JANUARY
ISSN 1751-8407
FEBRUARY
2014 TM
YOUR GATEWAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST AGRIBUSINESS
SUCCESSFUL DUO OF IPM DUBAI AND WOP DUBAI
28
NFTRAX AIRLESS WHEEL ASSEMBLY
34
NEW HOLLAND OPENS CUSTOMER CENTRE IN JESI
36
MUNTER’S CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
38
BENCH SYSTEMS FOR GREENHOUSES
42
أﺣﺼﻞ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺼﻴﻒ ﰲ ﻃﺒﻘﻚ ﻃﻮال اﻟﺴﻨﺔ إن ﻛﻨﺖ ﻣﺎ ﺗﺰال ﺗﻔﺘﻘﺪ ﻧﻜﻬﺔ اﻟﺼﻴﻒ ،وﺷﺬاه ،ﻓﻠﺪﻳﻨﺎ اﻟﺤﻞ اﻷﻣﺜﻞ: ﻗﻢ ﺑﺘﻘﻄﻴﻊ اﻟﺨﻮخ ﻃﺎزﺟﺎ داﺧﻞ اﻟﻌﻠﺒﺔ! ﺷﻬﻲ ،ﺣﻠﻮ اﳌﺬاق – ﻣﻐﺬي ،ﻏﻨﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﱪوﺗني واﻟﻔﻴﺘﺎﻣﻴﻨﺎت ،مثﺮة اﻟﺼﻴﻒ اﻷﺳﺎﺳﻴﺔ ﻫﻨﺎ ،ﺑﺬﻟﻚ ميﻜﻨﻚ اﻟﺘﻠﺬذ ﺑﻬﺎ ﻋﲆ ﻣﺪار اﻟﺴﻨﺔ . ﻗﻢ ﺑﺘﻘﻄﻴﻊ اﻟﺨﻮخ اﳌﻌﻠﺐ ﰲ ﻋﺒﻮة ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ،ميﻜﻨﻚ اﻟﺘﻤﺘﻊ ﺑﻪ ﻛﻮﺟﺒﺔ ﺑﺎردة ﺧﻔﻴﻔﺔ ،إﱃ ﺟﺎﻧﺐ ﺗﻮﻓﺮﻫﺎ ﰲ ﺳﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﻜﻬﺎت اﻟﺸﻬﻴﺔ . اﻟﺨﻮخ اﳌﻌﻠﺐ ميﺘﺎز ﺑﻘﻴﻤﺔ ﻏﺬاﺋﻴﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﻴﺔ ،دون اﻟﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﳌﻮاد ﺣﺎﻓﻈﺔ وﻣﻮاد ﻛﻴﻤﻴﺎﺋﻴﺔ ﺿﺎرة .ﻣﻜﻮﻧﺎﺗﻬﺎ اﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ اﻟﺼﺎﻟﺤﺔ ﺣﺘﻰ ﻋﺎﻣني ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﺐ .ﻣﺜﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻟﻬﺆﻻء اﻟﺬي ﻳﺮاﻗﺒﻮن ﺣﻤﻴﺘﻬﻢ ،إﻧﻬﺎ ﺗﻌﻄﻲ وﺣﺪات ﻛﺎﻟﻮري ﺑﺴﻴﻄﺔ وﻛﻤﻴﺔ ﻛﺒرية ﻣﻦ اﻟﻔﻴﺘﺎﻣﻴﻨﺎت . ﻳﻮﺟﺪ ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﺟﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﺪﻋﻮﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻹﺗﺤﺎد اﻷوريب واﻟﻴﻮﻧﺎن ﻳﻘﺪم ﻟﻚ اﻟﺨﻮخ اﻷوريب اﳌﻌﻠﺐ .اﻟﱪﻧﺎﻣﺞ ) اﻹﺟﺮاءات اﳌﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎﺗﻴﺔ واﻟﱰوﻳﺠﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻔﻮاﻛﻪ اﳌﻌﻠﺒﺔ ﰲ دول اﻟﻌﺎمل اﻟﺜﺎﻟﺚ ) روﺳﻴﺎ – أوﻛﺮاﻧﻴﺎ ،اﻹﻣﺎرات اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ اﳌﺘﺤﺪة ( ،اﻟﺬي ﺑﺪأ ﰲ ﻣﺎرس 2011و ﺳﻴﻜﺘﻤﻞ ﺧﻼل ٣ﺳﻨﻮات .ﺳﻠﺴﻠﺔ إﺟﺮاءات ﻟﺘﺜﻘﻴﻒ اﳌﺴﺘﻬﻠﻚ ﻗﺪ ﺗﺤﻘﻘﺖ ﺧﻼل اﻹﻃﺎر اﻟﻌﻤﲇ ﻟﻠﱪﻧﺎﻣﺞ .ﻣﺘﻀﻤﻨﺎ اﻹﻋﻼم اﻹﻟﻜﱰوين اﳌﻄﺒﻮع ،اﳌﺸﺎرﻛﺔ ﰲ اﳌﻌﺎرض اﻟﺪوﻟﻴﺔ ،إﱃ ﺟﺎﻧﺐ اﻟﱰوﻳﺞ واﻹﻋﻼن .ﻫﺪف اﻟﱪﻧﺎﻣﺞ إﻋﻼم اﳌﺴﺘﻬﻠﻚ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻘﻴﻤﺔ اﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺨﻮخ .اﳌﻨﻈﻤﺔ ﺻﺎﺣﺒﺔ اﳌﻘﱰح ﻫﻲ ﻓﻴﻨﻮس ﻗﺮوورس ).(Venus Growers ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ إﻧﺘﺎج اﻟﺴﺎدة ئ /ﻓﻴﻨﻮس ﻓﺮوورس( ﺗﻮاﻓﻖ ﺟﻤﻴﻊ اﳌﻮاﺻﻔﺎت اﳌﻮﺿﻮﻋﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻹﺗﺤﺎد اﻷوريب ﻋﻦ ﺳﻼﻣﺔ اﻟﻄﻌﺎم واﻟﺼﺤﺔ . ﺗﺄﺳﺴﺖ ﻓﻴﻨﻮس ﻗﺮوورس ﰲ ﻋﺎم 1964ﻛﺈﺗﺤﺎد ﻣﻨﺘﺠني ﰲ ﻓريﻳﺎ ،إﻣﺎﺛﻴﺎ ﰲ اﻟﻴﻮﻧﺎن .اﻟﻴﻮم ،اﻷرﻗﺎم اﻟﺘﻌﺎوﻧﻴﺔ ﻟﻠـ 552ﻋﻀﻮا واﻟﻌﺪد اﻟﻬﺎﺋﻞ ﻟﻸﺷﺨﺎص اﳌﻮﺳﻤﻴني اﻟﺪامئني .إﻧﻬﺎ ﺗﻨﺘﺞ ﺳﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻣﻨﺘﺠﺎت اﳌﻌﺘﻤﺪة ﻋﲆ اﻟﻔﻮاﻛﻪ وﻣﻨﺘﺠﺎﺗﻬﺎ .اﻷﻛرث ﺷﻴﻮﻋﺎ ﰲ اﳌﻨﺘﺠﺎت ﻫﻮ ﻣﻜﻮﻧﺎت اﻟﺨﻮخ ﰲ ﻋﺒﻮات ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﻣﺘﻨﻮﻋﺔ ) .ﻣﻌﺪن أو ﺑﻼﺳﺘﻴﻚ ﺷﻔﺎف ( واﻷﺣﺠﺎم ﻣﻨﺎﺳﺒﺔ ﻷي إﺳﺘﺨﺪام .
اﻹﺟﺮاء واﻟﺘﻤﻮﻳﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻻﺗﺤﺎد اﻷوريب واﻟﻴﻮﻧﺎن .
CONTENTS
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16 30
Cover photo courtesy: GFIA
HE Rashid bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture.
NEWS UPDATE
PAGE 04
RECORD NUMBER OF OFFICIAL COUNTRY PAVILIONS AT GULFOOD
PAGE 12
THE VERY FIRST DUBAI INTERNATIONAL GARDEN COMPETITION
PAGE 16
GLOBAL FORUM FOR INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE OPENED BY HE UAE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT
PAGE 20
AROUSED ENTHUSIASM WITH HIGH VISITOR QUALITY
PAGE 24
NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES DISPLAYED AT GROWTECH EURASIA
PAGE 30
FLOWER SHOW TURKEY 2013
PAGE 32
HIGH-QUALITY DIFFUSE SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS AVAILABLE VIA VAN LOOVEREN
PAGE 40
NETS FOR HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION
PAGE 44
SUPPLIERS OF PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS
PAGE 46
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Editor in Chief Mohammed Nasser Editor Marie Matthew Associate Editor Andrew Thomas Graphic Designer Elizabeth John Marketing Manager Megha Mary Matt Production Manager Abdul Shareef Contributors Neville J. Chandler, P.K. James, Douglas Bott, Shakeeb Kolakadan, Dr. Terry Mabbett Head Office Matt Media International Ltd, Woodgreen, London N22 5AR, UK. E-mail: gulfag@emirates.net.ae, Web site: www.gulfagriculture.com Middle East Office Al Saad Advertising & Publishing L.L.C., P O Box 25694, Sharjah, UAE, Tel:+971 6 5639494, Fax:+971 6 5639449. Gulf Agriculture is read by agri professionals, farm managers & owners, landscape consultants, contractors, agri-equipment suppliers, horticultural engineers, greenhouse managers, agronomists, veterinary surgeons, ministries, poultry & dairy breeders, importers, distributors, manufacturers and whole salers of food and agri inputs. Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2014 All rights reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are requested to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstance. The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for any error or omissions contained in this publication.
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JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
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NEWS UPDATE
Jenaan signs partnership agreement with South African company
Jenaan Investment has announced a strategic partnership agreement with South African company Suidwes, in which Suidwes will provide technical assistance to the UAE-based company's US$160 million worth of agriculture projects in Sudan. The new agreement was signed at SIAL Middle East, the region's fastest growing trade exhibition for the food and beverage sector, between Mohamed Otaiba, Chairman of Jenaan Investments, and Pierre Vercueil, Chairman of Suidwes. The official signing ceremony was also attended by Their Excellencies Dr. Abed Al Halim Al Mutaafi, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Sudan; Dr. Gebre Egziabher, Minister of Agriculture in the Republic of Ethiopia; Dr. Meratu Meles, Minister of Industry in the Republic of Ethiopia; and Rashed AlShuraiki, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Jenaan Investments, one of the UAE's largest agriculture and livestock investment companies, currently has three individual projects in Sudan covering a total area of 55,000 acres, producing alfalfa hay, Sudan Grass, and Millet. In its capacity as technical advisor on the three projects, Suidwes will provide detailed soil chemical analyses and soil correction recommendations to help increase production levels, mitigate risks, and lower operational costs. By 2015, some 1.4 million metric tonnes of livestock foliage is expected to be harvested. Mohamed Otaiba, Chairman 4
GULF AGRICULTURE
Mohamed Otaiba, Chairman of Jenaan Investments (left), and Pierre Vercueil, Chairman of Suidwes. Jenaan Investments and Suidwes signed a new strategic agricultural partnership agreement at SIAL Middle East this week, aimed at increasing animal foliage production in Sudan.
of Jenaan Investments, commented: “One of the main factors always maintained by Jenaan in conducting business is the utilisation of world class technologies as well as the best scientific methods in the fields of agriculture and livestock projects. “For that purpose, Jenaan has established a network of strategic alliances with world leading companies, which now extends to Suidwes in Sudan. Initially focusing on the production of animal foliage in Sudan, the partnership will be extended to other countries and will also incorporate the production of rice, corn, and
wheat. I would also like to thank the organisers of SIAL Middle East for providing the platform for this very important agreement to pass.” Established in 2005 in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Government through the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), Jenaan Investments' agriculture projects have extended to several countries including the USA, Spain, Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, totalling almost US$500 million worth of investment. Suidwes meanwhile is one of South Africa's largest agriculture and farming JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS UPDATE
financing companies, with revenue turnover of US$600 million annually. Employing 2,000 people, the company provides technical advice to agricultural projects spanning 13.5 million hectares, and is also a leader in grain storage and bunker storage technology.
Call for action in Nature to save the banana For years, Panama disease attacks banana plantations in Southeast Asia. After a recent outbreak in Jordan, the first outside of Asia, the devastating disease is now also present in Mozambique. Stephan Weise of Bioversity International and Gert Kema of Wageningen UR
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
(University & Research centre) raised their concerns about the threat of Panama disease and the lack of funds to tackle the problem. They call for concerted action in the scientific journal Nature to prevent further dissemination of Panama disease that again destroys thousands of hectares of banana plantations. Time is pressing. History should not repeat itself. In the 1950's, Latin American banana plantations producing the favourite banana Gros Michel were wiped out by Panama disease, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. The disease cannot be cured and controlling it is extremely
complicated. The epidemic caused huge economic damage and had devastating consequences for the livelihoods of millions of banana workers and producers. Fortunately, the Panama disease problem was solved by deploying a new and resistant banana variety: Cavendish. This gradually replaced Gros Michel and currently dominates the global export trade and many domestic markets. Cavendish banana remained resistant for decades, but in 1992 a more aggressive strain of the Fusarium fungus was discovered. This strain, also known as Tropical Race 4 (TR4) has spread throughout Southeast Asia, where it
GULF AGRICULTURE
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NEWS UPDATE
ravaged thousands of hectares over the past years. Now, the fungus made a transcontinental leap into the Middle East and Africa, infecting Cavendish bananas in Jordan and Mozambique. This bangs on doors of international quarantine offices and seems to
be the prelude to a new era of global Panama disease threats. Gert Kema, scientist at Wageningen UR: “I am incredibly concerned that it will soon pop-up in Latin America.” The World Banana Forum, a multi-stakeholder platform of the banana industry whose
BIOCOMES: new biological control products for farmers and foresters The new EU project BIOCOMES offers farmers and foresters the prospect of having at least eleven new biological control products at their disposal. The biological control products are designed to combat diseases such as powdery mildew in cereals, brown rot in stone fruit and pest insects like gypsy moth and pine weevil in forestry. The new products will offer fresh alternatives for major pesticide applications in European agriculture and forestry. The replacement of chemical control by biological alternatives is an increasingly important topic for farmers and foresters in Europe. EU regulations and the resulting national action plans in the European countries are restricting the use of chemical control. Moreover, the maximum residue limits (MRL) applied by legislation are increasingly strict and, the demand for even lower residues from buyers in the food industry is growing. Last but not least, there is a risk of plant pathogens developing resistance to chemical control products. Biological control is therefore a useful and necessary part of growers' crop protection programmes. The EU is giving a major boost to the biological control market in co-financing the BIOCOMES project, which is being coordinated by dr.Jürgen Köhl from Wageningen UR. Biological control is based upon the natural enemies of harmful organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes and insects. These natural enemies are bred by manufacturers and sold as ready-to-use control products. Growers can use biological control to replace all or part of their chemical control efforts. Biological control products can also be used in organic farming. The selected BIOCOMES products were identified through a market analysis by six European manufacturers of biological control products. The project combined the expertise of ten SMEs, three larger industrial partners and fourteen research partners. The 27 partners are divided over fourteen countries. The BIOCOMES project pays special attention to the economic sustainability of products during the development process, as well as their environmental sustainability. The latter is quantified for each biological control product by means of a Sustainable Process Index method, an ecological footprint measurement. The developmental process for each product is guided by a consultancy partner specialised and leading in chemical and biological plant protection product registration, including risk assessments for European pesticide and bio-control industries. This approach guarantees a quick and successful introduction to the market for each biological control product developed. The total budget of the BIOCOMES project is around twelve million euros. The EU is contributing almost nine million. The acronym BIOCOMES stands for: “Biological control manufacturers in Europe develop novel biological control products to support the implementation of Integrated Pest Management in agriculture and forestry”.
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Secretariat is hosted by the FAO, recently launched a TR4 Task Force to save the banana as the livelihoods and food security of millions of producers and small-holders are threatened. Luud Clercx, from the TASTE Foundation (Technical Assistance for Sustainable Trade & Environment), coordinates the group and agrees that “Global efforts are urgently needed on training and capacity building to safeguard banana production.” Wageningen UR coordinates several multidisciplinary public-private partnerships to combat Panama disease. But according to Kema, more action is needed: “Given the TR4 outbreaks, nothing is enough! More action is urgently required.”
Biobest put its innovations at Fruit Logistica As a leading provider of solutions for sustainable crop management, Biobest has presented ground-breaking innovations in its two core areas of activity: pollination and biological control of pests and diseases. Pollination with Biobest's patented Flying Doctors® takes the center stage at the Biobest booth. This novel hive, equipped with a dispenser that can be filled with pre-collected pollen, has been extensively tested in pear, kiwi and kiwiberry. Pollination and fruitset in these crops are known to be critical and challenging. Put the Flying Doctors® at work for precision delivery of pollen to the flowers. Even with cold and rainy weather during pollination, they will ensure efficient pollination. Promising initial results have also been obtained in apple and cherry. JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS UPDATE
This innovation fits in a broader trend: the interest of open-field fruit growers in bumblebee pollination is rapidly growing. The Biobest product range for open field pollination will be showcased at the booth. Blueberry and strawberry growers shouldn't miss the opportunity to get a briefing on our latest research data quantifying the benefits of bumblebee pollination outdoor.
BCPC launches new online Manual of Biocontrol Agents The new 5th edition of BCPC's Manual of Biocontrol Agents a toolbox for biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - was launched as an online resource at the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM), in Basel, Switzerland in October. “In my lifetime the world population has doubled and it is forecast to double again by 2050,” explains editor, Dr Roma Gwynn. “Alongside many other issues, this increase puts tremendous pressure on farmable land, requiring a doubling in output per unit area. If we are to conserve biological resources and ensure food security in a sustainable way, we need to use the best crop protection technology and methods available. Integrated Pest Management - including the use of biological control agents such as macroorganisms, micro-organisms, botanicals and semiochemicals - will play an important part, and it is encouraging that demand for and availability of these technologies is increasing rapidly.” The Manual of Biocontrol Agents can support best this progress, having been JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
substantially revised to reflect the growth and maturity of the global biocontrol industry. All the active substances and products that are included are commercially available. And
being an online resource it can be updated quickly and regularly ensuring accurate and comprehensive information is available on more than 300 active substances including:
NEWS UPDATE
100+ macroorganisms, 120+ micro-organisms, 40+ botanicals and 50+semiochemicals. The data provided for each active substance includes information on: the products, biological activity, toxicology, resistance codes, nomenclature, targets and companies. Compiled by experts in the biocontrol industry the Manual of Biocontrol Agents is an invaluable resource whether you are a grower, researcher or regulator. And for those who still love paper - a book will be available early in 2014.
EIMA Agrimach: Indian agriculture is industrializing The international review of agricultural mechanization was inaugurated on December 5, 2013 in New Delhi is putting on display the finest technologies for all types of farming operations. The use of machinery will make it possible to improve productivity in agriculture and introduce rational criteria for the management of resources. The agricultural machinery market is undergoing full growth in the country but the power of the machines deployed must be increased. The third edition of EIMA Agrimach, the international exposition of machinery and equipment for agriculture, opened on the IARI PUSA grounds in New Delhi. The review was organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, FICCI, and the Italian federation of agricultural machinery manufacturers, FederUnacoma, under the aegis of the Indian Ministry of 8
GULF AGRICULTURE
European Biological Technologies LCC project in Russia entirely equipped by Vencomatic Group
On Wednesday 4 December European Biological Technologies LCC (Samara, Russia) visited the Venco Campus to propose a toast on the deal they signed earlier last year. On 18 September the Vencomatic Group and European Biological Technologies LCC agreed a project for the construction of a highly-efficient, modern poultry complex, with a capacity of 50,000 tons of broiler meat per year. Vencomatic Group (Eersel, the Netherlands), known for its innovative and sustainable systems within the poultry industry, will equip the entire project. Activities start in April 2014 and will be completed by March 2015. The project consists of several breeder, rearing and broiler sites in Kalynovka and Kabanovka, Russia. The project starts with the construction of 6 broiler sites with 18 buildings each. These sites house over 4,3 million broilers. In a later phase 6 breeder sites with 5 buildings each will be built for 290,000 bird places. On each location eggs of all 5 houses are transported to a central egg collection area (50,8 million eggs per year). This design reduces human contact with the eggs to a minimum. Prinzen egg handling machines ensure an 99,8% points down setting of eggs in the setter tray, resulting in better hatchability. The project also foresees the rearing of 183,000 breeders on 3 sites existing of 3 houses for female birds and 1 house for male birds. The rearing houses are equipped with winchable platforms, thereby creating substantial extra living surface for the birds. The platforms also allow free movement on varying levels, and trains the birds to jump. This encourages natural behavior from an early stage. With this project European Biological Technologies LCC will create a state-of-the-art poultry facility, with full control over the poultry meat production process. Further development of the project aims at a total production of 130 thousand tons of poultry per year by 2018.
Agriculture to present an ample showcase of the most advanced technologies for all types of farm work for a vast public of businesspeople in agriculture in India and neighboring countries. The event hosted 270 exhibiting manufacturers from around Europe, the United States, China and South Korea. All the major Indian industries and those from
abroad were present for the review coming along as an increasingly important point of reference for the country in need of strong and efficient agriculture. This was made clear at the inaugural press conference. Taking part in the conference were FICCI Director General Arbin Prasad, the FederUnacoma delegate for European Union policy, Marco Pezzini, Italian Ambassador in JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS UPDATE
New Delhi Daniele Mancini, Avinash Srivastava, the additional secretary at the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, representatives of the sponsoring companies EM3 and John Deere, Rohtash Mal and Satish Nadiger, and speaking for the Indian government, Tariq Anwar Minister, the Minister of State for Agriculture.
“There is no inclusive and sustainable way forward for Africa without women, youth and agriculture.” Governments will have the opportunity to renew their support for agricultural development during the 2014 African Year of Agriculture and Food Security, which will
be launched during the African Union Summit this week. “The launch of the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security is an important step towards a hunger-free and sustainable Africa that [late South African leader] Nelson Mandela and many others have
Agriculture 'engine of growth' that Africa needs Agriculture must become the engine for growth that Africa needs to eradicate hunger and boost sustainable food production, FAO DirectorGeneral José Graziano da Silva said. Speaking at a side event on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Graziano da Silva called on Africa to step up its efforts. “More than one out of every five of its citizens is still denied the right to food,” the DirectorGeneral said. Noting that most of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa, he stressed that the region had the power to change the situation. The challenge for Africa is to make this economic growth more inclusive by targeting agricultural and rural development, women and young people, he said. Some 75 percent of Africans are 25 years old and under, and the population is expected to remain largely rural for the next 35 years, with women heading up many households. “Agriculture is the only sector of the economy capable of absorbing this workforce,” the Director-General said. JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
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NEWS UPDATE
Dr Leon Broom Joins Anpario as Senior R&D Scientist Anpario the international manufacturer and supplier of natural high performance products that enhance animal health, has made an appointment to strengthen the technical team that supports Meriden Animal Health, Kiotechagil and Optivite. Dr Leon Broom has joined Anpario as Senior R&D Scientist. Leon's responsibilities will be to drive the development of new products by leading and focussing the research and development team. Leon has a First Class (Hons) degree in Animal Science (University of Leeds) and a PhD in 'Nutrition and health interactions in the weaned piglet' (University of Leeds). Prior to joining Anpario, Leon was a Senior Research Fellow at the Dr Leon Broom University of Leeds where his work involved designing and managing research trials, lecturing undergraduate students and assisting with the supervision of postgraduate students. He has also worked on a number of commercial pig units, was a director of Spottyacre Traditional Pork in Devon and worked at the food ingredient company Danisco, part of the DuPont Group. Dr Broom commented, “I am hoping to make significant contributions to Anpario's on-going growth and success through the promotion and refinement of existing products as well as helping to drive the delivery of new products to the market.” David Bullen, CEO of Anpario, commented, “Leon joins us as at an exciting time as we have made a strategic decision to increase our commitment to R&D. Innovative product development, in which Leon will be closely involved, will be critical in meeting the needs of our customers. In addition, our R&D team will play increasingly important roles in addressing the concerns consumers have about food safety issues.”
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dreamed of and fought for,” Graziano da Silva said. The Director-General noted that the African Year will build on the efforts of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), launched in 2003. The African Year of Agriculture and Food Security is being observed in parallel with the United Nations' International Year of Family Farming, also celebrated in 2014. “For many years and in many parts of the world, small-scale farmers, pastoralist families and fisher folk were viewed as part of the problem of hunger,” Graziano da Silva said. “That could not be further from the truth. Family farmers are already the main food producers in most countries, and they can do even more with the right kind of support.” Improving access to financial services, training, mechanization and technology can transform subsistence farmers into efficient producers. Through methods that increase production while preserving natural resources, family farming also provides a sustainable alternative to input-intensive technologies that have resulted in damage to soil quality, land, water and biodiversity, Graziano da Silva said.
Farm machinery and sustainable agriculture must evolve together Farm machines have revolutionized agriculture and reduced drudgery for millions of farm families and workers, but the machinery of tomorrow will have to do more than that -
it will also have to contribute to agriculture that is environmentally sustainable. A new FAO book Mechanization for rural development, a review of patterns and progress from around the world, explores the inexorable rise of the use of machinery in farmers' fields, drawing lessons for policymakers and economists from some of the big winners and also the regions lagging behind. For example, Bangladesh went from using human muscle and ox power in the early 1970s to being one of the most mechanized agricultural economies in South Asia, with 300 000 low-power 2-wheel tractors, a million diesel powered irrigation pumps and widespread mechanized crop threshing. On the other hand, Africa, which has comparatively the most abundant land resources, has less than 10 percent of mechanization services provided by engine power. About 25 percent of farm power is provided by draught animals and over 60 percent by people's muscles, mostly from women, the elderly and children. Mechanization for rural development draws lessons from these trends, with in-depth studies of mechanization in countries and regions in Africa, Asia, the Near East, South America and Eastern Europe, as well as chapters on themes such as development needs, manufacturing and information exchange. “The book delves into many aspects of farm mechanization, not only how machines will contribute to an environmentally sustainable JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS UPDATE
future, but also what policies will put machines at the service of family farms so that they too can profit,” said Ren Wang, Assistant Director-General of FAO's Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department. The book also looks to the future, arguing that the design of agricultural machinery must evolve in parallel with the roll out of Sustainable Crop Production Intensification (SCPI). That means fewer chemicals, more efficient use of water, and more efficient use of machines. Farm machinery needs to be intelligent, lean, precise and efficient in order to minimize the impact on the soil and the landscape. Two of the farming activities that have the greatest impact on the environment are soil tillage, because it can
severely damage soil ecology, and pesticide application. Conservation agriculture is an approach that reduces or eliminates soil tillage and pesticide use. To control weeds, conserve soil moisture and avoid soil disturbance, a mulch layer of crop residue is retained on the unploughed field. Special machinery is needed to plant seeds and apply fertilizer through the mulch at the correct depth without disturbing the crop residues. An added advantage to this type of mechanization is that, without the need for high-draught tillage, lower powered and therefore cheaper tractors can be used. These lighter machines have the added advantage of not compacting and therefore damaging the soil like a heavy tractor would.
The use of agrochemicals for the management of insect pests, disease and weeds can have a significant impact on the environment. Besides reducing pesticide use overall through integrated pest management including biological control, when chemicals are necessary they can be used with greater precision since it is estimated that about 50 percent of all pesticides applied do not reach their intended target. Many technological innovations exist to improve this situation, for example, low drift nozzles and spray shields. In irrigation, technologies such as micro sprinklers or drip irrigation that save water and consume less power are the environmentally friendly way of the future, according to the book.
Philippine coconut farmers struggling to recover from typhoon Coconut farmers in the Philippines are in urgent need of assistance to recover their livelihoods nearly three months after Typhoon Haiyan tore through the country, FAO warned. The typhoon flattened millions of trees when it made landfall in November and the country's second largest coconut-producing region, Eastern Visayas, was one of the areas most affected. In this region alone some 33 million coconut trees were damaged or destroyed and more than a million coconut farmers impacted. The Philippine Coconut Authority has estimated losses at $396 million. “Coconut farmers are replanting, but what makes the situation so dire is that newly planted trees take between six to eight years to reach maturity
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and return to full production,” said Rajendra Aryal, acting FAO Representative in the Philippines. “It is critical to develop alternative income sources for these small-scale farmers until their coconut trees become productive again. Crop diversification and intercropping can provide key access to income and restore self-sufficiency, building the resilience of communities to withstand future disasters.” Coconuts are one of the most important crops in the Philippines. The country is the second largest coconut producer in the world, accounting for 26.6% of global production. The devastation created knock-on effects along the entire value chain, affecting people who were engaged
both directly and indirectly - from farm owners, workers and traders to those involved in transport and logistics. “Coconut farming is my main source of income, and when the typhoon hit I lost all my trees,” said Domingo Brivia, a small-scale coconut farmer from Barangay Tacurana, on Leyte island, Eastern Visayas. “If I don't get some kind of support soon I'll have to borrow money, but the interest rates are so high that I'm scared,” he added. Brivia and other farmers like him face interest rates as high as 120% if they resort to borrowing. As land-poor tenants having lost whatever possessions they had, they cannot resort to selling their assets to survive.
GULF AGRICULTURE
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GULFOOD PREVIEW
G
ulfood, the world's largest annual food and hospitality show, has confirmed its strongest global representation to date, with 120 official national pavilions set to showcase their respective country's products and services at next month's show. With 10 new country pavilions participating on this scale for the first time, the raft of additions represents a 100 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of new countries launching dedicated pavilions at Gulfood. Taking place from 23 - 27 February 2014 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Gulfood 2014 has been extended to five days following a directive issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai - in order to support the exceptional level of show floor business transacted each year. Official national pavilions participating for the first time include Bahrain, the Basque County, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Qatar, Romania and Vietnam. Dubai SME will also make its pavilion debut at Gulfood, hosting a contingent of UAE-based businesses looking to capitalise on the unrivalled exposure the show offers. Additionally, a record 4,500 exhibitors including more than 300 show debutants will participate at Gulfood 2014 - an increase of seven per cent on last year. The record participation comes as Dubai's position as the regional hub for hospitality, trade and tourism has been accelerated by the
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emirate's confirmed hosting of the World Expo in 2020, which will further fuel market growth opportunities for the global food services industry. Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, DWTC,
organiser of Gulfood said: “As the organiser of the region's biggest consumer and trade exhibitions, including Gulfood, DWTC facilitates substantial business growth locally, regionally and internationally.
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GULFOOD PREVIEW
RECORD NUMBER OF OFFICIAL COUNTRY PAVILIONS AT GULFOOD
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GULF AGRICULTURE
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GULFOOD PREVIEW
In terms of visitor numbers alone, DWTC welcomed 1.85 million show attendees in 2012, 700,000 of which were highspend international visitors meaning the venue and its events contributed seven per cent of Dubai's 10.16 million international visitors that year. With Dubai's recent victory as the host city for World Expo 2020 and its role as catalyst for super-growth in the UAE and broader Middle East region, particularly in the food and hospitality industries, Gulfood has never been more important for helping to foster mutually beneficial trading partnerships across the board.” While Saudi Arabian companies have enjoyed substantial presence at Gulfood, this year sees the first dedicated pavilion for the Kingdom, with 14 companies participating. A key market for imports and exports, Saudi Arabia's food sector is witnessing annual growth of 18.5 percent and due to its rising population and economic growth, consumption in the Kingdom is expected to
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grow 55.3 percent within the next four years, to reach $70 billion per annum. The country is also increasingly looking for opportunities to expand its global reach. “Gulfood is an important platform for Saudi Arabian companies who are looking for trading partners both in the region and globally. Local food producers, retailers, manufacturers and service providers are enjoying a boom, with market potential increasing every year. We anticipate a busy and productive week of business trading and relationship building,” said Ahmed Alhakbani, Secretary General, Saudi Exports Development Authority.
A RECORD 4,500 EXHIBITORS INCLUDING MORE THAN 300 SHOW DEBUTANTS WILL PARTICIPATE AT GULFOOD 2014 — AN INCREASE OF SEVEN PER CENT ON LAST YEAR
In addition to the new official country pavilions at Gulfood 2014, long-standing national pavilions are reporting significant growth in the number of participating companies. Benjamin Berry, Deputy Director Trade Show Strategy & Delivery, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said: “Canada is very excited about its exhibitor contingent at Gulfood 2014. The Canada Pavilion has almost doubled in size over 2013, illustrating the rapidly growing importance of the Middle East to Canadian food producers. This year we have 46 companies exhibiting, including a large contingent of beef exporters under the umbrella of Canada Beef International.” Japan returns to Gulfood this year after a two year absence, with the Japan Pavilion introducing a wide variety of food and drink products. Masayoshi Watanabe, Managing Director, Dubai and MENA, Japan External Trade Organisation, said: “Since Gulfood welcomes buyers from all over the world, we believe that this exhibition will be a great opportunity for our exhibitors to expand their markets. The Japanese government recognises the MENA region as one of the high potential markets for Japanese products.” To cater for more than 4,500 exhibitors and 80,000-plus trade visitors, the show's lay-out which covers more than 1,000,000 square feet - has been refined into geographic zones to ensure easy navigation and convenient access. The extensive floor plan and exhibitor guide is also included on the Gulfood app (link) which is free for download to both iPhone and Android devices. JANUARY FEBRUARY 2014
DIGC PREVIEW
I
n a landmark event for Dubai, thirteen of the best local, regional and global landscapers are converging in Dubai to give the emirate a green makeover in the very first Dubai International Garden Competition. Entries are now being invited under an open theme, and will close on February 16, 2014. The festival will be particularly beneficial to Dubai's real estate sector, as most property investors now seek more greenery to enhance the value of their properties as part of the world-class lifestyles that Dubai has become synonymous with. The winning designs will then be replicated or adapted in properties across Dubai. The competition will not only focus on artistic excellence but also technical and scientific ingenuity. In addition to artists, landscape designers and architects, it will also bring together leading engineers and scientists, vying for prestigious Gold Award. There will be one Best of Show Award and One People Choice Award. To add expertise in ecofriendliness and ecoconservation, top botanists and horticulturists- will attend. Thousands of visitors are expected, and corporates are also welcome to participate as part of their social responsibility. Addressing VIP guests at a special event to officially launch the competition, Nasser Khan, CEO of the completion organizers - Purelife Events, Exhibitions & Conferences elaborated: “Dubai prides itself in achieving the impossible, and this competition is a shining example of how Dubai has
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defied its harsh desert location to create mesmerizing masterpieces of greenery. This is much more than a competition: it is an inspiration to the rest of the world proving that if we can rehabilitate the environment and grow stunning gardens in the desert, then we can heal Mother Earth everywhere else.� World Known
Chelsea Flower show running from last 100 years, 30 Gardens + 400 Exhibitors International French Garden Festival Running from last 25 Years, with 20 Gardens of Minimum space of 200m2.
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