal health providers, feed and nutrition companies, technology developers, start-ups, and investors for two high energy days of 1-1 meetings, panel sessions, roundtable discussions and a networking drinks reception. See the full agenda here and view the full start-up profiles here. Ready to book your place at the summit? Click here or get in touch with Edward McClymont.