AgTech 2026: The year precision, prediction and proof unlock new opportunities for global food production

As the global agrifood sector moves toward 2026, sustainability demands, digital disruption and the need for greater resilience are accelerating transformation across the industry. These pressures are also opening new pathways for growth. Smarter, data-driven and environmentally verified systems are enabling faster, more efficient and more transparent food production. Experts at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health expect 2026 to be a defining year - one that positions innovative producers at the forefront of tomorrow’s global supply chains.

Across global markets, four opportunity-rich forces are shaping the future.

1. Sustainability becomes a high-value differentiator

With 2030 Scope 3 targets drawing closer, brands and retailers are elevating sustainability expectations. For producers, this creates a powerful opportunity: those able to quantify and reduce their environmental footprint will be best placed to secure preferred supplier status and financing on attractive terms.

Precision sustainability services such as the Sustell® Carbon Value Program help producers capture, reduce and communicate environmental performance with scientific accuracy. What was once a compliance requirement is becoming a commercial advantage.

In 2026, environmental data will evolve into a currency of trust - rewarding producers who invest early in credible, traceable reporting.

2. Mobile-first farm management unlocks new efficiencies

Smartphone and digital-based farm management has rapidly moved from convenience to essential infrastructure. What began in early adopting markets such as Brazil is now a global shift, enabling farmers, ranchers and feed operators to operate with greater agility and coordination.

Mobile and digital apps help track feed inventories, compare performance and make informed decisions remotely reducing delays and improving workflow efficiency. Upcoming expansions, including the introduction of  FarmTell™ LORE Milk and the FarmTell Beef to North America and Europe in 2026 will extend these benefits into more sectors.

Mobile-first operations are becoming one of the most democratizing forces in agriculture, enabling farms of all sizes to adopt modern management practices quickly and affordably.

3. AI-powered predictive analytics shift producers from reactive to proactive

The maturation of AI is enabling a new era of predictive precision. Intelligent models synthesize environmental, biological and operational data to deliver clear, forward-looking recommendations.

Producers can now:

• anticipate nutritional or health risks,
• forecast performance variation, and
• optimize feed strategies in advance

This evolution is central to the next wave of innovation at dsm-firmenich. The launch of Verax™ in poultry and swine is introducing one of the industry’s most advanced predictive systems, helping producers act earlier with confidence. Across species, Lore is integrating predictive intelligence into intuitive mobile workflows.

2026 marks the tipping point where AI becomes not just a technology upgrade, but a strategic advantage.

4. Digital Transformation accelerates through IoT, data analytics and AI

A fourth major trend is reshaping the industry: the rise of a real-time, connected farm ecosystem powered by IoT sensors, ear tags, satellite, cameras drones and edge-based analytics. These technologies enable automated irrigation and fertilizations, continuous monitoring of soil, crop and livestock conditions, and seamless integration of farm-level data with supply-chain systems for traceability.

AI systems now translate millions of data points into practical, in-the-moment insights that farmers can act on instantly.

Global momentum is strong: the agriculture IoT market is projected to double by 2030, fueled by demand for efficiency, transparency and sustainability. Producers who embrace connected systems will gain unprecedented control, accuracy and resilience.

A defining year for intelligent, opportunity-driven agriculture

Individually, each trend is transformative. Together, they signal a new era where the most successful producers combine:

With platforms like FarmTell™,Verax™ and Sustell®, dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health is helping producers worldwide secure growth opportunities - unlocking a smarter, more sustainable and more resilient future for global food production.