GEA Expands Global Digital Farming Strategy with New R&D Software Lab in Belfast Focused on AI Herd Management

GEA Expands Global Digital Farming Strategy with New R&D Software Lab in Belfast Focused on AI Herd Management

(IN BRIEF) GEA has opened a new software development lab in Belfast, Northern Ireland, expanding its digital innovation efforts in dairy farming. The facility will focus on advancing CattleEye, the company’s artificial intelligence-based livestock monitoring solution, and other digital herd management technologies within the GEA DairyNet platform. The lab will create around 20 new research and development roles specializing in software engineering and user experience. CattleEye technology is already used on more than 140 farms worldwide, monitoring over 200,000 cattle across 23 countries and helping farmers detect health issues such as lameness while improving herd management. The Belfast lab builds on GEA’s 2024 acquisition of CattleEye and supports the integration of AI across the company’s digital farming portfolio. The project is supported by Invest Northern Ireland, with part of the funding coming from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, reflecting regional support for innovation and growth in the agri-tech sector.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜSSELDORF, 11-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — GEA has expanded its digital innovation activities in the dairy sector with the launch of a new software development lab in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The facility will strengthen the company’s research and development capabilities while supporting the continued advancement of digital technologies for livestock farming. As part of the initiative, the lab will create around 20 new positions focused on software engineering and user experience development.

GEA opened the new software development lab in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Front row from left to right: Adam Askew (Senior Director R&D CattleEye at GEA), Dr. Andreas Seeringer (CEO GEA Farm Technologies), Holger Siegwarth (Vice President Digital Solutions and Services at GEA) and Terry Canning, (Senior Director CattleEye at GEA welcomed participants to the opening ceremony in Belfast. Source: GEA / Parkway Photography

The new facility will concentrate primarily on advancing GEA’s artificial intelligence-based livestock monitoring system, CattleEye, along with other digital technologies designed to support farm operations. The Belfast location will serve as a key hub for the development of solutions that help dairy producers monitor herd health, improve productivity, and optimize farm management through data-driven insights.

Terry Canning, (Senior Director CattleEye at GEA), Vicky Kell (Director of Innovation, Research and Development at Invest NI) and Dr. Andreas Seeringer (CEO GEA Farm Technologies). Source: GEA / Parkway Photography

CattleEye is an AI-powered system designed to automatically detect early signs of lameness in dairy cows and analyze body condition scores. The technology allows farmers to identify health issues earlier and take preventive action, improving animal welfare and operational efficiency. The system is already deployed on more than 140 farms across the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, and Australia, where it currently monitors over 200,000 cattle in 23 countries. CattleEye is integrated into GEA’s DairyNet platform, which provides farmers with digital tools for herd monitoring and farm management.

Dr. Andreas Seeringer, CEO of GEA Farm Technologies, said the new lab represents another step in strengthening the company’s leadership in digital dairy solutions. He noted that AI-driven technologies such as CattleEye can significantly improve animal health and farm productivity while helping farmers operate more sustainably. By accelerating development in this area, GEA aims to continue advancing its digital herd management offerings.

The decision to expand operations in Northern Ireland builds on GEA’s acquisition of CattleEye in 2024. Since then, the technology has been integrated into the company’s broader portfolio of next-generation dairy farming solutions. Establishing the Belfast lab will support further development of the platform and enable deeper integration of artificial intelligence capabilities across GEA’s digital ecosystem for farms.

Northern Ireland was selected as the location due to its combination of strong dairy farming heritage and a growing technology sector. Terry Canning, co-founder of CattleEye and Senior Director at GEA, described the new software lab as an important milestone in expanding digital capabilities for modern dairy farming. He explained that further development of the platform will allow farmers to benefit from improved automation, reduced equipment investments, and more efficient farm operations. Enhanced data insights are also expected to support efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions in dairy production.

The expansion of the Belfast team will include approximately 20 new hires in software development and user experience roles. These specialists will focus on improving the performance and usability of the GEA DairyNet app while advancing the capabilities of the CattleEye system. Canning added that the company expects the investment to support long-term growth and innovation in digital agriculture.

The project is receiving financial backing from Invest Northern Ireland, the region’s economic development agency, which is supporting the establishment of the lab and the creation of new high-value jobs. Part of the funding for Invest NI’s research and development support is provided through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Vicky Kell, Director of Innovation, Research and Development at Invest Northern Ireland, said the investment reflects strong confidence in Northern Ireland’s technical talent, infrastructure, and innovation ecosystem. She noted that research and development initiatives such as the CattleEye platform demonstrate how technology can drive new solutions and strengthen competitiveness within the global agri-tech sector.

About GEA

GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. For instance, every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines or novel biopharmaceuticals is produced by GEA. In food, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget are processed with GEA technology.

With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated sales of about EUR 5.5 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2025 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customers’ production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world.”

GEA is listed on the German MDAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World.

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SOURCE: GEA