Comment – Davos: big talk, but some very real messages for the machinery trade

Agricultural machinery may not have featured heavily on the agenda at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, but the themes coming out of it will feel very familiar to anyone involved in manufacturing, importing or selling equipment.

The big one is supply-chain resilience. Davos reinforced what the machinery sector has been living with for several years now — trade friction, tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty are not temporary issues. For OEMs and importers, that means sourcing strategies and component supply are firmly board-level concerns, not just operational headaches. For dealers, it points to continued caution around stock levels, lead times and customer expectations.

There was also plenty of noise around AI and digitalisation, but away from the hype, the practical takeaway is this: smarter forecasting, better parts availability and more efficient service planning will matter just as much as machine-mounted technology. Those who invest here will quietly outperform those who don’t.

Finally, Davos’ focus on food security and sustainability reinforces the longer-term direction of travel — more precision, less disturbance, and machinery that supports efficient, resilient farming systems.

In short: nothing revolutionary, but plenty of confirmation that the machinery supply chain needs to stay flexible, tech-savvy and realistic about risk — because uncertainty isn’t going away anytime soon.

Have a good week.

Andy

PS Can you tell where the pic came from?