Gulf agriculture march april

MARCH

ISSN 1751-8407

APRIL

2015 TM

YOUR GATEWAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST AGRIBUSINESS

VISIT

US

AT

GFIA MARCH 09-10, 2015, Abu Dhabi

AGRAME MARCH 16-18, 2015, Dubai

GREENHOUSE BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS

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CONTENTS

14 Cover courtesy: Lindsay Corporation, USA

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NEWS UPDATE

PAGE 04

EXHIBITOR DEMAND PUSHES AGRAME 2015 FLOOR SPACE UP BY 40 PER CENT

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IPM ESSEN 2015 CLOSED WITH RECORDS: MORE EXHIBITORS AND AN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS' PLUS

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SPECIALIST IN FERTILIZERS

PAGE 18

EFFECT OF CREAMINO® ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER BREEDERS AND THEIR PROGENY

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NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE TAKES PART IN GLOBAL FORUM FOR INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE

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SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL GROWTH IN THE GULF WITH CASE IH'S RED POWER

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38 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.) 2015 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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NEWS UPDATE

FindMyAnimal to demonstrate collar for satellite tracking of livestock - from sheep and cattle to camels Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency

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notification technologies, today announced that it will support its Value Added Re-seller, FindMyAnimal, at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), Abu Dhabi, 9th - 10th March 2015, as they demonstrate their innovative animal tracking devices, which are enabled via Globalstar's

low-powered STX-3 Chipset and LEO Simplex network.

Globalstar and FindMyAnimal will exhibit a variety of solutions for the farming community as they explore new ways of using satellite technology to promote sustainability and business efficiencies.

One of the highlights at the show will be FindMyAnimal's satellite tracking animal collar, which are already being used to track over 12,000 valuable sheep and cattle in Norway, monitor cattle in Brazil and endangered species in North Africa.

FindMyAnimal's collar uses Globalstar's satellite network to geo-fence livestock, helping farmers find animals that are close to the edge of a designated area or have escaped. It also gives farmers the opportunity to take a more informed and proactive approach to herding so that they lose fewer animals to predators.

When it is apparent that a sheep has not moved in some time, the farmer is now able to send herders to the exact location of the animal, saving valuable time and resources. Farmers deploying the collars have already experienced a significant reduction in the number of animals lost to illness or predators, which has a direct impact on their income.

Over time, the FindMyAnimal system provides a data trail based on tracking and analysis of patterns of where the animals that produced the best quality meat were grazing. The result is invaluable information and insight which can be used to determine the best grazing areas for future seasons.

Globalstar has recently MARCH APRIL 2015

NEWS UPDATE

partnered with Broadband Botswana Internet on the launch of a gateway in Gaborone, Botswana, which dramatically increases Globalstar's coverage across sub-Saharan Africa. With the opening up of this new market, Globalstar and its reseller partners are eager to highlight their range of businessenhancing solutions for farming and the agriculture industry in the region. Solutions well suited for this market also include Globalstar's simplex M2M technology which can, for instance, notify farmers about levels of water and feed supply, potentially saving long journeys to remote locations, and helping livestock stay healthy, however far they roam.

At GFIA, Globalstar will be on hand at the FindMyAnimal stand to demonstrate how their portfolio of products can help keep remote farming employees and assets in contact even when they are beyond reach of the mobile phone network. “There are now many different ways that farmers can use technology to complement their traditional techniques, but without reliable communication links, these can be ineffective.

Satellite can be the missing part of the jigsaw to ensure communications are reliable even in the most inhospitable environments. With the upcoming launch of our new Bostswana gateway boosting our presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, there are new

opportunities for the farming industry in the region to use satellite communications to better manage its livestock, assets and employees,� said Gavan Murphy, Director of Marketing at Globalstar.

Agrofoodportal.com gives all about Dutch Agriculture Agrofoodportal.com gives information about agricultural trade data, long-term developments in agricultural prices, sustainability indicators, income, farm animals, labour, soil use, crop protection and outdoor grazing. On this site LEI Wageningen UR presents relevant data in a more synoptic manner, with short analyses from specialists. In the future, several data sources will be

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connected in order to show interrelations.

By using interactive graphics and clear search and filter possibilities, the site is easy to use. It enables policy makers, accountants, journalists, entrepreneurs in the agrofood sector and other stakeholders to find the information they need and to download for own use.

The Dutch agricultural sector is known internationally for its expertise and skills. The Netherlands is the second exporter of agricultural products worldwide and in 2012 the total agrofood sector contributed 9% of value added to the Dutch economy. Besides primary agriculture, the total agrofood sector encompasses processing and distribution of agricultural

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products, and the supply of products and services needed such as energy, fertiliser and business services.

Narrow track tractors report: on the wrong track A technical study conducted by the firm TRL for the European Commission is challenged by Italian manufacturers for the method applies as well as for the merit of the findings. The anti-pollution devices prescribed for Phase IV engines are not compatible with the bodywork of the machines and, especially, staying in step with the norm would require design changes every three years.

The issue of narrow track and high clearance tractors is far from a settlement which

would be acceptable for the manufacturing industries. The prospect of equipping T2 tractors for vineyard and orchard operations with the devices required for Phase IV has become more than ever controversial following the release last December 18 of a technical study by the British firm Transport Research Laboratory, TRL, commissioned by the the European Commission's Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry.

In substance, the report came out in favor of substantial compatibility of future Phase IV tractors and requirements for operating in vineyards and fruit orchards, though recognizing a degree of “penalization� of the

MARCH APRIL 2015

NEWS UPDATE

performance of these tractors, to create the premise for the Commission to reject the requests of manufacturers to extend the terms for the application of the norm.

The judgment of Italian tractor manufacturers represented by Assotrattori, an association in the Italian Federation of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, FederUnacoma, is that the TRL report contains errors of method and incorrect assessments as regards merit and carries the risk of putting the European Commission on the wrong track -issues taken up this afternoon at a press conference in Paris in a salon at the SIMA Agricultural Business Show.

The manufacturers, in the first place, maintain that the TRL technical findings are based on a type of nonagricultural engine which can therefore not be compared to the characteristics of engines for tractors, especially as regards technological solutions for anti-pollution devices and thus differ from the devices of technological pollution emission solutions.

In second place, the manufacturers do not share the expectations, as expressed in the TRL report, that the engine industry can complete work on specific engines for narrow track tractors to make it possible to apply the new norms for the prescribed deadline. The Assotrattori manufacturers are convinced that this idea is not realistic in light of the fact that the number of narrow track tractors, some 20,000 units compared to millions in the automotive sector, is too small for the engine industry to gear up for ad hoc technological solutions.

And finally, the document suggests that an increase in the profile of the machine as a consequence of compliance with Phase IV can be partially offset by changing present farming methods of crop layout. These modifications would damage farming enterprises and run counter to the European Union policy guideline set in recent years with incentives for shrinking planting layouts for specialized crops and driving manufacturers to turn out more compact and agile machinery.

FederUnacoma President Massimo Goldoni said, “The federation, and especially the Assotrattori Association with President Manlio Martilli, will soon return to European quarters with their valid reasons for requesting a more accurate technical assessment as well as to challenge a general principle, that is, on the basis of which the manufacturers are required to frantically follow norms incompatible with economic logic and industrial planning.” Goldoni went on to explain, “We are working to modify machines for Phase IIIB which must be brought in by the end of 2016 and we already have to worry about further transformations that will be necessary by 2019 for Phase IV and, by the end of 2022 for Phase V.” The FederUnacoma president also observed, “The serious risk is that the Commission is evaluating the manufacturers' interests with scant attention because they 8

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NEWS UPDATE

refer to a relatively limited number of vehicles, without considering the extremely heavy consequences in terms of production and employment which would fall on this sector of mechanics without economies of scale, a sector which would lose important market share were manufacturers required to give up the characteristics of the agility of compact machines required by farmers.”

Goldoni concluded by affirming, “The arrival on the market of new specialized tractors, meaning a change of the tractor inventory, would lead paradoxically to a permanent inventory of obsolete machines on farms with a negative impact on the

MARCH APRIL 2015

environment to nullify the very purposes for which the engine norms have been launched.”

GreenTech launches GreenTech Summit in June On Tuesday 9 June 2015, speakers and delegates from around the world will gather in the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre for the first GreenTech Summit. This exclusive conference for industry leaders and influencers in the horticulture industry will discuss the theme: 'What's next for Green Horticulture?'. The invitation-only GreenTech Summit will be held in the odd years, when there is no GreenTech trade show.

The Summit will have an 'invitation-only' policy. The 250

delegates to GreenTech Summit 2015 will be specially invited by around 30 sponsors and join other key-players, captains of industry and trendsetters whose presence is vital to the industry and will be invited by Amsterdam RAI. Sponsors will treat their Summit clients to an inspirational day with highly respected speakers and a network of international decision makers.

Building on the success of GreenTech exhibition, the Summit will include a conference programme featuring leaders, innovators, influencers and trendwatchers from around the world and a small area showcasing solutions. A diverse range of seminars, educational

GULF AGRICULTURE

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NEWS UPDATE

programmes and meetings will address delegates specific interests and requirements. Both the Summit and trade show are organised in close co-operation with the trade associations AVAG and Fedecom.

“With the GreenTech trade show being organised biannually, we saw a great opening for a get-together of industry leaders as June is a month in which many do business in the Netherlands” , says Mariska Dreschler, Manager of GreenTech Summit, “With this Summit we aim to facilitate global knowledge sharing and create the most fertile soil for ideas and cooperations, leaving all delegates filled with inspiration.”

The summit will look at the challenges in horticulture from different angles. Crossovers to

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other (technological) industries will be highlighted as well as the latest trends and developments in horticultural technology and production.

Additionally, delegates will be invited to take part in various social and networking events.

Under the umbrella theme 'What's next for Green Horticulture?', the conference will examine the current world challenges in terms of food security and wellbeing.

Renowned keynote speakers will share their views in order to motivate and inspire delegates to find sustainable solutions for the future.

Global food industry gathers in Dubai for landmark 20th anniversary edition Over 4,800 international food companies and 80,000 visitors

came together at the 20th edition of world's biggest annual food and hospitality trade show - the biggest edition to date.

A globally-recognised trading and sourcing platform for the international food industry, the landmark 20th anniversary of Gulfood ran February 8 - 12 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), across more than 127,000 square metres of exhibition space.

With this year's specialist Halal World Food component attracting more than 1,000 international food products to establish a position as the world's leading Halal food sourcing event, Gulfood 2015 provided visitors with unrivalled opportunities to source and select from an incredible global product

MARCH APRIL 2015

NEWS UPDATE

showcase, while thousands of industry professionals took time to review the latest trends and innovations in food and drink, foodservice and hospitality equipment, as well as the restaurant and cafe industry.

More than 1,000 industry professionals also attended three days of Gulfood Leaders Events, which hosted the World Food Security Summit, the Halal Investment Conference and the Food Franchising Forum.

White House Garden Harvests Vitamin-A Rich Orange Sweet Potato The sweet potato was chosen to highlight its role in improving the nutrition and health of millions of children and women throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

For the first time, this year's crop in the U.S. White House kitchen garden included orange sweet potato (OSP), a root vegetable rich in vitamin A, that is becoming popular in Africa.

The sweet potato was chosen to highlight its role in improving the nutrition and health of millions of children and women throughout sub-Saharan Africa by providing essential vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major public health problem in many countries. It impairs immunity, increases the risk of illnesses such as diarrheal disease, and causes eye damage that can lead to blindness and even death. Annually, up to 500,000 preschool children go blind from VAD, and about two-thirds will die within months of going blind. In Africa, VAD prevalence is estimated at 42 percent among children under five.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is now funding efforts to provide 285,000 Ugandan farming households not only with orange sweet potato but also beans that are richer in iron, as part of the US Government's global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future.

"Through Feed the Future, President Obama's landmark food security initiative, we are scaling up the use of orange sweet potatoes in thousands of communities vulnerable to undernutrition and stunting," said USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah.

"In the last year alone, we have helped seven million farmers boost their harvests with new technologies like this, and reached 12.5 million children to tackle undernutrition-one MARCH APRIL 2015

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NEWS UPDATE

of the leading contributors to child death that also undermines global growth.”

Orange fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, and animal products are good sources of vitamin A but are not always available, or may be too expensive in some regions. In many part of sub-Saharan Africa, people eat large amounts of staple foods like sweet potatoes. However, the types commonly eaten are

yellow and white in color and a poor source of vitamin A. The orange varieties are extremely rich in vitamin A and have been adapted to growing conditions in Africa, and to local tastes. In addition to being a rich source of vitamin A, orange sweet potato is also high yielding, virus resistant, and drought tolerant. In Africa, the crop is also referred to as orangefleshed sweet potato.

Farming communities in

Full attention for Case IH & STEYR The organisational changes and the enlargement of the management board announced by CNH Industrial last week aim at the full integration and further transition of the brands Iveco and FPT Industrial, thus resulting in the presentation of CNH Industrial as homogeneous corporation in the global capital goods market. This integration gives evidence of the importance that is attached to in-company integration on the one hand and the individual brands on the other. “That is the reason why I will now fully focus on leading both brands Case IH and STEYR to further growth and a successful future within CNH Industrial”, explains Andreas Klauser.

Case IH and STEYR already contribute decisively to the success of CNH Industrial today. “As Brand President, I am looking forward to further develop both brands' potentials together with my team”, announces Andreas Klauser. “I am very pleased that, since the foundation of CNH Industrial two years ago, we have successfully finished the first step with the distribution and marketing sectors under my leadership in EMEA”, he says. “As a natural evolution and to leverage the most effective balance and synergies between the regions and brands, I will put a strong emphasis on the Case IH and STEYR brands and continue the successful growth of our business”, concludes Klauser.

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Uganda, where orange sweet potato is now being grown on a large scale as a result of US Government assistance, have substituted more than one-third of their traditional white and yellow sweet potatoes with orange varieties. This has helped to ensure that large numbers of children and women receive their daily needs for vitamin A. One study found that in these communities orange sweet potato contributed to more than half of the vitamin A intakes of young children aged 6 months to 3 years old. This is notable because the first 1,000 days of a child's life, counted from the start of a woman's pregnancy until the child is two years old, is the most critical period of growth and development. All it takes is one ice-cream scoop's worth of orange sweet potato to provide a young child with his or her daily vitamin A requirement.

Farmers are also able to sell their surplus crop to earn extra income.

Agnes Amony, a Ugandan farmer who is part of this project, says: “I began feeding my child on these nutritious foods following the knowledge I attained in the recommended feeding practices for children under five. My child began gaining weight steadily and I am in no doubt that these foods have saved my child's life. I am forever grateful and will never stop feeding my child on these food crops.”

In the mid-1990s, USAID played a seminal role in convincing agricultural scientists that improving yields of staple food crops was not enough-they also had to make them more nutritious. Vitamin A-rich OSP emerged as one of the first nutritionally-enhancedMARCH APRIL 2015

NEWS UPDATE

and most successful-staple food crops to date.

Under First Lady Michelle Obama, the White House kitchen garden has been expanded and reinvigorated to include a wide range of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. It serves to educate people, especially children, on the importance of good nutrition and the role that vegetables and fruits can play in improving health. The sweet potatoes that were planted in the garden were provided by North Carolina State University (NCSU) and include Covington, a variety developed at NCSU, and Beauregard, a variety developed at Louisiana State University. Beauregard has become one of the most popular OSP varieties, and is

MARCH APRIL 2015

being grown as far afield as northern Brazil.

AEF ISOBUS Plugfest in France was best-attended ever Almost 250 attendees from 82 companies and organizations worldwide used the European Fall Plugfest held by the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) in Senlis, France, to test their ISOBUS devices with each other.

The event was hosted by the association of French manufacturers of agricultural machinery (Axema) under perfect internal conditions.

Within three days a total of more than 2300 tests were carried out, which again topped

the previous Plugfest by far.

AEF chairman Peter van der Vlugt commented: “The increasing number of companies attending clearly shows how rapidly the acceptance of ISOBUS is growing throughout the world and underlines the significant role that the AEF plays in ag electronics“.

The event attracted attendees from Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia.

Their testing of 156 electronic controls at 40 Terminals including one diagnostic and one database station added up to the record number of ISOBUS terminalimplement/client combinations, along with 14 French companies of all sizes.

GULF AGRICULTURE

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AGRAME PREVIEW

EXHIBITOR DEMAND PUSHES AGRAME 2015 FLOOR SPACE UP BY 40 PER CENT

T

aking place from 16-18 March 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, AgraME, the Middle East's largest exhibition dedicated to the Agribusiness industry,has seen a 40 per cent increase in exhibition floor space for the

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upcoming edition due to higher demand from exhibitors.

This demand comes mainly from the Poultry and Livestock area of the show, which witnessed a 62 per cent increase in visitor attendance last year.

The poultry industry in the

Middle East has seen significant growth over the last decade due to the expansion of the hospitality sector, driving the country to import poultry and livestock products from around the world.

While poultry imports in 2013 reached 357,000 MT compared to 360,000 MT in 2012, it is expected to bounce back to 370,000 MT in 2014, and to 380,000 MT in 2015.

This forecast is based on favoring factors, including improved economy and the aggressive development plan set by the UAE Government for the coming years.

This year, the three-day event will play host to more than 250 agriculture, poultry, aquaculture, and horticulture businesses from 36 countries, and also features a dedicated content offering which delves in to the latest advances in poultry research. The Poultry Outlook Forum, which takes place throughout the show, gives valuable knowledge and understanding of the industry, with the main themes this year covering biosecurity, feed production, gut health antibiotic use and exploration of non-chicken species for meat and eggs.

For the third year running the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) are taking an active role in the delivery of the content, with an opening keynote address from Roel Mulder, Secretary of the WPSA based in the Netherlands.

Food safety, security and sustainability through the MARCH APRIL 2015

AGRAME PREVIEW

poultry industry in the Middle East will all up for discussion with the WPSA UAE President Prof Dr. Al Hadrami, who is also the Dean of the UAE University in Al Ain, kicking off proceedings on day one.

Day two of the Poultry Outlook Forum will look at Biosecurity and Disease Prevention Protocols including avian flu and food borne zoonotic diseases.

While more than 5,000 visitors are expected to pass through the halls of AGRA Middle East 2015, its partner event, VET Middle East also enjoyed remarkable success for 2015, having also sold out of exhibition space 6 weeks ahead of the opening day.

The fast-growing event for the burgeoning Mid East veterinary industry has

MARCH APRIL 2015

witnessed a 71 per cent growth in visitors since 2010, and this year will bring together more than 40 international manufacturers and suppliers of veterinary products and services with a highly targeted regional audience.

Summing up the educational platform of the show, and held alongside VET Middle East, is the free-to-attend Veterinary Outlook Forum, where leading regional and international veterinary experts will discuss various topics including diagnostics, therapy, and treatment of domestic, farm and exotic animals.

Organised by the Ministry of Environment and Water, AquaME, formally a section within the AgraME exhibition, is the regions first standalone platform dedicated to the

burgeoning aquaculture and fishing industry, and will take place on 16-18 March 2015 at the Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre. At the official signing last year of the partnership between the Ministry of Environment and Water and Nor-Fishing Foundation, His Excellency Abdelrahim Al Hammadi Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services for the Ministry of Environment and Water said “We are very pleased with this partnership which is a move to consolidate and encourage investment in the aquaculture sector. This falls in line with the UAE's strategic objectives to promote food security and environmental sustainability contributing to the UAE's Vision 2021.�

GULF AGRICULTURE

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IPM ESSEN REVIEW

IPM ESSEN 2015 CLOSED WITH RECORDS: MORE EXHIBITORS AND AN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS' PLUS

I

PM ESSEN was on course for success of seemingly record proportions: For the first time, 1,604 exhibitors from 49 countries introduced their innovative products and services along the entire value added chain in horticulture at the world's premier fair in 2015.

Four days' long, everything on the whole site at Messe Essen revolved around the newest plant creations, improved technology, trendy floristry and efficient marketing instruments for the point of sale. From January 27 to 30, around 56,500 trade visitors travelled to the Ruhr metropolis. That represented seven percent more

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guests from abroad than in 2014.

"We are looking back at one of the most successful events in the 33-years history of IPM ESSEN. Never before have so many exhibitors introduced their innovations here as in 2015 and never before did so many visitors come from outside Germany. Those are top-class results," Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen GmbH, was pleased about the outcome. At the beginning of the year, important stimuli originated from IPM ESSEN. No other fair manages to bring the protagonists in the sector together in such an exact-fitting and efficient way.

In 2015, IPM ESSEN was once again able to increase its internationality substantially. 43 out of 100 visitors came from abroad. This figure was still 36 in 2014. With 83 percent, most of them are at home in Europe.

It was possible to record rises particularly with regard to the guests at the fair from America (six percent of all visitors) and Asia (nine percent of all visitors). Three quarters of the visitors had purchasing and procurement responsibilities. A rise could also be registered in relation to the business deals concluded at the fair. More than a third placed orders for the coming season.

MARCH APRIL 2015

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INTERVIEW

FERTILIZERS

SPECIALIST IN FERTILIZERS

Raza Soomar Managing Director RNZ International FZE

How do you see the current status of the soluble fertilizers as well as its development potential?

With an average annual growth rate of 1.1% pa, the World population will cross 10 billion mark by year 2050. Food security is of utmost importance.

To feed the growing population agriculture growth has to increase manifolds which will result in higher usage of novel fertilizers.

The higher level of fertilizer demand has changed the market structure from the past which was dominated by straight bulk fertilizers to a market which is now more open to novel fertilizers.

The new agricultural farmers are not sensitive to prices but focused more on cost-benefit ratio.

Development potential Area under drip irrigation is steadily increasing Increase in awareness of precision farming Fertigation being used for crops like Bt Cotton, Vegetables, Sugarcane & fruit and vegetable crops Increasing cost of bulk fertilizers is narrowing gap with novel fertilizers Farmer Purchasing power increasing Ease of application of water soluble fertilizers (Fertigation)

Farmer focus on quality and productivity

(expecting more profit from unit crop) Could you briefly advise your main products and their advantages in the industry? Where are the main markets of your products?

RNZ has a long rich history in fertilizers of 35 years. Headquartered in Dubai, it produces over 400 different NPK water soluble grades at its state-of-the-art facility with a capacity of 36,000tpa. In addition to production, it is an asset based supplier of full range of straight water soluble fertilizers being sourced from its own facilities/ partner companies Worldwide.

RNZ ensures the raw materials we use are very low in chlorides/ sulphates/ sodium content and monitor heavy metal contents like Arsenic, Lead, Chromium, Mercury & Cadmium which are detrimental to both soil & human health.

Crystalline, fully water soluble NPK fertilizers are specially developed for Fertigation and Foliar application which are enriched with magnesium and various micronutrients. The wide range of products provide complete plant nutrition throughout the crop cycle.

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MARCH APRIL 2015

FERTILIZERS

The advantages of RNZ NPKs Fully water soluble.

Made of high quality ingredients.

Consists of 100% plant nutrients, readily available to the plant.

Virtually free of chloride, sodium, perchlorates and other detrimental elements for plants.

Provides balanced, complete plant nutrition.

Available in a wide range of customised formulae.

RNZ would like to have distributors/ partners who are keen to work on grass root levels, identify the actual needs and then propose products which meet those specific needs. RNZ is presently looking for like-minded distributors who are committed to their markets on a longterm basis.

RNZ Main markets Asian sub-continent, East Asia, Africa, Middle East and South America What is the marketing/promotion model for soluble fertilizer? Any difference against traditional fertilizer?

Do you think the sales channel of seeds and agrochemicals can be shared with novel fertilizer?

Marketing/ promotion model for Novel Fertilizers Soluble fertilizers are different from traditional fertilizers. Solubles are more of concept selling rather than product selling.

Soluble fertilizers are a good fit for Seeds and Agrochemical companies as marketing approach and product handling is similar to that required for soluble fertilizers.

Which areas do you think will be the main markets for novel fertilizer? Do RNZ have any objects/plans in these area?

The emerging economies who have challenges of feeding large populations from less land with limitations of water & labour. South Asia, Middle East and Africa are one of fast growing markets in the World for novel fertilizers. RNZ is proud to be associated with innovative farmers on lookout for high efficient and effective novel fertilizers.

Could you summarize the standard you require for a distributor/partner to promote your products in a new market?

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GULF AGRICULTURE

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FERTILIZERS

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MARCH APRIL 2015

FERTILIZERS

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GULF AGRICULTURE

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GREENHOUSES

CHINESE GREENHOUSE CHINA HAS THE RANGE OF CLIMATES AND SOILS FAVORABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A DIVERSITY OF HIGH QUALITY TROPICAL, SUBTROPICAL AND TEMPERATE VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, AND FRUIT SUITABLE FOR DOMESTIC AND EXPORT CONSUMPTION. IT IS ALSO THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER AND CONSUMER OF HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS. WITH THE MODERNIZATION OF AGRICULTURE AND FAST DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY, THE GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO A FIELD THAT DEVELOPS VERY FAST, AND TO SOME EXTENT, THE TECHNOLOGY IS SAME AS THE OTHER LEADING COUNTRIES IN HORTICULTURE. AMONG THEM, KINGPENG CORP. IS FOR SURE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ONE.

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tarted from 1959, Kingpeng has involved in greenhouse business more than 50 years. As a leading greenhouse manufacturer from China, Kingpeng could provide service of greenhouse design, manufacture, installation and plant production in all functions of greenhouses. Now, Kingpeng has become a world-known brand by its tailor-made design, high quality product, reasonable price, excellent performance and satisfied services.

Kingpeng could provide different kinds of greenhouses,

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plastic film greenhouse, glass greenhouse, Polycarbonate sheet greenhouse, tunnel greenhouse, shade house, and net house etc.

These greenhouses could be used for various functions, flower production, vegetable production, seedling, nursery, breeding, research, demonstration garden, retailing center, and storage etc.

From 2001, Kingpeng started to be involved in the international market and made a great show-up and incredible achievements since then. Up to now, Kingpeng has exported MARCH APRIL 2015

GREENHOUSES

BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS greenhouses and equipment to more than 30 countries, and lots of it in the hot climate region, like Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Angola, Congo, Algeria, Zimbabwe etc. Besides this, we also exported to United State, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Philippine, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Japan, Iran, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Turkey etc. Because of the high quality of our greenhouse, lots of customers become our agents in the local market, and also make a good business for their own.

Extra service will create added value to Kingpeng's clients, feasibility report, project consultancy, production suggestions, water-saving technologies and all the other turnkey solutions could also be served. Famous agronomists could always help our customers to maximize the production and guarantee the high yields. The comprehensive services and solutions make Kingpeng become an important player in this sector in the world.

With the fast development of MARCH APRIL 2015

Kingpeng, it became the only stock listed company in China greenhouse sector in 2008. This is an extra security that you are

dealing with a major share holding company, and the quality of their product and services could be fully guaranteed.

For further information or local dealers close to you, please visit: www.chinakingpeng.com, or contact Mr. Ray Yang by e-mail: ray@chinakingpeng.com.

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ANIMAL FEED

‘A COMMITMENT TO SAFE, QUALITY FEED’

B THE COMPANY SUPPLIES HAY AND STRAW PRODUCTS FOR CUSTOMERS IN CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AMONGST OTHER MARKETS IN ASIA AND THE GCC REGION

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order Valley Trading is one of the leading exporters of double compressed forage products in the Western United States.

BVT succeeds in servicing many international markets with one of the largest processing capacities of any forage exporter in the United States.

The company supplies hay and straw products for customers in China, Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amongst other markets in Asia and the GCC Region.

BVT supports their customers through two processing facilities located in California's most productive farming regions, the Imperial and San Joaquin Valleys. These facilities are strategically located near the busy ports of Long Beach/Los Angeles and Oakland. From which, BVT's exports include hays and straws of: alfalfa, bermuda grass, klein grass, sudan grass and timothy.

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Combined with their technical feed division, farming operations, cattle feeding, logistics services and environmental initiatives, Border Valley Trading and its affiliated companies, have over 25 years of experience in building reputable agribusinesses that can meet the demands of an international marketplace.

Border Valley's processing facilities offers various packaging options to facilitate the various needs of their international forage customers. BVT is able to offer double compressed bales as small as 25kg and as heavy as 450 kg, with multiple packaging options to meet the needs of their end users. The locations of their two plants also allows BVT to procure forage products from areas out side of California such as Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho.

This further increases the

bevy of forage options for international customers.

This growing company combines all of the aforementioned with its very capable Border Valley.

BVL is charged with coordinating container transportation to origin ports, ocean freight to destination ports, as well as all documentation required for the shipment to various export markets. BVL has the capability to move product virtually anywhere.

Border Valley Trading is continually striving to provide the best product possible to their customers in an ever growing number of markets.

The company supplies dairies, cattle yards, and various animal ranches around the world with quality feed. Any customer, supplier, or employee will agree that Border Valley Trading is, as their motto states, “A Commitment to Safe, Quality Feed”.

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POULTRY

EFFECT OF CREAMINO® ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER BREEDERS AND THEIR PROGENY

Shady Khalil, Technical Sales Manager Evonik Tasnee Marketing Co. Ltd. Nutrition & care / Animal Nutrition Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mobile: +966 56 303 3203 Email: shady.khalil@evonik.com www.evonik.com/feed-additves

Conclusions o CreAMINO® supplementation significantly improved hatchability and total fertility of eggs in broiler breeders and also the performance of their progeny. o Based on the results of this trial, a CreAMINO® supplementation of 0.10 % optimized reproductive traits of broiler breeders as well as feed conversion ratio of their progeny.

Introduction and Objective CreAMINO® is the innovative form of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) an amino acid derivative and natural precursor of creatine.

Creatine, known in the form of creatine monohydrate in athletes' nutrition plays a vital role in 28

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energy metabolism, particularly of muscle cells. Creatine is synthesized from GAA in the liver, which itself is synthesized from arginine and glycine in the kidney. Creatine can be classified as conditionally essential nutrient as in fast growing animals the demand cannot fully be compensated by de novosynthesis. It is estimated that one third of demand needs to be supplied from feed.

Broiler breeders (parents and grandparents) commonly receive vegetable diets which are free of creatine as plants do not contain creatine. Creatine is needed by the animal for as a reservoir of high-energy phosphate groups to assure the energy supply (in the form of ATP) in muscle cells. As vegetable diets supply no creatine, and as stated above de novo synthesis only covers a proportion of this demand, supplementation with a creatine source is indicated.

With regard to the embryo development it is clear that it is totally dependent on the nutrients which are available in the egg at the time of laying (Araujo et al., 1970). Eggs contain quite low levels of creatine (Ramirez et al., 1970 and Murakami et al., 2013) but during incubation the synthesis of creatine steadily increases as indicated by an increasing activity of the keyenzyme arginine-glycine amidinotranserase. This leads to an increasing creatine content in the whole embryo and after 6 days of incubation creatine can be detected in the embryo (Ramirez et al., 1970). The de-

novo synthesis of creatine requires arginine, glycine and energy. Thus, the question arises if the supplementation of a creatine source to breeder feed might have an effect on the performance of the parents, embryos and progeny as it might relieve the metabolism and enhance the cell's energy transport and buffering capacity.

Creatine and its phosphorylated form, phosphocreatine, play an important role for cellular energy storage, buffering and transport. In all living cells adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) is the universal energy currency.

Phosphocreatine serves as a dynamic reservoir of high energy phosphate. It buffers the ATP/ADP ratio in the cell from rapid fluctuations that would be deleterious to all energy consuming functions of the cell.

The chicken embryo is totally dependent on ATP synthesis to support the energy demanding growth and hatching process (Molenaar, 2010).

Research trials and Customer evaluations have consistently shown that CreAMINO® significantly improves broiler performance. However, there is a lack of information about the use of CreAMINO® on the performance of broiler breeders and its effect on their progeny.

The aim of this trial, conducted at the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) by Araujo and coworkers was to investigate the effect of CreAMINO® on the reproductive traits of broiler breeders and performance of their progenies.

MARCH APRIL 2015

POULTRY Material and Methods Breeder trial One hundred and twenty broiler breeders (Cobb 500) were used in a 10 week trial period between 50 and 60 weeks of age. Birds were allocated in a completely randomized design to 5 dietary treatments supplemented with CreAMINO速 at different levels (0.00 %, 0.04 %, 0.08 %, 0.12 % and 0.16 %), with six replicates per treatment and four broiler breeders per pen.

During the whole experimental period, the broiler breeders received a diet based on corn and soybean meal formulated to meet the recommendations of Rostagnoet al. (2011).

CreAMINO速 was added to the basal diet (Table 1) replacing the inert. The different levels of CreAMINO速 are shown in Table 2. The feed as mash was provided in grams per day following the recommendation of the Cobb Breeder Management Guide.

Hens were twice artificially inseminated in week 60 and settable eggs were collected for a 10-d period. The second insemination occurred 4 days after the first insemination.

Semen was collected from roosters (not fed with CreAMINO速) using the abdominal massage method.

Semen was pooled and sperm cell concentration determined to ensure all hens were inseminated with the same number and volume of sperm cells. Number of eggs placed in the incubator according to the different treatments: 125 (T1), 121 (T2), 128 (T3), 128 (T4) and 121 (T5). Egg production, fertility, hatchability of eggs and mortality of embryo were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the GLM procedure form SAS (2009) and the significant differences among treatments were compared by the Tukey's test. Pen was considered as replicate.

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Progeny trial Three hundred and sixty oneday old male broiler chickens originating from the broiler breeders fed with different levels of CreAMINO速 were used. They were allocated in a completely randomized design using 5 treatments with 6 replicates of 12 birds per pen, each. The diets for the progenies (Table 3) were based on corn and soybean meal, with no added CreAMINO速 and formulated to meet the recommendation of Rostagnoet al. (2011). The feed (in mash form) and drinking water were provided ad libitum.

Environmental conditions during the trial were appropriated to the birds following breeder's

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recommendation.

Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were calculated for the entire trial period (1 to 42 days). At the end of experimental period, three birds per pen with average pen weight were selected to measure the carcass yield, breast meat yield and leg meat yield.

Results and Discussion Performance of broiler breeders There were no effects of the treatments on egg production and embryo mortality. However, fertility (P < 0.07) and hatchability (P < 0.05) improved significantly with increasing supplementation of CreAMINO (Table 4). A supplementation of 0.08 % of CreAMINO optimized fertility

and hatchability. Increasing the dietary level of CreAMINO速 in quail feed resulted in a significant linear increase (P < 0.05) of the GAA, creatine and creatinine content of eggs (Murakami et al., 2013). This clearly shows that GAA is successfully absorbed by quails and that there is a carryover into the egg. GAA is used to synthetize creatine which is indicated by the increasing creatine levels in the eggs.

Murakami et al. (2013) further reported that a CreAMINO supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) improved the hatchability and fertility improved which is well in line with the actual study.

Even though the creatine concentration in the eggs hasn't been determined in this study, it can be assumed that the

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CreAMINO® supplementation increased the creatine content in the eggs and the utilization of this nutrient by embryos improved the hatchability in this study, too.

According to Molennar (2010), the bird embryo totally dependents on ATP synthesis to fulfill the energy demand during the growth and hatching process. CreAMINO®, as precursor of creatine, when supplemented to the diet, increased the creatine content in the egg contributing to the ATP availability to meet the need of the embryonic metabolism and as consequence, CreAMINO® improvesthe hatchability.

Ramirez et al (1970) showed that the development of the chicken embryos during the incubation period has a need for creatine. The authors found a low concentration of creatine in the egg, indicating that the content of arginine and glycine in the egg and the activity of the enzyme arginine-glycine amidinotransferase can be important to synthesize creatine in the body of the chicken embryo in order to support its development during the hatching process. This result suggests that MARCH APRIL 2015

the embryo might have a high enzymatic demand for creatine synthesis in the presence of arginine and glycine in the egg.

The improvement in fertility with increasing supplementation might be related to the fact that creatine is used by the spermatozoa.

Creatine improves the flagella motility and therewith it improves the process of gaining access to the ovum (Lee et al., 1988 and Carneiro, 2011).

Broiler breeders usually have a high aggregated value in the poultry production chain.

However, any factor that can increase the number of broiler chicken produced will certainly result in higher profitability of the sector. The increase in number of broiler chickens is considered an industry goal.

However, the introduction of new nutritional technologies, for example, CreAMINO® in broiler breeder feed, seems to be of big interest to the sector.

According to Araujo et al.

(2010), several studies have been conducted to identify those nutrients that provide best production of eggs and also best egg hatchability. It is well known that the embryo

development depends on the nutrients deposited in the eggs.

However, the result of this trial show that CreAMINO®, a precursor of creatine, might be classified as a conditional essential nutrient for broiler breeders that are usually fed vegetable diets which are free of any creatine source.

Performance and carcass characteristics of progeny All progeny which originated from broiler breeders which had been fed diets with different levels of CreAMINO® were fed the same diets without CreAMINO® during the whole trial.

Nevertheless, CreAMINO® supplementation of the parent's feed significantly (P < 0.05) improved the feed conversion of the progeny up to 0.08 % CreAMINO® in the diet (Table 5). This result might be explained by findings of Murakamiet al.

(2013), where CreAMINO® supplementation increased the creatine content in eggs of meattype quail breeders as well as the creatine content in breast muscle of newborn progeny. Furthermore, myoblast fusion is essential for muscle development, postnatal growth and muscle repair after GULF AGRICULTURE

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injury. O'Connor et al. (2008) showed that creatine treatment enhanced cell fusion in a creatine kinase (CK)-dependent manner suggesting that ATP consuming reactions are replenished through the PCr/CK system. The findings implicate roles for PCras high-energy phosphate buffer in the fusion of multiple cell types including muscle and sperm/oocyte. In conclusion this work showed that muscle development is enhanced in the presence of increased PCr. Thus, one can hypothesize that in this trial the increased levels of creatine in the egg might have increased the myogenisis of the embryo resulting in more muscle cells at day of hatch. This might partly explain the increased FCR of the progeny as they might have had an increased capacity for muscle growth. When expressing the muscle weight (breast and leg meat yield) relative to the carcass weight (Table 6), there is an increase with increasing CreAMINO® supplementation (59.4, 62.4, 61.2, 60.5 and 61.4 %), which underpins the aforementioned assumptions. There was no difference in feed intake and weight gain between treatments (Table 5).

There was also no significant difference in carcass characteristics (Table 6).

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Source L. F. Araujo, R. J. B. Rodrigueiro, C. S. S. Aaraujo, M. Rademacher. H. S. Rostagno (2013): European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition, Potsdam, Germany and Internal Report of Evonik Industries, Brazil.

Literature ARAÚJO, L. F., M. T. KIDD, C. S. S. ARAÚJO, L. C. G. S. BARBOSA (2010): Impacto da nutrição de matrizespesadassobre o desenvolvimento da progênie. ColégioBrasileiro de Nutrição Animal, CBNA, Campinas, Anais, p. 24 - 33.

CARNEIRO, T. C. (2011): Influência da idadenainteração espermatozóide-ovo e namorfologia dos órgãosgenitaisemreprodutoras de codornasjaponesas. Tesede Mestrado, UniversidadeEstadual de Maringá, UEM,Maringá, Paraná, 63 p.

LEE, H.J, W.S. FILLERS, M.R. IVEGAR (1988):Phosphocreatine an intracellular high-energy compound,is found in the extracellular fluid of the seminal vesiclesin mice and rats. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, v. 85, p.7265 - 7269.

MOLENNAR, R. Perinatal development and nutrient utilization in chickens - Effects of incubation conditions. Ph. D. Thesis, Wageningen University, Netherlands, 2010, 165 p.

MURAKAMI, A. E., R., J. B. RODRIGUEIRO, T. C.SANTOS, I. C. OSPINA, M. RADEMACHER (2013):Ácidoguanidinoacéticosobreosíndicesreprodutivos das avesdomésticasutilizandomatrizes de codornas para cortecomomodelo animal. 35 p.

Informe Evonik Degussa Brazil.

O'CONNOR, R. S., C. M. STEEDS, R. W. WISEMAN, G. K. PAVLATH (2008): Phosphocreatine as an energy source for actin cytoskeletal rearrangements during myoblast fusion. J. Physiol.

586, 12, pp2841-2853.

MARCH APRIL 2015

TRACTORS

NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE TAKES PART IN GLOBAL FORUM FOR INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE New Holland Business Director to speak at

Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture A stand to showcase New Holland's solutions for sustainable agriculture T6050 tractor on display delivers class leading performance and reliability H8040 Speedrower速 self-propelled windrower stands out for its power and capacity New Holland will participate in the forthcoming Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from the 9th to the 11th of March 2015, where it

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will illustrate the role of mechanisation in sustainable agriculture. This second edition of the event aims to be the world's largest showcase of sustainable agriculture involving major players, NGOs, development agencies,

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research institutions and innovators from around the globe.

New Holland Business Director to speak at Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture On the first day of the event, New Holland will take part in the Global ClimateSmart Agriculture Summit, where Federico Bellotto, Business Director Middle East and Africa, will speak during the afternoon session on Financing Climate-smart Agriculture. He will talk about the important role of mechanisation in supporting a smooth transition to sustainable farming and the opportunities it presents for cost efficiency.

This topic is central to New Holland's Clean Energy Leader strategy, which drives

MARCH APRIL 2015

all its activities and aims to offer farmers around the world the widest choice of accessible solutions that improve efficiency and productivity, while respecting the environment.

New Holland to showcase its solutions for sustainable agriculture New Holland will also be present at the event's exhibition with a 120 square metre stand featuring a product display, videos of the brand's wide offering and displays about sustainable agriculture. Visitors will be able to appreciate first-hand the qualities of the products on display, a T6000 Series tractor and a Speedrower速 windrower, which are very well suited to sustainable farming. A team of qualified product specialists will be on the stand to explain the potential of mechanisation - and in particular New Holland's equipment and technologies - for farms to adopt sustainable farming practices successfully and profitably.

In addition, a corner of the stand will be dedicated to New Holland's participation to the Milan Expo 2015. The event's theme, 'Feeding

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the planet. Energy for life', will provide New Holland a perfect platform to present its vision of farming and show how the brand is preparing for a sustainable future of agriculture in its Sustainable Farm Pavilion.

T6050 Delta tractor on display delivers class leading performance and reliability New Holland's T6000 Series tractors, ranging from 112 to 165 horsepower, combine raw power with superior control and the ultimate flexibility customers can choose from a wide range of configurations, from the value package of the Delta models to the latest electronic conveniences of the Delta They are a natural choice for livestock, arable and contracting applications.

The T6050 Delta on display delivers top-ofthe-line versatility and performance. The advanced productivity boosting features include advanced two-valve engines with mechanical fuel injection, fixed displacement hydraulic system, 12x12 Synchro Command™ transmission, and mechanical draft control H8040 Speedrower® self-propelled windrower stands out for its power and capacity The New Holland H8040 Speedrower selfpropelled windrowers deliver unmatched power

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and operational capacity. They run a powerful four-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers up to 126 horsepower, getting the job done with ease.

This highly responsive, fuel-efficient engine, combined with the capacious 454-litre fuel tank, enables the H8040 windrowers to remain in the field long hours without refueling. The cab suspension and independent rear axle suspension provide an extra smooth ride and speed in all terrains, reducing operator fatigue. Productivity is further raised by the independent hydraulic header flotation system and the windrow shield adjustment that give the operator superior header in-cab control.

New Holland offers a large selection of draper and sicklebar headers, ranging from 3.73 to 11 m, including the 4.95 m 16HS sicklebar header which is very suitable for cutting and windrowing alfalfa crops. Combined with a H8040 windrower, the reliable Haybine® HS Series is recognised for smooth, clean and time-proven alfalfa cutting which ensures up to 9 cuts per year.

MARCH APRIL 2015

TRACTORS

SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL GROWTH IN THE GULF WITH CASE IH'S RED POWER

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he world is demanding more from farms.

According to FAO's latest projections, by 2050 the world needs to produce 60% more food to feed a population that is expected to rise above 9 billion.

“This evolution represents tremendous challenges and opportunities for the Gulf area, where the demands on agriculture are rising at a fast pace, driven by growing food consumption trends and sustained by local governments' investments,” says Marco Raimondo, Case IH's new Business Director for Africa and the Middle East. This recent appointment is part of the undergoing evolution of the brand that follows the creation of parent company CNH Industrial N.V in September 2013. Stepping up from his previous positions of Marketing Director for Africa and the

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Middle East and then Sales Responsible for East and Central Africa, Raimondo brings to the new role front-line experience and deep understanding of the region.

“The pursuit of higher productivity and the slow but steady transition from subsistence farming to diversified agriculture are driving the growth of the agricultural equipment sector in our region, as confirmed by the positive results we achieved in 2014," adds Raimondo.

Since its foundation in 1842 in Racine (USA), Case IH has been at the forefront of the mechanization process and a key contributor to the transformation of agriculture, gaining a worldwide leadership in the agricultural equipment industry.

“Case IH is achieving important results in the Gulf

area where we have already leading positions in the United Arab Emirates and where we are committed to further expand our presence in the near future,” Raimondo points out.

Equipment solutions for farms of all sizes Speaking about the company's future plans within the region, Raimondo observes: “We intend to further strengthen our company's position as a full-liner of agricultural equipment with new product launches in 2015.”

Case IH is constantly investing in farming technologies and is able to

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TRACTORS

provide a complete line of agricultural equipment to meet the demands of a highly diversified customer base.

“On the tractors side, units below 100 horsepower still represent the most important segment in terms of volumes but there are growing trends for big tractors too,” says Raimondo.

Case IH commercializes a wide offering of tractors from 55 to 608 hp, starting from the entry level JXT, JX Straddle and Farmall JX Series. These all-purpose tractors perfectly match the renowned Case IH quality with the robustness and the ease of maintenance needed by small farmers. The company has also a long-established reputation for powerful, highperformance tractors, which

MARCH APRIL 2015

include the flagship Steiger the Magnum Series, recently awarded "Tractor of the Year 2015" and "Machine of the Year 2015" — both awards under the Tractor XL category and renowned Puma Series.

The Puma tractors feature all the strengths needed in every farming operation: highest productivity, ease of operation, cost-effectiveness and enhanced comfort. With intercooled common-rail diesel engines ranging from 142 to 224 hp, these tractors offer outstanding performance with reduced fuel consumption. Even the heaviest implement can be operated with ease thanks to the powerful hydraulic system that offers precise control and the best-inclass lift capacity up to 10,460 kg.

The Puma tractors can be specified with the new generation of continuously variable (CVT) transmissions. These transmissions are engineered to deliver the right amount of power

GROWING DEMAND FOR FOOD REQUIRES A BOOST IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION / THE EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS OF CASE IH ARE WELL POSITIONED TO MEET THE NEED OF FARMS OF ALL SIZES / PLANS TO EXPAND THE PRODUCT OFFERING AND THE NETWORK

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for every operation, from primary tillage, cultivation and drilling to transport, and are much appreciated by large and corporate farms throughout the Gulf.

Case IH Axial-Flow® combines have earned a leading position in the rotary combine harvester market. “In countries demanding for highly productive combines, Case IH plays an important role wherever large-scale and corporate farms are present” explains Raimondo.

The company complements its offering with a complete line of balers, tillage and seeding equipment, hay and forage machinery, sprayers, precision farming technologies as well as specialized machines such as cotton pickers and the industryleading Austoft® 8000 Series sugarcane harvesters.

Scaling up agribusiness in the Gulf The Gulf's economic performance over the last decade has been remarkable and, despite the fact that this is the most water-scarce and dry

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region in the world, agriculture plays an important role.

“In Saudi Arabia, the agricultural development has been impressive,” adds Raimondo. “The country has had the strength to convert large desert areas into cultivable land thanks to major irrigation projects and large scale mechanization, implemented by the government with the combined effort of the private sector. As a result, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can now declare to be self-sufficient in a number of agricultural and dairy products.”

“In countries like Iraq, the growth expectations for the agricultural sector show big potential too,” says Raimondo.

“At the same time, the scarcity of water and arable land in other areas of the Arabian Peninsula is pushing countries to increasingly invest in agriculture overseas in order to secure enough food for their growing populations.”

As a geographically diversified manufacturer of

agricultural equipment with a broad network of dealers, Case IH is able to provide customers in each market with equipment, technical support and services that meet their specific requirements.

Strengthening the network Aware that its success goes hand in hand with the selection of the right local partner for each country, Case IH is intensifying its distribution activities.

We look forward to supporting the Gulf's great potential and its growing demand for agricultural equipment with the Case IH product portfolio. We have also plans to further strengthen our network geographically to be even closer to our customers throughout the region.”

Today, Case IH operates in the Gulf with an expanding network of 4 distributors and 9 outlets, which covers 4 countries and provides qualified sales support and training as well as effective parts and technical support.

MARCH APRIL 2015

TRACTORS

CROWDS TURN OUT FOR SOUTH POLE EXPEDITION TRACTOR HOMECOMING!

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apturous welcome for MF 5610 on return to Beauvais Birthplace after 28-day 5000 km Antarctic adventure.

Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO), reports that the MF 5610 tractor which spearheaded the gruelling Antarctica2 expedition to the South Pole in December received a hero's welcome on its return home to the French City of Beauvais.

Crowds turned out to honour the tractor at special homecoming ceremonies held at the AGCO manufacturing plant

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where it was designed and built and at the Town Hall where Madame Caroline Cayeux, Mayor of Beauvais welcomed it back on behalf of the City.

Special guests at the ceremonies were the Antarctica2 Expedition's Ambassador and Lead Driver, Manon Ossevoort, Lead Mechanic, Nicolas Bachelet and Cameraman, Simon Foster. In taking Manon safely to the South Pole, the MF 5610 not only helped her realise her 12year dream to drive a tractor 'to the end of the world,' but also became the first standard farm tractor equipped with tyres to

reach the Geographic South Pole overland.

At the Beauvais plant, Manon officially handed back the tractor's keys to Richard Markwell, Vice President and Managing Director Massey Ferguson Europe, Africa and Middle-East, who had previously presented them to her on 29 July, 2014. “We are all so proud of our tractor and the incredible achievement of Manon and her Antarctica2 team,” said Richard. “Our warmest congratulations on their courage and their determination as well as, of course, their belief in the MARCH APRIL 2015

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Massey Ferguson brand.

Manon's challenge to us to accompany her on her expedition was one which we were willing to accept and always confident to win. Our tractor had a job to do and it delivered.”

“Employees here at Massey Ferguson along with a global audience of millions followed the team's battle across the ice as news of their exploits unfolded like an adventure story each day. It was exciting and inspiring to see one of the tractors designed and built in this factory making both history and headlines around the world.”

Thanking Massey Ferguson for believing in her dream and supporting the expedition with the supply of the MF 5610, Manon said: “It's feels good to deliver the tractor safely back to its home. We drove it hard for 28 days across 5000 km and, overall, clocked up 760 hours engine running time that's more than many farms would do in two years of normal work. Throughout, it was strong, steady and sure - a tribute to the MF staff who design and build the machines here at Beauvais. Thank you for letting me borrow your brilliant tractor!”

After ceremonies at the both main factory and the Beauvais 2 cab assembly line, the tractor made its way under police escort to the Beauvais Town Hall plaza to be greeted by Caroline Cayeux, Mayor of Beauvais “I know I speak for all our citizens in Beauvais when I say that we are brimming with pride to see a tractor produced here reach the South Pole.

What an accomplishment!” the Mayor remarked. “Massey MARCH APRIL 2015

Ferguson is an industrial icon in our City and the Antarctica2 achievement is a true testimony to the skills and knowhow of the employees at AGCO Massey Ferguson in Beauvais.

Bravo and congratulations from us all.”

AGCO's Beauvais manufacturing facility is the largest producer and exporter of farm machinery in France.

Employing 2200 people, the factory exports 85% of production to 70 countries.

Average annual output is 16,500 tractors ranging from 80 to 400 horsepower. The factory has recently been nominated by AGCO to produce a new range of tractors - the cab version of the MF Global Series - from 2016 which will add an estimated further 2500 tractors to its annual output. Since 2010, more than 300 million euros have been invested at the plant to boost quality, productivity and competitiveness.

The 110hp MF 5610 used on the South Pole trek is a standard farm tractor speciallyprepared by Massey Ferguson Beauvais engineers to add protection against the freezing temperatures and exposed terrain.

The Antarctica2 mission took 17 days to reach the South Pole and 11 days to retrace its frozen tracks back to base at Novo Runway on the Antarctic coast. Challenged by some of the most rugged terrain and hostile conditions on the planet, the punishing route across the ice left the tractor and team battered, bruised but unbowed. The traverse took them through dangerous crevasse fields, steep climbs and exceptionally demanding surface conditions -

ranging from solid 'ice-waves' to deep soft snow. All this in an environment of constant biting cold which, at one point in the mountains at altitude of 3400m, dropped to minus 56 degrees C with wind chill.

Antarctica2 is the second expedition to the South Pole by Massey Ferguson tractor. The first was undertaken by explorer Sir Edmund Hillary who successfully reached the Pole in 1958 with a fleet of specially adapted Ferguson TE20 tractors fitted with tracks.

Reaching the Pole on 9th December, the 2014 Antarctica2 team reported their historic news: “This is South 90 - as far South as anybody can go. It's unbelievable - at the South Pole there is a red Massey Ferguson tractor!”

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SUBSTRATES

RIOCOCO GROWING MEDIUM SOLUTION TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE GROWTH

By Jenny Miura jennyc@ceyhinzlink.com

44

C

oir is a natural, and renewable resource produced from mature coconut husks. Coconut fiber is a coarse material obtained from the husk surrounding the coconut seed.

RIOCOCO coir substrate

GULF AGRICULTURE

products originate from Sri Lanka, a beautiful Island in the Indian Ocean with millions of coconut trees. RIOCOCO coir substrate was introduced in 2004, through many years of extensive testing, research and development combined with customer feedbacks. Carefully selected raw materials are blended together to produce highest quality coir substrates for low, medium and high-tech greenhouse operations around the world to grow variety of hydroponics and nonehydroponics vegetables, flowers, herbs and many other type of plants.

RIOCOCO coir is lightweight and can be compressed into a variety of shapes. RIOCOCO coir has excellent porosity and water holding capacity, which can be changed according to crop requirements by blending different grades of coir. It has ideal organic characteristics for greenhouse plant production.

It's a 100% organic,

controllable, renewable and recyclable product.

Currently, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, chili peppers, egg plants and strawberries are grown hydroponically in custom blended RIOCOCO coir substrate. These production systems include low and hightech greenhouses and nursery container systems. RIOCOCO products consist of different blends based on the requirements of specific crop types and the duration of the crop cycle.These custom mixes have a well balance water holding capacity and air filter porocity properties.

A major consideration in growing coir media is the method of irrigation.

RIOCOCO coir is also a more forgiving medium. If the grower makes a small mistake with irrigating, visible effect in the crop can be seen in any climate.

With RIOCOCO however, it still can easily correct before seeing a negative result in the MARCH APRIL 2015

SUBSTRATES

crop. RIOCOCO coir is also very low in electrical conductivity (EC) or conductivity factor (CF) comparable to other substrates.

There are no differences in fertilization for plants grown in RIOCOCO coir products compared to other growing media apart from the nutrient adjustments. Since RIOCOCO coir holds water much better than other organic substrates, less water needs to be applied and it is readily available to the plants. This is a very importer factor in the greenhouses for the Middle East region.

In general, during the summer drain percentages of 20 to 30 percent can be obtained. During the winter, less water has to be

MARCH APRIL 2015

applied. A good method of controlling irrigation is to use a weight scale and work with a dry down of 10% to 20% (percent) in the coir slabs.

RIOCOCO coir slabs can be produced at any length, width and height to match any production system and crop type. RIOCOCO can also make special blends for any climate and greenhouse condition. For long term crops, an important factors are the uniformity, consistency, controllability of the coir mix and the stability of the plastic wrapping around the slabs.

When you take a closer look

at all of the coir that is available around the world, there are a lot of references amongst them. RIOCOCO was one of the coir substrates that really expand out for consistency, uniformity and the right mix for your greenhouse type.

Our customer service and further investment in knowledge, relationship and grower support throughout the growing process. Riococo brings in the knowledge of growing medium to 6 continents around the world and the Middle East region.

Please visit our web site at www.ricoco.com for more information and RIOCOCO is exclusive available through Al Busath Engineering Group (www.albusath.com) in Al Ain, UAE.

GULF AGRICULTURE

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Nutriplus Commodities FZCO

N

utriplus Commodities FZCO is one of the leading international commodities trading companies in the feed ingredients and raw material supply in the Middle East.

Based in Dubai, Nutriplus is involved in trading, indenting and representing for international exporters and reputed producers of feed commodities in the USA and Europe etc.

“Our major customers are the end users in Livestock farms, Poultry farms, Feed mills in the Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait for more than a decade”, says Nurtriplus Managing Director Mohammed Haneef, a Qualified and Professional Management Accountant who founded and owned the business since the year 2004.

“Based on our experience, history and the performance, we are committed to expand our business from large commercial integrated farm supply chain to more on value added products to

Specialist in Feed Raw Materials & Ingredients

‘‘

Expansion on innovative additives, supplements, Farm Equipment, Tools and concept of unique Dairy and Poultry supply Chains.

reach our supply service to small household farmers who need to care even a single cow. The concept of a Happy Cow to a Happy Farmer”, he adds.

"Currently we are adding new market to Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt and India. Our recent participations at trade shows of these countries made our market entry more viable".

"The major feed raw materials and ingredients we

supply are Amino Plus Soy by pass Protien, Megalac Rumen Protected Fat, DDGS (Distillery Dried Grains), Corn Gluten Meal, Whole cotton seed, Sugar beet pulp pellet, Soya bean Meal, Yellow corn, Feed barley, Fish meal etc.

“The introduction of BCF Technology, Ultra Sound and XRay equipment in the end of 2014 achieved great acceptance from our farm, veterinary and animal health sectors. In the poultry and livestock sectors, we successfully launched All Natural Flies control barrier for repel and kill flies in the barn and poultry house. Entry as a amino acid supplier at the end of 2014, we got a remarkable opportunity to supply our newly launched DLMethonine and L-Lysine for the poultry sector”. “Proven result has been shown for the growth and performance of broiler farms in the poultry sector.

Our special program of 2015 is to introduce specialized additives, supplements, Vet accessories for farm and feed

industry. Some of the selective products we started already and adding as our new innovation are Bio-Chlor for Rumen Fermentation, Trace Mineral ingredients such as Magnesium Oxide, Sodium bi carbonate buffer etc”.

“Our goal as a total farm and feed supporting service, we are in the diversification of value added product such as Milking Parlour, Diary Processing Accessories and Tools for Mobile Milking Machine, Dehoner, Shearing Clipper and Critical Spare parts and replacements” “Nutriplus Commodities has been diversified its business in Speciality Fine Food sectors since 2005. EMIRATES GOURMET GENERAL TRADING LLC - Dubai, established in 2005 is involved in the import and distribution of gourmet finefoods, speciality foods and supplies to major hyper markets, deli stores, star hotels and catering supplies for Airline etc.”. he concludes.

PUMA CVT POWER AND SIMPLICITY PUT IN MOTION.

Over the last two centuries our drive has always been to increase the productivity and efficiency of our customers. Today, Case IH still continues to lead this revolution with pioneering continuously variable transmission technology, available on the Puma 180 and 225 models.

SMART TECHNOLOGY TO SAVE YOU MONEY.

APM - Automatic Productivity Management - works behind the scenes to reduce fuel consumption.

By coordinating the engine, transmission and PTO with the Multicontroller and travel pedal, you get the ideal balance of fuel efficiency and power.

INCREASED EFFICIENCY. HIGHER RETURNS.

The highly efficient continuously variable transmission drive between 0 and 50kph without torque interruption. The DKT™ double clutch technology optimizes transmission efficiency to deliver a satisfyingly smooth ride and best in class fuel and power efficiency.

INTUITIVE – SIMPLE – INTEGRATED.

The Multicontroller and the ICP intuitive control panel plus AFS Pro 300™ or AFS Pro 700™ touch screen monitor integrate all the tractor’s functions into the armrest.

Feedback from customers clearly indicates that the Puma CVT is equipped with controls that are the easiest to understand and operate.