Neovia urges industry partners to make Farm of the Future project a reality

25-May-2017 - Last updated on 26-May-2017 at 11:02 GMT

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French nutrition group, Neovia, is calling on feed companies and other agriculture partners to involve themselves in its Farm of the Future project, as it looks to develop a new way of livestock farming for the future.

Its Farm of the Future project is an initiative that aims to connect farms across the world so they can share innovative ideas, implement new technologies to meet the challenge of feeding the world, and help bring about social change.

The project got underway in 2016, but Neovia is now looking to speed up its development by launching what it terms a “call for solutions” as it aims to identify technological, academic, and other strategic partners for the project.

Central to its Farm of the Future project is the building of an experimental farm in Vannes, France, where Neovia’s head office is located.

The project is to focus on three species: swine, poultry and ruminants.

A sustainable future...

Asked why feed companies or those in feed-related industries should participate, Matthieu Leroy, chief transformation officer at Neovia, told us “I think they should be involved because it’s a good way to build a sustainable future. It’s not something you are going to do alone.”

Leroy was tight-lipped about the names of any partners Neovia had signed up for the project.

“It’s really new. It is a bit too early to speak about that. But we are confident because we have been in close connection with many research institutions, and with many big companies who have expressed interest."

Precision feeding

Neovia, as part of the initiative, is hoping to use sensors, digital collars and chips to collect data on livestock to help understand the needs of individual animals and to ensure the right amount of feed is fed to them as well as improving animal husbandry.

Further goals include optimizing hygiene and nutrition and farmer job satisfaction through improved working conditions, such as the redesign of farms or the use of automation to ensure better work life balance.

Neovia also wants to develop predictive management tools to help farmers better anticipate risks, such as health and weather.

Leroy also highlighted that companies could boost their CSR credentials by involving themselves in a project that puts society at its core.

Those who work with Neovia on the Farm of the Future project will have the chance to develop, test, and present their ideas to Neovia’s customers, said the French firm.