The Livetec team recently attended the SA/UK Agricultural Sector Seminar, hosted by Innovative Entrepreneurs and The South African Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together key collaborators focusing on exploring innovations in the agricultural sector both in the UK and South Africa. Mubien Nakhooda, Livetec’s Senior Product Developer was invited to participate in a panel discussion focusing on data, disease surveillance and agtech innovations.
Here’s a Q&A with Mubien, as we look deeper at the key issues of the panel discussion.
With over 70% of emerging infectious diseases originating from animals, surveillance isn’t just agricultural – it’s a public health necessity. What does an effective, modern disease surveillance ecosystem look like, and how can countries like the UK and South Africa collaborate to build interoperable systems? An effective, modern disease surveillance ecosystem needs to be comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated. It’s not only about collecting data, but also ensuring that this data is actionable and supports decision-making in real time. For countries like the UK and South Africa, collaboration can be achieved through open data ecosystems -much like the UK’s APHA/DEFRA disease outbreak reports – where data flows freely and can be acted upon immediately. It’s essential that these systems align with global reporting standards like WOAH/WAHIS. When countries and regions align their systems, it improves the speed and efficiency of responses to outbreaks, ultimately protecting both public health and the agricultural sector.
Many regions, including parts of South Africa, still rely on manual or fragmented systems for disease reporting. How can digitisation revolutionise disease surveillance, and what steps are needed to make scalable, intelligent systems a reality across more farms? Manual reporting is slow and often inefficient, leaving us reactive rather than proactive. Digital systems, on the other hand, allow for real-time data collection and analysis, promoting preparedness and predictive actions. Livetec’s digital suite, which includes early warning systems, helps farmers and authorities respond faster to potential outbreaks. But the key to making digitisation a reality across more farms is alignment across government, industry, and local communities. We need affordable, user-friendly solutions that can be easily adopted. These systems must be designed with the end-user in mind – ensuring that farmers, who are often the first line of defence, have the tools and knowledge to respond efficiently.
In high-risk outbreak scenarios, tracking farm access points and personnel movement becomes vital to containment. How can traceability tools – like geospatial mapping and tagging systems – be scaled to help farmers identify biosecurity risks in real time? In outbreak situations, reducing response time is crucial to limiting the impact. Traceability tools like geospatial mapping and tagging systems play a vital role in this by enabling farmers to monitor access points and track personnel movement. Livetec’s Access Protect solution, for example, allows farms to identify risks in real time by tracing and monitoring exposures. By quickly identifying potential biosecurity risks, farmers can act swiftly to contain outbreaks, minimising their spread. These systems are essential in making farm operations more responsive to emerging threats and improving biosecurity practices on the ground.
As we digitise surveillance, we must ask: Who holds the power? How can we ensure these systems don’t just serve policymakers, but also equip and empower the farmer on the ground? One of the major barriers to adoption is fear and mistrust – particularly when farmers believe these systems serve only policymakers. To overcome this, we need clear, transparent, and equitable data governance frameworks. Farmers must see the tangible benefits of digital tools in improving their daily operations. For example, by enhancing disease management and reducing financial risks from outbreaks, farmers should feel that these systems directly benefit them. The real question is, “What’s in it for me?” If we can clearly communicate the practical value these tools offer, then adoption will grow across all levels, from policymakers to farmers themselves.
What are some lessons Livetec has learned from tracking these diseases that can be scaled to other regions or species? One of the most valuable lessons is the importance of open access to information. By sharing data across borders, sectors, and communities, we can create a more unified and responsive system. Additionally, preparedness and prediction are key. Having the ability to predict where an outbreak might occur allows us to optimise resources, reduce costs, and prevent larger-scale problems. For farmers, the real benefit lies in the ability to take actionable steps based on real-time data, making the entire process more efficient and cost-effective. These lessons can easily be scaled to other regions or species, provided we continue to focus on relevant, actionable data and transparent communication.
Looking five to ten years out, what is the ‘holy grail’ or ‘aspirational goal’ for animal disease surveillance that technology could help us achieve, and what steps do we need to take now to get there? The ultimate goal is a truly interconnected, global knowledge network where data flows seamlessly across borders. This would allow stakeholders – whether farmers, governments, or health organisations – to respond to outbreaks with predictive, rather than reactive, models. Achieving this will require strong cross-disciplinary collaboration, setting global standards for data sharing, and solving issues of trust and governance. The first step is to build digital infrastructure that can handle this volume of data while ensuring everyone benefits from it. By collaborating globally and ensuring transparency, we can begin transitioning toward this ideal, predictive surveillance system.
Closing Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed speaking at the SA/UK Agriculture Sector Seminar and being able to highlight not just the challenges but the opportunities in transforming agricultural disease surveillance. With the right tools, like Livetec’s Livestock Protect and Access Protect, the industry can move from reactive to proactive management. The future of disease surveillance hinges on collaboration, transparency, and technology, and with these advancements, both farmers and policymakers will be better equipped to protect both public health and agricultural productivity.
For those wanting to get a first-hand look at the Livestock Protect Platform, CLICK HERE to book your demo today.
