March-April 2021 edition of Gulf Agriculture

ISSN 1751-8407

MARCH

APRIL

2021

Y O U R G AT E WAY T O T H E M I D D L E E A S T A G R I B U S I N E S S

21

Discover Rizobac, a Biotechnology Product Developed for Young Plants

24 Flora Eco Glue:

An Innovative Substrate Additive

29

The Growth of Hydroponics in the GCC GCC

32

Counting Camels in the Desert

38

Gender Testing Machine for Eggs

AGI IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF GRAIN STORAGE AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT. STORAGE | CONVEYORS | BUCKET ELEVATORS STRUCTURES | CLEANERS | DRYERS TEMPERATURE SENSING TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT

africasales@aggrowth.com +27 (0)71 633 5365

aggrowth.com | @AgGrowthIntl

PROFESSIONAL PEAT MOSS SUBSTRATES AND PEAT MOSS PREMIUM QUALITY

VEGETABLES

ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

TREE NURSERIES

Floragard Vertriebs-GmbH Fon +49 152 / 22 67 29 61 sassi@floragard.de www.floragard.de

… and everything starts to blossom!

Contents Editor Megha Mary Matt Associate Editor Jessie Jorge Graphic Design Elizabeth John Contributors Dr. Hansel Geo Thomas Neville J. Chandler Shakeeb Kolakadan Registered Office Matt Media Intl. Ltd. 12 Gateway Mews London N11 2UT United Kingdom US Office Matt Media (USA) LLC. 1713 E. Morgan Court Gilbert, Arizona 85295 Middle East Offices Matt Media LLC. Sharjah Media City United Arab Emirates Al Saad Adv. & Publishing LLC P O Box 25694, Sharjah United Arab Emirates

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Cover Photo Courtesy: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)

News

04

Fertilizers

20

Biostimulants

21

Substrates

24

Seedling Trays

26

Agriculture Machinery

27

Irrigation

28

36

info@gulfagriculture.com www.gulfagriculture.com Gulf Agriculture is a publication from Matt Media Intl. Ltd. (UK) and 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 wholesalers of food and agri inputs.

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All rights reserved. The opinions and views expressed in the 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 readers particular circumstances. The publishers regret that they cannot accept liabilities on any error or emissions contained in this publication.

Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2021

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32

Hydroponics

29

Greenhouse Solutions

30

Drones in Animal Farming

32

Animal Nutrition

36

Hatcheries

38

Manure Management

40

March-April 2021

News SILAL SIGNS UP MORE THAN 850 ABU DHABI FARMS TO SUPPLY MORE THAN 30,000 TONNES OF LOCAL FRESH PRODUCE IN 20/21 SEASON Silal, Abu Dhabi’s new fresh produce and agritech company, has signed agreements with more than 850 local farms in Abu Dhabi to supply more than 30,000 tonnes of fresh produce during the current crop season. The initiative is in line with Silal’s endeavours to support farmers, promote local food production, and become a leading supplier of high quality, locally farmed fresh produce across the UAE. His Excellency, Eng Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Silal: “Silal amplifies farmers’ capabilities in Abu Dhabi to boost local production of agricultural crops and build strong and smart food supply

chains. Silal will continue to expand contract farming in Abu Dhabi and deploy advanced agritech solutions by working with local and international partners. This is to achieve increased volumes of fresh agricultural crop production and raise the UAE’s self-sufficiency in selected products.”

Silal provides farming inputs to its contracted farmers and has a team of qualified agricultural engineers who work in collaboration with farmers to improve production quality and yields and encourage sustainable farming practices. Silal offers premium pricing options to empower and protect farmers livelihoods from market price volatility. The company operates 16 collection centres across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and three pack-houses.

Additionally, it manages a distribution centre where it

receives products from local farms, conducts quality control and distributes to customers across the UAE. Silal has also strengthened its collaboration with major retail outlets, wholesalers, food distribution companies, hotels and the catering trade, offering a range of high quality, locally farmed fresh produce across the nation.

Silal will carry out its mandates to diversify food products’ sources and spur the local agri-food industry and will continue its cooperation with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) to elevate the agricultural sector and support farmers.

Silal manages procurement programmes and strategic stocks of foodstuffs and executes specialised knowledge transfer programmes on desert farming techniques. The company also devises projects and initiatives to support the increase in local production of

AB VISTA LAUNCHES ONLINE DIETARY FIBRE CALCULATOR TO HELP NUTRITIONISTS OPTIMISE ANIMAL DIETS AB Vista have launched a free tool to assist nutritionists as they formulate animal diets. The dietary fibre calculator uses average values of global raw materials to calculate the dietary fibre content (plus other more in-depth fibre parameters) of finished animal feed.

The calculator offers the option of entering up to 28 different raw materials, along with the daily total intake in kg, to show the fibre composition of the feed and the daily fibre intake in either a data or graphic view.

Xaviere Rousseau, Global Technical Support Manager, says: “As feed additive specialists, we know that

the role of fibre in monogastric diets can be misunderstood and that achieving the optimum fibre fraction can be challenging, even for experienced nutritionists.

“We have designed this calculator to be a straightforward, easy to access way to assess the total dietary fibre content of finished feed.”

The parameters within the calculator represent the values that are available within their new

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Dietary Fibre analysis service, part of their comprehensive NIR offering.

The calculator is accessible at: abv-calculators.com/fibre.

March-April 2021

News fruits and vegetables for smallholder farmers in the UAE.

WATER IN AGRICULTURE IN THREE MAGHREB COUNTRIES The Maghreb countries are facing increasing water scarcity amplified by inefficient water use and overexploitation of water resources. There is evidence that surface water is diminishing and that ground water levels are lowering rapidly. The countries are affected by climate change as rainfall is more erratic and there are longer lasting and more severe periods of

drought, alternated with severe rains and catastrophic flooding.

The projected climate change impact on agriculture in the Maghreb will most likely increase further. This is accompanied by salinization of soils and ground water, even strengthened by overfertilization of soils, combined with a general low productivity and misuse of water.

The Netherlands has worldrenowned expertise when it comes to water management and agriculture, and finding sustainable and practical solutions for water use efficiency, quality improvement and circular agriculture. In order to link the Dutch experience and expertise to the

issues at hand, an assessment of the current situation of water use and water problems in agriculture as well as the challenges for improvement was needed.

Acacia Water, together with the Salt Doctors, report here on the assessment carried out to better understand the challenges for bilateral cooperation in the field of water in agriculture in three Maghreb countries: Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The assessment results will be used for making concrete recommendations on business and institutional cooperation between the Netherlands and the three individual Maghreb countries especially in those fields where

FLOWERTRIALS® CANCELS 2021 EDITION

While the mood was still cautiously optimistic a few weeks ago, the ongoing and unstable situation in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic has led FlowerTrials to take the decision to cancel the physical event for 2021.

Gill Corless, Chairman of the FlowerTrials: “Given the current circumstances, we feel that FlowerTrials cannot responsibly organise collective open days or encourage visitors to travel to different locations. We do not believe that by June, vaccination levels will be high enough to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff.

While we cannot predict what the

situation will be in June with regards to lockdown regulations, with only few weeks to go to week 24, cancellation is the only realistic option left. On behalf of all of us, we hope to see you again next year.

FlowerTrials remains the place where Plants meet People.”

Democratic decision A digital information meeting held on 18th of March and a member survey issued recently revealed that over three quarters of all FlowerTrials members prefer to cancel this year’s physical event.

Sally van der Horst, FlowerTrials Secretary: “The FlowerTrials

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organisation is of course very disappointed to have to cancel FlowerTrials for the second year in a row, however we are relieved that the decision has been taken democratically after careful consideration and consultation with all the companies involved. We are proud of our strong community of 60 members and are looking forward to maintaining the excellent cooperation”.

Digital promotion As most FlowerTrials exhibitors have indicated interest in taking part in a form of joint online promotion, the Board and Secretariat will now continue to work on a digital alternative to present the latest pot and bedding plants to the industry in week 24.

Further information on this will follow in due course. FlowerTrials will also continue to share introductions and highlights from our members via the website, newsletters, PR and social media.

March-April 2021

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ ﺗُﻔّﺎﺡ‬

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ َﻛ َﺭﺯ‬

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ ُﺭ ّﻣﺎﻥ‬

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ ﻓﻭﺍﻛﻪ ﺃﻭﺭﻭﺑﻳّﺔ ﻣﻥ ﺯﺭﺍﻋﺔ ﻋﺿﻭﻳﺔ‬

‫ﺇﺳﺗﻣﺗﻌﻭﺍ ﺑﻌﺻﻳﺭ ﻓﻭﺍﻛﻪ ﻣﻥ ﺯﺭﺍﻋﺔ ﻋﺿﻭﻳﺔ‬

‫ﺷﻬﻳّﺔ‬ ‫ﻋﺻﺎﺋﺭ ﻓﻭﺍﻛﻪ ُﻣﻣﺗﺎﺯﺓ ﻭ َ‬

‫‪www.euorganicjuices.eu‬‬

‫"ﺍﻟﻠﺟﻧﺔ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻭﻛﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻧﻔﻳﺫﻳﺔ ﻟﺣﻣﺎﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺻﺣﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﻭﺍﻟ ُﻣﺳﺗﻬﻠﻛﻳﻥ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﻣﻧﺗﺟﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺯﺭﺍﻋﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻐﺫﺍﺋﻳﺔ" ﻫﻲ ﻏﻳﺭ َﻣﺳﺅﻭﻟﺔ ﻋﻥ ﺃﻱ ﺇﺳﺗﺧﺩﺍﻡ ﺃﻭ‬ ‫ﺇﺳﺗﻬﻼﻙ ﻳُﻣﻛﻥ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺗ ّﻡ ﻛﻧﺗﻳﺟﺔ ﺃﻭ ﺗﺑﻌﺎ ً ﻟﻠﻣﻌﻠﻭﻣﺎﺕ ﺍﻟ ُﻣﺣﺗﻭﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺩﻋﺎﻳﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﻫﻳﺋﺎﺕ ﺍﻹﺗﺣﺎﺩ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻲ ﺗﺩﻋﻡ‬ ‫ﺣﻣﻼﺕ ﺍﻟﺗﺭﻭﻳﺞ ﺍﻟﺩﻋﺎﺋﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ‬ ‫ﺗﻬﺩﻑ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺗ َﺭﺷﻳﺩ ﺍﻟ ُﻣﺳﺗﻬﻠﻛﻳﻥ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﺻﺣّﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫َﻧ َﻣﻁ َﻣﻌﻳﺷ ٍﺔ ﺃﻛﺛَﺭ ِ‬

‫ﻣﻭﻟﺔ ﺑﺩﻋﻡ‬ ‫ﺣﻣﻠﺔ ﺗﺭﻭﻳﺞ ﺩﻋﺎﺋﻳﺔ ُﻣ ّ‬ ‫ُﻣﻘﺩّﻡ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻹﺗﺣﺎﺩ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻲ‪.‬‬

News the Dutch agribusiness, knowledge and technology institutions can make a significant improvement.

The outcome allowed a comparative overview of several key opportunities and specific technological developments and link these to Dutch knowledge and technology solutions available.

For each of the countries we described most opportune cooperation opportunities shaped as business cases with the involvement of the local Government, Dutch and local private sector and knowledge organizations.

This study was commissioned by the Agricultural Offices of the Dutch Embassies in Algiers and Rabat, financed by the Dutch ministry of LNV.

BIG FARM BROTHERS INTRODUCES COMBIN, A BREAKTHROUGH MOVE TO MAKE THE UAE A SOIL SUFFICIENT AND GREEN CITY Big Farm Brothers, a startup in the UAE introduces ComBin, an organic recycling and natural composting solution to the households in the UAE. As natural waste management is on the rise, ComBin is working in line with the vision of the UAE government to offer a comprehensive recycling and natural composting alternative to make the Dubai a soil sufficient and green city.

With a vision to support local economy and empower household gardening,

landscaping and vegetable produce with improved quality of locally produced foods, the homegrown company is urging residents, of the UAE to adopt to organic ways of living. On making readily available high quality and authentic soil to the UAE, Mr. Vishal Mahajan, Co-Founder said, “Organic and natural composting is one of the effective ways to grow vegetables that are rich in taste and nutrients. With a lot of focus on immunity building and clean eating, ComBin enables a more natural way of consuming nutrient- rich produce. With managing considerable amount of natural kitchen waste, households in the UAE can take progressive steps to ensure a more organic and natural harvest in their balconies,

BASF AND AGBIOME COLLABORATE ON A NEW BIOLOGICAL FUNGICIDE FOR EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BASF and AgBiome have signed an agreement to bring a new biological fungicide to the market in Europe, and key countries in the Middle East and Africa. Developed by AgBiome, and marketed as Howler® in the United States, the biological fungicide with multiple modes of action provides preventive, long-lasting activity on a broad spectrum of soilborne and

foliar diseases. BASF will support the further development and registration and will be the exclusive distributor in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Subject to successful registrations, first market introductions in selected countries are expected in 2024/2025.

“With this collaboration we will broaden our BioSolutions portfolio, especially in Europe,” said Marco Moorfeld, Vice President for Market Management in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia at BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division. “We believe that the complementary combination of

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conventional crop protection and BioSolutions is the way forward for sustainable agriculture and we are convinced that strong partnerships in the industry are essential to bring more innovations to the market.”

The new biological fungicide is effective against diseases like Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Botrytis as well as active against several other diseases. It is based on the bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis – strain AFS009. The fungicide will be made available for use in vegetables and ornamentals as well as for applications on turf such as golf courses. It can be applied effectively at every phase of vegetable production – from greenhouse to pre-plant until harvest. This makes it a valuable tool to complement conventional crop protection products as part of a comprehensive integrated pest management program.

March-April 2021

News lawns and backyards.”

Composting is a powerful process which has the potential to convert all the greenhouse emissions into nutrient rich soil which nourishes life in itself.

Urging every household in the UAE to embrace their social responsibility and starting small, the team at Big Farm Brothers is continuously striving to educate the residents in the UAE to keep their organic waste out of the landfills. This process will enable to save the greenhouse emissions equivalent to driving around the planet Earth almost 4,629 times.

from the Thai Government to fully reopen by January 2022.” said Heiko M. Stutzinger, Director VIV worldwide and Managing Director VNU Asia Pacific and VNU Europe. “As for VICTAM and Animal Health and Nutrition Asia, the organizers are working on a forwarddriven solution in order to synergistically combine the events in Bangkok. All details and implications for partners and customers regarding the

new set-up will be communicated in the coming weeks.” added Stutzinger.

Prior to the in-person trade shows in January next year, VIV Asia and Meat Pro Asia will organize a digital event in September 2021. Both events exhibiting companies will be invited to join buyers and visitors online during this year.

Networking and knowledge sharing sessions will also be facilitated through the

VIV ASIA AND MEAT PRO ASIA POSTPONED TO JANUARY 2022 VIV Asia, the complete Feed to Food global trade show in Asia, is postponed to January 12-14, 2022, as announced by the show organizers VNU Asia Pacific and VNU Europe.

Meat Pro Asia, Asia’s leading processing and packaging trade fair for egg, poultry, meat, seafood & food products, organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. and VNU Asia Pacific is also postponed to be co-located with VIV Asia.

Two international leading events for the animal protein production business in Asia, under one roof: an unprecedented and remarkable opportunity. VIV Asia and Meat Pro Asia will take place on January 12-14, 2022, at the Challenger Halls - IMPACT, Bangkok, Thailand based on the announcement by The Ministry of Tourism and Sports on a new four-phase plan that would see the country fully opened to international visitors by January 2022.

“Our new dates and plan are aligned with the announcement

March-April 2021

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News platform. More details on the digital dates will follow in due course.

KEMIN BECOMES MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER IN ANIMAL VACCINE COMPANY MIDDLE EAST FOR VACCINES (MEVAC) Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that

strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, is growing its presence in the global vaccine market by becoming majority shareholder of MEVAC, an animal vaccine manufacturer based in Cairo, Egypt, and a shareholder in MEVAC’s sister company, UVAC, to further expand Kemin’s portfolio in the global animal vaccine market.

“We entered into a partnership with MEVAC over a decade ago and are thrilled to become the majority shareholder,” said Chris Nelson, President and CEO, Kemin Industries. “Kemin and MEVAC share the goal of transforming lives and creating a sustainable future – one in which non-antibiotic alternatives are becoming more and more important to customers. By extending our

ITFC PARTNERS WITH OCP AFRICA TO SUPPORT CÔTE D’IVOIRE’S AGRICULTURE OUTPUT AND TRAIN 20,000 FARMERS The Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program, a multi-partner Program led by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), partners with OCP Africa for supporting OCP Africa’s Agribooster Program to reach rice farmers and enhance agriculture value chains within Côte d’Ivoire. The agreement was signed by Dr. Mohamed Anouar Jamali, Chief Executive Officer of OCP Africa, a subsidiary of OCP Group, and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive Officer, ITFC, in Rabat, Morocco.

The program will benefit 20,000 farmers. It serves as an end-to-end value chain solution that brings together all the conditions necessary for improving rice productivity and small farmers revenues, including the provision of high-quality fertilizers and hybrid seeds, training on good agricultural practices and soil fertility, as well as market linkages. The program will also serve to safeguard the health of the country’s farmers in the wake of COVID-19 through the provision of personal protective equipment to smallholder farms.

The CEO of ITFC, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, highlighted the importance of this partnership, saying, “ITFC’s grant for the OCP Africa Agribooster

program in Côte d’Ivoire aims to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19 and help boost global food supply chains whilst enhancing agricultural value chains in the country especially under these difficult circumstances. African countries must work on securing their local agricultural production, to minimize their exposure to imports and advance food security for their populations. This grant will also cover the training of trainers to strengthen their capabilities through innovative training and digitalized technical assistance to ensure the sustainability of the program for future generations of farmers.”

Dr Mohamed Anouar Jamali, CEO of OCP Africa also added, “Covid-19 has exposed the limits of our current production models. The repercussions of the pandemic on

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food security call for new holistic models to produce enough food in Africa. The Agribooster program is a good example of an initiative designed to support African food systems to become more resilient, and we are glad to have ITFC as a strong partner in Côte d'Ivoire.”

The Agribooster program, which comes under the umbrella of OCP Africa and is dedicated to the sustainable development of agriculture, requires extensive training in good agricultural practices and regular monitoring throughout the year.

At the continent level, the Agribooster program has reached over 630,000 smallholder farmers across four countries (Ghana, Sénégal, Nigéria and Côte d’Ivoire), with an increase in their yield of up to 40% for leading farmers.

March-April 2021

News partnership to MEVAC’s sister company, UVAC, we can do even more to bring our innovations to animal vaccines.”

First investing in the MEVAC in 2010, Kemin has increased its participation in the Egyptian-based company over the years. In 2019, Kemin increased its share in MEVAC and received the right to distribute its vaccines globally, outside the Arabicspeaking countries in the Middle East already served

by MEVAC. “As Kemin has grown its partnership with MEVAC, our capabilities and technologies have expanded, as well, and we are thrilled to bring this beneficial cooperation to UVAC,” said Dr. Magdy El Sayed, Founder, MEVAC and UVAC. “We share a commitment to advancing technology and accessibility of animal vaccines, and together, we can create an even greater impact.”

SANLUCAR CREATES FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG TALENTS IN THE TUNISIAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR SanLucar has been committed to the education of young people in Tunisia for many years now. In order to further expand its educational training program, the multinational company has signed an agreement to support young talents in the Tunisian agricultural sector.

In addition to offering the trainees the opportunity to undergo the practical part

March-April 2021

of their training at SanLucar, the company will employ each year 150 graduates with an agricultural diploma on its Tunisian tomato and berry farms.

SanLucar signed this agreement with AVFA (Agency for Agricultural Education and Training), Swisscontact Tunisia (international foundation for development work), Hedi Bouchemaoui Group (HBG) and various Tunisian ministers.

Up to 70% of graduates in Tunisia have trouble finding a job. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to recruit well-trained professionals. In this context, the aim of the agreement is to further expand and strengthen the cooperation between private companies and the training institutes under the responsibility of the AVFA. This way, the young trainees get the opportunity to apply theory they have learned into practice from the very beginning, to gain insights into the real working world and find out which areas they enjoy the most. The private companies have the advantage of getting to know their trainees better hiring them for specific positions after they graduate.

As a leader in the production of fruits and vegetables in Tunisia, SanLucar is actively involved in the fields of agriculture, Agri-food and the environment. Already since 2017, the SanLucar tomato farm La Cinquième Saison has been contributing to the training and development of

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News young people in the agricultural sector.

EIMA: DATES AND PROGRAMMES FOR 21-22 A timetable with deadlines and obligations marks the organizational stages of EIMA International 2021, the great exhibition of agricultural machinery to be held in Bologna from October 19 to 23. The dates have also been set for the next edition, which will be staged from 9 to 13 November 2022.

The FederUnacoma

organisers have defined the approach to EIMA 2021 and have already set the dates for 2022. For the 2021 edition, to be held in Bologna from 19 to 23 October, exhibiting companies have received from FederUnacoma a timetable with the technical and organisational steps to be taken in preparation for the event. Meanwhile, the next edition is already scheduled for 9 to 13 November 2022 and will mark the return of the Bologna exhibition to its traditional location in November of even years. The timetable for the current year envisages the assignment of

the exhibition areas inside the exhibition halls by 16 April, and an important deadline is also 15 June, the day from which it will be possible to buy exhibition tickets online.

The organising offices of FederUnacoma, which are working to define the operating procedures of the ticket office, are aiming to make the most of IT tools, namely the EIMA International 2021 website and App. The objective is to increase remote purchases and named tickets to eliminate any crowding near the entrances and to monitor accurately the attendance

NEW RAIN BIRD® FLOW-INDICATING BASKET FILTERS PROVIDE ALLIN-ONE IRRIGATION SOLUTION

Rain Bird’s new Flow-Indicating Basket Filter product line makes irrigation systems easier to install and maintain by providing flow measurement, filtration and integrated pressure regulation in an all-in-one, compact solution.

“It’s important to monitor your irrigation system’s performance to ensure all areas are getting just the right amount of water,” said Whitney Braun, product manager for Rain Bird’s Landscape Drip Division.

“However, it can be challenging to discover and diagnose issues quickly, before they become real problems. Our new Flow-Indicating

Basket Filter product line provides easy, visual monitoring of irrigation system changes over time.”

Ideal for drip systems, Rain Bird’s Flow-Indicating Basket Filters are designed to work with any residential or commercial irrigation system with a flow range of 3.0 gpm to 20 gpm (11,4 to 75,7 L/m).

A dial at the top of the filter cap provides diagnostic information about the zone’s operation, saving time and simplifying maintenance.

During irrigation system installation, contractors can use the basket filter’s accurate flow reading to simplify design and scheduling calculations.

Then, by using the basket filter’s indicator bezel to mark that zone’s appropriate flow rate on the dial, they can also quickly diagnose any future maintenance issues, such as weeping valves, system blockages, leaks/ excessive flow or a clogged filter.

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Cleaning the filter is fast and easy thanks to its unique upright design, which also prevents debris from entering the downstream line during routine maintenance.

Rain Bird’s Flow-Indicating Basket Filters are available in five models.

There are three one-inch models – two with integrated 40 psi pressure regulation and one without. A fourth model is a full commercial control zone kit, including a one-inch Rain Bird® PESB Valve, while a fifth model is a Retrofit Kit that makes it possible to upgrade existing Rain Bird Basket Filters by simply changing the filter and the cap. All five models provide flow measurement and filtration, with replacement stainless steel filters also available.

“By installing these new FlowIndicating Basket Filters, irrigation professionals can determine when a system may need maintenance with just a quick glance at the filter’s dial,” said Braun. “As a result, they get additional control for better, faster troubleshooting, fewer callbacks and invaluable peace of mind.”

March-April 2021

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.aridlanddevelopment.com e-mail: aridland@emirates.net.ae

News inside the exhibition centre. 5 July is the deadline for updating the information to be published in the official catalogue of EIMA International 2021: this is the date by which exhibiting companies must communicate any changes in their personal data or in the range of products on display. “This communication", reads the circular sent by FederUnacoma to the almost 1,600 exhibiting firms already booked (other requests to participate are arriving in these days from Italy and abroad), "must be forwarded

through the event's website designed to speed up operations.

The internationalisation initiatives, which have always been a strong point of the Bolognese exhibition, will come to life immediately after the summer, in the month of September. FederUnacoma is working together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the ICE Agency to define the arrival of foreign operators according to the protocols and the "green corridors" established by the authorities in order to facilitate the safe

participation of visitors and businesspeople.

ANPARIO DIRECT (UK) STOCK PROVITA SPECIALIST RUMINANT PRODUCT RANGE Anpario’s e-commerce platform, Anpario Direct, offers a carefully selected range of product solutions, readily-available in various pack sizes to suit customer needs. Our aim is to bring simplicity to your everyday life, simply place your order

RHS TO BE PEAT-FREE BY 2025 AS IT EXPERIMENTS WITH FARMED SPHAGNUM MOSS The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has committed to being 100% peat-free by 2025 as it trials alternative responsibly sourced growing media.

Peatlands, from which peat is harvested, are the world’s largest carbon store and provide valuable ecosystems for wildlife. As such, the charity has long championed the use of peat-free growing media among its members and over the next few years will be trialling sphagnum moss from sphagnum farming, anaerobic digestate, forest co-products, and waste materials to achieve peat-

free status.

RHS gardens are currently 98% peat-free with the exception of some rare and exotic plants. The RHS also stopped selling peatbased bagged compost in 2019, and from 2025 plants sold in its retail outlets and on display at its shows will be peat-free.

The commercial horticulture industry is required to be peat-free by 2030 but, with an estimated two million cubic metres of peat to be replaced, the RHS is calling for greater government support in helping industry make the transition to responsibly sourced alternatives. This includes: • Providing capital investment, infrastructure allowances and fiscal incentives to help growing media manufacturers and growers update their equipment,

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facilities, and processes and increase their production and use of peat alternatives.

• Continued support for the Responsible Sourcing Growing Media Scheme.

• Removing red tape attached to waste products that could be developed by growing media manufacturers as peat alternatives.

• Investing in research and development into the production of alternatives to overcome specialist plant and plug plant production and to address supply chain issues.

• Linking the Tree Strategy to the new Peat Strategy to increase the volume of wood products available as a raw material and peat replacement.

The RHS is also calling on gardeners to go peat-free by: • Buying peat-free bagged growing media.

• Composting to create homegrown soil improver or putting garden waste in council bins for wider use.

• Sharing peat-free successes, tips and advice with friends and family.

March-April 2021

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We are excited to announce that Anpario Direct are now stocking Provita, specialist animal health products for sheep and cattle.

The Provita range includes probiotics, colostrums, electrolytes, and feed, vitamin and mineral supplements for ewes, lambs, calves, beef and dairy cattle. Provita is very much aligned with Anpario and consumer demands in developing products that enable a more natural approach to animal health & production.

Provita, a manufacturer of natural animal health products, are the only GMP

licensed facility for the production of veterinary probiotic products in Europe.

Provita has an extensive Research & Development department which has allowed it to develop a range of products specific to cattle and sheep. These products all play a role in the maintenance of good health and supporting animal performance naturally on farms right across the UK.

BIOMIN ANNOUNCES EU AUTHORIZATION FOR FUMZYME® FOR FERMENTING FEED IN ALL SPECIES Leading animal nutrition and feed additive firm BIOMIN

has announced the EU authorization of FUMzyme®, the only commercially available mycotoxindeactivating enzyme and component of Mycofix®, for application in fermenting feed including silages.

FUMzyme, a fumonisin esterase, is a purified enzyme that detoxifies fumonisins –a category of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium fungi— into non-toxic metabolites.

Fumonisins are a group of secondary fungal metabolites (mycotoxins) that contaminate crops in the field and have a variety of negative consequences in livestock and humans. The latest BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey reveals that

RIDDER INTRODUCES THE NEW TRANSPARENT RES 10 R FR WALL SCREEN

Ridder is proud to introduce its new transparent energy-saving screen fabric, which has been developed especially for use in vertical roller screen systems. The RES 10 R FR screen is the clearest energy-saving screen in its class, has a very stable structure and is flame-retardant.

This means it saves energy while minimizing the amount of light lost.

The use of an energy-saving roller screen system along sidewalls has become an important standard when cultivating crops that require intensive heating. In the past, many growers placed polycarbonate film

along sidewalls to prevent the loss of precious heat during colder periods. These days, in many new-build and renovation projects the use of polycarbonate film has given way to a movable vertical roller screen system featuring energy-saving screens along sidewalls. The use of a vertical roller screen system also enables multiple (temporary) compartments to be created within a greenhouse. The new, transparent RES 10 R FR roller screen system from Ridder is particularly suitable for both these applications.

Compared to a conventional horizontal screen system, rolling a wall screen up produces a different type of stress on the screen fabric.

This can affect the properties of the screen. Thanks to the flexible but stable structure of the new transparent RES 10 R FR wall

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screen, the screen properties of the energy-saving fabric remain consistent and reliable. The flexible structure also makes the screen easier to install.

The new RES 10 R FR energysaving screen fabric is also ideal for use in baffle screens in order to prevent excessive air circulation above the screen and cold falls. This reduces temperature differences in the greenhouse, resulting in a more even climate, less chance of mould and more uniform growth. Baffle screens made using the highly transparent RES 10 R FR fabric minimize the loss of solar irradiation during the day, while also preventing unwanted cold drafts above the screen.

The new RES 10 R FR wall screen roller has the highest transparency and lowest hortiscatter in its class according to the NEN 2675 standard. It is the perfect addition to Ridder’s comprehensive package of energy-saving screens.

March-April 2021

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News fumonisins occur in 80% of over 6000 corn samples analyzed worldwide.

The challenge for dairy farmers stems is that fumonisins pass through the rumen largely intact and have been proven to damage the intestinal epithelium, thereby decreasing nutrient absorption and causing leaky gut. In a 2020 paper by Gallo et al. published in the Journal of Dairy Science, a low contamination of fumonisins combined with deoxynivalenol led to an average 1.34L

decrease in milk production and signs of liver damage after only 21 days of exposition.

“The dairy industry has expressed increasing concern regarding contamination of feedstuffs by fumonisins and other mycotoxins due to their negative consequences for reproduction, performance and health,” observed Ms Ursula Hofstetter, Head of Global Product Management Mycotoxins at BIOMIN. “The EU authorization affirms the safety and efficacy

of FUMzyme® in combatting fumonisins. Now dairy farmers have a new tool to guard their herds’ health status and profitability, thereby contributing to more sustainable agriculture,” stated Ms Hofstetter.

VITACRESS HERBS LAUNCHES NEW HIGH-QUALITY HORTICULTURE BRAND Expert growers at Vitacress Herbs were excited to launch

ALRUMAIH: “SALIC” IS A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO IN THE FIELD OF FOOD SECURITY The CEO of The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co “SALIC”, His Excellency Eng. Sulaiman bin Abdulrahman AlRumaih, confirmed that the Public Investment Fund’s announcement of transferring its shares in each of the “Almarai, NADEC and Saudi Fisheries companies to the portfolio of “SALIC” will enhance its role as the fund’s investment arm for agriculture and food security by achieving integration within the fund’s related portfolio companies.

AlRumaih added that the transfers enable SALIC to further optimally the Kingdom’s

agricultural production and food processing opportunities by unifying local shareholdings under one umbrella to create a sustainable investment portfolio capable of effectively contributing to securing the Kingdom’s food security. This development adds domestic investment to SALIC’s international assets to create a series of sustainable agricultural investments in multiple geographic regions around the world.

The CEO of SALIC explained that the institutional work of the food security system, with the generous support of the wise leadership, contributed to resisting the Corona pandemic and revealed the importance of strategic integration between sectors related to agricultural and food affairs. During the pandemic, SALIC was able to contribute through its foreign investments to supply basic food commodities and maintaining the stability of their prices in the local market, pointing out that “SALIC” is moving forward to effectively contribute to the food security system, as it has been awarded a contract to supply 355 thousand

18 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

tons of wheat through its investments in Ukraine, Canada and Australia, as part of the direction of supporting Saudi investors abroad as one of the Kingdom’s food security strategy programs, which aim to diversify and increase sources of external food supplies.

It is noteworthy that the “SALIC” company was established by royal decree in 2009 and is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund. It started its investment operations in 2012 with many international companies in the field of agriculture and the trade of grains, rice and meat in Ukraine, Canada, India, Brazil, Australia, and United Kingdom, and at the local level.

SALIC established the National Grain Company in a strategic partnership with the Bahri Company to establish a grain handling terminal at Yanbu Commercial Port. “SALIC” aims to expand local and international investments and work to raise the operational efficiency of its existing investments and develop its relations with leading international companies in the same field.

March-April 2021

News a new high-quality herb brand, SEASON, in the horticulture sector.

Offering an assortment of classic culinary herbs and ornamental varieties, Vitacress Herbs developed the range of 48 products to include everything from parsley and rosemary, to lavender and dwarf sunflowers.

Eleanor Bridgman, Head of Innovation & Marketing, said “We have seen the rise of grow your own during lockdown and we know the benefits of growing herbs for mental wellbeing. Our SEASON brand guarantees the best possible growing experience for both seasoned and novice gardeners alike.”

Home-grown in West Sussex, the range is available all year round to independent garden centres and the garden trade through the UK wholesaler The Plant Yard.

Holly Geipel, Commercial Manager for Horticulture, said: “SEASON offers a large and varied range of herbs to every type of gardener.

Grown by market-leading experts, we are delighted to partner with The Plant Yard for the launch.”

Vitacress has a track record of growing innovation – everything from robotic planting to wireless canopy climate monitoring – and strong sustainable values. Vitacress was the first herb supplier to remove non-recyclable black plastic from living herb pots – this has meant over 176 tonnes of plastic pots per year are now able to be recycled. Vitacress is working towards peat-free soil and its 12 hectare indoor growing operation uses UV recycled water, as well as a combined heat and power plant.

March-April 2021

SYNGENTA FLOWERS INTRODUCES Xcarrier: THE NEW SOLUTION FOR PRODUCTION & TRANSPORTATION OF YOUNG PLANTS

Syngenta Flowers announces the introduction of Xcarrier; a new system to optimize production and distribution methods of young plants. Xcarrier has been developed by Syngenta Flowers and brings three advantages in young plant production and distribution into one smart solution: a reusable rooting tray that is similar to disposable plastic trays; a shipping frame that holds the rooting tray during distribution and is compatible with Syngenta Flowers’ Xtray. Also, the complete system provides a closed loop where trays are returned, cleaned and reused in line with our sustainable Xtray process.

“The introduction of

Xcarrier is a big step on many different levels of product quality and process efficiency for our customers and Syngenta Flowers,” says Mark Schermer, Global Head of Syngenta Flowers. “The Xtray was introduced in 2001, and now, 20 years later, it is time to take it to the next level.”

The Xcarrier brings three advantages in young plant production and distribution into one smart solution. The rooting tray is designed in conjunction with the characteristics of the current one-way plastic trays for optimal production practices benefitting plant health and quality. Moreover, the rooting tray is designed to tap into the benefits of paper pot production currently utilized and proven in

the plastic propagation trays. It is easy for the manual and automated transplanting and will reduce the risk of damage to the young plants during the process.

“With a two-piece system we have been able to design the production tray for optimal rooting conditions." - Lennart Johnson, technical specialist.

The shipping frame is designed to hold the rooting tray and make them stackable on pallets for efficient distribution combined with our Xtrays. This reduces the use of CC trolleys in the distribution process.

With 11 cm plant space while being stacked, the Xcarrier significantly reduces the risk of damage to the plants.

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

19

Fertilizers

K+S’ INNOVATION FOR SOLID FERTILIZER MANUFACTURERS

G

ranuAid is a natural and organic anhydrous Magnesium Sulphate, mined in Germany, containing 98% MgSO4, used as an additive or an anti-caking agent in the production of AN based fertilizers (AN, CAN, ASN, ASS) or in NPK complex (20-20-0-13) fertilizers.

K+S is currently the only player in the market able to produce this natural formula and therefore provide a unique competitive advantage to solid fertilizer manufacturers.

Why is the use of GranuAid® unique?

The product acts as an additive, internal desiccant or as a stabilizing agent in solid fertilizers with multiple benefits: • Improving granulation, prevent caking by decreasing moisture in the finished product and improving Mg content in the final product.

• In AN based fertilizer, GranuAid is applied at 0.1 –

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1.0%, typically 5 – 10 kg/MT to improve granule strength and keep the material free flowing during storage.

• In NPK complexes (DAP-AS based fertilizer complexes), GranuAid has multiple applications and benefits: 1. applied to the hot melt before granulation to chemically bind water as water of crystallization.

2. applied as coating on the powder surface to strongly absorb free moisture from the air.

3. applied during packaging to absorb left over moisture during storage.

• GranuAid is virtually free from organic compounds, chlorides and heavy metals and helps to complement the fertilizers with additional nutrients such as Mg and S in traces.

Agronomic & Technical Advisory The advisory service of K+S aims at transferring existing and new research findings in the field of plant nutrition to agricultural practice. Farmers all over the world benefit from this know-how, which enables them to implement new and promising methods in their fertilization practice, and to thereby improve yields and quality of their harvests. Our commitment and our expertise represent a significant contribution to securing global food supply and to protect the livelihoods of farmers. Benefit from our expertise and feel free to approach our team of international agronomists.

To learn more about GranuAid®, visit www.ks-middleeast.com

March-April 2021

Biostimulants

DISCOVER RIZOBAC, A BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCT DEVELOPED FOR YOUNG PLANTS

R

IZOBAC is a two in one product; a microbial inoculant and a fully organic rooting biostimulant.

It is ideal for transplanting: • In the field • In the greenhouse • In the garden or balcony Properties • Enriches the soil with more than 5 different strains of beneficial bacteria including PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) and Nitrogen fixing bacteria that embrace the root of the plant and help it grow

March-April 2021

in a healthy environment • Adds amino acids, vitamins (B12 - B2 – C), trace elements (Iron – Magnesium – Manganese- Zinc- Calcium), humic and fulvic acids, monosaccharides and polysaccharides in the soil • Stimulates rooting • Helps young plants overcome the transplant shock • Creates ideal soil conditions for the growth of strong and healthy plants RIZOBAC • Develops plant root system

• Encourages the health of vegetables, ornamentals and trees • Rejuvenates exhausted soils • Endorses high crop yields RIZOBAC is applied by fertigation during or just after transplanting, planting or sowing. It is suitable for professional and amateur growers. It is certified for use in organic farming according to EU Regulation 889/2008.

For more information, visit www.humofert.gr/en

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

21

Biostimulants

UNIFORM BUD BURST AND FLOWERING: BIOLCHIM'S WINNING SOLUTION

V

egetative awakening is a crucial moment for fruit crops: this phase will in fact affect all the stages of the plant’s development, ultimately determining the quantity and quality of production. This is why it is essential to start off on the right foot.

The issues Due to physiological, climatic and environmental factors, bud burst often occurs irregularly. This can occur even if the chilling need of the crop has been met and also in plants on which a dormancy breaking agent has been applied.

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On crops such as wine grapes, table grapes and kiwifruit, the phenomenon of apical dominance is very frequent and leads to the faster development of the shoots located at the tip of the branches.

These phenomena have negative effects on the uniformity of flowering, resulting in non-fruiting (loss of production) and uneven ripening of the fruits (prolongation of harvest times).

For stone fruit and pome fruit, it is not uncommon to observe an uneven development of the floral buttons and inflorescences.

Uneven flowering, especially in

the self-sterile varieties, causes reduced or lack of fruit set which is followed by substantial productive loss. For an adequate cross-pollination it is necessary a synchronous flowering of the pollinating plants with the producing ones.

The solution to improve bud burst and flowering FOLICIST is an innovative biostimulant based on folic acid, glycin betaine, proline, cysteine and plant extracts,

March-April 2021

Biostimulants

which naturally uniforms bud breaking, flowering and fruit setting. FOLICIST favours the balanced development of the plant, reducing apical dominance and preparing the fruits to a uniform enlargement.

During bud breaking, flowering and fruit setting, the plant requires high amounts of energy, proteins, sugars and nucleic acids to support intense cell division. Folic acid stimulates the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids,

March-April 2021

while cysteine and proline are necessary for the production of energy in the cells. Plant extracts provide anti-stress compounds and natural growth promoters.

With FOLICIST, shoots grow quicker and simultaneously, and flowering is more homogeneous, setting optimal conditions for a uniform ripening of the fruits. Folicist: • reduces apical dominance, even on varieties prone to the problem;

• s ynchronizes flowering, which is essential in varieties that require cross-pollination; • improves fruit set; • f avors the balance in plant development, improving its architecture and photosynthetic capacity; • favors uniform ripening of the fruits (concentration of the harvest) and high quality of the harvest.

For more information, visit www.biolchim.it

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

23

Substrates

FLORA ECO GLUE: AN INNOVATIVE SUBSTRATE ADDITIVE FOR THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY

T

he German and international horticultural sector, as well as the substrate industry that supplies it with growing media for the purpose of plant production, has to deal with the problem of decreasing extraction quantities of German black peat, which will become increasingly acute in the coming years. On the one hand, the resource is finite; on the other hand, no new peat deposits will be released for extraction. In addition to the natural shortage of black peat, a significant reduction in the amount of peat used in the coming years is politically desired. This will lead to the increased use of alternative substrate materials in all areas of horticulture and more than is already the case today.

Without a high percentage

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of suitable black peat in the growing medium, the durability of these machineproduced press pots is currently not assured. The average proportion of black peat is 80-90% by volume, but press pots are also often made from 100% black peat. The lower the proportion of black peat, the lower the durability of the compressed pot. Other proportions can be the less decomposed white peat, but also increasingly alternative substrate constituents such as green compost or fine wood fibres.

Young plant nurseries that specialise in the production of press pots and propagation in press pots sow various types of vegetables, herbs and occasionally ornamental plants. In vegetable production, the durability of

the press pots is of decisive importance, as these are planted out with special planting machines, e.g. outdoors but also in greenhouse cultivation, after the seed has germinated and the root development is sufficiently advanced. The mechanical stress on the press pots is quite high and they must not break apart!

In order to be able to provide the highly specialised seedling nurseries with growing media for the production of press pots even in the event that, due to the scarcity of black peat, there is an increase in the use of white peat and other common raw materials in horticulture, or in the event that press pots have to be produced, which meet the requirements of national and international organic associations (high

March-April 2021

Substrates

proportions of alternative substrate constituents are then required), a substrate additive is needed which allows the young plant grower and the further processing horticulture to deviate as little as possible, or not at all, from their usual production methods. This additive must fulfil a large number of properties and conditions in order to be suitable for this purpose.

After long research, intensive development work and extensive test series, Floragard has succeeded in developing such a substrate additive - Flora Eco-Glue.

According to practical results of the last 2 years, it should be possible to reliably produce and process press pots with white peat contents of 50 % by volume and higher or with a high proportion of alternative substrate constituents. At least this is the current state of numerous trials of highly specialised seedling nurseries in Germany and abroad with substrates from German and Baltic substrate factories.

In this context, press pots were created in 2 companies even from substrates with a proportion of 70 % by volume of white peat, which met the

March-April 2021

requirements for further processing.

Due to its suitability for organic growing, a substrate containing 35% alternative substrate constituents was also tested in a company that produced seedlings in press pots in compliance with the criteria for organic growing.

Neither serious changes in crop management nor significant technical changes to the press-pot machines had to be made by the grower.

Only the amount of water used in the production of the press pots had to be increased by up to 20 percent. However, this does not result in free water or water that sludges the press pots. The growth of the young plants was completely normal in all internal and external trials carried out so far and comparable to the growth in conventional substrates for compressed pots. In some cases there was even improved root growth, which is certainly due to the higher air supply in the substrate.

Also the root growth from one press pot into the neighbouring press pot, which is undesirable for the grower, does not take place more strongly with the use of Flora Eco-Glue than

with conventional recipes for compressed pots. The additive has no effect on the handling and storage of the substrates, is suitable for organic growing and therefore suitable as an additive for crop production according to ecological criteria.

In order to make a future application more economically interesting than would be the case at present with an application of Flora Eco-Glue, Floragard is currently carrying out further trials to optimise the application rate and/or effectiveness in combination with already known substrate additives.

One thing is certain - the German black peat will soon run out and more and more white peat or alternative substrate constituents will have to be used. Companies producing press pots, which have invested millions in production processes based on substrates predominantly containing black peat, will be pleased to hear that, according to the current status of Floragard's trials, the advantageous principle of press pot production is likely to remain in horticulture.

For more information, visit www.floragard.de

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

25

Seedling Trays

WANGARA HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

W

HS Australia is debuting its worldwide launch in the Gulf Countries with a product specifically designed for the MENA region: Date Palm Propagation Tubes and Tray This innovation in Date Palm propagation has been developed together with the expert knowledge and research help of Abdelouahhab Zaid, Chief Technical Advisor/Director, UNOPS - Date Palm Research & Development Programme United Arab Emirates.

Each tube has vertical ribs (root trainers) to promote healthy root development & avoid circular root growth plus a superior drainage system to prevent root rot while holding the substrate firmly inside.

The 426cc volume is the ideal capacity for date palm

26 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

seedlings as its greater depth allows the seedling to develop robust roots that will convert to a higher degree of success rate when they are transplanted to an Easy-Fill™ grow bag or similar.

The innovative tube design also allows for greater air circulation to promote secondary root development and features a singular cell system for easier grading & spacing.

A flexible tube permits easy seedling plug out when the date palms are ready to be transplanted.

The tubes and frames are stackable for efficient storage and transport and can be sold separately. Wangara Horticultural develops environmentally conscious products and the trays and tubes are re-usable season after season and are also 100% recyclable.

Dimensions in (cm): 29 x 36 x 8

Contact Wangara Horticultural on: info@whsaustralia.com.au or +614 38 834 379 to discuss how this product can help increase your Date Palm production.

March-April 2021

Agriculture Machinery

NEW HOLLAND BIGBALER 1290 HIGH DENSITY DELIVERS ALL-OUT PRODUCTIVITY AND EXTENDS OFFERING WITH NEW PACKER MODEL

N

ew Holland Agriculture extends the BigBaler 1290 High Density range, the most efficient large square baler in its segment, with a new Packer model. It features three 3-tine packer forks manufactured with heavy-duty components that ensure durability while matching the baler’s high throughput. The new Packer model delivers the same allout productivity and efficiency of the BigBaler 1290 High Density CropCutter™ models.

Alessio Merlo, Product Marketing Manager Hay & Forage and Crop Production Europe, states: “The BigBaler 1290 High Density is a milestone of excellence beyond statistics. It was launched at Agritechnica in 2019 and immediately crowned “Machine of the Year”. It has received a host of prizes and accolades, including the 2021 AE50 Award. Most importantly, it has won wide customer recognition for its patented LoopMaster™ technology and extraordinary bale density.

And now we complete our offering with the new high-

March-April 2021

capacity Packer model that delivers the same superior performance.”

New Holland has led the large square baler segment for more than 30 years, during which it has introduced a host of industry firsts that have changed baling. These are innovations such as doubleknot technology, electronic proportional density control, full bale eject functionality and the very first 80x90 bale size, which have since become industry standards. In November 2020, New Holland produced its 30,000th large square baler at its Zedelgem plant – a record milestone testament to the brand’s long history of baling excellence.

All-out efficiency and productivity The BigBaler 1290 High Density CropCutter™ and Packer models set the standards of productivity and comfort. They produce bales of up to 22% higher density than conventional large square balers, significantly increasing transport and bale handling efficiency. The

MaxiSweep™ pick-up helps feeding crop at higher rates, resulting in increased capacity and performance. The unique SmartShift™ gearbox, winner of the Agritechnica Silver Medal 2019, delivers a soft start up resulting in greater comfort for the operator and overload protection for the tractor’s driveline. The unique patented LoopMaster™ knotting technology ensures best-in-class solid binding and protects the environment and the forage by eliminating twine offcuts. The short drawbar concept ensures excellent visibility for the operator and manoeuvrability.

Comfort is further enhanced with a new intuitive user interface using the large IntelliView™ IV touchscreen display. A range of automated features, such as the IntelliCruise™ system which automatically adjusts tractor speed, add to the productivity and comfort of BigBaler 1290 High Density models.

For more information, visit www.cnhindustrial.com

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

27

Irrigation

ROOTED IN HISTORY, SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES BENEFIT FAMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

S

ustainability, it’s a word we hear a lot lately, particularly when it comes to farming. While it’s most often understood as land and environmental stewardship, it also refers to the longevity of a farm - doing what it takes to ensure the farm business survives for future generations something farmers have been focused on for decades.

“The groundwork for many of today’s sustainable practices was laid in 1935, when Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act,” said Gustavo Oberto, president of global irrigation at Lindsay.

“From rotating crops to utilizing the latest technology, farmers have always played a leading role in promoting soil health, conserving water and efficiently using resources.”

A new study from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), in partnership with the American Soybean Association, CropLife America and the National Corn Growers Association, shows precision agriculture

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technology plays a key role in today’s sustainability efforts.

According to the study, precision ag practices can: • Increase productivity by an estimated four percent and has the potential to further increase it by six percent with broader adoption.

• Improve fertilizer placement efficiency by an estimated seven percent and has the potential to further improve it by an additional 14 percent.

• Reduce herbicide use by an estimated nine percent and has the potential to further decrease it by 15 percent at full adoption.

• Decrease fossil fuel use by an estimated 6 percent with the potential to further decrease it by 16 percent.

• Decrease water use by an estimated 4 percent with the potential to further decrease it by 21 percent at full adoption.

“At Lindsay, we have a long history of helping farmers

make the most of every drop of water they use,” said Michelle Marcuzzo, software product manager at Lindsay. “Using our industry-leading FieldNET technology, farmers have the ability to make better-formed irrigation decisions - applying the right amount of water at precisely the right time.”

To date, FieldNET users around the world have saved: • More than 189 billion gallons of water • 543 million kilowatt-hours of electricity • 891 million pounds of carbon dioxide “Farmers want to leave their land better than when it was entrusted to them - and every bit of water and energy saved makes an impact,” Oberto said.

“Our teams are committed to expanding the circle of innovation to give farmers the tools they need to produce more with less and to protect their operations for generations to come.”

For more information, visit www.lindsay.com

March-April 2021

Hydroponics

H

ydroponics is essentially a soil-less method of growing crops, which uses 90% less water than conventional agriculture. Given the water scarcity issues in the Middle East, it is clear why hydroponics is a good fit for the region. As Arab nations place increasing emphasis on self-sufficiency, investments in hydroponic farming are increasing.

Suitability to the Middle East Given that the climate in arid countries is largely unsuitable for crop cultivation, food imports account for 90% of the food consumed in the GCC. The cost of these imports into the region is expected to total $53.1 billion in 2020. Due to this reliance on imports, vulnerabilities exist in terms of market supply shocks and price spikes, such as those experienced during the COVID19 outbreak. For this reason, the volume of foreign land acquisitions and domestic hydroponic farms are increasing dramatically.

Hydroponic farming is also very appropriate given water scarcity issues. Meanwhile making use of land in and around urban centres means low food miles and a guarantee of fresh produce to the consumer. Adoption of hydroponics has been significant in the UAE, where over 200 farms now exist.

Thanks to these farms, locally grown produce accounted for 20% of total fruit and vegetable sales in the UAE in 2018.

Advantages and Challenges Although there are undoubtedly many advantages to hydroponic farming, it is not without its challenges.

March-April 2021

THE GROWTH OF

HYDROPONICS IN THE GCC Some of the advantages include: • No soils required • Efficient use of space and location • Recirculation and conservation of water • Effective use of nutrients • Hydroponically grown plants mature up to 25% faster and produce up to 30% more than traditionally farmed plants • Temperature, humidity, light intensification and the composition of air can all be controlled • No weeds and fewer pests and diseases, meaning reduced usage of pesticides Hydroponics is the soil-less method of growing crops, and is an important technology, especially in Middle East countries, where water is scarce and food production can be hindered.

Challenges associated with hydroponic operations may be: • Very large initial costs associated with establishing operations, with lengthy payback periods • As the plants are all on the same nutrient reservoir,

diseases and pests can spread through farms rapidly • Back-up power sources are required in case of outages, as plants can dry out quickly and fluctuations in nutrient and pH levels can damage plants • High electricity usage and costs • Large and tall crops may not be suitable for indoor farming operations • Although some of these obstacles can be problematic, the advantages of hydroponic farming in the GCC far outweigh the challenges, with ample availability of land, capital and reliable power required for successful hydroponic operations.

There are disadvantages including potential disease spread from use of the same nutrient mix, as well as initial outlay and electricity costs, however, with the right guidance, hydroponics advantages far outweigh these challenges.

For more information, visit www.farrellymitchell.com

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

29

Greenhouse Solutions

NEVER TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE, THAT'S WHAT DISINFECTING WATER WITH UV IS ALL ABOUT

I

n the horticultural value chain, various aspects of a cultivation add value.

Sun, artificial lighting, and sometimes also packaging

30 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

before a product is shipped, are all part of this value chain. However, water is also part of it and it must be clean.

Nonetheless, a UV disinfection system is not the installation that gets the most attention in a greenhouse. And it doesn't have to, at least not for the Aqualux. This UV disinfection system is equipped with automatic mechanisms that ensure that the grower does not have to worry about water disinfection apart from regular maintenance, Ruud Jansen, technician and

co-owner of Artechno, explains.

Against pollution "What's important is that the water is clean and is cleaned in a way that's energy-efficient.

Of course, you don't want to dose too little because the water will not be disinfected properly. But it is often forgotten that dosing too much is undesirable. Ultimately that can also be harmful to a cultivation, because good substances such as iron and nutrients in the water oxidize and precipitate because the dose of UV is too high. This

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Greenhouse Solutions

forces growers to re-add the nutrients while it isn't necessary. It is also harmful to the unit. Precipitation means contamination, and you don't want that in your cultivation, but also not in your installation.”

Saving money This efficiency and automatization will probably also save money. But how much? "In terms of energy, it is possible to save up to 50% of the Aqualux's energy needs, because we can reduce power by half.”

With the bigger version of the Aqualux, the Aqualux High Transmission that can disinfect more than 100 cubic meters of water per hour using 30 UV chambers, it's about 240 kWh per day.

"Times 10 euro cents per kWh, that can amount to around 7,500 euro per year", Ruud calculates. "Every grower has to disinfect nowadays, so you want to do it as efficiently as possible. We can say that the annual savings are a bonus on Aqualux's ROI. The most important factors of this machine are the reliable disinfection, a good purchase price, and easy maintenance, resulting in a

quick payback period and low maintenance costs.”

Flow Back in the greenhouse.

What does the grower have to do when the Aqualux runs? “Nothing, really," says Ruud. "Except for regular maintenance, the user doesn't have to worry about anything else. With a new cultivation, for example, the water is often dirtier in the beginning. It has a lower transmission rate than in the middle of cultivation or in the summer when the volumes also increase. The Aqualux adapts constantly during cultivation to obtain the desired disinfection by controlling the flow, flow rate of the pump, and the power of the lamps. And for growers who dose hydrogen peroxide, there's also automatic dosing for that.”

For more information, visit www.artechno.nl

Automated Smart mechanisms have been built into the Aqualux to automate the UV disinfection process. However, the device has become smarter. “If you look now, you see that the pump has a frequency converter, the capacity of the UV lamps can be adjusted, and the pressure is controlled automatically. Optionally, the dosage of hydrogen peroxide can be controlled automatically. This way the disinfection process is automated in all four models of the Aqualux with different capacities.”

March-April 2021

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

31

Drones in Animal Farming

COUNTING CAMELS IN THE DESERT - DRONES LEAD A PATH TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

BY MAPPING 1,100 KM2 OF FARMLANDS

T

his is the story of stacking agriculture against an unfavourable environment- A quest to increase Food Security and reduce Import Dependency by improving agriculture in a hot and dry desert. The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s (MoCCaE) goal was to use detailed agricultural data to increase resource efficiency, better direct farmers’ efforts and preserve scarce natural resources. This goal would be

32 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

realized by the data supplied by drones.

Agriculture is a resourceintensive industry; it places a strain on natural resources and the environment. At the same time, Agriculture is vital to economic growth and often contributes to around 25% of GDP growth in developing countries. In the UAE, we enjoy clear blue skies with very little cloud cover throughout the year, which is great for planes and drones but not so much for plants and

agriculture.

The resource intensity combined with the already scarce resources and unfriendly environment increases the need for a Sustainable Agriculture model that maximises resource efficiency, increases farm yields and profitability, enhances the quality of life for farmers, and boosts food security. But gathering relevant and valuable data to build this model upon can be challenging. Especially if

March-April 2021

Drones in Animal Farming you’re counting camels, trees, plants and livestock across 1,100 kmsq.

If you were presented with a vast expanse of desert and were asked to account for every tree and its age, livestock of all kinds, greenhouses and barns, crop and shrubs and water wells and pipelines- how would you go about it?

You could try Satellite Imagery, but it would lack the necessary clarity to accurately identify distinguishing features. Terrestrial survey is not feasible at all; since surveying 1,100 kmsq by foot would take so long that by the time you finish, the initial set of data would be invalid. As a last resort, you could take data from sample areas and estimate the total. But, we are

March-April 2021

looking for precision, and we are not out of options yet.

Drone Powered Asset Survey Drones or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) have already proven to be a formidable force in the Survey & Mapping world. Drone Surveying companies can use an assortment of drones in conjunction with sensors to quickly and efficiently map areas. The type of drone used will depend on the project requirements; on a general note, multi-rotor drones are more suited for smaller locations while fixed-wing drones excel in larger projects.

Drone Surveying is a relatively simple process where the drone autonomously follows a predetermined flight path taking pictures or videos.

The captured data is then processed using software like Pix4Dmatic or Pix4Dmapperthe resulting output is an accurate Orthomosaic map.

However, the process of Asset Surveying can be slightly different.

Conducting an Asset Survey is similar to normal Aerial Surveying, the exact same process for pre-flight and during flight; but it is during post-flight that an additional step is added. That step is analysing the orthomosaic map. The map is analysed to produce detailed and accurate Asset Survey Reports; each report’s parameters are pertinent to the project itself.

MoCCaE’s primary purpose is to gain insight and drive agricultural growth. Hence the Asset Survey takes into account the various flora and fauna.

Analysing this huge dataset is a difficult task in and of itself. This is especially true

since time is against us; the features we are analysing are subject to change within just a few months. If the reports are generated too late, the data would be invalid as a young tree could be an older tree now, that hen we recorded is either lost or no more. In the interest of saving time and preserving data integrity we had to innovate, we had to build our own Machine Learning (ML) algorithm and put it to use.

Machine Learning - Train Test Repeat Machine Learning, or as we came to understand it- was a lot more learning than machine. While we were dependent on it to deliver results, we also understood that it would be a challenge to turn it into an operational asset. From the time we started with the Proof of Concept, we began working on our Machine Learning algorithm.

The next stage was a rigorous regiment of testing, training and repeating. We would feed a steady stream of high-quality data for the machine to analyse and

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

33

Drones in Animal Farming improve upon in a process known as Semi-Supervised Learning. Our main objective in this project was for the algorithm to read orthomosaic maps and correctly identify plants, animals, features and structures. So we continued to feed it with data and flag distinguishable features for it to use. For example, we mark a palm tree by its pointy leaves that are not densely packed together.

Challenges we faced in training our Machine Learning Algorithm; • Size of files • Overlapping Images • Rigid distinguishing features • Shadows • Pomegranates and Chicos As the machine learnt, we learned alongside it. Our first challenge was data size; Orthomosaic are heavy files, and so the maps had to be broken down into smaller segments. Splitting the maps led to our next issue, albeit a small and easily fixed one.

Splitting the images had created areas near the edges where two images would overlap, meaning the same

Live-stock isolation using Machine Learning 34 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

stretch of trees would repeat for a few pixels in the next segment, and the machine would count these trees twice.

The solution was relatively simple; we just had to tweak the splitting to be more precise.

What do shadows, young trees, old trees and dead trees have in common? A lot apparently. Our next challenge was to meticulously table some of the finer details so that the Machine Learning algorithm could effectively tell apart trees from their shadows and identify the trees’ age. In a similar vein, we grew to know the Chico tree and Pomegranate Tree intimately. While most trees looked identical from a topdown aerial perspective, these two, in particular, were indistinguishable. The solution was again, more distinguishing features.

Overcoming all these challenges, we successfully trained the Machine Learning algorithm to accurately identify and classify when presented with data. However, we still passed the processed data through human QC to ensure all our outputs were optimal and accurate. We endearingly labelled it asManually Assisted Machine Processing.

Mapping 1,100 kmsq Spread out over six Emirates (Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah) and vastly different landscapes our pilots had their work cut out for them. While the Machine Learning software enjoyed a comfy temperaturecontrolled room, our pilots were out braving nature in the hot and harsh desert.

As established earlier, drones were the only means to obtain this data. Satellites

would not have the required clarity. Terrestrial surveying would be too expensive and time-consuming; by the time a surveyor completed the terrestrial survey, the data collected from the initial sites would be rendered obsolete due to the passage of time.

The only question that remained was - which drone?

Multi-rotor drones were not suitable, given the size of the project; making the senseFly eBeeX fixed-wing drone the perfect choice. The eBeeX’s endurance battery- supporting 90 minutes of flight time, coupled with the powerful eMotion software and S.O.D.A camera made it the ideal drone for this project.

The project was split into two phases; Phase 1 would be the desert and relatively open plateaus, Phase 2 would cover the mountainous regions and wadis. They were divided as such because the operational approach to these two sections is very different. Making it easier for our operations team to be prepared and carry out their mission.

Challenges we overcame; • Extreme Heat and Wind • Varying Elevation in Mountains and Wadis • Moving Livestock • Difficult-terrain Phase 1 was tackled by just two teams, one mobile team and one stationary team. Team 1 would be dropped in strategic locations from where they could cover multiple quadrants. Whereas Team 2, the mobile unit would cover the difficult to reach and oddly sized segments. Operationally speaking, this phase was simple; the terrain being relatively flat- flight planning, lift-off, and landing was easy enough. But the extreme heat

March-April 2021

posed a challenge. Once this phase was over, it was onto Phase 2, the tougher part.

Phase 2 was a real challenge. The mountainous regions would prove difficult to traverse and even more challenging to plot flight paths. Extra care and caution were necessary during flight planning due to the region’s varying elevation; this was a two-pronged issue. First, was ensuring the drone and team’s safety at all times; second, was maintaining consistency of data accuracy.

A drone must fly at a uniform altitude from the ground to achieve consistent accuracy. The pilots had to be hyper-vigilant of the drone’s height and position as one mishap might send the drone crashing into the mountainside.

Still, being seasoned veterans, they averted most of this risk during the flight planning phase by coming up with their own system. By following a zig-zag pattern perpendicular to the mountain, they would maximise the time spent at a fixed altitude and minimise any ascends and descends.

This mission would take us from mountains’ tips to the depths of wadis, a trek that challenged even our hiking enthusiast. Mobility was another challenge we had to work around, cars and trucks could only take us so much the rest had to be on foot. This being drone-powered, we didn’t need many stops, but we could not even imagine how much harder it would have been if it were terrestrial surveying.

Regardless of mountain or desert, speed was a very crucial factor. Animals being non-stationary beings were challenging to count. If you are not successful in capturing

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segments in quick succession, the animals could have moved to your next segment; meaning Machine Learning would measure the same animal twice. We expected most of these challenges before and took special care to combat them.

Devising predetermined paths to move between control points we saved a lot of time on the field, enabling us to efficiently and rapidly map the segments. Our expert pilots supported by a fleet of eBees successfully mapped all 1,100 kmsq in just 64 working days. That’s an average of 17 kmsq mapped per day.

Drones Make Sustainable Agriculture a Reality The adoption of drones in the agriculture industry has given agronomists a practical approach to sustainable agriculture practises. Using the robust data provided by drones farmers can gain valuable insight into their crops and develop sustainable and effective plans that maximises their resource efficiency and increases yields and profitability.

We provided MoCCaE with accurate Orthomosaic maps and Asset Survey reports that gave them insights into agricultural lands and detailed information (Dronepowered Agriculture Survey Infographics).

The high-resolution data that FEDS provided MoCCaE enabled them to assess the farmlands and their status accurately. With this data, they can direct the local farmers better and guide them on just how much resources they would require and what crops to grow for better results.

Drones afford visibility in a way like never before;

Drone-powered Agriculture Survey Infographics

Drones in Animal Farming

previously, it would have been impossible to get an overall and comprehensive data on over 1000kmsq of farmlands.

Without Drones, it would have taken years to aggregate an effective array of data to allow for a large scale sustainable plan for agriculture. Issues like Global Warming and resource depletion would have increased unhindered, making any further sustainable agriculture plans that much harder to execute.

Drones lead the way to a more sustainable tomorrow, and FEDS is grateful to have been a part of this massive project, which is a huge step towards sustainability.

For more information, visit www.feds.ae

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

35

Animal Nutrition

BÜHLER’S INSECT TECHNOLOGY ENTERS A NEW PHASE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO A SUSTAINABLE MEAT VALUE CHAIN

I

nsects will play a key role in building more sustainable chicken and aquaculture value chains. This is a necessity if the industry is to provide adequate protein to satisfy the growing population. Bühler is committed to ambitious targets that will help mitigate climate change. The company targets reducing waste, energy consumption, and water use by 50% in the value chains of its customers. To deliver by 2030, both Bühler and the industry must have solutions ready to scale before 2025.

36 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

One key strategy to sustainably feed the planet’s growing population is the reduction of agricultural land by more than a third. Doing that, we would bring carbon emissions within planetary boundaries. A major driver of both land use and CO2 production is humankind’s consumption of proteins, in particular meat. The huge growth in non-animal meat alternatives, primarily from plant-based products, is an indication of a strong desire to eat more sustainably from a

climate change perspective.

However, Bühler has concluded that the rate of global dietary change will not be quick enough to sufficiently reduce CO2 emissions by 2030 and that the industry must contribute urgently to delivering a more sustainable meat value chain.

One opportunity to reduce the CO2 footprint of meat is the use of insects for feed, particularly of poultry and aquaculture. Embedding insect production into the farming system unlocks the benefits of

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Animal Nutrition

circular economy and inclusive business creation, providing an excellent protein source from side streams, reducing the depletion of fish stocks in our oceans by replacing wild catch for fish feed, and providing a low CO2 footprint protein source for poultry.

Importantly, this can come with significantly reduced land use for the feed production.

Bühler provides technology solutions for the growth and processing of insects to enable industrial-scale transformation of organic residues into highvalue insect-based ingredients.

With experience in running installations, proven innovations, and a strong research and development pipeline Bühler will play a key role in developing this nascent industry sector to reduce the

March-April 2021

CO2 footprint of meat production. And the company doesn’t stop there.

Bühler is pleased to announce another step in its insect production and processing capabilities. The company’s unique larvae storage system allows full decoupling of insect rearing from processing, which gives outstanding flexibility in the operational schedule. Bühler’s technology succeeded the field test and is now ready for broad industrial use.

Last year, after four years of close collaboration, Bühler reached the major milestone with one of its partners, Protix, as their fully automated industrial black soldier fly processing plant in Bergen Op Zoom in North Brabant, Netherlands, reached its full processing capacity. This marks a proof point in the insect industry and the successful completion of the joint venture between Bühler and Protix.

“We congratulate Kees Aarts and his team at Protix on the extraordinary achievement of their insect protein facility. To be the pioneer in an industry is a challenging role, and to be the first to deliver a commercially viable, large-scale insect plant is a significant step on their ambitious journey,” says Ian

Roberts, CTO at Bühler. “We extend our sincere thanks to Kees and his team for this collaboration.”

“I am pleased that Bühler is ready and able to address the insect market with proven technologies and I am excited by the pipeline of projects building up. I am looking forward to seeing new projects realized, thus contributing to achieve Bühler’s sustainability targets,” says Andreas Baumann, Managing Director of the Bühler Insect Technology business.

“We believe that insectbased ingredients offer a new category of nutrition for the food system. The realization of such a new category demands a total ecosystem approach with multiple parties collaborating intensely,” says Kees Aarts, CEO and founder of Protix. “At Protix we work with multiple parties to advance the advent of sustainable nutrition enabling a food system in balance with nature. The collaboration with Bühler is a strong example of that. We will further support the growth of the industry and are convinced that further collaborations are needed to achieve important milestones on our journey.”

For more information, visit www.buhlergroup.com

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

37

Hatcheries

E

vonik has made a followup investment in the biotechnology start-up In Ovo through its venture capital unit. The investment comes as the young company reaches the commercialization stage for its technology and is bringing its gender-testing machine for eggs to the market. Together with co-investor VisVires New Protein Capital, Evonik Venture Capital has provided several million euros in further funding. Evonik Venture Capital first invested in the Leiden, Netherlands-based company in 2018, providing support for a technology that helps solve one of the egg industry’s biggest ethical problems.

“In Ovo has reached a crucial

38 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

EVONIK MAKES FOLLOW-ON INVESTMENT INTO IN OVO TO SUPPORT LAUNCH OF GENDERTESTING MACHINE FOR EGGS milestone with the successful scaling up of its unique technology,” said Bernhard Mohr, head of Evonik Venture Capital. “Since we first invested and partnered with In Ovo in 2018, the ethical problem of culling chicks has gained attention and calls for a solution have become louder.”

The German government has now introduced legislation

mandating that no chicks are culled after January 1, 2022. In Germany alone, an estimated 40 million day-old male chicks from laying-hen hatcheries are killed annually, and the global figure is thought to be about 6.5 billion. Poultry farms don’t rear the male animals because they can neither lay eggs nor grow sufficiently for meat production.

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Hatcheries In Ovo developed a method for determining the sex in the egg that is particularly fast and reliable and can be readily integrated into the workflow of large hatcheries.

In Ovo’s first gender typing machine has been screening eggs at high speed, in a commercial hatchery, since December. The first 150,000 chicks, which will produce more than 50 million eggs in their lifetime, have been hatched without any chick culling.

Evonik products and services in the field of animal nutrition play a key role worldwide in the production of healthy and affordable food with conservation of natural resources and a reduced ecological footprint. The company is a global supplier of amino acids and their derivatives and is expanding its product range in the direction of sustainable and healthy animal nutrition.

“With Evonik’s support, In Ovo is bringing its proven technology to the market at exactly the right time,” said Emmanuel Auer, head of Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line. “The cooperation with In Ovo

In Ovo founders

fosters animal protein supply to retail thus helping the stakeholders in the value chain to achieve their own goals for sustainability.”

Comparing technologies on the market, In Ovo is best placed to meet the demands for a combination of early testing and fast testing, which hatcheries need. In Ovo can identify the gender of eggs by day nine after incubation starts and is working towards earlier identification. The German government’s recent legislation foresees that as of 2024 testing

for gender in the egg must occur no later than day six.

Currently no technology on the market that can identify gender as early as this.

“We are continuously improving our technology on speed, accuracy and day of testing,” said Wouter Bruins, co-founder and one of the managing directors of In Ovo. “I’m confident that we are well placed to meet market and regulatory demands.”

In Ovo was founded in 2013

by Bruins, a biologist, and biomedical scientist Wil Stutterheim, who met at the University of Leiden. The technology is based on a biomarker identified by the founders. This allows the gender of chick embryos in the egg to be accurately determined during incubation. For this purpose, a tiny hole is made in the egg and resealed. A sample is taken and examined by mass spectrometry for the biomarker identified by In Ovo, which has been patented.

For more information, visit www.evonik.com

March-April 2021

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

39

Manure Management

IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK WASTES “ESPECIALLY WET MANURE” WILL BE DISASTROUS TO FARMS AND ENVIRONMENT

D

ue to unstable environment caused by global warming and continuous innovations of advance technology equipment, many farmers now are force to “Shift from Traditional Cages into Fully Automatic System or Battery Cages”. However, it has an adverse effect as it will give you a challenge in handling or managing the wet manure that will be taken out every day.

Nowadays, many farmers

main concerned is how to get rid of the wet manure. For proper treatment of the wastes, Kohshin has the right solution through effective way of composting. Kohshin has various model of Dryer & Composting machines where they are designed to cater small to larger amount of wastes. Thru continuous innovation, Kohshin has develop additional system such as Pre-Composting, Scrubber, Aeration and Compo-master (Used for data

monitoring using Sensors at Pre-composting).

During the process thru Kohshin system, beneficial microorganism will be generated such as mesophilic (25-40oC) and thermophilic (40-75oC) bacteria that will generate heat. At every level of temperature, different bacteria will exist and they will release enzymes which are beneficial to the plants. As a result of effective processing using Kohshin technology, the final product will be dried & odorless, free of bad pathogens, pelletized & uniformly sized, harmless to the plants, easy to handle & apply. With the mentioned characteristics, product will be safer to use, valuable and easy to sell compare to the unprocessed or partially composted final products.

For more information, visit www.kohshin-s.jp

40 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

March-April 2021

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