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Enhance Agricultural Resilience with Solar Energy.

SoLAR project: revolutionizing agriculture with solar power

The SoLAR project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is entering its second phase, aiming to deepen agricultural resilience and climate transformation in smallholder farming

Launched by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the initiative runs from July 2025 to December 2029 and expands its geographical and thematic focus, now incorporating Ethiopia and Kenya, while continuing its work in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Building on the success of its first phase (2019–2024), SoLAR looks to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture and position them as a replicable and scalable model for climate-resilient agriculture across the Global South.

In its first phase, SoLAR focused on generating evidence, piloting innovative financing models, and influencing policy to integrate solar-powered irrigation systems (SIPs). These solar pumps have proven effective in mitigating climate impacts by replacing diesel pumps and promoting sustainable groundwater usage. “Across the four South Asian countries, we have seen promising steps toward scaling solar irrigation sustainably and inclusively,” said Darshini Ravindranath, Project Lead and Research Group Leader at IWMI. The project has helped governments in Bangladesh and India integrate solar irrigation into national strategies, while in Nepal, it led to a significant policy shift, including revised subsidy criteria supporting women farmers and smallholders.

Key outcomes include the promotion of gender-sensitive policies, innovative financing such as micro-financing and grants, and the adoption of solar irrigation systems that reduce carbon emissions, conserve groundwater, and support high-value crops. IWMI’s work also extended to grid-connected solar irrigation in Nepal, enabling farmers to sell surplus energy, providing them with additional income streams while promoting responsible groundwater use.

In phase two, SoLAR will expand its reach to East Africa, focusing on scaling solar-powered solutions for irrigation, cooling, and processing. With Kenya and Ethiopia facing climate and energy challenges, the project sees solar technology as a transformative tool for boosting year-round agricultural production and enhancing food security. Muluken Elias Adamseged, Deputy Country Representative at IWMI in Ethiopia, remarked, “Scaling solar-powered irrigation, cooling, and processing can boost year-round production, cut losses and costs, and enhance food security.”

The second phase aims to drive an integrated approach with evidence-based policy design, accelerated funding for solar adoption, enhanced capacity building, and the establishment of Living Labs to test solar solutions in diverse settings. The program will directly benefit smallholder farmers in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia by improving water and energy security, reducing emissions, and enhancing resilience to climate risks, according to Philippe Sas, Head of Cooperation for SDC in India.

From striking plumage to reliable egg production and friendly temperaments, there’s a breed suited to every need.

Poultry

Classic chicken breeds for every farm

If you’re after colourful eggs, reliable layers, or hardy birds for your backyard or farm, these ten timeless chicken breeds each offer something unique

From striking plumage to reliable egg production and friendly temperaments, there’s a breed suited to every need.

Araucanas are a unique breed well known for their ability to lay blue or green-tinted eggs. Some varieties are rumpless and have tufted ears, adding ornamental appeal to their practical qualities. Though still in the process of breed standardisation, they’re gaining attention for both visual interest and usefulness.

Brahmas are a cold-hardy breed with feathered shanks and toes, making them best suited for dry, cool climates with well-drained soil. Calm and docile, they tolerate confinement well and are often praised for their ability to handle exposure to harsh conditions.

Cochins are great eaters with heavy feathering, making them ideal for colder climates. Their feathers help retain heat and allow for egg production in winter. They’re gentle by nature and do well in mixed flocks.

Leghorns are energetic, always foraging and scratching wherever they go. They’re excellent free-range chickens, known for their small appetites, hardiness, and prolific production of white eggs. Leghorns are highly fertile and resilient, making them a practical choice.

New Hampshire Reds are medium-sized, fast-feathering birds with good maternal instincts. They tend to go broody and make strong mothers. Their reddish feathers can fade in the sun, and they’re known for being a bit aggressive and competitive.

Wyandottes are a reliable medium-weight option, ideal for rugged backyard conditions. Known for their attractive shapes and varied colour patterns, they’re popular among both farmers and hobbyists. However, they can suffer from narrow backs and weaker hatch rates.

Old English Game birds are small, noisy, and full of energy. They’re extremely hardy and may go feral if not contained. While they can go broody, their aggressive nature and small size don’t always make them the best mothers.

Orpingtons are large, fluffy birds with loose feathering that helps them tolerate the cold. They do well on free range or in confinement and are generally docile. Hens are broody and caring, though their chicks may struggle when raised with other breeds due to their passive temperament.

The Rhode Island Red is possibly the most recognised farm chicken worldwide. It excels as a dual-purpose bird and continues to thrive under tough conditions. Hardy, adaptable, and productive, it remains a top choice for both small farms and large flocks.

Finally, the Rhode Island White is a completely white, medium-sized bird with a long, deep, and rectangular body shape. Known for their well-rounded breasts and flat-topped heads, they bring both structure and productivity to a flock.

The company's innovative technology focuses on preserving pollen for future use.

Agriculture

Revolutionizing agriculture: PowerPollen's ground fleet

PowerPollen, an agtech company based in Iowa, has unveiled its latest technological advancement: autonomous pollination robots designed to address pollination challenges in crops like corn, wheat, and rice

The company's innovative technology focuses on preserving pollen for future use, which helps growers adapt to environmental challenges such as extreme weather and droughts, factors that can disrupt seed production.

Founded in 2015 by Jason Cope and Todd Krone, PowerPollen uses a patented method to store pollen, ensuring its viability for extended periods—a crucial advantage given that pollen can survive in the natural environment for only a short window, from five minutes to an hour. This preserved pollen can then be applied to crops when needed, improving the chances of successful pollination.

The company's autonomous robots, introduced during a field demonstration, are battery-powered and equipped with a precision sprayer, GPS for tracking, and machine vision to help navigate farm rows. These robots can operate in fleets and are adaptable to both large fields and smaller farms (down to five acres). This development opens up possibilities for future functionalities, as the robots can collect valuable data during pollination, further improving efficiency and accuracy.

As extreme weather events such as droughts or heavy rains impact pollination, PowerPollen’s robots allow farmers to apply preserved pollen during the key reproductive phase. This precision helps counter disruptions, ensuring that crops are properly fertilized despite adverse conditions.

PowerPollen’s expansion goes beyond corn; the company is actively working on wheat and rice hybrid seed production, aiming to make these crops more cost-effective and profitable for farmers. Despite a downturn in venture capital investments in agtech, the company continues to drive innovation, with €22.5 million in recent funding to support its future growth.

Jason Cope emphasised, "Venture capital money is a little allergic, if you will, right now to agtech, but agtech is a foundational aspect of how we feed the world."

HSW ECO MATIC® 6ml _ 10ml (for injection, oral and pour-on application)

HSW ECO MATIC

ALMACO Telematics boosts seed research efficiency

Telematics enhances efficiency and uptime for seed research. (Image source: ALMACO)

ALMACO Telematics is a next-generation system delivering remote access to real-time machine data—boosting efficiency, performance, and uptime for seed research professionals

Available on both the R1 Single-Plot and R2 Twin-Plot Research Combines, it’s the only telematics offering integrated specifically for seed research, reinforcing ALMACO’s leadership in precision agtech.

With insights into numerous machine parameters, the platform provides deep visibility into settings, location, diagnostics, software, and performance. This empowers fleet managers and researchers to easily monitor and optimise machine use for peak operational output.

Maximising uptime through smart diagnostics

A key feature of ALMACO Telematics is its remote diagnostics and repair capability, protecting uptime and reducing disruptions. Over 30% of service issues can be resolved remotely, removing the need for a field technician and delivering cost-effective value.

Simplified software upgrades

The system enables remote software updates, ensuring machines stay up to date without site visits. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs while supporting continuous tech improvement.

Enhanced fleet oversight

From their desks, managers can track machine performance and advise operators to refine seed trial accuracy. Telematics interfaces can also be remotely customised to support the specific goals of different research operations, improving data precision and machine functionality.

A smart investment for research operations

By reducing field calls, improving uptime, and enhancing resale value, ALMACO Telematics offers a strong return on investment. With its real-time oversight and proactive maintenance tools, seed research professionals can operate with confidence and lower costs.

“The integration of ALMACO Telematics marks a significant step forward in precision seed research,” said Mat Titus, service director at ALMACO. “By offering real-time data access and remote diagnostics, we are enabling researchers to focus on what matters most—developing the next generation of seed innovations.”

Crops

The company's innovative technology focuses on preserving pollen for future use.

Agriculture

Revolutionizing agriculture: PowerPollen's ground fleet

Jason Cope emphasised, "Venture capital money is a little allergic, if you will, right now to agtech, but agtech is a foundational aspect of how we feed the world."

China produces close to 350 mn tonnes of fruit every year—around a third of the global output.

AI innovations in smart blueberry farming

Enhance farming with nitrogen-fixing techniques.

Enhance farming with nitrogen-fixing techniques

Livestock

Automation is increasingly essential to manage labour shortages, enhance precision, and meet hygiene and welfare standards.

Poultry

Automation shaping the poultry farming equipment market

The poultry farming equipment market is expected to grow steadily over the next decade, rising from a value of US$4.0bn in 2025 to around US$7.1bn by 2035

This reflects a CAGR of 6.0%, driven by increased global demand for efficient, scalable, and sustainable poultry production systems.

As demand for poultry-based protein grows, both developed and developing markets are investing in smarter and more automated systems. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on solutions that improve feed efficiency, water conservation, hygiene, and biosecurity. The integration of intelligent technologies, such as IoT-enabled monitoring and predictive maintenance, is playing a key role in transforming poultry operations.

In particular, the watering and feeding systems segment is set to dominate the market by product type, accounting for 22.5% of the market share in 2025. These systems are vital for flock health and are now widely adopted in both broiler and layer production. Advanced features like sensor-based regulation and adjustable flow have helped farms reduce waste, cut labour costs, and improve biosecurity.

The chicken segment continues to lead by poultry type, with a projected market share of 65.0% in 2025. Chicken farming remains popular globally due to its fast production cycles, low input costs, and high efficiency. Equipment manufacturers are tailoring solutions to meet the specific needs of chicken farms, especially in export-driven and urban markets. Vertical integration and demand for traceable, high-quality poultry products are also fuelling investment in standardised, scalable equipment for chicken production.

By mode of operation, automatic systems are expected to take the lead, holding a 48.0% share in 2025. Automation is increasingly essential to manage labour shortages, enhance precision, and meet hygiene and welfare standards. Automatic feeding, egg collection, climate control, and waste management systems are now core to modern poultry farms. Integration with digital platforms and data analytics tools further boosts their value in achieving consistent performance and compliance.

Government initiatives in emerging economies are also contributing to market expansion, particularly in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. These initiatives support local farming enterprises and promote automation for increased productivity. At the same time, developed countries are focusing on next-generation farming systems that balance output with sustainability and welfare.

As consumer awareness grows around food safety, animal welfare, and environmental impact, the trend towards cage-free systems and eco-friendly equipment is gaining momentum. With ongoing innovation and rising global demand for poultry products, the poultry farming equipment market is well-positioned for continued expansion.

The event brought together over 300 industry experts. (Image credit: Sigenergy)

Modular solar-storage innovation powers sustainable aquaculture

From striking plumage to reliable egg production and friendly temperaments, there’s a breed suited to every need.

Classic chicken breeds for every farm

Equipment

The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and grower support. (Image credit: Biobest)

Equipment

Integrate tech in horticulture for better crops

Biobest and Bogaerts Greenhouse Logistics have teamed up to launch the Plug In—a new innovation that connects Biobest’s Entomatic dispenser with Bogaerts’ Qii-Jet TAV spraying robot, enabling growers to streamline their operations and enhance pest control efficiency

The Plug In consists of both electrical and mechanical upgrades, designed to allow seamless integration between the two systems. This development brings together cutting-edge biological pest control and automated greenhouse logistics, giving growers a single, unified solution for efficient and sustainable crop protection.

Entomatic, Biobest’s automated insect dispenser, is known for its precise and even release of beneficial insects throughout greenhouse crops. It is a modular system made up of a dosing unit, control panel, and blowers, typically mounted on pipe rail trolleys used in greenhouses.

Thanks to this new partnership, growers can now mount the Plug In on existing Qii-Jet systems, or order new ones that come with it pre-installed. The innovation includes hardware changes to support better cabling, along with software updates that allow users to control both the spraying trolley and the insect dosing unit from a single interface.

Sam Gui, Biobest’s Development Manager for High-Tech Integrated Pest Management (IPM), emphasised the significance of the collaboration and said,"The two companies will continue to collaborate. Our customers often face the same challenges. By combining expertise, we will develop practical solutions that simplify operational management for growers - the Plug In is just a taste of what's to come."

This integration does more than simplify operations—it saves time, improves precision, and enhances sustainable practices in crop protection.

"With the new Plug In, using Entomatic is now as simple as other spraying systems," said Gui. "Improving the compatibility of the two systems saves time, improves application and enhances sustainable crop protection for growers. This collaboration allows us to effectively support growers to invest in a sustainable future for horticulture," he added.

The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and grower support, with both companies aiming to reduce complexity in greenhouse operations while promoting environmentally conscious pest control methods.

With the Plug In, Biobest and Bogaerts are setting the stage for more integrated and efficient greenhouse automation solutions—reflecting a forward-thinking approach to agriculture and crop management.