At the Second Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Rome (29 September – 1 October), Jeroen van Hooff, President & CEO of Royal Jaarbeurs and VNU Group, addressed an international audience and outlined the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of livestock production worldwide.
Representing VIV Worldwide, the global portfolio of exhibitions dedicated to the animal protein value chain, van Hooff stressed that transformation is no longer about producing more, but rather about producing smarter, safer, and more sustainably.
“Walking through our exhibition halls, you see first-hand how quickly innovation is moving from theory into practice,” van Hooff told delegates. “From insect protein and algae-based feeds to digital veterinary tools and precision farming systems, the industry is already reshaping itself around animal welfare, transparency, and climate resilience.”Discussions and business exchanges increasingly center on solutions that combine productivity with sustainability. In animal nutrition, new feed ingredients such as insect protein and algae are entering the mainstream, reducing reliance on antibiotics. In animal health, the push for digital diagnostics and AI-driven tools is accelerating faster disease prevention and better monitoring. On farms, precision technologies such as automated feeding, sensor systems, and smart ventilation are becoming everyday tools.
The global livestock monitoring market, valued at USD 5.18 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 14.82 billion by 2033. This rapid growth reflects both consumer demand for transparency and the industry’s adaptation to climate challenges.Despite this momentum, van Hooff warned of barriers that risk leaving many farmers behind. Limited internet access, high costs, and uneven knowledge transfer make it difficult for smallholder farmers and SMEs to adopt new technologies. Regulatory frameworks often create obstacles for innovation, slowing the approval of novel feed ingredients or digital systems. “These divides are real,” he said. “Large integrators in Asia and Europe are racing ahead, but many smaller farmers still struggle with the basics. Unless we address cost, regulation, and training, the gap will only widen.”
Looking ahead, van Hooff identified three forces that will shape livestock production over the coming decade. Artificial Intelligence is moving from monitoring into prediction, with platforms capable of forecasting disease outbreaks and optimizing feed efficiency.Sustainability is becoming a standard business practice, with carbon offsetting, waste and water management, and resource efficiency built directly into production systems. At the same time, cross-regional collaboration is proving to be essential, as knowledge-sharing across Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond demonstrates that progress happens when the entire ecosystem, covering feed, health, processing, and policy, works together.
Van Hooff underlined the role of exhibitions as practical meeting points where innovation is scaled and made accessible: “What excites me most is not just the market value of these technologies. It is the vision of smarter, more resilient, and more humane systems. Our mission at VIV Worldwide is to be the global platform where that vision can be realized.”The next steps in this journey are reflected in VIV’s upcoming events. In November, Abu Dhabi will host VIV MEA, highlighting the fast-growing Middle Eastern markets. In March 2026, VIV Health & Nutrition Asia will take place in Bangkok, focusing on the vital role of animal health and nutrition. The first edition of VIV Select India will follow in April 2026, marking the debut of the brand in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. All of this leads to VIV Europe in Utrecht in June 2026, the flagship 25th edition of the series and the ultimate platform where the global industry comes together to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, and set the agenda for sustainable livestock transformation at scale.
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