Explore the 2025 Agenda

Join us for an in-depth fireside chat where Phil Hogan, former EU Commissioner for Trade and Agriculture, and Justin McCarthy, CEO of GlasPort Bio and Former Editor and CEO of the Irish Farmers Journal, will discuss the future of US–EU agricultural relations in the Trump era.

With transatlantic tensions rising, animal protein companies face mounting challenges - from emerging tariffs and trade disputes to surging input costs, shifting regulatory standards, and geopolitical uncertainty.

This session will explore the key risks and opportunities for European agriculture, with a particular focus on how livestock and protein producers can safeguard competitiveness, embrace innovation, and build resilience in a changing global marketplace.

• What is the EU Commission’s long-term strategy for agriculture, and how does it position livestock and animal agtech within the future food system?
• What concrete actions are being taken to scale EU protein production and reduce strategic reliance on imports?
• What investment and policy support are essential to accelerate sustainable livestock practices, particularly through innovative feed and circular systems?
• How will EU policy drive digital transformation in animal farming — including precision livestock tools, robotics, AI, and IoT adoption?
• What is the economic potential of income diversification tools — such as carbon farming, nature credits, and renewable energy — for livestock producers?

• How are food companies partnering with beef and dairy supply chains to build shared frameworks for on-farm data capture, carbon footprinting, and biodiversity monitoring?
• What role do emerging agtech tools play in supporting structured farm transition plans, and how can they enable credible monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of emissions reductions?
• What are the shared challenges food companies face in meeting SBTi validated FLAG targets and how can businesses overcome them?
• What practical barriers prevent farmer engagement in sustainability data efforts—especially for companies positioned mid-chain—and how are industry leaders successfully addressing them?
• Which incentive models—financial, technical, or otherwise—are proving most effective in driving measurable carbon reductions at the farm level?

• How are UK supermarkets leading cross-sector collaboration to drive supply chain decarbonisation?
• In what ways can AI-powered LCA platforms support retailers in tackling Scope 3 emissions at scale?
• How are supermarket-driven initiatives shaping future government policy on emissions reporting and environmental labelling?
• What approaches can the grocery sector take to incorporate farm-stage carbon data for product footprints?
• What is the potential for scaling or replicating this model in other geographical or regulatory contexts?

• Can AI help feed companies stay compliant with fast-evolving regulations and improve customer service at the same time?
• How can we bridge the gap between data science and animal nutrition to unlock AI's full potential across the feed value chain?
• How can AI’s precision optimization in feed formulation help ensure perfectly balanced diets, minimize nutrient waste, and improve animal performance, leading to healthier animals and higher yields?
• In what ways can AI’s ability to dynamically adjust formulations in real time and increase scalability benefit feed manufacturers by improving cost efficiency, speed, and adaptability in an increasingly volatile market?

• How is AI informing decision-making in livestock farming, and what are the implications for farmer autonomy and human oversight?
• How can automation reduce labour costs and increase farm efficiencies?
• In what ways do sensors and digital tools enable real-time monitoring and predictive analytics to detect monogastric or ruminant health issues early and improve disease management?
• How can AI-driven technologies enhance productivity through behavioural analysis, and weight tracking?
• What are the main challenges and opportunities in scaling precision livestock farming tools from pilot projects to widespread commercial adoption in animal agriculture?

Presentations on using MRI and AI technology for in-ovo sexing, and AI-powered real-time broiler and dairy cow health insights.

• What are the potential welfare implications of using gene editing in animals, and how can benefits be weighed against possible risks?
• To what extent is it ethically appropriate to apply gene editing for different purposes, such as production, therapeutics, or disease control?
• How can gene editing contribute to sustainability in agriculture?

• How does the microbiome influence health and performance outcomes in pigs and poultry?
• What are the most effective ways to simplify microbiome management for producers without losing impact?
• How can early-life nutrition and feeding strategies be used to positively steer the microbiome?
• In what ways are prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, enzymes, organic acids and phytogenics effective in managing gut health in pigs and poultry?
• What are the challenges and opportunities with on-farm hatching, and what do field results show?

The founders of three high-growth animal agtech companies focused on cattle monitoring, methane emissions reduction, and livestock management software will each share their distinct business models and innovation strategies. After brief presentations, the panel will dive into a broader discussion on how emerging and scaling companies in livestock tech can deliver tangible value to farmers, investors, and corporate partners, attract funding from a diverse range of capital sources, and navigate the path toward sustainable growth and strategic exits.

• What structural changes are needed in the investment ecosystem to close the growth capital gap for animal agtech companies stuck between venture and private equity stages?
• How can we raise the bar for investor sophistication in agtech, and what sector-specific knowledge or advisory frameworks are essential to enhance due diligence and reduce risk?
• Given the high early-stage valuations that have limited exit options, what lessons should investors take from the past decade, and how should current valuations be adjusted to align with market realities and scalability?
• Where is the most untapped investment potential within the animal health space—across diagnostics, therapeutics, genetics, and vaccines—and what are the key barriers to scaling innovation in these areas?
• What role can the finance industry play in accelerating the adoption of methane reduction solutions in the livestock sector?