Building the next 15

By Gordon Samet, Managing Director, Livetec

Looking back over 15 years has reminded us just how much can change.

The challenges facing livestock businesses have evolved, technology has transformed what's possible and our own business has grown considerably. But one thing has remained constant: some of our best ideas have come from listening to the people we work with.

Throughout our15 Moments That Mattered series, we've reflected on the experiences that shaped Livetec. From responding to major disease outbreaks and developing our preparedness services, to investing in digital technology, training and new ways of supporting our customers.

Behind many of those moments was a need identified by a customer, a challenge facing the wider industry or something we experienced first-hand through our work in the sector.

That matters as we think about what comes next.

Building the next 15 together

We don't pretend to know exactly what the livestock sector will look like 15 years from now.

What we do know is that the risks facing producers are becoming increasingly varied and interconnected.

We've seen that clearly this year. Prolonged periods of hot, dry weather and pressure on water availability have created different challenges on farm, while diseases including Salmonella and avian influenza continue to demand attention. At the same time, global trade and the movement of animals, people, feed, equipment and other products across borders create additional routes through which risks can emerge and spread.

For producers, there isn't one risk to manage or one season in which biosecurity matters. The operating environment is constantly changing, bringing different pressures throughout the year and requiring businesses to continually assess, adapt and prepare.

And the next challenge may look very different again.

Our responsibility is therefore to stay close enough to our customers and the wider industry to understand those challenges as they emerge.

That means asking questions, listening to feedback and creating more opportunities for customers, partners, vets, producers and industry organisations to contribute to the conversations that shape our thinking.

Because building the next 15 isn't simply about developing the next new product.

For us, innovation takes many forms.

It's developing practical products and technology that solve genuine industry problems. It's continually reviewing the services we already provide and asking whether they still meet the needs of the businesses using them. It's looking at how our expertise can be delivered differently or more effectively. And it's investing in our own digital journey so our teams can work smarter, respond faster and spend more time where they can add the greatest value for customers.

Sometimes innovation will mean creating something completely new. At other times, it will mean improving something that already works.

What matters is that we start with the need.

That's why customer and industry engagement will be so important to our next chapter. We want to work alongside the people using our services to understand what's working, where the gaps are and what could make a genuine difference.

We'll combine those conversations with what we're learning through our own operations, research, data and industry partnerships to help identify where we should focus our investment.

Research and technical development will have an increasingly important role to play too. We want to keep exploring the science behind the challenges facing livestock businesses, testing new ideas and translating what we learn into practical products, services and ways of working.

For us, research and innovation go hand in hand. Together, they give us the opportunity not only to respond to the needs we're seeing in the market today, but to anticipate where new needs may emerge and develop the expertise and solutions to meet them.

That will be important as we continue to strengthen what we offer here in the UK and take our experience into international markets. Different countries and production systems will bring different challenges, and we expect to learn as much from those new relationships as we contribute.

It's another reason why collaboration matters. Working alongside customers, industry partners, researchers and technical specialists gives us a much broader understanding of the challenges ahead — and a stronger foundation from which to develop the next generation of livestock protection.

And we'll continue investing in our people and expertise too. Technology will undoubtedly change how we work over the next 15 years, but knowledge, experience, relationships and the ability to provide practical support will remain fundamental to what we do.

Fifteen years has given us a great deal of experience. Our opportunity now is to combine that experience with new ideas and, importantly, the insight of the customers and partners we work alongside.

To everyone who has contributed to our journey so far: thank you.

We're proud of what we've built together. Now we're ready to start building the next 15.