A Canadian delegation visited the UK last week as part of Twin Pastures, a bilateral livestock innovation exchange programme, bringing together entrepreneurs and academics to explore new opportunities in cattle health and welfare.
The programme, backed by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and led by the UK Agri-Tech Centre and Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), follows a 2025 visit in which UK representatives travelled to Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Over the course of the week in the UK, the Canadian delegates met with leading researchers, agribusinesses and innovation accelerators across the UK.
Dr Ghader Manafiazar, Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University and Co-Founder of IClassifier Inc., said: “We really appreciate this opportunity and we found the collaboration very insightful and productive. Mainly, what we are looking for is a networking opportunity to know the people and understand what they are doing. It was really exciting to see a couple of the technologies in action in the dairy facilities that the UK Agri-Tech Centre has, because having something in a lab is different to having something on a farm, so we can see the challenges they’ve discussed and we see the similarity between their problem with the adaptation of the technology on-farm.”
A landmark moment at DairyTech 2026
A highlight of the week was participation in DairyTech 2026, the UK’s largest dairy agri-tech event, which drew more than 300 exhibitors. For the first time in the event’s history, an international panel was convened, featuring selected Canadian delegates and chaired by Dr Bethan John, Animal Health Specialist at the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
Dr Bethan John said: “This week offered a fantastic opportunity for our Canadian visitors to engage directly with the UK dairy sector and explore the innovations shaping its future. From real‑time diagnostics for production‑limiting diseases to emerging applications of AI in monitoring, nutrition and precision farming, the discussions were forward‑thinking and practical. We also explored biosensing technologies that enhance health, reproductive management and welfare assessment. This exchange showcased how international collaboration accelerates meaningful progress.”
Who was involved
Throughout the week, delegates met with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, the Royal Veterinary College and ADF Milking Systems, among other key players. Discussions centred on co-developing solutions in areas including artificial intelligence, biosensors and rapid penside diagnostics.
Networking took place at both the UK Agri-Tech Centre Midlands Hub and across DairyTech trade stands, as part of Growth Week, a week led by the UK Agri-Tech Centre championing innovative agri-tech businesses driving economic progress in the sector.
Dr Patience Palmer, Programme Manager at the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network, said: “It has been an amazing experience from both ends, including the tour that we had in the Prairies and at the UK Agri-Tech Centre Midlands Hub and South West Dairy Development Centre, so we got to see what they were doing in terms of technology and innovation, which is very impressive. It’s an eye-opener and I’m seeing a lot of technology—some new, some not so new—but definitely not what I knew before, so it’s all very interesting and an amazing opportunity to be here.”
James Kayam, International Business Development Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: “This UK government-funded reciprocal visit has further strengthened our engagement with the Canadian market and deepened our collaboration with the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network.
Over an action-packed week of meetings, tours and activity at DairyTech 2026, we’ve seen meaningful relationships take shape and clear opportunities for joint research and potential commercial partnerships emerge. Bringing government, academia and industry together is a core part of what we do at the UK Agri-Tech Centre. Twin Pastures is a great example of how international collaboration can accelerate progress and we look forward to continuing to build pathways between the UK and Canada to drive agri-tech innovation.”
Addressing shared challenges
Beyond showcasing new technology, the exchange gave both sides space to discuss broader industry pressures, including milk pricing, labour shortages and the challenge of encouraging farmer uptake of new tools. Conversations throughout the week were anchored in shared principles around responsible innovation, One Health and digital transformation.
Dr Colin Yates, CEO of VETSon, said: “What we’re doing here in the UK is exploring whether there’s a market for us to expand our product and services that are here in order to support veterinarians and veterinary practices so they can better connect with the farm clients, which include dairy clients as well as other farms like cattle and sheep. Today I’ve had a great experience talking to a tonne of different veterinarians here, and in fact, I’ve spoken to more veterinarians today than I have in all of my experience in Canada so far, so it has been excellent to do that. Next task is to start talking to more farmers, understanding what their needs are and see whether we can pull some things together here in the UK.”
Dr Bethan John added: “At the UK Agri‑Tech Centre, we act as the go‑to partner for driving business growth and accelerating agri‑tech adoption. We support innovators with the tools and in‑house expertise needed to develop scalable, market‑ready solutions and de‑risk the journey from concept to commercialisation. Our UK‑wide test and trial capabilities, farm network and R&D facilities, which formed a key part of the Twin Pastures exchange itinerary, enable rapid validation and fast‑tracking of new technologies to address the sector’s most pressing challenges.”
