22 Oct Interview with Ewen Wardman, CEO, iLivestock, Scotland
Across the UK, farmers are embracing advanced tools like satellite monitoring, blockchain traceability and integrated fleet and resource management systems. What are the main reasons Scotland has emerged as a global leader in agricultural innovation, particularly in livestock?
Agritech in Scotland is usually split between sheep, beef and dairy. The dairy sector is more advanced, mainly due to farm type and productivity demands. Sheep and beef farming is very traditional — families have farmed the same way for generations, producing some of the world’s most respected beef and sheep products — but technology hasn’t really caught up. There are government programs to support agritech adoption, especially in areas like remote monitoring.
iLivestock offers a subscription-based program for sheep and cattle farmers, combining software with integrated hardware. Our animal-centric platform helps traditional farmers capture and use farm data seamlessly. Whether for regulatory compliance or performance management, our solution lowers capital costs and makes adoption easy. That integration of software and hardware is what makes us unique.
The challenge in Scotland is the vast, often remote landscapes, limited internet connectivity and the wet, windy climate. When people think of agritech, they imagine robots, but outside dairy, that’s not very relevant. Farmers need smart solutions that act like a co-pilot, helping them make better decisions from farm data. If you can build agritech that works effectively in Scotland and adds real value, it’s likely to succeed anywhere in the world. In Scotland, agritech falls under life sciences, a $13.6 billion industry that includes sectors like salmon farming. It’s going through a huge leap and we were proud to win Scotland’s Life Sciences Award this year. We have developed a product for sheep and cattle farmers here, which can then be applied worldwide. I see agritech as a co-pilot for traditional farming—not about robots, drones or sprays.
What are iLivestock’s core products today and what do they offer livestock farmers across global markets?
Our core product is an animal-centric software platform available on iOS, Android and online, focused on compliance, legislation and performance tracking, from breeding to weighing. What sets us apart is integrating this software with on-farm hardware in a subscription-based SaaS model, connecting all the data in one seamless system.
A key innovation is the feedback loop: strategic partners can see how products like medicines affect animals in real time, providing actionable insights that were impossible when data was on paper. By capturing core farm data as simply as ordering a pizza, we help farmers make smarter decisions, improve sustainability and reduce carbon footprints. This approach is driving our growth and has the potential to transform traditional farming globally.
We recently launched our partnership with VILLANUEVA in Argentina, where we already operate alongside Paraguay and Uruguay. Argentina offers the biggest opportunity, driven by legislation and market type. We also have exclusive distribution in Canada, Serbia and Romania and our Canadian partner supplies equipment into the US. We are considering a US entry carefully — assessing capitalization, base and strategy — because we want to do it properly. Our SaaS model isn’t just about the product; it’s about supporting farmers and distributors long-term. Growth is happening fast, but ensuring we have the resources to maintain that support is key before entering new markets like the US.
In 2024 and 2025, iLivestock raised $1.7 million in two rounds from Scottish Enterprise. How have close relationships with government agencies helped elevate iLivestock from an early-stage startup to a global contender?
We raised $1.7 million in two stages last July and have since secured another $1.3 million in growth funding. That investment allowed us to prove the market for our product, which we had been developing in our spare time. Raising money was tough because many thought the market didn’t exist or there was no benchmark for due diligence. With support from Scottish Enterprise, we have grown revenue by 700% since July, expanded our team from eight to 22 and won multiple awards including KPMG Tech Innovation Award and Scotland’s Life Sciences Award. Our biggest achievement is that rapid growth and recognition, driven by both our platform and the team delivering it.
We work with UK strategic partners looking to simplify supply chains, track farm assets and reduce carbon footprints. Internationally, we have onboarded seven countries with exclusive partners over the past year, driven by strong industry tailwinds. Our product targets farmers who currently don’t use technology and legislation like mandatory electronic tags or deforestation-free supply chains. Most farmers are family-owned, don’t have big budgets and still record data on paper. AI and robotics only work with digital data, so our platform helps farmers comply with regulations and improve productivity. Our strategy is to expand into countries where similar conditions exist.
iLivestock now connects with farmers worldwide through digital tools and direct channels. How has this approach supported your growth in different markets?
In our market, younger farmers are more e-commerce and social media savvy, but the older generation still controls the farm and finances. Success comes from appealing to both: engaging content attracts the younger farmer, while reports and support convince the decision-maker. We don’t sell online; the younger farmer discovers our app, shares it with their parents and then the decision-maker contacts us. It builds interest and trust, even if it doesn’t directly drive revenue.
Sustainability is embedded in both iLivestock’s product philosophy and internal operations. How do iLivestock’s technologies help livestock owners reduce emissions and build more humane, sustainable supply chains?
A big focus for us is using data to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint. We partnered with Edinburgh University to develop algorithms that turn simple farm data into actionable insights. Our SaaS platform allows farmers to capture essential information without extra effort, then delivers easy-to-understand guidance — like a traffic light system — on how to make cattle or sheep more efficient. Top-tier farms already use consultants to achieve this, but we are enabling standard family farms to do it themselves.
Internationally, our platform gives distributors confidence that when regulations arrive in their countries, they already have a tool that delivers actionable insights. Unlike startups building software for today’s problems, we built iLivestock to solve tomorrow’s challenges, so legislation has amplified our success globally.
The company regularly showcases its Scottish identity abroad, serving whisky at global events and promoting its “Made in Scotland” brand. How important has Scottish branding been to your international appeal and commercial success?
One of our four core pillars is the Scottish identity, which often goes unnoticed in daily conversations. For us, it’s less about technology and more about the character, traditions and culture of Scotland — the people, the weather, the animals, even the whiskey. We actively incorporate this into our platform and interactions.
Being Scottish builds trust with partners and farmers worldwide. It’s not a gimmick — 80% of our workforce is Scottish and the perception of Scotland adds credibility and warmth that complements having the right product, pricing and team. That identity is a vital part of our business.
With the USA remaining Scotland’s top source of foreign direct investment, opportunities for collaboration are growing. How open is iLivestock to partnerships with US firms, both in funding and technical development? What’s the potential for future joint ventures?
The American market is substantial and appealing. A sheep is a sheep, a cow is a cow, and regulations are moving in the same direction globally, even if implementation takes longer. US investors often have a bolder outlook than those in other markets which suits our goal to grow fast and go big. Interest from American investors would be expected and welcomed as we consider expanding there.