Dairy Diary: June business update
What’s NEW in the dairy farming world? We report on the appointment of the new chair of AHDB, the launch of a new map of soil health in Europe, and a bulletin focused on managing heat stress in dairy cattle. Read an update on these developments and more on the latest dairy sector news…
Lesaffre and Zilor enter a joint venture
French fermentation and microorganism company Lesaffre has acquired a 70% stake in Biorigin, a business unit of Brazilian multinational Zilor, which produces sugar, ethanol, renewable energy, and animal nutrition ingredients from sugarcane. This joint venture combines the expertise of Biospringer by Lesaffre and Biorigin to deliver enhanced yeast derivative and savory ingredient solutions for the food and feed industries.
De Heus acquires Voeders Huys, expanding into Belgium and France
De Heus Animal Nutrition announced the acquisition of Voeders Huys, a Belgian feed producer with production sites in Bruges (Belgium) and Northern France. This move strengthens De Heus’ position in Western Europe, a key region where the company has already experienced significant commercial growth and will now also produce locally.
Koppert and Amoéba sign distribution agreement for biofungicide solution
Biological crop protection and pollination company Koppert, and industrial greentech company specialised in natural microbiological solutions based on the patented use of amoebae, Amoéba, have signed a commercial agreement. This agreement focuses on the innovative biofungicide solution created by Amoéba and follows the recent approval of Amoéba’s biocontrol active substance by the EU. The launch is expected early 2026.
New map of soil health in Europe
A new EU Soil Health Data Cube layered map, developed by the AI4SoilHealth project, a collaboration involving nearly 100 scientists from multiple organisations across Europe, is said to revolutionise how farmers, land managers and policymakers sustainably manage soil in Europe and enable us to peer into the future and model solutions for the worst impacts of climate change. The project integrates hundreds of thousands of observations and data points on soil, climate and vegetation using a multidimensional matrix powered by artificial intelligence and high performance computing. A webinar from the creators will be held on 7 July. Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture launched
To accelerate agricultural innovation, collaboration and knowledge exchange across the Global South, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in partnership with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), have officially launched the ICRISAT Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA).
Novus International announces strategic business realignment
Novus International has announced a strategic business realignment designed to accelerate innovation, strengthen operational agility, and unlock long-term value for its global customer base. The transformation will result in 2 separate business units under the Novus umbrella – one dedicated to liquid methionine solutions and the other focused exclusively on specialty feed ingredients.
Evonik optimises global production setup for MetAmino
Evonik will continue to optimise its global methionine production setup for MetAmino (DL-methionine) in the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2025. Implementation of several technical measures requires a shutdown of the production facilities for methionine and its precursors for 6-7 weeks each at Evonik’s Singapore site in August/September and at its Antwerp site in September/October 2025.
IDF launches ‘Managing Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle’
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) has released a comprehensive global guide to address heat stress in dairy production while promoting animal health, welfare, productivity, and sustainability. This guidance is particularly vital for enhancing sustainable production in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are located in hot climates. The guide is available for purchase through the IDF.
CDCB advances with genomic technology through integration of genotyping-by-sequencing
After receiving nearly 11 million genotypes into the National Cooperator Database, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) has certified the first sequencing-based laboratory for data submission. As a part of this certification process, CDCB validated the first single-nucleotide polymorphism panel derived from sequencing data, destined for the national database. This marks major progress in diversifying the genomic tools available for US dairy cattle and is the first time the technology is to be utilised in a national dairy cattle genetic evaluation system anywhere in the world.
Danish technology guarantees food safety in Dutch raw milk cheese
Raw milk cheese can be protected against unwanted bacteria while preserving its unique flavour by using raslysation, an energy and water-saving technology developed by Danish company Lyras. This ensures both high food safety and excellent taste, as the cheese’s natural vitamins, enzymes, and proteins are preserved. Food waste is also reduced, since spoilage caused by bacteria such as listeria no longer leads to large batches being discarded. The first raw milk cheese producer in the world, Dutch farm dairy Novelle Kaas, safeguards its raw milk cheese using this technology.
ChainCraft and Innovad Group enter supply agreement
ChainCraft, a company that produces sustainable chemicals of food waste, has entered into a long-term exclusive supply agreement for butyricacid to the animal nutrition sector with animal health and nutrition solutions company Innovad Group. ChainCraft will supply fatty acids of high purity to Innovad, enabling production of low carbon advanced feed additives that support both animal intestinal health and environmental sustainability.
smaXtec announces update
The new update from smaXtec aims to make health management more personalised, intuitive, and efficient. The software now known as smaXtec Web fits into daily dairy operations. At the heart of it all is the AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers keep an eye on their animals and simplify everyday tasks in the barn – with automatic reports, practical lists, and clear action recommendations. The completely redesigned and modernised user interface now displays key information in a clearer and more accessible way. The graphs are easier to interpret, navigation is more straightforward, and overall usability has been significantly improved, says the company.
MSU researchers to explore viability of agrivoltaics
Michigan State University researchers and MSU Extension educators are evaluating the potential of agrivoltaics – combing agricultural operations with solar energy production — in Michigan. Agrivoltaics systems place solar panels directly in the field, either arranged several feet above agricultural activities or in rows to allow for crops or animals to be between them. The goal is to continue producing an agricultural commodity while gaining another revenue source for the farm through solar energy.
Defra ministers appoint new chair of AHDB
Emily Norton, who has 25 years of experience in the food and farming sector, has taken on the role of chair of AHDB for 3 years. She succeeds Nicholas Saphir, who is stepping down after more than 5 years in the role. Emily will be supported by board member Stephen Briggs, who has been appointed as deputy chair by the AHDB board.
SPACE appoints Didier Lucas as chairman
Fervent farming advocate Didier Lucas has been elected as chairman of SPACE, succeeding to Marcel Denieul after over 10 years presiding the International Farming Exhibition in Rennes. Lucas, farmer in pig production in Saint-Alban (Côtes d’Armor), is committed in unionism since 2004, having presided over the FDSEA 22 from 2010 to 2019. Lucas is currently chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture of Côtes d’Armor and vice president of the Chamber of Agriculture of Britanny.
