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

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

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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

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 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.

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 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

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. 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.”

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 peatfree 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, 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.

online and we will deliver our expertise straight to your doorstep.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.