By Gordon Samet, Group Managing Director
As the year comes to a close, I’ve found myself thinking about the many conversations I’ve had with colleagues, farmers, partners and friends across the sector. This year has been particularly meaningful, as it marks 15 years since Livetec first began. Reaching that milestone has made me pause and reflect on just how far we’ve come – and how far we can still go.
This has been a year of real transformation for our business. We’ve gone from being known largely for our on-the-ground, face-to-face work to becoming a company that blends decades of practical experience with a growing range of digital tools. That kind of shift doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen without a team willing to adapt, learn and push forward. I’m grateful to everyone who has taken that journey with us.
Launching our Livestock Protect Platform in the UK was one of the stand-out moments of our 15th year. When we opened it up in the spring, we hoped it would resonate – but what’s happened since has exceeded anything we imagined. To now have more than 4,200 farmers and producers, representing over 1,800 organisations, using the platform is something I find genuinely humbling.
And we haven’t stopped building. Features such as Emergency Response Planning, eBAS, Wild Bird Tracking and Paula – our AI-powered chatbot – have all come from listening to what farmers actually need. These tools make biosecurity more practical and more accessible, bringing our 4P’s – Planning, Prediction, Prevention and Preparedness – to life in meaningful ways.
Another highlight of our anniversary year has been our work overseas. Expanding into New Zealand and South Africa has allowed us to support producers in regions facing real challenges and opportunities. Working closely with Government agencies and Industry associations alongside major poultry and egg producers, we’ve been able to combine our expertise with digital insights to improve resilience and outcomes. Seeing our approach make a difference internationally has been incredibly rewarding.
We also took a major step forward in training with the launch of the LTEC Academy, the UK’s first eLearning platform dedicated to poultry biosecurity. Offering CPD-accredited and Poultry Passport-approved courses – and now developing training aligned to Lion Code requirements – means we’re raising standards in a way that’s flexible and accessible. It’s an achievement I’m especially proud of in our 15th year.
But as much as I talk about platforms, tools and expansion, what I’m most proud of – without question – is our team. This year, we’ve seen people step up, develop and achieve remarkable things. We’ve supported colleagues through further training, including programmes at Cranfield Business School whilst continuing with a real focus on wellbeing.
AI season can be emotionally draining for everyone involved. Our staff work closely with farmers who are going through some of their toughest moments. Supporting the mental health of our team isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s essential. I want everyone here to feel valued, supported and able to do their best work without compromising their wellbeing.
We’ve also spent a lot of time this year listening to customers. Through beta testing, trial access and early feedback, we’ve been able to refine solutions that genuinely reflect real-world needs. When customers can see results first-hand and help shape the tools they use, it builds trust and ensures we’re delivering something truly useful.
The recognition we’ve received this year has been a real boost. Winning Innovation of the Year for the Livestock Protect Platform, being named Employer of the Year, and celebrating finalist positions across multiple awards – including Amy Davies’ achievement in the Women in Ag Awards – are achievements the whole team should feel proud of. They reaffirm the value of what we’re building.
A personal highlight for me has been seeing our Technical Director, Julian Sparrey take our message around the world from Canada to Vietnam, Amsterdam and across the UK. His work showcasing our platform and explaining how predictive data, particularly around wild bird migration, helps producers anticipate AI risks has been invaluable. It encapsulates the true power of our 4P’s framework.
As I look back on our 15th anniversary year, what stands out most is the sense that we are building something strong, sustainable and meaningful. We look after our people, we listen to our customers, and we continue to innovate with purpose.
And while our work overseas continues to grow, our direction of travel is rooted in something much deeper: using our significant UK experience to help shape global biosecurity best practice. The challenges we’ve helped producers navigate at home have given us the insight and capability to support others internationally and the work we do overseas brings fresh ideas back to the UK sector.
Our commitment to UK farmers, growers and producers remains central to who we are. It’s why we’re sponsoring the Farmers Weekly Awards in 2026, why we work closely with BPC, BEIC and BFREPA, and why we continue to invest in the tools, training and support that strengthen resilience across the UK.
To everyone who has worked with us, supported us, challenged us or trusted us this year – thank you. It’s a privilege to mark our 15th anniversary alongside you.
Here’s to building an even stronger, more resilient future together in the year ahead.
