Technology
Further digital livestock investment for BASF
German multinational BASF has made its second investment in precision livestock systems this month through its BASF Venture Capital arm. The latest purchase is a stake in the Chinese agri-tech company SmartAHC which specialises in artificial intelligence for the pig...
Government to consult on gene-editing in the UK
The government has responded to industry pressure to allow UK access to gene-editing by announcing a consultation on the future regulation of the technology this autumn. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Science and Technology in Agriculture promoted an...
Feed protein from microbes and waste CO2
AB Agri is among the partners in a government-funded project that seeks to harness microbes to convert waste carbon dioxide into an animal feed protein. The REACT-FIRST project, supported with £3 million in funding from Innovate UK, aims to make a single cell protein...
BSPB calls for Lords support in gene-editing debate
The Agriculture Bill reaches the committee stage of its progress in the House of Lords this week. Among the amendments for debate by the peers is one to allow the use of gene-editing technologies in the UK. The move, supported by the British Society of Plant Breeders...
Roslin collaboration for animal disease diagnostics
Edinburgh’s Roslin Technologies is to work with Destina Genomics in a new joint venture business, Vetsina Animal Diagnostics, aiming to develop a range of faster diagnostics for veterinary diseases including mastitis. The partners believe that harnessing Destina’s...
VikingGenetics to market smaXtec cattle monitor
Cattle breeding business VikingGenetics UK is to market the smaXtec internal cow health monitoring system in the UK. It is already used in 25 country markets. The bolus-based system is claimed to be unique in measuring a cow’s activity, body temperature and rumen pH...