Real-time detection and monitoring of behaviour using computer vision. Illustration: ILVOThe second edition of theAI4Animal Science Conference will soon be held in Ghent, Belgium. From June 29 until July 1, 2026, researchers, industry and stakeholders will jointly explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) in animal science.
The conference, taking place at Ghent University, will focus on applications that improve efficiency, sustainability, animal health, and welfare. Topics include precision livestock farming, data integration, AI-driven monitoring, and the environmental impact of agriculture. The first edition of the event was held in Zurich, Switzerland.
Sessions will cover:
- Advancements in data collection, processing, standardisation and integration;
- Emerging AI applications in Precision Livestock Farming;
- Farm and industry adoption of AI in animal science;
- AI for science;
- Datasets and benchmarks;
- Advancing digital biomarkers and phenotypes with AI; and
- Ethical, environmental and social implications of AI.
Keynote presentations will be given by Ioannis Athanasiadis, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the Netherlands; Pooya Hekmati, Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) Research Group; Prof Àlex Bach, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Spain and Sam Leroux, Ghent University, Belgium.
It is anticipated that the event will draw over 200 delegates. It will be organised by the European Federation of Animal Science (EEAP), the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), KU Leuven and Ghent University.
