Harnessing data integration for precision health in climate-smart cattle systems

Developing digital innovation in Precision Livestock Farming

Project Partners: Arpexas (Scotland) Limited and Livestock247

Global agriculture faces urgent challenges: feeding growing populations, supporting rural livelihoods, and tackling climate change. Livestock systems are a vital part of food security and economic growth, but they also contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). New technologies can help farmers raise healthier and more productive animals with fewer environmental impacts, but many innovations remain out of reach for small-scale producers, especially in emerging markets.

This project brings together organisations from the UK, Nigeria, and Brazil to develop smarter, more sustainable cattle farming methods, working towards precision livestock farming. Arpexas and Mujika – two UK-based consultancies specialising in LMIC livestock health and digital innovation – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop digital innovation in Precision Livestock Farming and Arpexas will lead on this initiative. Their African partner is Livestock247, Nigeria’s leading online livestock marketplace. Working together, they aim to connect farmers, veterinarians, and researchers with better tools to monitor animal health and performance, improve welfare, and reduce environmental impacts.

Strengthening partnerships to adopt precision technologies globally

The Travel Grant will allow representatives from the UK and Nigeria to visit Brazil, one of the world’s largest cattle-producing countries. They will attend the 5th Forum Livestock Brazil in São Paulo, meet with universities and livestock technology companies, and visit farms already using precision technologies. This will help the partners learn from Brazil’s experience and identify opportunities for future collaboration and innovation.

Through this partnership, the project expects to create new tools that allow farmers to track the health, growth, well-being and climate impact of their cattle in real time. These tools could include wearable devices for animals, digital veterinary records, and systems that predict disease incidents and outbreaks before they happen. By integrating health and environmental data, farmers can make better decisions, improve productivity, and lower their carbon footprint. Ultimately, this work will help small and large farmers alike to build more resilient, profitable, and climate-smart livestock systems. It will also open up new business opportunities for technology developers and create pathways for international collaboration in sustainable agriculture.

The knowledge gained during the visit will form the foundation for future projects aimed at scaling up these innovations across Africa, South America, and the UK. This Travel Grant is the first step toward building an international community dedicated to making livestock farming healthier, fairer, and better for the planet.

For more information

For more information on this project, contact us, or view all projects funded under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership programme.

Innovate UK Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership: UK-Brazil-Africa brings together innovative people and organisations to promote climate-smart agriculture in Africa.