Gulf Agriculture May-June Edition

M AY

ISSN 1751-8407

JUNE

2015 TM

YOUR GATEWAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST AGRIBUSINESS

MINISTER OPENS AQUA MIDDLE EAST

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GLOBAL FORUM FOR INNOVATIONS

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GATEWAY FOR FOODSTUFF COMMODITIES TRADE

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NEW PIVOT IRRIGATION FACILITY IN TURKEY

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HIGH QUALITY PLANTER BAGS

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MARTEX® PLANTING BAGS AND CONTAINERS THE COMPANY FROM POLAND OFFERING PRODUCTS FOR NURSERY SECTOR, AND FOR ORNAMENTAL, FRUIT, FOREST PLANT RAISING OR RECULTIVATION

Parking and transportation of planting bags, other types of containers, mulch mats and rings

Mulch mats for weed protection

Small mulch mats

Elastic mulch mat

Packing and transportation

Arrangement and transportation

Arrangement and transportation

Packing and transportation

Metal trunk shaping rings

ARBO®-STRONG

ARBO®-SAUNA

100% jute container in 270-360 g/m2 density

MARTEX® - TEXTILE PRODUCTS FOR RAISING OF ORNAMENTAL, FRUIT, AND FOREST SEEDLINGS, OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECULTIVATION Products commonly applied at nurseries, both in temperate and hot climate Used for raising trees in the forest, idle land, semi-desert area, steppe …….

Excellent for tree planting by the road and highway, useful for the purpose of general cleaning works, composting, and in any similar applications…….

Our representatives: D-Hermann Meyer KG: e-mail: mail@hermann-meyer.de; NL/GB-B&P Co., www.b-en-p.nl; Scandinavia: OY Urban natural Ab, www.natural.fi; Russia: Landscape Design Ltd., www.garden-center.ru, Ukraine: Demetra Ltd., e-mail: demetra@com.ua; Bulgaria-Romania: Hermann-Meyer, www.meyer-shop.com, Abu Dhabi: Arid Land Co., LLC., www.aridland-dev.com, e-mail: aridland@emirates.net.ae

CONTENTS

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Cover courtesy: Case IH

NEWS UPDATE

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NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE PAVILION OPENS ITS DOORS AT EXPO MILANO 2015

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CASE IH FOREFRONT SOLUTIONS FOR THE SUGAR CANE INDUSTRY

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TSUNAMI:HUGE DIMENSIONS, HIGH CONTROL

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MANAGING AVIARY BIRDS IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

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PREDATORY MITES AGAINST SPIDER MITE

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REDUCING DANISH AGRICULTURE'S CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

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COMPLETE SET OF AGRICULTURE AND GARDENING SERVICES

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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.) 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

Dubai's Green Vision Successfully Showcased at the 3rd Annual Middle East Smart Landscape Summit Dubai's Green Vision incorporating the latest advancements in sustainable and innovative landscaping technology were showcased successfully at the 3rd Annual Middle East Smart Landscape Summit that concluded in Dubai rcently. Held under the patronage of the Dubai Municipality and produced by global conference organizers Expotrade, the summit was attended by over 400 participants, and featured over 20 thought-provoking speeches, panel discussions and case studies, interspersed with networking sessions. The summit took place on 28-29 April at Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa. The summit was inaugurated

by Eng. Salah Amiri, Asst.

Director General for Environmental & Public Health Services Sector, Dubai Municipality, in the presence of H.E. Jennes De Mol, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and H.E. Milos Perisic, Charge D'Affaires, Serbian Embassy.

Eng. Salah Amiri delivered the inaugural address which emphasized the Dubai Municipality's continued commitment towards a green Dubai in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision.

Outlining the Dubai Municipality's initiatives in this regard, he spoke on ensuring sustainability by introducing modern technologies in landscaping, irrigation and horticulture maintenance, and the implementation of a number of programs. He mentioned 4

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initiatives such as allocation of lands for green areas, provision of waste water for irrigation using special sewage treatment plants and irrigation networks, rehabilitation of horticulture companies, plant production by means of establishment of specialist nurseries and many more.

Eng. Salah Amiri's speech was followed by a Dubai Municipality presentation on implementing sustainability across Dubai parks. The presentation detailed the Dubai Municipality's plans to construct public/neighborhood parks, community facilities and plazas by using solar energy to power all facilities in the parks, along with operation of the lighting elements and irrigation systems for trees and green spaces, in essence, zero energy parks.

Projects such as the Al-Khazzan Park and the Palm Park in AlAwir were also discussed at length, along with the use of green materials in parks.

The Dubai Municipality's impressive efforts towards developing the Dubai of the future as charted out through these two powerful sessions was felicitated by Falconcity of Wonders, Platinum Sponsor of the summit.

The summit featured two days of sessions that brought the latest in technology and innovation in landscaping to the fore.

A keenly-attended session was the one presented by Dr. Mario Rossi from The Office of H.H. The Crown Prince of Dubai who spoke at length on the use of aerial drones in landscape architecture and environmental design.

Demonstrating an actual drone at the summit, he explained how drones could be used to

survey in tough locations where remote sensing was of critical importance.

A research-based approach to urban green spaces, biodiversity and people formed the crux of The University of Sheffield's Dr. James Hitchmough's session. Explaining how urban landscapes in arid regions present specific challenges in a sustainable world, Dr. Hitchmough stressed on the importance of embracing dry climates instead of eliminating them, by using strategies such as utilizing colourful annual and other desert ephemeral plants during the right seasons of the year. He also emphasized the use of research and took the audience through the nuances of biodiversity in the region.

Day 1 featured sessions presented by speakers from W Architecture & Landscape Architecture - US, Khatib & Alami, The Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects, Qatar University and premium sponsors Falconcity of Wonders, SLA, Convic, Sites International, TigerTurf UK, Zeoplant LLC, speaking on topics ranging from landscaping from a private developer's perspective; design with nature; impact of urban spaces on public health; ecological restoration; sustainable landscape architecture; artificial turf; irrigation solutions; adversity in landscape construction in UAE; living systems in Singapore; systems for productive and edible landscapes. The panel discussion for the day was sponsored by GrassCo & Aratex which discussed artificial grass and its use in sports and recreational facilities in the Middle East.

Sessions on Day 2 MAY JUNE 2015

NEWS UPDATE

commenced with a case study discussion on integrated open space planning with the case of Madinat Al Nakheel, Iraq, Basra in focus. This was followed by sessions on benefits of using native plants; using seawater for landscape projects and agriculture; sustainable development in arid environments; use of smart technology in public spaces.

Speakers for the day included experts from Dewan Architects, The University of Sheffield, Oman Botanic Garden, Diwan of Royal Court, Khatib & Alami, Woods Bagot and Arup. The panel discussion for Day 2 sponsored by Gulf Landscape and Irrigation Systems which

MAY JUNE 2015

discussed creative greening of open spaces, emphasizing on the evolution of landscaped zones in urban developments. Interactive Q & A sessions on both days added to the spirit of knowledgesharing of the summit.

The networking sessions over the two days saw participants in earnest discussions, with the special exhibitor lounge being a major attraction showcasing over 30 solution providers from around the globe. The third edition of this premier event featured more partnerships than ever before, with major sponsors including Falconcity of Wonders, Convic, SLA, Sites International, Zeoplant, Grassco & Aratex, TigerTurf in association with Flora

Engineering Services, Gulf Landscape and Irrigation Systems, Cape Reed, Gulf Perlite LLC, WT Burden Middle East, Global Light & Power LLC, Vision Project Services. The lounge featured impressive displays of a host of innovative solutions and products from companies such as INMA Gulf, EDSA, ADFERT, Green Studios, GreenBest Ltd, Agial Art Gallery, BlueStream LLC, Cultiwall, BMC Gulf, Corys Building Materials LLC, Galerie Tanit Beyrouth, TANSEEQ LLC, MDT-tex, CIRTA Group, ANS Global, Casa Verde - Live Wall, Easigrass, CCGrass.

Highlights of Day 2 also included the prize draw, which

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generated a lot of buzz, with lucky winners walking away with an iPad and a complimentary stay at Sofitel The Palm Resort and Spa, Dubai.

Participants were impressed with the quality of the event, commenting favorably at its close. Philipp Angell, Managing Director, Vision Project Services, said, “We are very happy with the decision to attend. Within 2 days of the show we got so much contacts and interest on our product.”

John Samuel, Commercial Sales Manager, Global Light & Power LLC, said, “It was a great pleasure for our company to participate in the Landscape Summit. It was a very helpful summit as we could get good contacts and get to meet high delegates from different companies which would in turn develop our business.”

Mohamed Habbal, Senior Manager-Operations, Nakheel PJSC, commented, “The summit is really phenomenal. I have not expected this many attendees and as many of lead and key concerned companies.

This by itself is a main factor of success of this comprehensive conference.”

Brad Hariharan, Regional Director, Expotrade Middle East, organizers of the conference, said, “The success of the 3rd Annual Middle East Smart Landscape Summit shows that it has achieved its goal of promoting sustainable landscaping technology and best practices in the region. We are deeply honored to organize this event under the continued patronage of the Dubai Municipality. We would also like to thank all our sponsors, delegates, speakers and partners for supporting this event, and 6

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look forward to bringing the next year's edition to this audience.”

Pan-Africa Project to Focus on Potential of Fish Trade for Increased Nutrition and Income A new pan-African project has been launched to strengthen the continent's great potential for increased trade in fish. Africa, a continent that is endowed with plentiful fish resources in oceans, rivers, lakes, floodplains and fish farms accounts for just 4.9% of global fish trade. More efficient trade could significantly improve income and nutrition for millions of Africans, particularly those 12.3 million that are directly employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Trade is constrained by inadequate market and trade infrastructure and poor policy implementation. High transport costs, complex and unaligned trade rules and poor market information also prevent Africa from optimizing the social and economic benefits available.

Stephen J Hall, Director General, WorldFish: “Africa has the potential to develop its fisheries and aquaculture to play a much greater role in promoting food security, providing livelihoods and supporting economic growth.

Per capita consumption has fallen, despite Africa's great abundance of aquatic resources.

FishTrade will create the foundations for a more solid, productive and sustainable building-up of this great, continent-wide, resource.”

FishTrade will work in four 'corridors' to generate information on the structure, products and value of intra-

regional fish trade and its contribution to food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Recommendations will be prepared on policies, fish certification guidelines and quality and safety standards, as well as regulations. A second stage will focus on strengthening the trade capacities of private sector associations, in particular of women fish processors, women traders and all aquaculture producers, in order for them to make better use of expanding trade opportunities through competitive small- and medium-scale enterprises.

Finally Fish Trade for a Better Future will support adoption and implementation of appropriate policies, fish certification procedures, standards and regulations by key stakeholders in intraregional trade.

The program will equip governments with the capacities needed to implement the African Union Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa.

Case IH presents the first '2015 innovations' at SIMA in Paris Framed by SIMA 2015 in Paris in February and Agritechnica in Hanover in November, the United Nations “International Year of Soils” offers excellent opportunities to present Case IH's well-filled pipeline of innovative agricultural engineering solutions to media, dealers, and end-customers.

“SIMA 2015 has set the starting point for an explosion of new products, developed by our dedicated engineers with the objective of providing our customers with the best possible MAY JUNE 2015

NEWS UPDATE

solutions”, emphasised Matthew Foster, Case IH Vice President responsible for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, at the trade fair. “This event offered an excellent opportunity to present our next level precision with the correction service AFS RTK+ and the enhanced AFS Connect telematics with File Transfer technology, and demonstrate our excellence in sugar cane harvesting with the Case IH Austoft® 8000 series”, said Foster.

Farmall, Maxxum, Puma, Magnum and Quadtrac models, Axial-FlowC combine, round and square balers and the Austoft® 8000 Series sugar cane harvester made for an impressive - yet still incomplete - overview of the Case IH product range, an offering that today is broader than ever

MAY JUNE 2015

before. One of the innovations presented at SIMA was the Magnum 380 CVX in the wheeled and Rowtrac version.

“After the distinction of “Tractor of the Year 2015” at EIMA in Bologna last autumn, the Magnum has now been awarded “Machine of the Year 2015” at SIMA. We are really thrilled that the Magnum received these two awards one after the other”, emphasised Dan Stuart, Case IH Product Marketing Manager Tractors for Europe, Middle East & Africa.

The Case IH Puma tractors presented at SIMA equally surpass the highest standards.

The powerful, efficient and 'clean' engine technology ensures low fuel consumption and high performance. “Simple and efficient, the system also

enables Case IH to achieve engine oil change intervals of 600 hours”, highlighted Stuart.

The next generation RTK+ correction service and the new File Transfer function of AFS Connect telematics were yet another highlight at SIMA 2015. “These practice-oriented technologies have been developed to help farmers manage their farms, fields and machines more efficiently than ever before. Producing “more with less”, i.e. producing more efficiently, is one of the key challenges for agricultural engineering and farmers alike.

That is why we continuously improve our tools for higher precision and better data management, and now launch the new Case IH AFS Connect™ telematics system for example”, explained Ulrich

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Sommer, Product Marketing Manager AFS EMEA region.

At SIMA, Case IH gave centre stage to its powerful agricultural equipment solutions for the sugar cane industry. This included the Austoft® 8000 Series of industry-leading sugar cane harvesters. “These harvesters have several new features that further improve their outstanding performance”, said Yoann Clarisse, Case IH Harvester Product Marketing Specialist, EMEA Region. “The Autotracker for example, which is exclusive to Case IH, helps to consistently reduce saccharose losses and root damage, and SmartCruise reduces fuel consumption and maintenance requirements whilst increasing engine life”, highlighted Clarisse.

On February 22nd a special event at the company's stand was attended by about 40 representatives of corporate customers and large agroindustrial farms operating in the sugar cane and bio-ethanol sectors from several African and Middle Eastern countries, including Sudan, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

“We understand the network of Case IH dealers as our direct eyes and ears towards our customers. It is the dealers who get the feedback from the endusers, it is them who stay in direct contact during purchase and service of our machines.

That is why we will further increase our efforts to provide the best possible attention to our customers - in terms of the number of dealer outlets as well as service quality”, emphasised Case IH Brand President Andreas Klauser.

“Customer satisfaction is one of our main priority and we are 8

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well aware of the key role played by our dealers locally.

To further support our network and strengthen our presence in the region, this year we are creating a dedicated Case IH team for Africa and the Middle East to support the region's huge potential for growth, with particular attention to the corporate farming segment,” Foster added.

“Our approach to optimum customer care is an all-inclusive quality package. It includes supporting dealers with regard to identifying key business areas and developing their businesses. It includes parts support, organisation and training of service staff, service, sales and marketing management, facility management, tooling and equipment, harvesting and AFS as well as the services of CNH Capital, all to further increase professionalism and thus enhance support for our customers”, Klauser concluded.

Save Our Soils campaign leads fight to halt loss of millions of hectares of land The Save Our Soils campaign, founded by organic fruit specialist Eosta and 150 global partners including the UN, has announced that it is almost halfway towards it's fundraising target to help farmers save millions of hectares of threatened land.

Eosta, operating under its brand name Nature & More, together with its partners in the Save Our Soils campaign, has established a fund that will support farmers across the globe in saving fertile soils.

According to UN stats, every year approximately 10 million hectares (25 million acres) are lost to erosion, amounting to 30

football fields per minute. If the loss of fertile soil continues at this rate, agriculture will not be possible in 60 years, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The climate, fresh water resources and social cohesion also suffer badly from soil loss, and for this reason 2015 has been proclaimed as the International Year of Soils.

The Save Our Soils Fund, which was launched in February 2015 at the BioFach trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany, has now raised 200,000 euros thanks to contributions from Eosta/ Nature & More, Soil & More and Triodos Foundation (Netherlands), Lebensbaum (Germany), Ambootia (India) and Amfri Farms (Uganda). The target is to raise at least 500,000 euros.

Nature & More initiated the Save Our Soils campaign in late 2012, together with the FAO, to draw attention to the increasing soil problem and now has 150 international partners.

The campaign's core message is that every consumer can contribute to saving fertile soils by choosing sustainable and organic food. So far, Save Our Soils has principally been an awareness campaign. By establishing the Save Our Soils Fund, practical help can now be given to the other end of the production chain: the farmer.

Volkert Engelsman, CEO of Eosta/Nature & More and initiator of the Save Our Soils campaign, is pleased with the successful launch: "The money we have now raised is a great start. In the years to come we want to raise at least Euro 500,000, so we're looking out for contributions from other MAY JUNE 2015

NEWS UPDATE

parties. In this way, we can make a sound contribution to improving agricultural practices and supporting a future with more food security."

The fund will assist farmers worldwide in saving soil fertility with the help of organic techniques.

IA Announces 2016, 2017 Irrigation Show Dates & Locations The Irrigation Association has confirmed the dates and locations for the 2016 and 2017 Irrigation Show & Education Conferences.

J 2016 Irrigation Show: Las Vegas, Dec. 5 - 9 J 2017 Irrigation Show: Orlando, Fla., Nov. 6 - 10 IA's annual Irrigation Show is the world's largest irrigation exhibition. Show highlights include over 300 exhibitors for agriculture, landscape and golf irrigation; networking with decision-makers on the show floor and at social events; insight sessions on industry trends and initiatives for wateruse efficiency and sustainability; and technical sessions, seminars and education classes.

The 2015 Irrigation Show will be held in Long Beach, Calif., Nov. 9 - 13. For this year's event, IA has partnered with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers to host the 2015 Irrigation Symposium in conjunction with the show.

Tractor market: only the specialists holding out Data on sales during the first quarter of the year point to a sharp drop in registrations. The only type showing growth is the narrow track specialists for vineyards and orchards facing, 10

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GreenTech organiser Amsterdam RAI wins Ingenious Award 2015 with vertical greenhouse The vertical greenhouse city farming in the Amtrium, Amsterdam RAI's new exhibition and convention building, was presented with the Ingenious Award 2015 on Thursday 18 March 2015. The award is an initiative by the Dutch association for engineers and engineering students (KIVI) and the Dutch association of consulting engineers.

The jury was particularly impressed by the way the building reflects a new perspective on urban construction in the 21st century and the way that the RAI's ideas are enabling abstract concepts to be translated into concrete form. The restaurant of the new building will shortly be serving meals containing fresh vegetables and herbs grown in its own greenhouse. The Amtrium will be taken into use in May. The design team, which includes Amsterdam RAI, Benthem Crouwel Architects and Nelissen ingenieursbureau, have embraced this idea and translated it into an integrated design. According to the jury: “The

however, the application of new European Union regulations on exhaust emissions which carry the risk of choking off also this sector of the market.

The agricultural machinery market collapsed in the first quarter of 2015 with steep declines for tractors, combine harvesters, transporters and trailers. Data elaborated by FederUnacoma based on registrations reported by the Ministry of Transport indicate a 9.4% drop for tractors in the first quarter of the year with 4,180 units sold compared to 4,616 in the same period in 2014, a 12.5% fall for combine harvesters, 28 sold against 32 in 2014, transporters down by 32.7% with 146 compared to 217, and trailers off by 8.8% with 1,816 moved compared to 1,992.

The aggregate of data on conditions in the sector show that tractors closed 2014 down by 4.4%, harvesters off by 26.6%, transporters falling by 3.9% and trailers down 2.5% and that from 2009 to 2014 tractor sales tumbled by 33% in a climate of financial uncertainty which discouraged investments by farming enterprises for new machinery and equipment.

In these years, characterized by the most severe crisis in the entire history of agricultural mechanization, the only type of machine holding out and even capable of growing was the specialized narrow track tractor for vineyards and orchards, machines which reflect the excellence of the Italian industry.

Over the past three years the sales of these specialists moved from 4,763 units in 2012 to 5,277 in 2014 whereas the sales of traditional farm tractors declined from 14,580 units in 2012 to 12,901 last year. This also means that the share of the specialists out of all tractors sold moved up from 25% in 2012 to 29% in 2014. This trend was confirmed in the first quarter of the current year with the increase of the specialists sold climbing from 1,326 units in this period in 2014 to 1,365 taking them to 33% of total tractor sales.

Unfortunately these compact narrow track specialists are the most vulnerable to the new European Union regulations on engines which require substantial modification in the construction of the machines involving exorbitant increases MAY JUNE 2015

NEWS UPDATE societal value, the future-oriented vision and the fact that Amsterdam RAI has had the courage to be the first company to realise such a design, combined with technical features such as the humidification with rain water, controlled ventilation and plant growth, have led us to award the Amtrium the Vernufteling - Dutch for ingenious -award.”

The city farming greenhouse will contribute to the air quality in the building as part of a new form of urban agriculture which is unique in the Netherlands and gives visitors to the building and local vicinity a new way of identifying with food cultivation. In addition, this ingenious greenhouse will provide the restaurant with genuinely fresh products and a range of other practical benefits.

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, invitation-only conference for industry leaders and influencers in the horticulture industry will discuss the theme: 'What's next for Green Horticulture?'. Delegates will have the opportunity to visit the vertical greenhouse.

in costs, enough to drive them out of the market. The new machines which would be required to come to the market beginning in 2017 would have sticker prices one-third higher than those now sold to become inaccessible for farming enterprises.

The Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation FederUnacoma and federation's Assotrattori, which represents the tractor sector, are currently stepping up their work in EU quarters aimed at delaying the application of these regulations without which the sole segment showing vitality throughout the depth of the crisis could collapse.

Nepal Earthquake's impact on food security and agriculture likely very high Some $8 million is urgently needed to help disaster-struck Nepalese farmers rapidly recover lost agricultural inputs and resume preparations for the imminent rice sowing season, FAO said.

The impact of the recent major earthquake on food security and agricultural livelihoods is expected to be very high.

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Farmers who miss the planting season that is expected to start late May onwards will be unable to harvest rice - the country's staple food - again until late 2016. This, together with likely losses of food stocks and wheat and maize harvests, would severely limit food supplies and incomes in the South Asian country, where around two-thirds of people rely on agriculture for their livelihood, FAO said.

Last month, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake - the country's biggest in 80 years - shook Nepal, killing thousands while limiting access to food and leaving some 3.5 million in need of food assistance.

Million of people across the country's Western and Central Regions are affected by the disaster, including its largest cities, Kathmandu and Pokhara.

But some of the country's most vulnerable agricultural areas, particularly the villages in mountain and hilly regions, also bore the brunt.

Although damage to the agriculture sector has not yet been assessed, affected families have likely lost livestock, crops, food stocks and valuable

agricultural inputs. At the same time, the disaster has destroyed markets and infrastructure, including roads and crucial irrigation and drainage canals.

As a result, internal trade, including the movement of emergency assistance, is severely constrained.

Before the earthquake hit, FAO estimated Nepal's wheat production in 2015 at 1.8 million tonnes - some 5 percent below last year's record harvest.

But crop damage and farmer's inability to harvest in earthquake-affected areas are likely to change this forecast.

In addition, disruption of planting operations for rice and maize may severely reduce the planted area for these crops in the most affected areas.

In addition to distributing crop-production packages to secure this year's harvest, FAO and partners will support the Nepalese government in preventing further loss of livestock by providing animal feed and veterinary supplies that will ensure animals stay healthy and productive for families relying on them for food and income.

In all, FAO will support 20,000 of the most vulnerable farming households protect and rebuild their livelihoods.

Timely agricultural interventions are essential to increase the resilience of affected farming families and greatly reduce the time and cost of recovery.

“There is a critical window of opportunity to help crop producers plant in time to have a rice harvest this year and regain their self-sufficiency,” said Somsak Pipoppinyo, FAO Representative in Nepal. “At the same time, we need to do GULF AGRICULTURE

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all we can to preserve vital livestock assets which provide affected families with much needed income and nutrition.”

UN agencies and partners launched a $415 million emergency appeal for Nepal to address the most urgent needs. FAO's appeal is part of a larger $128-million request

under the Food Security Cluster, led by FAO and the World Food Programme. In addition to emergency agriculture support, the cluster aims to distribute 50,000 tonnes of food to families in need, along with setting up cash-transfer programmes and helping communities rebuild.

Azelis appointed by Evonik for silica distribution to life science industries in the Nordics Azelis is pleased to announce its appointment by Evonik Industries AG, the leading manufacturer of performance silica, as distributor for the Aerosil® & Sipernat® range of products in the Nordic region from 1st April 2015.

The supply of these products to the Food, Personal Care and Pharma Industries in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland is a further step in the strategic development of the relationship between Evonik and Azelis.

Azelis and Evonik look forward to further developing the silica business in the Nordics. Andreas Ernst, Director Global Distributor Management, Evonik Industries, Silica Business Line, states: “We believe that with Azelis, we will have improved market coverage supported by a new sales organization, offering our customers sound commercial solutions combined with a high level of local technical support across all Nordic countries.”

Azelis offers a full suite of value added services to help customers create inventive application ideas for new products and also to improve the performance of existing ranges. Andrew Johnson, Managing Director, Azelis Nordic, adds: “The Evonik silica product range offers our customers further opportunities in our approach to functional and innovative ingredients. We regularly invite customers into our laboratories and will be pleased to work with them on projects around these new materials in our portfolio.”

The agreement complements already existing and successful agreements between the two companies across many industry disciplines in Europe and Asia. Both companies work together to deliver inventive solutions for customers and look forward to a continued, successful partnership.

Azelis is the leading global speciality chemicals distributor providing a diverse range of innovative products and services. We serve 20,000 customers in the coatings, chemicals, rubber & plastic additives, food & health, animal nutrition, pharma and personal care industries.

Through sourcing and distribution channels in every major market around the world, Azelis offers chemical producers market penetration, in depth local knowledge, value-added services and tailored multi-territory solutions. Azelis has a turnover of around Euro 1 billion and employs around 1,100 knowledgeable people located in more than 37 facilities in more than 35 countries across Europe, China, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

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Somalia registers record exports of 5 million livestock in 2014 Somalia in 2014 exported a record 5 million livestock to markets in the Gulf of Arabia thanks to heavy investments in animal disease prevention backed by the European Union and the United Kingdom, FAO said.

This is the highest number of live animals exported from Somalia in the last 20 years.

The export data, collected by the FAO-managed Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU), indicates that Somalia exported 4.6 million goats and sheep, 340,000 cattle and 77,000 camels in 2014, worth an estimated $360 million.

Livestock is the mainstay of the Somali economy, contributing 40 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product.

“This is a key milestone for the Somalia's livestock sector that reflects the large investments being made to support the commercial development of the livestock sector to become more competitive in international markets,” said Said Hussein Iid, Somalia's Minister of Livestock, Forestry and Range.

“This is important for both Somalia's economy in general and for the livelihoods of the millions of livestock owners throughout Somalia.”

“The sector's potential is enormous,” Iid added.

"This shows that despite the challenges, the Somali people are successfully working to improve their economy and food security," said Richard Trenchard, head of FAO's office for Somalia. "FAO and our partners are committed to MAY JUNE 2015

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remaining engaged and involved in supporting those efforts."

Buyers from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates have all taken advantage of Somalia's thriving livestock scene and its improved disease surveillance and control mechanisms.

Saudi Arabia, in particular, has contributed to steadily rising exports over the last six years, following a move to lift a 9-year ban on the import of livestock from Somalia aimed at preventing the spread of Rift Valley fever.

For the last five years, FAO, with financial support from the European Union and the UK government, has engaged with the Somali government to invest heavily in livestock infrastructure, fodder production and livestock vaccination and treatment services.

Transboundary animal diseases have been a major point of attention because they can kill large numbers of animals, resulting in food shortages, market disruptions and trade and export barriers.

Every year, FAO vaccinates an average of 12 million animals in Somalia against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) - a highly contagious and often deadly viral disease of goats. Another 12 million goats are treated and vaccinated every year against Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a source of major losses among Somali livestock producers.

In addition to animal health campaigns, four modern slaughterhouses, four meat markets and three livestock markets are also boosting local MAY JUNE 2015

livestock trade across Somalia.

“There is no doubt that livestock is, and will remain for a long time, central to the Somali economy,” said Trenchard.

Continued investment in building Somali livestock institutions is key to boosting incomes, reducing the vulnerability of rural households, and steering the future growth of the sector, according to Trenchard, who says the livestock sector is at a tipping point.

“An investment in livestock means an investment in economic growth for the whole of Somalia,” he said.

With trade of live animals booming, FAO is now working with the Somali government and partners to identify other opportunities to derive added value from livestock byproducts.

In 2012, under a UK-funded initiative, Somali pastoralists were trained in soap manufacturing using camel bone marrow and trained jewelers carved spoons, necklaces and flower vases out of the dense bones.

Soon FAO will start training 150 Somalis in curing leather, a potentially lucrative opportunity for the entire livestock sector, while an EUfunded programme is currently underway to improve milk quality in northwestern Somalia, one of the country's main milk production regions.

The 2014 figures represent an optimum level of live animal export for Somalia, according to FAO experts, who urge producers to shift focus towards export of meat and other by-products.

A livestock certification system developed by FAO

along the Galkayo-Bossaso livestock corridor will further help to ensure high quality livestock for local consumption and export.

Expected sharp fall in Southern African maize production raises food security concerns Southern Africa's maize harvest is expected to shrink this year by some 26 percent compared with 2014's bumper crop, a situation that could trigger food price increases and adversely affect recent food security gains, FAO warned.

For 2015, the early production forecast for maize a staple food throughout the subregion - stands at about 21.1 million tonnes, some 15 percent lower than the average for the last five years, FAO noted.

The fall is mostly due to the impact of erratic weather conditions, including the late start of seasonal rains in November/December, followed by heavy rains that caused flooding in parts of some countries, and then a long dry spell in the southern areas of the subregion during February and early March.

"Last year, the subregion saw a bumper harvest, which has made this year's harvest prospects look even weaker so we have to be cautious until governments, often with the support of FAO, have completed all the assessments in the coming days. FAO is closely monitoring the situation on the ground," said David Phiri, FAO's Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa.

An expected significant drop (some 33 percent less than in 2014) in the harvest of South Africa - the subregion's main GULF AGRICULTURE

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NEWS UPDATE

producer and exporter accounts for most of the overall decline in maize production.

Malawi and Zambia, the second and third biggest maize producers in the subregion, are also expected to register smaller harvests compared with the 2014 bumper crop. Lower maize harvests are also anticipated in Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

The poor outlook is already having some impact on cereal markets. South Africa recorded significant price increases in February - although the rise eased in March following improved rains.

These price increases are expected to mostly affect those countries that rely more on maize imports such as Namibia where relatively high price increases were already recorded in February.

In most countries, maize prices have remained below the same period last year due to the current ample supplies, which could, however, rapidly dwindle.

"The carry-over stocks from 2014's bumper maize crop is expected to partly offset the impact of lower domestic production and somewhat contribute to stabilising national supplies in some countries," said Phiri.

The poor outlook for 2015 is expected to result in increased imports in Southern Africa with forecasts for aggregate maize imports in the 2015/16 marketing year (May/April) indicating an increase to about 1.8 million tonnes, approximately double the low level of 2014/15 and one third above the average.

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imports is expected from South Africa, mainly consisting of yellow maize used in the feed industry.

In Zimbabwe, large volumes of maize imports are forecast, and larger import volumes than 2014 are also forecast in the deficit-producing countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. Given the contraction in South African export availabilities, alternative export supplies may be needed.

The expected decline in 2015 maize production follows a favourable year in 2014 when ample supplies and low prices contributed to improved food security conditions that resulted in a significant decline of people in need of food assistance in the subregion, with Zimbabwe, for instance, recording a 75 percent decrease.

"With the expected fall in maize production in the subregion, and the resulting price hikes, the improved food security situation may be reversed in 2015/2016, especially if no timely interventions are made. Close monitoring is critical to trigger early action to reduce any negative effects on people's food security and livelihoods. This is at the core of FAO's efforts to build more resilient livelihoods," said Dominique Burgeon, FAO's Resilience Coordinator.

Platform for pastoralists aims to give a voice to millions Millions of pastoralists will benefit from a new online knowledge hub that will help them raise their voices in international policy debates and share valuable information to strengthen their agricultural livelihoods.

The Pastoralist Knowledge Hub - launched by FAO, the European Union, Germany and other partners - will enable mobile livestock keepers to connect, to meet and discuss issues like agricultural innovations or land regulations and find shared solutions to common challenges. “Pastoralists are able to produce food where no crops can be grown. Yet, their concerns are poorly heard by the international community,�

Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, said on Monday. "This hub is an important platform to help them project their voices, share knowledge, and affect policy debates."

The hub also offers a growing database of research on pastoralism, contacts for a worldwide network of pastoral representatives, and discussion forums for pastoralist networks and partnering institutions.

It also includes a mechanism that lets pastoral communities nominate and select representatives to global forums such as the Committee on World Food Security.

Seven regional meetings with pastoralist networks to shape the initiative are being held until October 2015.

The several hundred million pastoralists who manage the world's rangelands rely on a rich legacy of traditional knowledge and mobility to survive in the harshest environments on the planet.

They remain important producers of livestock, meat, milk, hair and hides and in many countries produce more than half of agricultural GDP. Livestock grazing on pastoralist rangelands also provides valuable benefits to MAY JUNE 2015

NEWS UPDATE

ecosystems, including helping to recycle plants back into fertile soil and controlling the growth of bush and weeds.

Examples of more wellknown pastoral societies include the Bedouin of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the Maasai in East Africa, the Navajo of North America, the Sherpa in Nepal, and Scandinavia's Sami people.

Despite their importance to food production and ecosystems, pastoralists have traditionally been marginalized in decision-making on matters like the decrease of rangelands and the disruption of their mobility routes that negatively affect their lives and livelihoods.

They have frequently been subject to attempts to alter their nomadic lifestyles and often find it hard to access health services and schools Pastoralists are also still poorly represented in decisionmaking processes in high-level institutions such as the United Nations and their own national governments.

The hub brings together partner institutions including the African Union, the European Union, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank and non-governmental organizations as well as pastoralist civil society groups.

These organizations can share their work and resources on pastoralism and actively consult with pastoral networks. “The new Hub aims to bring all groups and organizations together to voice pastoral concerns to the international MAY JUNE 2015

community,� said Lalji Desai, Secretary General of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples.

The German Ministry for Food and Agriculture is contributing $1.7 million to initiate the Hub. Dramatic impact of climate change on people's lives demands response - FAO leader A strong and collective effort is needed to tackle climate change, which is already having direct and "tragic" consequences for people's lives, FAO DirectorGeneral JosĂŠ Graziano da Silva told Italian lawmakers.

Climate-related factors are contributing to intensified food insecurity for many of the world's most vulnerable people - worsening situations that were already quite dramatic, he said.

"When agriculture does not have the chance to bloom, and when food is scarce, the consequences can be dramatic," according to Graziano da Silva.

"Hunger can force people to leave families and homes in search of better opportunities that they do not always find.

The loss of lives in the Mediterranean is a tragic reminder of this," the FAO Director-General said.

Similarly, the recent tropical storms in the Philippines and Vanuatu showed how quickly food crops can be destroyed by severe weather events, while recurrent droughts have an equally deadly effect, he noted.

Speaking in the Italian Parliament with Italy's Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti present, Graziano da Silva explained that FAO is especially concerned with climate change due its clear

connections to food security and agriculture.

"Climate change affects agricultural production and might change the geography of food production," he said. The agricultural sector is itself a producer of greenhouse gas emissions, but also has the potential to sequester more carbon in soils and forests if sustainable production and management policies are adopted, he added.

The world needs a paradigm shift to more sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems, which will entail making farming techniques less reliant on intensive use of inputs and natural resources.

A safe alternative to corrosive acids Growth Products Ltd. announced that pH Reducer has been certified as a Registered Material for Use in Organic Agriculture by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). It is now included on the Brand Name Material List of products that the WSDA has determined complies with The National Organic Standards [7 CFR Part 205]. pH Reducer is a 100% Organic Critic Acid Solution designed for use on all vegetable, herb, field and permanent crops. A safe alternative to corrosive acids, it lowers the pH of soilless media and water, and can act as a buffer in the mixing tank. pH Reducer contains a natural wetting agent, which allows citric acid to penetrate the soil quickly.

Available in 2 x 2.5 gallon case, 30 and 55 gallon drums, and 275 gallon totes, pH Reducer requires no agitation and will not settle out of solution. With an acidic pH of 1.5, pH Reducer is compatible with most technical materials including fungicides and insecticides.

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AGRAME REVIEW

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATER OPENS AQUA MIDDLE EAST

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he Minister of Environment & Water H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad officially opened the event AquaME, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“The opening of AquaME is the first step in promoting the field of aquaculture in the Middle East. We are displaying the latest products and services in the field of fish farming, and have created a platform to discuss and showcase the latest best practices and innovations in marine research.

The exhibition also has a number of scientific and technical seminar sessions to spread knowledge about the industry, and increase aquaculture as both a viable investment, and a way to increase the number of active farms in the country, therefore reducing the burden on our natural fish stocks and help in promoting self-sufficiency in fish products,” said H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad.

The show has over 40 exhibiting companies from Turkey, Norway, UAE, Denmark, Malta, Chile, USA, Malaysia, Brazil, India, Greece, Taiwan, France, Australia, China, Italy, Thailand, Egypt and UK covering 685 sqm of floor space. The conference agenda, which covers Global Aquaculture and its Prominent Role in Food Security and an overview of aquaculture in the UAE among others, will see over 19 international field experts deliver the two day content schedule.

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“The Middle East is facing many influences and challenges with regards to food security, especially in the area of environmental preservation and development, which represents one of the UAE's primary strategic issues. In this premise, the Ministry of Environment and Water is keen to collaborate with all stakeholders inside and outside the country to intensify its efforts in addressing these challenges - through the creation and implementation of realistic, effective and highly-sustainable solutions,” said H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad.

AgraME, AquaME and VetME witnesses 25% increase AgraME, which is co-located with AquaME and VetME, has also seen a 40 per cent increase in exhibition floor space for the 2015 edition due to higher demand from exhibitors. This demand comes mainly from the Poultry and Livestock area of the show, as well as the launch of AquaMe - the regions first exhibition dedication to the aquaculture industry.

The three-day event hosted more than 250 agriculture, poultry, aquaculture, and horticulture businesses from 36 countries including Turkey, Norway, UAE, Denmark, USA, Brazil, India, Greece, France, Australia, China, Italy, Thailand, Egypt and UK. “This year we have seen a large increase in attendance from the aquaculture industry

specifically, which comes down to AquaME being a stand-alone exhibition space for the first time ever. The first day also saw a packed conference agenda with plenty of interesting announcements coming out of the show floor that will help grow the industry regionally - attracting the investment needed to reach the targets set by not only the government, but private entities in the industry as well.” said Richard Pavitt, Exhibition Director, AgraME. Agricultural Production Needs to Increase Globally food safety, security and sustainability are becoming the most essential elements for the welfare of future generations according to Dr. T.S. Thiyagasundaram, Head of the Poultry Division at the Department of UAE President's Affairs, Abu Dhabi.

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, by 2050 agricultural production needs to increase by 60 per cent to meet the food demands of future generations and requires quantum changes in various food production and processing strategies.

High tech crop and plant production keeps up with the global populations' demand for agricultural/plant based produce meeting the carbohydrates and plant protein needs, but the real MAY JUNE 2015

AGRAME REVIEW

H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment & Water, Opens AQUA Middle East.

challenge will be to keep pace with the demand for animal protein requirements like meat, milk and fish - which can only be achieved through technological advancements in Animal Agriculture.

Also, the global population is becoming ever more stringent on their nutritional preferences necessitating the need for quality, quantity and a greater variety of products which have to meet all food safety and security standards.

Among the animal protein production technologies, poultry meat and eggs play a critical role as these small volume animals fit for high density rearing make good economic sense. So, the role of MAY JUNE 2015

biosecurity in poultry production to help food security will be a main focus topic at next week's conference.

Even though the UAE has enormous resources and great purchasing power, the need to reduce dependence on imports and achieve self-sufficiency in food production cannot be overemphasized. This becomes all the more important with the repeated global pandemics of avian zoonotic diseases such as Avian Influenza resulting in frequent bans and interruptions in importation. Emergence of new antibiotic and drug resistant microbes also poses a threat needing urgent attention.

“Targeting self sufficiency in poultry eggs and meat

production for animal protein availability to UAE will be a major challenge in the coming years .The Government and non-government agencies are already focused on encouraging this vital sector of the food industry evidenced by new farm based enterprises emerging far more frequently over the past few years,” said Dr. Thiyagasundaram.

“Adaptation of the latest technologies, Good Manufacturing Practices and a further emphasis on efficient production per unit resource will help in marching towards achieving the target of minimum of 50 per cent of poultry products to be produced locally within UAE. GULF AGRICULTURE

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GFIA REVIEW

GLOBAL FORUM FOR INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE OPENS IN ABU DHABI

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nder the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the second edition of Abu Dhabi of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) was declared open in Abu Dhabi by His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmed Mohammed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water of the UAE. Running from 9 to 11 March 2015, the three-day event has drawn the participation of more than 250 prominent speakers from global companies and organisations including McCain Continental, World Bank, Clinton Climate Initiative, Plantagon, United Nations and the Committee on World Food Security.

In his opening speech, His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmed Mohammed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water of the UAE, said: “GFIA articulates the priority of the UAE to galvanize international efforts towards achieving a common vision and approach to leverage innovative and smart solutions for the development of agricultural sector and food production. The forum also aims to enhance our contribution to achieving food security and minimizing food shortage and global poverty.

“The most important challenge that we seek to address through this forum is

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the need to increase agricultural production by two-third by 2050 to meet the anticipated population growth and solve the issue of limited resources. The experience of past years has shown that our overdependence on traditional practices and means cannot solve the daunting issue of

growing food supply gap between developing and developed countries.”

“The role of technology and innovation in the advancement of agricultural and food production sector is no longer a subject of dispute among scholars. However, the question that remains unanswered is the

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GFIA REVIEW

ability of international community to deploy these technologies and ensure the application of ideas and innovative solutions for the benefit of millions of owners of small and medium-sized agricultural ventures, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It is important that we leverage these technologies throughout the production stages towards narrowing the production gap between the developed and developing countries,� Dr. Rashid said.

Sharing his expertise under

MAY JUNE 2015

the theme of Climate Smart Agriculture, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales called on participants to contribute to the sustainable agriculture movement through innovation. A pioneer of holistic agriculture with a keen interest in organic farming, the Prince addressed in his video address the crucial challenge of how food can be produced more sustainably.

Speaking about climate change and food production process, Ren Wang, Assistant Director General, Food and

PRINCE CHARLES CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE MOVEMENT THROUGH INNOVATION

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GFIA REVIEW

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, said: “According to FAO's projections, food production is set to increase by 60% towards 2050, because of population growth and changing dietary patterns. Climate change is already affecting food production as well as food security and nutrition, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.”

In his speech about the agricultural practice of Uganda

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and the programme of agricultural development, King George Rukidi IV of Uganda outlined the agricultural development programme in his country.

He said: “From my corner of the planet, Toro, Uganda we have embarked on an aggressive programme of agricultural development. These programmes will be managed through the Kingdom of Toro and seek to develop 100,000 acres of land for tree

harvesting, increase our banana exports from 100,000 to 150,000 tonnes per year, and finding reliable partners to explore and develop our land.”

In his televised speech, United States Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted the importance of finding solutions to the world's need to address the critical challenge of food and water security and climate change.

His Excellency Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Acting Group CEO of ADNEC said:

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GFIA REVIEW

“ADNEC is delighted to host the second edition of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture. I am confident that building on the success of previous editions, GFIA will contribute to generating significant international debate on a wide range of issues relating to innovation in agriculture and food production sectors towards addressing future challenges of food security and climate change.

Launched in February 2014,

the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) achieved international acclaim for being the largest showcase of innovations for sustainable agriculture the world had ever seen.

Building on the success of the first edition, GFIA 2015 leveraged partnerships with over 40 powerful international organisations to make GFIA the world's most influential event for the future of food production.

40% MORE VISITORS.

24 NEW COUNTRIES REPRESENTED BY VISITORS.

4,552 ATTENDEES FROM 85 COUNTRIES.

254 EXHIBITORS FROM 41 COUNTRIES.

23 MINISTERIAL DELEGATIONS.

251 SPEAKERS ACROSS FIVE CONFERENCE PROGRAMMES.

MAY JUNE 2015

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GULFOOD REVIEW

WORLD'S LEADING GATEWAY FOR FOODSTUFF COMMODITIES TRADE

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onfirming the show's standing as the world's leading gateway for foodstuff commodities trade, Gulfood's landmark 20th anniversary edition delivered the biggest and most influential exhibition in its history. The event, which took place in February at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), is expected to generate show-floor trading and year-round legacy sales numbering in the billions of US dollars.

Hosted in Dubai - one of the world's largest, central trading hubs and a gateway between East and West - Gulfood has leveraged Dubai's developed logistics infrastructure and customs service, as well as the region's burgeoning hospitality and tourism markets, to become a globally-recognised business and investment platform for companies around the world.

Spanning more than 127,000 square metres of exhibition space, including a 23,000m2, purposebuilt temporary structure, the largest-of-its-type regionally, Gulfood 2015 welcomed 84,642 visitors from 170 countries.

The 20th milestone edition of Gulfood attracted 4,800 local, regional and international exhibitors, including hundreds of first-time companies who had been waitlisted for a number of years, thousands of regular participants, and a small of companies who have participated at every show since its inception in 1987.

Tens of thousands of brands were presented across the full

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industry spectrum - from finished foods and bulk commodities to beverage products, food service and hospitality equipment, and fresh, frozen, dry and processed food. Among these were more than 1,000 international specialist Halal food brands and companies - from energy drinks, vegan and vegetarian foods to meat and poultry, canned goods, gourmet and fine

SPANNING MORE THAN 127,000 SQUARE METRES OF EXHIBITION SPACE, 2 INCLUDING A 23,000M , PURPOSE-BUILT TEMPORARY STRUCTURE, THE LARGEST-OF-ITS-TYPE REGIONALLY, GULFOOD 2015 WELCOMED 84,642 VISITORS FROM 170 COUNTRIES foods - participating in the second Halal World Food, the world's largest annual Halal food sourcing event.

“The remarkable growth of Gulfood since its first edition 28 years ago is a reflection of Dubai's global standing as a trade, logistics and commerce hub for the food and hospitality sectors and, at the same time, a strategic driver for the growth and development of the UAE's increasingly diverse economy,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions &

Events Management, DWTC, the show organiser. “By building a sustainable and diversified economy and capitalising on global economic partnerships to guarantee long-term prosperity and security, Dubai and the UAE continue to strengthen their pivotal role as a regional and international business hub. In this type of environment, there will always be a need for a bigger and better Gulfood.”

With the global Halal food market accounting for a fifth of the world's food trade (Datamonitor, 2014), and the market predicted to reach US$10 trillion by 2030 (Global Futures and Foresights Study), the growing commercial importance of this particular market category was highlighted at Gulfood.

The international industry fixed its focus on the implementation of Halal standardisation and certification frameworks during the inaugural Halal Investment Conference, while the unveiling of a 'Halal Mark' by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation & Metrology (ESMA) reflected Dubai's vision to become a global Islamic Economy capital. During the show, two UAE based companies were officially certified to use the national Halal Mark: Global Food Industries, a frozen food manufacturer in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi based food and beverage firm, Agthia. At Gulfood 2015, ESMA revealed Australia and New Zealand as the first countries to meet requirements of the new Halal Mark on imported meat products.

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GULFOOD REVIEW

The 20th edition of the show also saw the largest-ever South American participation with representation from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.

Xavier Larrea, Marketing Manager of PRO Ecuador, the country's trade and investment promotion organisation, said: ''Ecuador started with a small stand at Gulfood three years ago. This year we had nine companies representing different sectors, all of them eager to enter the Middle East market.

Through our participation at Gulfood, we want to promote exports and attract foreign direct investment and tourism from the Middle East to Ecuador. After the great results we had last year, we are sure this year will yield further strong results.”

Occupying one of the largest pavilions, the US presence at Gulfood 2015 featured 166 companies across more than 2,000m2 - a reflection of the important role Gulfood has MAY JUNE 2015

played in the exponential growth of US agricultural exports to the UAE over the past three decades, the value of which totalled US$1.5 billion last year.

Quintin Gray, the Regional Agricultural Counselor of the Office Agricultural Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture, said: “Every exhibitor I talked to told me that the USA Pavilion at Gulfood 2015 was the best pavilion; our organisation and support services were the best seen at this show. With estimated onsite sales exceeding US$80 million and with sales in the next 12 months projected to be more than US$265 million as a direct result of the show, Gulfood stands as one of the most important food shows in the world for US agricultural exports. Every exhibitor I talked to is already looking forward to participating in 2016.”

Beyond its role as a trade and business platform, Gulfood 2015 also hosted a series of

industry forums and seminars, bringing together government ministers, top level officials, international industry leaders and food business experts to discuss key topics on the global food industry agenda such as food security, food franchising and Halal, highlighting Gulfood's strategic role as a top-level knowledge sharing and global dialogue platform.

With immediate and longterm food security an on-going priority for countries all over the world, the World Food Security Summit - a Gulfood Leaders Event held on the sidelines of Gulfood 2015 - highlighted the importance of GCC nations being at the forefront of strategic public-private sector partnerships to tackle regional and global food security concerns.

Sustainable global agriculture industry, policy reforms, international farmland acquisition, strategies and domestic agriculture initiatives, were among the hotlydebated topics.

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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE PAVILION OPENS ITS DOORS AT EXPO MILANO 2015

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he Sustainable Farm Pavilion is strategically located in a central position close to the Lake Arena and is immediately recognizable thanks to its striking architectural features.

EXPO Milano 2015 will inaugurate a long season of exhibitions, events and conferences, that will attract millions of potential visitors to the New Holland Sustainable pavilion in the 184 days until 31 October, learning about the core role of agricultural mechanization in the food production supply chain and celebrating the role of farmers who use New Holland equipment and technology day

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after day to provide food all over the world, in strict respect for the environment and protecting the natural resources.

Intrinsically linked to the EXPO theme of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life�, the New Holland pavilion was inspired, in terms of the concept, construction and the thematic visit experience, by the Clean Energy Leader strategy launched by the brand in 2006. It aims to reduce farmers' over-reliance on fossil fuels and promote bioenergy crop production, with particular focus on the Energy Independent Farm project, which provides farmers with

ideas and technological solutions for independent production, in a continuous and renewable cycle, of all the energy needed on the farm.

And one of the symbols of this innovative, efficient and clean technology is the new T6 Methane Power tractor fuelled by biomethane and standing proudly on the sloping roof of the pavilion- It welcomes visitors who will soon be immersed in a thematic visit experience where audio, augmented reality and virtual simulation installations illustrate how a world mechanization leader sees the present and plans the future of an agriculture that can produce MAY JUNE 2015

AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE IS THE ONLY AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER PRESENT AT EXPO WITH ITS OWN PAVILION THAT OPENS ITS DOORS ON 1ST MAY, INAUGURATING THE EXHIBITION AND A SERIES OF EVENTS AND CONFERENCES, ALL STRICTLY LINKED TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION AS AN EFFICIENT SOLUTION FOR FEEDING THE WORLD. more food, using resources wisely, eliminating waste and protecting the environment.

Among the various themes illustrated in the Sustainable Farm Pavilion, two stand out for their significance. The first, The Seeds of Life Series is a video storytelling relating the life and daily challenges of nine Agricultural Heroes and New Holland customers, able to cherish both tradition and innovation for clean and healthy food production.

The second is the timeline gallery that celebrates 120 years of New Holland, from its 1895 start in New Holland, Pennsylvania, through the ingenious intuitions of its MAY JUNE 2015

founding pioneers and a host of innovations and technological solutions that have gradually relieved the burden of farming and made it more productive, profitable, and certainly more reliable and sustainable.

In the words of New Holland Agriculture Brand President Carlo Lambro on the eve of the inauguration: "We've dedicated massive resources to ensuring we exploit this unique opportunity to give millions of potential visitors a close-up view of New Holland and show them what we do: we're the only agricultural equipment manufacturer with its own pavilion at EXPO and we've done everything in our power

to offer our visitors a compelling, inspiring and memorable experience. The Expo is creating plenty of employment opportunities too.

For the six-months of the event we'll employ around 140 people including technicians, support staff, hostesses and stewards, many of whom CNH Industrial employees' family members, who've responded enthusiastically to the opportunity. I'm personally extremely proud of what we've managed to achieve and of the fact that New Holland is playing a key role in a high profile event on the world stage and one that's also of enormous importance for Italy."

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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

CASE IH FOREFRONT SOLUTIONS

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he Africa Sugar Outlook Conference, held from April 28th to 30th in Nairobi, Kenya, has confirmed itself as the largest annual sugar industry gathering in Africa.

Co-hosted by the Kenya Sugar Directorate, it welcomed hundreds of participants and key speakers, including governments' representatives, international experts, senior decision makers and industry leaders from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Brazil, and Australia. The event explored

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future opportunities for the African sugar market, discussed new trade and financing strategies, and shared best practices and latest innovations in sugar production.

As the originator of sugar cane harvesting technology and a world leader in sugar cane harvesting solutions, Case IH confirmed itself as Gold Sponsor of the event for the fifth year in a row. The company, in collaboration with its distributor in East Africa, Toyota TUSHO, displayed

outside the main conference hall a representative selection of its Farmall速 and JX compact tractors, including four Farmall A units from 110hp to 140 hp, one Farmall 100 JX, and a JX90 tractor.

Patrice Loiseleur, Case IH International Agriculture Projects and Corporate Farming Manager, took part in the conference proceedings with a presentation of the full Case offering for sugar cane production. Focus was on the multipurpose Puma CVT Series

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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

FOR THE SUGAR CANE INDUSTRY tractors, which are the ideal solution for cultivation and road haulage, and on the key advantages of Case IH Austoft® 8000 Series of sugar cane harvesters. Loiseleur also highlighted the importance of the first class and dedicated service support offered to customers by Case IH and its network.

At the end of the three day conference, the company organized a special “side event” for the representatives of

MAY JUNE 2015

corporate customers and large agro-industrial farms operating in the sugar cane and bioethanol sectors in Africa and the Middle East. Invitees were offered an overview of Case IH offering and specific insights on

the latest innovations with a guided walkaround presentation of the products on display before joining the dinner offered by the company.

Industry-leading solutions for sugar cane and bio-ethanol projects Case IH's sponsorship of every edition of the Africa Sugar Outlook Conference is testament to its continued commitment to the sugar cane industry. Drawing on over 50 years of experience in this sector, the company offers the most advanced and reliable sugar cane harvesters available in the market, the Austoft® 8000 Series. These machines

GULF AGRICULTURE

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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

are the industry's highest capacity sugar cane harvesters and ideally suited for the most demanding productivity and performance needs. In addition, the company offers the Austoft® 4000 Series, specifically designed for small up to medium sized landholdings or big plantations with reduced row spacing.

Case IH offering is complemented by a full range of equipment for sugar cane operations, including the renowned Steiger®, MagnumTM and PumaTM Series of high horsepower tractors, selfpropelled sprayers, tillage and seeding complexes, balers and other attachments, and a lineup of precision farming solutions.

High quality and reliability proven in action Green Fuel is a long-standing Case IH customer and the first large-scale ethanol producing factory in Africa. Based in Zimbabwe, it produces anhydrous

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ethanol from sugarcane to supply the country and beyond with a clean, efficient, and renewable fuel source.

“At Green Fuel, we invest in the latest technologies to ensure that sustainable practices are used in the cultivation of sugar cane and associated products such as ethanol and electricity generation,” says Conrad Rautenbach, General Manager of Green Fuel.

To harvest and transport about 4,000 tons of sugarcane per day, the company relies on Case IH. Green Fuel's fleet encompasses ten Austoft 8000 sugar harvesters, twenty Magnum 310 and four Puma 140 tractors and twenty JX95 tractors. “We use the Magnum tractors during harvesting operations and for scraping in land development while the Puma tractors are the ideal equipment in fertilization and cultivation activities,” adds Rautenbach. The JX tractors are used for transport and other general farm operations.

“With these machines, we have prepared about 10,000 hectares of new land and harvest over a million tons of sugarcane a year,” further highlights Rautenbach. “With a single Case IH sugar harvester we are able to cut approximately 1,000 tons per day of green cane.”

Having a full range of specific equipment for sugar cane production was a key decision factor in choosing Case IH for Green Fuel, as well as the availability of a wide product offering, precision farming solutions and strong after-sales support. “What we appreciate the most is the quality and reliability of Case IH units even in the harsh African environment in which we operate," comments Rautenbach.

With more products on order for new land development operations, field operations at Green Fuel will be increasingly marked by the red livery of Case IH.

MAY JUNE 2015

AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

TSUNAMI: HUGE DIMENSIONS, HIGH CONTROL

I

t's one of the 2015 most interesting brand new in agricultural machinery: TSUNAMI, the new self-propelled sprayer by Unigreen (Maschio Gaspardo Group), has been presented in worldwide preview at SIMA 2015 in Paris, the last february.

Tsunami combines the benefits of a big tank with a stable and agile structure, equipped with an independent pneumatic suspension and coupling torsion: thanks to the 4 suspension system coupled to the thrust bearing, Tsunami ensures high stability on every condition.

The Tsunami frame is made in high tensile steel; the basis of a long lasting and light sprayer. The chassis is divided in front and rear section, connected by a special bearing, and all his parts are connected with bolt. The frame design and the new independent air suspension MAY JUNE 2015

ensures the smoothest of rides and minimize boom movement.

Tsunami is a giant: 8,75 m long and 3,95 m tall, with tank capacity of up to 5.200 liters and boom up to 42 meters in width. Indeed, the ground clearance is remarkable (1,60 m) and allows to run even in advanced plant growth. Huge, but also very agile: the sprayer steers with an internal radius of about 3,75 m.

Tsunami cares also to the safety of the operator, guaranteed by the new cab class. IV, with certificated ROPS structure: the cab is pressurized, to avoid accidental inhalation of the product.

Powered by the FPT 250 HP Engine Stage IV FINAL, Tsunami features the unique MASCHIO-ATS system: a new exhaust gas-treatment device, developed by MASCHIO and approved

by FPT.

FOCUS ON THE NEW SELF PROPELLED SPRAYER MASCHIO GASPARDO, PRESENTED IN WORLDWIDE PREVIEW THE LAST FEBRUARY

GULF AGRICULTURE

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IRRIGATION

NEW PIVOT IRRIGATION MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITY IN TURKEY

L

indsay Corporation, one of the world's largest exporters and marketers of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems, has opened a new facility in Çorlu, Turkey in anticipation of long-term growth of the global pivot market.

Zimmatic® by Lindsay systems are operating in over 90 countries, irrigating 4.8 million hectares (12 million acres) of crops. It has manufactured and distributed agricultural irrigation

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equipment for nearly 60 years from its original location, the town of Lindsay, Nebraska, in the center of the United States. Lindsay products and systems help growers around the world conserve water, increase crop production, and reduce costs such as fuel and labor. Worldwide, only 20 percent of cultivated land is irrigated, yet irrigated land produces 40 percent of the world's food supply.

“This investment signifies

the long-term commitment that Lindsay is making to support the growers of this region. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will improve response times and service levels to several important international regions including Turkey, Europe, The Middle East, North Africa, Russia, Ukraine, and The Commonwealth of Independent States,” said Lindsay International Vice President Olivier Debart.

The Turkey location will manufacture pipeline and structural steel components, and serve as the main warehouse for shipping complete pivot systems and parts to markets served. The manufacturing site will also include a dedicated galvanizing facility to ensure consistent product quality while increasing manufacturing capacity.

Lindsay irrigation products are sold through more than 200 dealers in the U.S. and more than 140 dealers in international markets.

MAY JUNE 2015

POULTRY

MANAGING AVIARY BIRDS IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

V

encomatic introduces its new aviary system for layers: the Bolegg Gallery. This multi-tier system combines user friendliness with an economic design.

While birds can follow their natural behaviour resulting in optimal laying performance, it allows you to collect eggs in an efficient way, preserving the quality after lay.

As it is getting more difficult to find skilled labour, the importance of an easy to manage system is growing.

The Bolegg Gallery uses vertical space to increase the number of birds per m2 floor area. Its open structure simplifies inspection. The winchable back walls allow nest inspection and the treeconcept offers a good overview and access to all levels.

At the heart of the Bolegg Gallery you'll find the Vencomatic laying nest. This nest is based on Vencomatic innovations, such as the Vencomat, the tipping floor and the egg belt. The design of the Vencomat ensures minimum contact with the eggs. With the perfect angle of the nest eggs gently roll away directly after lay protecting them from damage by the birds. All 3 tiers of the Bolegg Gallery are equipped with egg belts, enabling automatic collection of all eggs. A tipping floor closing mechanism prevents littering the nest at night and allows dirt and dust to fall off easily when closing the nest. The system offers an hygienic environment through the combination of the nest and the wiremesh floor.

The design combined with easy operation makes managing aviary birds easier than you think.

Vencomatic Group is known for its innovative and sustainable systems for the poultry industry. Combining three well-known brands Vencomatic, Agro Supply and Prinzen - Vencomatic Group offers a full range of innovative systems for all types of poultry farms worldwide.

For more information www.vencomaticgroup.com

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MAY JUNE 2015

CROP PROTECTION

PREDATORY MITES AGAINST SPIDER MITE

T

ree nursery growers should now prepare to avoid infestation with spider mites. They can count on two species of predatory mites for an efficient biocontrol strategy. These Biobest beneficials are very useful also in public green.

When temperatures start rising, pests become more active. That definitely applies to spider mite. “It's difficult to predict when exactly the first spider mites will appear on the leaves of young trees”, says John Van Eijk, advisor at Biobest Nederland. “In greenhouses, spider mites may already be active now, but outdoor growers have a little more time to take action.”

“It is perfectly possible to achieve excellent control of spider mite with biological solutions. We particularly recommend Amblyseius andersoni.” says John. “This predatory mite in the Biobest product range can establish even in the absence of spider mites; since it is able to feed on pollen or other pests. Hence Amblyseius

USE BUMBLEBEES FOR OPTIMAL POLLINATION

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C

andersoni can be introduced preventatively. Growers can already introduce A. andersoni in young trees now. An additional advantage: andersoni will also feed on thrips.”

What if spider mite is already present in the treenursery? John: “In that case, it is better to use another solution.

herry growers are gearing up for the start of the blooming period.

Honeybees are widely used for pollination, but adding bumblebees is a great idea to ensure an optimal result under all weather conditions.

April is a crucial month for cherry growers. Blooming starts and successful pollination is a key factor on the path to a successful harvest. Cherry growers traditionally use honeybees. But Lode Van Schaeren of Biobest Belgium, advisor in soft and hard fruit crops, strongly recommends to add bumblebees to the mix. “Especially when the weather

Phytoseiulus persimilis, often just called Phyto, is very efficient against spider mite (for example: two spotted spider mite) but should be used only curatively. Without spider mite, this beneficial cannot survive.

In some situations, we also recommend the combined use of andersoni and Phyto.”

conditions are less favorable, for example when it's cloudy or colder, bumblebees will do a much better job than honeybees.”

Lode advises to use three Multi Hives Turbo per hectare. These hives contain a lot of bumblebees from day 1 and they are ready for immediate action in short blooming crops like cherry.

The Multi Hive Turbo contains 3 individual hives, each coming with a bottle of 2 liter of sugar water. That keeps the bumblebees going in case blooming gets delayed by a few days. With the Turbo Hives 4 weeks full activity is guaranteed.

MAY JUNE 2015

DANISH AGRICULTURE

REDUCING DANISH AGRICULTURE'S CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

D

enmark's Green Growth policy has helped reduce the agriculture sector's carbon footprint while ensuring the sector remains vibrant. Smart measures, such as improved use of manure and a 40% reduction in the use of inorganic fertiliser, have contributed to a 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2009.

Agriculture is responsible for up to a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and Denmark's agricultural sector is no exception. Denmark is one of the world's most intensively farmed countries and a leading exporter of dairy products.

Denmark's agricultural sector is the country's third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after the energy and transport sectors, contributing 17% of emissions.

Agricultural production in Denmark is based on intensive, specialised farms with largescale poultry, beef and dairy units and arable farms common across the country. Such intensive agriculture places considerable demands on the environment, and Denmark has a long history of efforts to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. In 1989, for example, the government introduced the Action Programme for Joint Biogas Plants, which explored the use of liquid manure in large scalebiogas plants as a way to reduce emissions and improve manure management in the country's

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intensive livestock industries.

The programme was backed up by action plans to reduce agricultural contamination of water courses. The Action Plan for Sustainable Agriculture, launched in 1991, tightened controls on the use of manure on farmland, and was followed by a further action plan in 2001, to improve manure handling and reduce the amount of ammonia released into the atmosphere.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN DENMARK IS BASED ON INTENSIVE, SPECIALISED FARMS WITH LARGESCALE POULTRY, BEEF AND DAIRY UNITS AND ARABLE FARMS COMMON ACROSS THE COUNTRY. All of these measures were aimed at reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment, including nitrogen pollution of groundwater and release of greenhouse gases - methane and nitrous oxide in particular - to the atmosphere.

The Agreement on Green Growth, signed by all of Denmark's major political parties in 2009, builds on these measures and aims to ensure that protection of the environment and the climate goes hand-in-hand with modern and competitive

agriculture and food industries.

The Agreement includes measures to promote organic farming, re-establish wetlands, encourage environmentally sound farming practices and reduce use of pesticides and nutrients. It also focuses on efficiency in resource and energy use and the application of environmental technologies that reduce input use, energy consumption and emissions, recover valuable by-products, and minimise waste disposal problems. One of the specific aims of the Agreement is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from Danish agriculture by 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per year by 2015, half of which will come from reducing the amount of nitrogen applied as manure or inorganic fertiliser.

A key climate-change mitigation element of the Agreement is its target to use half of all manure produced in the country to produce biogas by 2020 - a 10 - fold increase from 2009 levels. Production of biogas will reduce methane emissions from manure and reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuel - both of which will help bring down Denmark's carbon footprint. The use of catch crops and establishment of perennial plants such as willow for biomass, mandated under the Agreement, will sequester considerable amounts of carbon in organic matter and woody species.

With a budget of some US$2.4 billion for 2009-15, the MAY JUNE 2015

DANISH AGRICULTURE

Agreement provides funding for several initiatives that will contribute to climate-change mitigation. These include the development of common, centralised biogas plants, farm level investments for connecting to these plants and planting of perennial energy crops, such as willow. Planting these crops has also been made tax-deductible, to encourage uptake by farmers.

Such initiatives are balanced by policy measures aimed at ensuring the continued health and vibrancy of the agricultural sector, which is at a vital part of MAY JUNE 2015

Denmark's economy, accounting for 3% of gross domestic product and employing 8.5% of the country's labour force. Many of the changes are aimed at simplifying the policy environment in which agriculture operates, in order to reduce farm overheads and increase the efficiency of production.

To date, the various measures have had considerable impact: Denmark's greenhouse gas emissions declined by up to 28% between 1990 and 2009 (from 18.7 to 13.4 million

tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents). Much of this decline came from a 31% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions, due to improved use of manure and a 40% reduction in use of inorganic fertiliser between 1990 and 2000.

Studies suggest that greenhouse gas emissions from Danish agriculture could be cut by a further 50 - 70% without reducing food production, and that increases in biogas production from manure could result in a positive energy balance for the agricultural sector as a whole.

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37

POLISH AGRICULTURE

HIGH QUALITY PLANTER BAGS MARTEX速 DELIVERS ITS PRODUCTS TO MORE THAN 24 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE. LOOKING FOR DISTRIBUTORS IN GULF AND THE MIDDLE EAST

M

ARTEX速-Jerzy Marek Strenkowski, is a family owned company from Poland engaged in the production and supply of textile products for nurseries, including those can be effectively used in the temperate, dry or even hot climate.

The company offers different kinds of products including a series of containers under the common name of ARBO速. Also there are nursery and transportation bags, bags for general purpose and for the collection of small plastic items (plastic bottles, cans, AL), household waste utilization, and many others.

Under the brand of MARTEX速, the company offers mats for protection against weed, containers for ground and water perennials,

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MAY JUNE 2015

POLISH AGRICULTURE

expanding tape for connecting of tree and its support, multicolour marking tape, protective material for draining pipes and trees located near the roads and streets, tunnels/ sleeves for ventilation and weights used in foil tunnels.

Additionally, the company offers the following range of products: jute textile (in bales and KARO type clothing), jute felt, knitted fabric/net for shading, bedding material for application directly on ground, geo-textile, foil and foam with thermo-insulative properties for plants and objects (in bales and variety of formats), capillary mats for tables, wrapping band for trees, stabilizers of ground in the slopy area.

Water saving jute mat, for

MAY JUNE 2015

application in dry and hot climate, which effectively reduces water evaporation and its assimilation by weed; aluminum foil coated container which reflects sunlight, and thermo-

insulative inserts, for application inside bags, pots or directly on ground are also included in the product range.

MARTEX速 delivers its products to more than 24 countries in Europe.

GULF AGRICULTURE

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KUWAIT UPDATE

COMPLETE SET OF AGRICULTURE AND GARDENING SERVICES

E

stablished in 1985, AlShaheen Nurseries has been ever since developing itself as one of the leaders in the field of agriculture retail and landscaping. AlShaheen Nurseries provides a complete set of agriculture and gardening services. The team is run by well qualified engineers and experienced supervisors, with a long and successful track record in agriculture Shaheen M. AlRubaie projects execution. The company is located in General Manager Shuwaikh, 4th Ring Road, Nurseries Area. It’s

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our pleasure to introduce our wide range of services we offer the following: G Landscaping and planting division for indoor and outdoor gardens. Wholesale division (For Agricultural Companies only).

G Maintenance team for agricultural projects and house gardens.

G Designing and implementing irrigation systems.

G Wide range of indoor and outdoor plants.

G Wide rang of flower and vegetable seeds.

G Different sizes and colors of plastic net shades.

All kinds of natural and chemical fertilizers.

G Peat Moss, potting soil, hydroton.

G Agent and distributor of indoor and outdoor pots of different shapes and sizes AlShaheen Nurseries showroom is considered as a garden center for selling indoor and outdoor plants – Grass – Peat Moss – Potting Soil – Plastic Net Shades – Pots – Rocks –Seeds – Natural and Chemical Fertilizers – Agrilite – Irrigation Sys. – Water pumps – Insect killer – Hydroton – Palm bags.

The Company aims to provide many items to serve different customer’s tastes, in addition to provide the best quality and less prices under one roof.

AlShaheen Nurseries owns a farm in Wafra area specialized in growing plants, flowers, and paspalum grass, runs by well qualified engineers to provide the market and the Agricultural companies with the best varieties and quality. The farm is considered one of leading farms in Wafra in growing plants, flowers, and pasplam grass.

The Project Division is run by well qualified team of engineers and supervisors to design landscape and maintain gardens. There is a team for designing & implementing irrigation systems.

The whole sale division was established in 2000 to provide the Ministries and the agricultural companies with plants, garden tools and irrigation systems. Since then, the division has been supplying some of the leading government and private projects.

MAY JUNE 2015