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IPM DUBAI and WOP DUBAI from November 12 to 14, 2019
The Middle East Smart Landscape Summit concludes successfully The seventh edition of the Middle East Smart Landscape Summit, organized by Expotrade Global has come to a successful close. The event was inaugurated by Eng. Eman Al Mansoori, Director of Engineering - Tender & Contracts, Ministry of Infrastructure Development along with Talib Abdul Kareem Mohammed, CEO of Infrastructure Services Sector, Dubai Municipality in the presence of other VIPs. The event witnessed over 35 regional and international subject matter experts sharing case studies and insights on the innovative methods and practices to be followed to promote green spaces. Dr. Stainslav Shmelev, Director, Environment Europe emphasized on the role played by an ecosystem in cities, while Fawaz Alharbi, Senior Head-Master Planning, Jeddah Economic City presented a case study that outlined the development strategy behind Jeddah Economic City. The second day of the event was opened by renowned international landscape expert - Neil Davidson, Partner J&L Gibbons, who presented a case study on how London is adapting to meet the requirements of its growing population. His session was followed up by Dr. Hanan Aljabri, Director Strategic Planning Directorate, Muscat Municipality who presented on reimagining urban public spaces and the need to create vibrant public spaces as people oriented livable spaces. Khalil Odeh Ali Shalan, Senior Vice President - Operations & Facility, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority delivered a session on the various sustainable initiatives undertaken at DSOA such as smart subsurface irrigation, green roofs and green walls, amongst others. Delving further into the topic of open spaces was Aaron Booth, Principal / Operations,
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Talib Abdul Kareem Mohammed, CEO of Infrastructure Services Sector, Dubai Municipality delivers the welcome address.
InSite Planners and Landscape Architects. His presentation titled retrofitting open space as a priority for all of us focused on how innovative open spaces allow a city to connect and provide better quality of living and how retrofitted open spaces can address environmental needs as well as social needs. Neil Davidson, commented, "While innovative solutions need to be specific to location, many of the challenges we face when designing healthy cities are shared across the globe. I am grateful for the opportunity to share some of our knowledge and experiences, from the perspective of a Landscape Architect working on landscape led policy and project delivery in London.� Across two days, over 300 attendees representing landscape architects, designers, urban planners, engineers and consultants come together to engage in knowledge sharing and learn of the latest innovative solutions in the region that promote sustainable green development.
IPM DUBAI and WOP DUBAI will take place in a prominent location in the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 12 to 14, 2019. Both trade fairs will be positioned in attractive halls on the main axis of the site. The first local players in the sector have already promised to participate in the fairs because of the improved timerelated and spatial exhibition conditions. German companies will have the possibility of presenting themselves on a promoted joint booth. The month of November is traditionally one of the most enterprising periods for trade and tourism in the Middle East at the same time. With the rescheduling, IPM DUBAI and WOP DUBAI are reacting to the wishes of the sector. Dates during mid-November for the staging of both events have been targeted for quite a long time already. However, because the capacities of the event site were always utilised to the full in this period, it has not been possible to fulfil this wish in the last few years. The amended dates will also be accompanied by a new hall allocation in the Dubai World Trade Centre: IPM DUBAI and WOP DUBAI will use exhibition areas directly on the main connecting axis, i.e. in the immediate vicinity of the main entrance to the site. Particularly for local traders, this will now result in new perspectives to take part in the fair not only as exhibitors but also as visitors. Moreover, the first local major players in the sector have MAY JUNE 2019
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already reacted positively to the announcement and have promised their participation.
Evonik shares expertise at its new 'School of Animal Nutrition' Evonik has launched a new science-based training program called the 'Evonik School of Animal Nutrition' to help its customers achieve optimum performance and profitability with minimum environmental impact. The company invited 12 participants from South and Southern Africa to Hanau, Germany, recently, to hear from Evonik experts who addressed topics ranging from raw material quality control, poultry
nutrition and gut health management through to Evonik's understanding of optimum nutrition for poultry, tilapia and dairy cows. “We believe that equipping customers with the latest knowledge allows them to make the best-informed decisions on who to partner with to face the coming challenges involved in feeding the growing population in a sustainable manner,” said Martin Smith, Technical Service Director, Animal Nutrition, Evonik Middle East Africa. The program was very well received, with participants leaving with clear ideas about how to make their businesses
more effective and profitable. Rowena Blanco, Nutritionist / Sales & Marketing Manager at Tiger Animal Feeds, said: “Evonik has an impressive array of unique tools and models which are simple and effective to utilize in order to achieve optimum results from raw materials to finished products.”
Peru becomes first ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA partner country Peru is the inaugural partner country for Asia Fruit Logistica 2019, which takes place on 4-6 September in Hong Kong. “I am delighted that Peru will become our first-ever partner country at Asia Fruit Logistica,” said Will Wollbold,
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commercial director of the trade fair's organiser Global Produce Events (GPE). “With its rich array of high-quality fruit and vegetables, Peru is rapidly gaining recognition as a key supplier to a range of Asian markets. Asia Fruit Logistica is the perfect platform for Peru to further boost its fruit and vegetable exports to the region, with top-quality buyers from some 20 different markets across Asia-Pacific attending the show.� Peru has been one of the standout success stories in the global fresh produce business over the past ten years, with the value of the country's fresh fruit and vegetable exports growing by an annual average of around 20 per cent to top some US$3bn in 2018, according to information from the Association of Agricultural Producers' Guilds of Peru (AGAP). Table grapes led the country's exports in 2018, earning US$816m (up 25 per cent year-on-year), followed by avocados with a value of US$724m (+25 per cent), and blueberries, worth some US$554m (+53 per cent). Peru now ranks as the world's second-largest exporter of blueberries, asparagus and Brazil nuts, and the third-largest exporter of avocados. Mangoes, citrus, organic bananas and pomegranates are also key products in Peru's export offering.
Agri-Pulse announces California expansion Agri-Pulse Communications is expanding coverage into California and other West Coast states. Today, 2,500 subscribers in California started receiving localized Agri-Pulse content 6
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through agreements with the California Association of Pest Control Advisors (CAPCA) and FMC Crop Protection. "We have been planning our expansion into California and the Western states for the past two years," says Sara Wyant, President and CEO of AgriPulse Communications. "We are very pleased that we will be working with two terrific partners to accomplish our goal of providing localized ag and food policy content to this unique market." Agri-Pulse will distribute a West Coast edition of the early morning Daybreak Podcast, Daily Harvest email news aggregation, and the in-depth weekly Agri-Pulse Newsletter. In addition, Agri-Pulse has created a West Coast tab on the web site for California and West Coast specific content. In February, Agri-Pulse announced the opening of a news bureau in Sacramento, Calif., led by Brad Hooker. "CAPCA strives to keep members informed on local issues that impact their license and the growers they serve," says CAPCA Chairman Rick Harrison, Nutrien Ag Solutions. "Agri-Pulse, a customizable platform for local and national Ag news, is an ideal resource to meet these needs. I encourage members to take advantage of the wealth of information that will be shared in the weekly podcast and Wednesday Newsletter headlines for relevant issues to follow." "Growers rely on the knowledge and expertise of pest control advisors (PCAs) and crop consultants for a wide range of agronomic and everevolving regulatory issues. And, there is a lot to keep up with, considering the 300-plus crops
grown in the region and the active regulatory environment," says Michael Parsons, FMC regional business manager. "Through this partnership, FMC is excited to provide PCAs and crop consultants access to breaking news and analysis on the latest regulatory, legislative and scientific topics impacting the profitability of California and West Coast growers."
Global dairy leaders link up in Lisbon Dairy industry leaders from around the world will be linking up in Lisbon for the 13th Global Dairy Congress from 25 to 27 June at the MYRIAD by SANA Hotels. Confirmed speakers include top Chinese company Yili on its new billion dollar brand Ambrosial and top Indian producer Amul on developing India's only global megabrand, as well as other heavyweights such as Arla, Feihe, Valio, Vinamilk and Portugal's market leader Lactogal. Other presentations include Rabobank on global trends and trade, Zenith Global on emerging market segments, Ireland's National Dairy Council on the world's best marketing campaigns, New Nutrition Business on 8 key trends for future planning, the UK's Omsco on global organic growth and Spain's Lantern on fermented promise. Further highlights include new entrepreneurs with quark snack bars, sleep friendly ice cream and vegan cheese. The evening of 26 June also hosts the World Dairy Innovation Awards organised by FoodBev Media Ltd. The Congress is designed for industry executives, suppliers, customers and advisers, with a MAY JUNE 2019
NEWS UPDATE
focus on market trends and thinking on a worldwide scale from leading international and regional brands, allowing extensive time for informal networking and discussion.
Large crowd at inaugural Latin American Poultry Summit The inaugural Latin American Poultry Summit drew a large crowd with nearly 300 industry leaders from 17 Latin American countries in attendance. The Latin American Poultry Summit, held in conjunction with the 2019 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), was sponsored by the International Poultry Expo part of the IPPE, WATT Global Media and the Asociación Latinoamericana de Avicultura (ALA). “We are really pleased with the attendance for our first Latin American Poultry Summit, and the feedback from attendees has been extremely positive. We look forward to building on the success of this initial event to provide the best experience for next year's Latin American Poultry Summit,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY. “It provided us with an excellent opportunity to interact with our Latin American counterparts, such as Apolonio Suarez, president, ALA, and Dr. Juana Galvan, executive director, ALA. This interaction is one we believe will be mutually beneficial.” On the opening day of the summit, keynote speaker Andrick Payen Diaz de la Vega, Rabobank, addressed world poultry market trends. Dr. Paul Aho, Poultry Perspective, the keynote speaker for the second day, discussed the world grain situation. The Summit education 8
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program sessions, translated to Spanish and Portuguese, covered a variety of broiler and layer topics, including Trends in Poultry Welfare; Gut Microbiome Management in Broilers and Layers; Vaccine and Health Improvements for Common Poultry Diseases; Biosecurity for Latin America: How to Coexist with NonCommercial Neighbors; Use of Antimicrobials for Pathogen Control; Managing Necrotic Enteritis without Antibiotics; Experiences in Alternative Egg Production Systems; Decision Making in Poultry Marketing with Data; The Use of Robotics in Poultry Production; and more.
Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development honours strategic partners for their support to Arab food security Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) honoured its strategic partners during a ceremony held in Dubai. The ceremony was attended by several top-level officials including ministers, undersecretaries, ambassadors of Arab and foreign countries, heads of Arab and international organizations, local authorities, directors of companies and banks, as well as a group of senior investors in the agricultural sector and businessmen. The ceremony proved to be both timely and strategic as recent reports have shown that more than 50 agricultural companies are now dealing with the Authority, also reflecting total
investments of about USD 631 million. The number of investment opportunities studied by the Authority has also reached to about 115, which focused on plant and animal production, food processing and agricultural services, while 69 development programs were conducted for small farmers and producers in the Arab countries, with agricultural areas amounting to about 26,000 feddans. The Authority also allocated about USD 13 million as funding support to small farmers and producers and about USD 5 million to promote the activity of contractual crops, while the number of beneficiaries of all these programs have reached to 93,000 farmers and producers. In the field of agricultural research and localization of modern technologies, the Authority has implemented about 95 applied research experiences in several Arab countries. H.E. Mohamed bin Obaid Al Mazrooei, Chairman of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, expressed his appreciation for all partners from government and private institutions, diplomatic missions, organizations, Arab, regional and international entities for their continuing support for the Authority's efforts in achieving success in agricultural development and food security projects in Arab countries. He also stressed on the keenness of the Authority to strengthen its relations with strategic partners and develop ties with various government and private sectors in the efforts to further develop investments for the agricultural sector and develop existing industries in Arab countries using the latest MAY JUNE 2019
NEWS UPDATE
technologies. He emphasized that the future of agricultural and food investments are based on the localization of technologies in modern agriculture and technological innovations in the Arab world.
Algaia strengthens its shareholding structure Algaia, S.A announced recently the acquisition of about 31% of its shares by SAPEC sgps and its controlling shareholder, the Velge family, by purchasing of Demeter & Cap Decisif stakes. Maabarot Products Ltd, SuperNova Invest and Algaia management maintain their respective stockholding positions. Algaia SA is a well
established global player in the field of specialty seaweed extracts benefiting from unique R&D and production capabilities. Last year, most of its revenues were generated in Food, Personal Care and Nutraceutical applications. Algaia owns a novel and proprietary technology allowing the Biorefinery of brown algae not only into Alginates but also in other valuable compounds such as Biostimulants for the crop nutrition industry. Algaia's facility is strategically located in Britany (France) next to abundant renewable fresh brown seaweed biomass, enabling the company to get sustainable and reliable supply. Algaia is today the world
largest buyer of French seaweed, with about 40,000 tons being transformed every year in its Lannilis facility. “Our investment in Algaia is part of an overall strategy to develop in businesses where we see significant growth opportunities� commented Antoine Velge, Sapec's CEO. “Algae based products correspond to multiple market demands, all looking for more natural and sustainable solutions. During the Due Diligence process, we were impressed by Algaia's vision, people, outstanding assets, innovation capabilities and execution drive. We share with Maabarot and SuperNova similar values and we are
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excited to start contributing to the company's development” Antoine added.
Agrilevante, a resource for Mediterranean agriculture The 2019 edition of the showcase of technologies and machines for agriculture, to be held in the Bari exhibition centre from 10 to 13 October next, was presented in Bari. Growing numbers and a new section dedicated to animal husbandry, with the exhibition of fine breeds of cattle, horses, sheep and goats, characterize the review, organized by FederUnacoma and Nuova Fiera del Levante with the support of the Puglia Region Agriculture Department. Agrilevante confirms itself as a point of point reference for operators in the entire Mediterranean area, but also in Sub-Saharan Africa and some Asian regions. Organized by the Italian federation of manufacturers FederUnacoma (Confindustria) together with the Fiera del Levante and thanks to the support of the Puglia Region's Department of Agriculture, the exhibition - presented with a press conference in Bari - aims to surpass the results of the last edition (October 2017), where there were 330 exhibiting industries, covering a surface of 55 thousand square metres, with 70,700 visitors, of which 3,200 from abroad. The showcase stems from the decision to separate the agricultural section from the Levante trade fair and make it an independent event, highly specialized and aimed at an audience of professionals in agriculture and agricultural mechanics, and over the years it has acquired ever higher technical contents and a notable international calibre. 10
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"For the Nuova Fiera del Levante, Agrilevante confirms its place as a leading event dedicated to specialized and foreign operators of the agricultural sector in the Mediterranean - underlined during the conference the President of the Bari exhibition body Alessandro Ambrosi - a review that has recorded in recent editions a constant growth in the number of exhibitors, visitors and foreign delegations". "I think it is important to point out that the mission of Agrilevante - added Ambrosi - does not only mean a broad choice of technologies for agricultural production, but also the management of new development models in the various agricultural regions that it targets, from Mediterranean Europe to the Balkans, from the Middle East to North Africa, but also sub-Saharan Africa and some Asian regions.”
The SIMA against EIMA: the French "strategem" The SIMA Parisian show announces a radical change of dates to overlap with the EIMA international exhibition in November 2020. The decision, which creates havoc in the international calendar of events dedicated to agricultural machinery, aims to tarnish the leadership of the Bologna exhibition, harming the manufacturing industries in planning their activities and promotional investments. With a press release issued recently, the French Exhibitions formalized the decision to move the SIMA international exhibition of agricultural machinery from its traditional schedule, in February of odd years, to a new one in November of even years, overlapping with
the EIMA of Bologna. The first edition of the new calendar was set for November 8 to 12, in partial overlap with the Bologna event already scheduled from 11 to 15 of that month. The decision by the French organizers, communicated after they had publicly declared, during the Sima at the end of February, that they would not change the dates of their event, is - according to the Federation of Italian Manufacturers FederUnacoma, organizer of EIMA - a hostile and harmful act.
Valley® Irrigation to Provide Advanced GPS Guidance Solution for Corners Valley® Irrigation, The Leader in Precision Irrigation®, is pleased to announce improvements to Valley GPS Guidance, providing growers with the latest advancements in competitive GPS corner technology. Valley GPS Guidance now uses advanced power line carrier (PLC) technology to communicate RTK GPS correction signals. This technology improves the reliability of communication with the corner arm, eliminating the need for radios. Additionally, the builtin terrain compensation provides more accurate steering on steep terrain. “GPS technology has changed the way people live, and agriculture is no different,” says Troy Long, Valley Irrigation Senior Director of Product Management. “Valley engineers designed Valley GPS Guidance to provide RTK GPS accuracy using a customdesigned solution. This innovation is designed specifically for irrigation MAY JUNE 2019
NEWS UPDATE
machines and will revolutionize the industry standard.” Valley GPS Guidance offers simplicity, accuracy, consistency, reliability, flexibility, compatibility.
Bacstim™ 100 works with the crop's root system to increase nutrient uptake Omnia has developed Bacstim™ 100 - works with the crop's root system to increase nutrient uptake, leading to higher biomass productions above and below the ground. Bacstim™ 100 is a microbial based product containing 5 different spore forming Bacillus spp. strains. The strains have been selected based on proven superiority in cropping systems. When root colonisation is established by the Bacillus,
they can perform a wide variety of actions such as the breakdown of organic matter to supply nutrients to the crop, production of phytohormones and improved resistance of plants against pathogenic microorganisms. Bacillus is a wider classification of bacteria and within the Bacillus group exists different species of Bacillus. Strains are a subgroup within bacterial species with minor differences in their DNA. Bacterial strains are the equivalent of breeds within a species like dogs. Just like dog breeds can vary widely and are useful for a range of purposes, so different bacillus strains have different activity in the way they interact with plants.
Levity CropScience registers three more products in Egypt Innovative smart fertiliser company, Levity CropScience, has announced the registration of three of its products in Egypt, bringing the total to nine. Levity's Egyptian distributor, United Group of Agencies Agricultural Development Co, will now offer Elona Mg, Lono K and Albion Granular, alongside Lono, Lono Plus, Sulis, Albion, Indra and Damu. Elona Mg allows growers to increase the resilience and volume of yields in vegetables, mainly tomatoes and cucumbers, whilst Lono K offers the same results across potatoes, grapes and mangoes.
Substrates with highspeed for your plant growth Stender Agency for Arabic countries Mohamed Adel Zaraa Tel.: +39 335 716 15 37 Mail.: mozaraa@gmail.com www.stender.de
MAY JUNE 2019
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Finally, Albion Granular will allow growers in the North African country to produce better quality turf. Levity first started offering its innovative smart fertilisers to growers in Egypt in 2017, since then the company has experienced significant demand for its products, leading to the
addition of new ones in the market. David Marks, co-Managing Director, Levity CropScience, said: “We've experienced fantastic demand for our products in Egypt since entering the market 18 months ago. Following our growth in the country, we have decided to
register three more products, Elona Mg, Lono K and Albion Granular, all of which will help growers in the country become more resilient and produce greater yields.�
Entire Green Sector Will Be Guests at Messe Essen from January 28 to 31, 2020 The world's largest and most important fair in the green sector is now already setting the points for the next event. At its most recent meeting, the Advisory Board for the Fair praised the comprehensive supporting programme which is to be continued and expanded even further. Climate change and sustainability will be defining subjects in 2020 too particularly with regard to environmentally friendly packaging. For the first time, the coming IPM ESSEN from January 28 to 31, 2020 will take place on the completely modernised site at Messe Essen. Then, exhibitors and visitors will find eight largearea, ground-level, daylightflooded exhibition halls equipped with the newest infrastructure. The temporary halls will be dispensed with. Thus, it will be possible to use the new East Glass Foyer as an entrance for the first time. More than 1,500 exhibitors from all over the world will once again be expected and will introduce their new products and innovations to a top-class international trade public.
Codema newest partner of World Horti Center Gideon de Jager, Commercial Director and shareholder of horticulture supplier Codema, signed a participation 12
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agreement with the World Horti Center. Gideon de Jager: “The World Horti Center is a unique knowledge and innovation platform where all facets of Dutch horticulture are on display. It is the place to be, where entrepreneurship, innovation and research in horticulture come together. The Netherlands leads the world in the horticulture sector and we need to keep that edge. Continuous innovation and cooperation are very important to keep this leading position in the world.'' The international character of the World Horti Center is a good fit for Codema, because Codema has a global client base and branches on multiple continents. There is growing global demand for efficient, high-quality horticulture solutions. Since 1958, Codema has developed, delivered and installed sustainable custom solutions for the international horticulture sector. The goal of this is to increase the operational efficiency of horticulture businesses and contributing to a healthier and more sustainable world. Codema focuses on six core disciplines for this: water
management, climate management, engineering and construction, cultivation systems, power and lighting, and software and web solutions.
Responding to global trends with creativity, quality and genuine authentic taste At its IFFA premiere, MANE responded to the world's biggest food trends by presenting its unique expertise in natural flavours, taste ingredients and functional solutions. Visitors to the stand were led through a real chilli field and told about the MANE approach to better raw material control through vertical integration. They then discovered how raw materials can be improved when turned into different types of flavouring products. Visitors were also treated to a full spicebased products experience at an interactive tasting counter. At three live-cooking stations - Tapas, Street Food and Ready Meals - the expert in creating taste demonstrated concepts based on authentic international cuisines and revealed how to achieve natural profiles and enjoyable sensory
experiences. Additionally, visitors had a chance to familiarise themselves with the latest launches in the savoury category, including the company's new marinades and concentrated vegetable juices. To address the booming trend for snacking, MANE presented a wide variety of hearty Tapas ideas that proved its expertise in formulating high-performing seasonings, marinades and functional blends. Expert chefs demonstrated how the company's savoury capabilities offer a broad base for solving various production challenges, enhancing the taste and visual appeal of final products and providing them with an exciting diversity of flavour profiles.
The Red Palm Weevil threatens food security and livelihoods, but it can be contained and also eradicated The Near East and North African countries can count on FAO's unwaivering support in their fight to contain the spread of the Red Palm Weevil one of the world's most invasive pest species, the UN agency's Director-General,
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JosĂŠ Graziano da Silva, said. Addressing the Red Palm Weevil Donor Meeting in Abu Dhabi, Graziano da Silva thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) including Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister for Tolerance, for hosting the event. The meeting, co-organized by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation and FAO, brings together agriculture ministers from the Near East and North Africa region and key regional and international organizations. Graziano da Silva praised the UAE's $2 million contribution to FAO's five-year regional programme to combat Red Palm Weevil. The funding was announced by Mariam Al Mehairi, UAE Minister of State for Food Security, during the meeting. "FAO will continue promoting regional and international collaboration aimed at controlling and eradicating the pest," he added. Previous contributions include $2 million from Saudi Arabia and $100,000 from Oman. "Containing, controlling and ultimately eradicating the Red Palm Weevil is possible and FAO is at the forefront of efforts in this regard," Graziano da Silva said. The Red Palm Weevil, an insect originating in South East Asia that has spread rapidly through the Near East and North Africa, is the most dangerous and destructive pest of palm 14
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trees worldwide. Feeding on the trees' growing tissue from the inside, it is particularly difficult to detect during the early stages of infestation.
Global food import bill set to decline amid abundant supplies The global food import bill is likely to decline in 2019, but the poorest and most vulnerable countries will not be the prime beneficiaries, according to a new UN report. FAO's latest Food Outlook projects worldwide food imports to drop 2.5 percent in 2019 to US$ 1.472 trillion. The lower costs would be enjoyed mostly by developed countries, while the import bill for sub-Saharan Africa is expected to rise. And while lower unit costs of food imports suggests that more food could be purchased for the same amount of money, that gain is cancelled out in almost all the Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries, whose currencies are weakening against the U.S. dollar, the primary unit in international trade transactions. Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices account for almost half the predicted decline, while the bills for sugar and cereals despite declining international prices for the latter - would be broadly unchanged. Better news for vulnerable countries is the anticipated lower bills for vegetable oils, which typically are major imported items for them. Published twice a year, FAO's Food Outlook assesses market and production trends for an array of foods including cereals, fish, sugar, oilcrops, milk and meat. The current edition also has special reports on the outlook for banana, avocado and
other tropical fruit exports from the Latin American and the Caribbean region. The new Food Outlook offers FAO's first supply and demand forecasts for 2019/20, with detailed assessments of market prospects for wheat, maize, rice, fish, meats, dairy, sugar, and various types of vegetable oils.
New standards to curb the global spread of plant pests and diseases The body charged with keeping plant pests and diseases at bay and trade in plants safe has adopted new international measures to prevent pests from crossing borders and spreading. The standards, including protocols to block highly invasive pests such as Xylella fastidiosa and the oriental fruit fly, were approved during the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures' (CPM) annual meeting held recently. CPM is the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) the only international body charged with setting and implementing phytosanitary standards recognized by governments around the world and the World Trade Organization-SPS agreement to facilitate safe trade and protect plant health. "With increased trade and travel, the risks of plant pests spreading into new areas across borders is now higher than ever before. Each day, we witness a shocking number of threats to the well-being of our plants and, by extension, to our heath, environment and economy," said Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director-General for Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department. MAY JUNE 2019
Under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.
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AGRA ME REVIEW
FOCUS ON REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY AT THE OPENING OF AGRAME
H
is Excellency Engineer Saif Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), officially inaugurated AgraME, one of the region's key agribusiness, aquaculture and animal health trade events which took place from March 5- 7, 2019 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. His Excellency Eng Al Shara delivered a keynote address, setting the tone for the event that has put both food security and the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals at the forefront of the free-to-attend CPD accredited conference stream. The conference agenda for day one focussed on a series of presentations under the theme 'Investment opportunities in the Arab World', initiated by His Excellency Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Mazrooei - President of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID).
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His Excellency Eng Al Shara said: “The problem of food insecurity continues to plague the world. Following the decline in the number of starving people in the world over the past decade, this number has, for the third year in a row now, risen again reaching more than 820 million in 2017, according to the FAO Food Security and Nutrition Situation Report 2018. “The causes of food insecurity and malnutrition remain the same: Population growth, lack of agricultural land, water and food scarcity, and climate change. This means that we need to be proactive in ensuring that the regional agricultural production industry continues to get the support and innovation it needs to thrive.” He added: “Despite of the gloomy picture, there are reasons to be optimistic. The increasing adoption of modern, smart technologies in the field of agriculture - which are the highlight of this exhibition - will play a key role in the industry's
future. The more attention we give to smart, modern agricultural practices such as vertical and aquatic agriculture, the quicker we can move toward reaching our food security goals. The full use of these developments depends largely on the extent of our success in international cooperation, particularly in the areas of technology transfer, financing and capacity-building among small- and medium-sized agricultural business owners in developing countries.” His Excellency Eng Al Shara pointed out that the UAE has maintained a good level of food security, ranking 33rd in the Global Food Security Index 2017. He said: “The high food security level is a result of the UAE leadership's commitment to diversifying food sources by establishing strong business networks and trade relations with important exporters of staple foods, and the promotion of private investment in the agricultural sector, at home and MAY JUNE 2019
GFIA REVIEW
GFIA: IDENTIFYING NEW PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY
U
nder the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State responsible for future food security, opened the 6th edition of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zaidi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture
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held on the 1st and 2nd of April, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), in conjunction with the region's largest honey production conference and exhibition ApiArab Expo. Over 310 exhibitors with their cutting-edge products and services and over 50 gamechanging innovations were shown at the forum for the first time, cementing GFIA's position as the world's largest showcase of agricultural technology innovation. Speaking at the forum on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HE Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State responsible for future food
security, said: "The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture has become a platform for dialogue and international cooperation to address the challenges of food security. This year, we decided to focus on ways to employ Artificial Intelligence in improving the efficiency of safe food provision to the world's population, keeping pace with the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). Only unconventional efforts which are based on knowledge and innovation and which adopt modern technology in developing the agricultural sector are capable of responding to the food needs of increasing populations.� MAY JUNE 2019
VIV ASIA REVIEW
VIV ASIA 2019 WINS VISITORS' INCREASE FROM OVERSEAS
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he 2019 edition of VIV Asia, held over 3 days from 13th to 15th March in Bangkok, attracted more than 45,000 professional visits, confirming the big attendance of the previous appointment. Already known since 2017 as the n.1 international trade show from Feed to Food in Asia, VIV Asia 2019 took another step forward in strengthening its international character with a 7% increase of visits from outside of the hosting country. The enthusiasm and energy distinguishing the Feed to Food Asian markets resonated at BITEC throughout the show time, giving all attendees another memorable experience at VIV Asia. The biggest international industry gathering of Asia When looking at the livestock and feed to food markets in Asia, VIV worldwide offers the strongest network of industry professionals, with VIV Asia leading the VIV series of events. A good 65% of the total 45,023 visits registered at VIV Asia in 2019 came to Bangkok from outside of Thailand, confirming the international flavour of this show where local visitors counted this time for 35%, against the 39% Thai visits audited in 2017. With Asian markets in the lead, overseas visitors came from more than 120 countries. China, once again the first MAY JUNE 2019
visiting country after Thailand, significantly increased its attendance by 12% compared to the previous edition. Following China, the top 10 visiting markets this year were: India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Pakistan. Interesting to note, Cambodia claimed in this edition a place in the top 20 visiting countries completing more and more the ASEAN markets coverage at the show. Despite the air space closure affecting visitors' attendance right before the show dates, Pakistan managed to confirm its 11th position in the visiting countries' list. Some others in the top 20 were Myanmar, Japan, Nepal, and Iran. VIV Asia goes more and more international not only in
terms of visitors but also with regards to the exhibiting offer. As announced before the show opening, 1,245 exhibitors (+18% compared to 2017) from 62 countries, covered at BITEC a space of 31,007sqm net (+30% compared to 2017) where 10 international pavilions showcased a number of new companies and brands. In particular, the Canadian and Japanese pavilions proudly marked their new entry into VIV Asia line up in 2019, next to the recurring pavilions from Belgium, China, France, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. Finally, new exhibiting countries represented by individual companies were: Cyprus, Ecuador, Finland, Jordan, Lithuania, Morocco, Myanmar, Paraguay, Tunisia, and Uruguay. GULF AGRICULTURE
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LIGHTING
SIGNIFY EXPANDS IN BELGIAN HORTICULTURE MARKET WITH NEW TOMCO PROJECT
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ignify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, announced its second horticulture project with tomato grower Luc Coghe to install full LED lighting in a newly built 10 hectares greenhouse in Roeselare, Belgium. Since 2014, Luc Coghe, Owner of TOMCO and his wife, Greet Biesbrouck, have increased yields and improved the quality and taste of high wire tomatoes grown under a combination of Philips GreenPower LED interlighting and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting at their Biesbrouck Company. Based on this success, they are moving to a full Philips LED lighting system for their newest greenhouse. The new greenhouse is
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equipped with a combination of Philips LED toplighting and interlighting that produces a total of 225 μmol/m2/s. LEDs produce little heat so planting can start earlier and therefore the plants can be given more light in the spring and summer. “I expect this system to bring in higher yields and more predictable production for my customers. LEDs should also help us differentiate ourselves in terms of quality and taste, as we have experienced at our Biesbrouck location,” said Coghe. “More importantly, my greenhouse is future proof with full LED.” “We are seeing a great demand for our Philips GreenPower LED solutions in the Belgian market,” said Udo
van Slooten, Business Leader Horticulture at Signify. “Not only has Luc Coghe decided to reinvest in LEDs. Other companies in Belgium that have made that move recently include Den Boschkant and Tomaline with hybrid toplighting combining LED and HPS and Ceulemans. That is because they trust that our Philips products will help them achieve higher yield and a better-quality crop.” TOMCO is planning to grow the variety Xandor in the new greenhouse. The project is being carried out with Philips LED Horti Partner MAIS AUTOMATISERING NV and the plants are expected to go in in June 2019.
MAY JUNE 2019
PLANTER BAGS
ADAPTING THE WAY FOOD IS GROWN IN THE 21ST CENTURY Growing Blueberries in Easy-Fill™ planter bags using (CEA); meeting the needs of an expanding and increasingly urbanised population
EASY-FILL™ PLANTER BAGS AND THEIR KEY ROLE IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
A
s the food and agricultural industry become more globalised, the risks of disease and cross contamination have increased. According to the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, failed agriculture market regulation and the lack of anti-dumping mechanisms cause much of the world's food security issues. The consumer loses all traceability of their food origin and hence there is a real risk that it may have been grown in an area with unsafe drinking and irrigation water, poor sanitation and low food safety standards. Changing the focus from traditional in-ground growing to innovative Controlled
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Environment Agriculture (CEA), Wangara Horticultural has worked closely with Universities, Government Agencies and major food producers to adapt the way food is grown in the 21st century. The synergy between EasyFill™ planter bags and the new technology based approach (CEA) provides consumer protection and maintains optimal growing conditions throughout the life cycle of the plants or crops. (CEA) optimises the use of key resources such as water, energy and space. Easy-Fill™ planter bags have been allowing our customers to grow their plants and crops in a controlled environment for over 25 years with the main benefits of saving water, optimal
soil use without loss or erosion, and direct control of nutrients thus alleviating real concerns over soil contamination. In commercial agriculture, growing with EasyFill™ planter bags can increase efficiency and crop yield, reduce the risks of cross contamination and disease, and save resources. Don't trust your investment to other companies that don't have the industry knowledge, experience or quality product. Wangara Horticultural is the original designer of the heavy duty, round bottom planter bag, and has maintained its market position in an ever changing industry through innovative design and producing a superior product with a manufacturer guarantee. MAY JUNE 2019
AGRICULTURE MACHINERY
VTX-S 30 T Parallel disc harrow with independent discs for mixing the soil
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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY
THE RED DOT JURY ASSIGNED THE TITLE “RED DOT: BEST OF THE BEST” TO IDEAL
M
assey Ferguson, a Global Brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO) is honoured to announce that the IDEAL combine harvester from Massey Ferguson was awarded in the Red Dot Design Award category of commercial vehicles with the title of “Red Dot: Best of the Best”. IDEAL from Massey Ferguson is truly a Harvesting Game Changer that projects Massey Ferguson straight to the top of the new era of the harvesting business. It is a newly developed combine harvester that blends a cutting-edge design, with the cutting-edge harvesting connected technology opening unexplored harvesting frontiers to farmers around the world. The jury recognized this new generation of combine harvesters for top design quality and ground-breaking design acknowledging IDEAL's innovative features and its unique, elegant graphite livery. The Red Dot Award: Product Design stands for one of the most distinguished award for design and innovation. IDEAL succeeded in impressing the jury
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of this prestigious international design competition, favouring it among other products in other sectors and industries. “Since its launch, IDEAL from Massey Ferguson has not stopped harvesting great results. At Agritechnica 2017 the IDEAL combine received the DLG Silver Medal for Innovation, it was named Machine of the Year 2018 and it was assigned as well the Public Vote Award. The Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018 “Best of the Best” is another important milestone that proves the success of AGCO in providing brand-new designs and superior innovation”, says Francesco Quaranta, Vice-President Sales, Marketing and Product Management Massey Ferguson, Europe and the Middle East. IDEAL from Massey Ferguson is a completely new, high performance combine harvester range designed using requirements taken directly from farmers and operators around the world. The range sets new levels of efficiency in the field and includes three models from 451 to 647hp firmly focussed on delivering significant gains in
productivity and output. “With the biggest grain-tank capacity now available on the European market, the fastest unloading rate and the largest threshing area*, it's exciting to see yet more top-level recognition for the exceptional new features on the IDEAL from Massey Ferguson,” says Francesco Quaranta. “Among many exceptional new features, the IDEAL combine offers full connectivity, a complete and automated adjustment IDEALharvest™ and Real Time Crop Flow visualization. IDEAL has at its heart the most efficient processing system ever designed by AGCO. It is set to MAY JUNE 2019
AGRICULTURE MACHINERY
outperform on grain ad straw quality, grain handling, power efficiency, and capacity in a wide variety of conditions.” adds Francesco Quaranta. Over 6,300 products from 59 countries were entered in this year's competition. All of these products were assessed individually by an international jury of 40 independent design industry professionals. The award ceremony will take place at the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany, on July 9th. “Massey Ferguson is really proud and honoured to receive so many great accolades and awards for its recently launched MAY JUNE 2019
IDEAL from Massey Ferguson combine harvester range. But now we are heading for the most prestigious award in our industry: successful customers choosing the IDEAL combine to run their business”, says Francesco Quaranta. “We are now in the process of finalizing the full training of dedicated IDEAL from Massey Ferguson teams in our dealer networks across all markets within Europe and the Middle East in sales and after-sales. We are also developing for the 2018 Gold Harvest Season, the most ambitious and game changing demonstration programme in France, UK,
Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania. The Massey Ferguson dealer network will be proud to let farmers and contractors, looking at the highest performing combine harvester, riding the IDEAL combine innovation and feeling the future of harvesting. All European farmers will have the opportunity to make their own experience and see how the IDEAL combine will make the difference specifically for them”, concludes Mr Quaranta. *Based on comparative data shown on competitive brand websites as of 8 August 2017. GULF AGRICULTURE
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NETTINGS
ARRIGONI GREEN SOLUTION AGAINST EXCESSIVE RAINFALLS AND INSECTS IN CHERRY GROWING
C THROUGH PROTECTA® AND PROTECTA® SYSTEM THE FUTURE OF HEALTHY FRUITS WITHOUT PESTICIDES
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herry cultivation is one of the most complex and delicate crops. Like other fruits such as kiwi, peach or plum, it can suffer important negative effects from excessive rainfall, increasingly common in the season of fruit ripening (starting from the second decade of May). Leading international player in the technical textile sector for agriculture, Arrigoni proposes new solutions that improve cultivation practices. Moreover, it combines the possibility of protecting crops from the attack of harmful insects, such as the dreaded Drosophila Suzukii and other species to the advantages of defense against atmospheric agents. “Until now - explains Giuseppe Netti, agronomist from Arrigoni - damages of rain on
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cherries was prevented by means of plastic film covers. In several cases this solution produces satisfactory results. However, it is not 100% effective. This is due to the fact that a totally "waterproof" product reduces the air passage (which remains only in the horizontal direction) and favors a moist environment on sunny days, altering the microclimate of the orchard and causing an excess of humidity. Consequences are damage or reduction of the harvest. Moreover, such a cover can cause serious damage to the structure in the event of strong winds”. “Arrigoni research has thus developed a specific innovative product: PROTECTA®. This is a new concept of coverage Netti continues - which guarantees multiple advantages:
reduction in the percentage of water flow; maintaining sufficient air flow and a good microclimate; high mechanical strength; long life (over 6 years in Italy); hail, wind, frost and sun protection”. PROTECTA® by Arrigoni is made of high tenacity ARLENE HT® monofilament and contains special additives to increase its durability and favor the sliding of rain outside rows. The resulting mesh fabric is very dense (39 threads per square centimeter), which allows to break up the drop and reduce the passage of water by about 90%. "The tests on PROTECTA® - Netti specifies - were carried out by subjecting the fabric to a very high rainfall intensity: 60 mm/h, or the same conditions as a heavy downpour". MAY JUNE 2019
GRAIN HANDLING MACHINERY
UK MANUFACTURER ALVAN BLANCH WINS QUEEN'S AWARD FOR EXPANDING EXPORTS THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED THE AWARD — HAVING WON PREVIOUSLY IN 2005 AND 2012
DF Drier Drying Rapeseed - Canada.
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he United Kingdom based manufacturer Alvan Blanch, has received the Queen's Award for Enterprise 2019 in the 'International Trade Outstanding Achievement' category. The awards, announced are the most prestigious business accolades within the UK. This is the third time that the company has received the award - having won previously in 2005
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and 2012. Alvan Blanch is the only company, within the agricultural sector, to have received an award within the International Trade category. Alvan Blanch is a manufacturer of post-harvest processing machinery and industrial drying systems. With regular markets in every inhabited continent, the company has focused on using
its international trade to drive growth, while maintaining its established UK customer base. Understanding the challenges and changes of fast-moving markets has been crucial for Alvan Blanch to achieve its international success. In addition to a well-known grain drier business, Alvan Blanch boasts dedicated engineering and design teams who are constantly MAY JUNE 2019
GRAIN HANDLING MACHINERY
EU Dealer Meeting and Alvan Blanch Czech offices opening - Czech Republic.
working on product enhancement and R&D. The last five years have seen a large expansion in global operations for the Wiltshire based manufacturer. The company has opened sales offices and service centres in several markets in Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe, benefitting customer and dealer relationships. MAY JUNE 2019
Managing Director, Andrew Blanch says: We are very proud to have won this award for the third time; it represents a great achievement by everyone here. When we first won it 14 years ago we had managed £3million of export sales, the award in 2012 reflected sharp growth of exports to £8million, while now we have reached £12million. Over that period, we have doubled our workforce to 120 and we have recently invested very heavily in manufacturing automation and in expanding our factory. We now have a world-class manufacturing facility that enables us to compete in highly demanding global markets with our world beating products. But all of that has only been made possible by our 4-fold export sales growth over the 14 years between these awards.
CD Multipurpose Drier - Drying Paper Waste -Thailand.
DF Drier Drying Almonds - Australia. GULF AGRICULTURE
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LIVESTOCK
GLOBALSTAR SATELLITE IoT DEVICES FOR SMART ANIMAL TRACKING
G
lobalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE MKT: GSAT) announced that FindMy (formerly FindMySheep), the IoT animal tracking pioneer, has cumulatively deployed over 45,000 satellite-enabled IoT tracking collars for safeguarding sheep, cattle and reindeer. FindMy relies on
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Globalstar's powerful, low-cost STX3 chipset and its worldwide network of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which deliver reliable, accurate tracking far beyond the reach of mobile GSM and other technologies. FindMy was originally founded to meet the needs of sheep farmers in Norway whose flocks graze fence-free in the mountains and often range
across borders into Sweden and Finland. FindMy's reputation is now established internationally and today ranchers in Latin America trust FindMy to monitor cattle. STX3's small size, ruggedness, long battery life, and ease of integration, as well as its competitive price, remain key compelling features for FindMy. FindMy's tracking collars communicate with Globalstar's MAY JUNE 2019
LIVESTOCK
LEADING IoT ANIMAL TRACKING SPECIALIST FINDMY HAS TO DATE DEPLOYED OVER 45,000 ANIMAL TRACKING COLLARS, BASED ON GLOBALSTAR SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY, ACROSS SCANDINAVIA AND SOUTH AMERICA TO TRACK SHEEP, CATTLE AND REINDEER FINDMY HELPS FARMERS SAFEGUARD INCOME BY FINDING LOST ANIMALS, LOSING FEWER TO PREDATORS, AND BUILDING KNOWLEDGE OF HERD HEALTH AND BEST GRAZING AREAS
satellite network to geo-fence livestock, helping farmers monitor animals to ensure they graze only in designated areas, and to locate those which have escaped or are injured. With each animal worth hundreds or even thousands of Euros, losing livestock to predators or through illness not only affects revenues but can also have a profound impact on the quality of a farmer's breeding foundation for years to come. Thanks to the rich data transmitted by the FindMy system, farmers are empowered to manage their stock intelligently, and minimise loss due to inadequate food or MAY JUNE 2019
water, disease or predators. FindMy provides an informative data trail that enables farmers to analyse where animals that produce the best quality meat are grazing, so farmers can proactively manage herds' grazing for future seasons. FindMy's customised user interface alerts farmers and herd managers when an animal has not moved for some time. With FindMy's GPS data, they can identify exactly where to go to investigate, saving valuable time and resources. Farmers deploying the collars report a significant reduction in animal loss, with a consequent direct positive impact on their business. In October 2017, Globalstar announced that its technology is at the heart of SaveMyReindeer, a technology solution that FindMy designed to prevent trains from colliding with reindeer in Norway's hinterland. Hundreds of kilometres of
Norway's railroads, reaching inside the Arctic Circle, traverse territories inhabited by the region's indigenous Sami communities who keep herds of free-roaming reindeer. Each year, trains kill about 6,500 of the region's 600,000 reindeer, with an estimated loss of 8.5 million of livestock. In 2016, the Norwegian mapping authority, Kartverket, sought a solution as part of its annual hackathon series. FindMy emerged the winner and SaveMyReindeer was developed. SaveMyReindeer, currently in development and testing, uses data from the Norwegian Railway Directorate on the real-time location of each train combined with open data from Kartverket to create a moving geo-fence 40-50 km around the train. By comparing the geofence area with GPS data from FindMy collars already keeping tabs on reindeer, the system warns train drivers when they are approaching the animals so they can take evasive action. The reindeer owner simultaneously receives an alert on their smartphone, giving them the opportunity to move the herd out of harm's way. By introducing SaveMyReindeer, fewer animals would be lost, and the train network would suffer less disruption. “The FindMy animal tracking platform is helping farmers ensure the best possible health of their livestock, protecting animals from disease and predators, and maximising herd value,” said Halvor Mjoen, Founder of FindMy. “Thanks to Globalstar's ongoing commitment to IoT innovation, we will continue to find new ways to help farmers to monitor and safeguard their valuable animals,” he added. GULF AGRICULTURE
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LIVESTOCK
THE BELGIAN BLUE: THE CROSSBREEDING SPECIALIST BREED
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he Belgian blue (BB) is a breed which is exported today in more than 50 countries. Every year, the demand increases all over the world. You can find it everywhere in Europe, but also
in Russia, in Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon or Mexico‌ Thanks to the calving ease and the famous beef quality, the Belgian Blue Breed is now recognized as the best breed for terminal crossbreeding. The breed: The specificity of the Belgian Blue is the DOUBLE MUSCLE gene which you can find in a homozygous way in 100% of the BB herd. So, males and females automatically pass on to their progeny one of the allele, what explains the superior conformation of the crossbred calves. Thus, the BB is the best beef producer within the beef breeds thanks to:
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The extraordinary muscle
development: the Belgian blue is the first breed for: conformation, carcass yield (until 70%) and beef yield (until 80%) in pure breed. The feed efficiency: the BB valorises very well high energy level diets. They need on average, 5 kg of concentrate to produce 1 kg of growth. Docility: BB are very calm and easy to manipulate. You can find also this behaviour in the crossbred calves, who don't waste energy in moving too much! The quality of the meat: the BB meat doesn't contain more cholesterol than chicken! It is a low fat meat, MAY JUNE 2019
LIVESTOCK
and the fineness of its fibres makes it extremely tender. So it is a healthy tender meat! You can find partly of these qualities in the crossbred meat. Crossbreeding use of the Belgian Blue: The use of the BB for terminal crossbreeding on dairy cows especially, has grown strongly the last 10 years. This grow is due to a combination of facts: the decline of the milk price, the price of the crossbred calves which is higher than dairy pure breeds, and also the development of the females sexed semen in dairy herds. We observed in a national scientific study (between Belgium and France), that the use of a BB bull on Holstein cow doesn't generate a significative increase of the quantity of caesareans. Indeed, only 3.5% of the calving need one, when it is around 2.5% in pure breed Holstein. So, what we should remember is that more than 96% of the births are easy: without any assistance or a small one. The ease of birth is allowed by the fact that calves are not too heavy (45 kg in average), their body is long and their bones very thin! The crossbred calves had been compared with pure breed Holstein calves during the fattening period (last period before the slaughterhouse) for 139 days. And we noticed that the BB crossbred have a better carcass yield: +5.8 %, which provides 44 kg carcass more after the same fattening period. Conformation is also better (in accordance with the European classification: EUROP). Which means you have more beef on the back and MAY JUNE 2019
on the hind quarters of the animals, the best ones! The beef yield is 7% higher for the crossbred calves (68% vs 61% for the Holstein calves). As a result, the high quality of BB crossbred carcasses is recognized by the beef sector and has a repercussion on the price of the calves: in Western Europe, crossbred calves (generally bought between 15 days and 3 weeks to the farmer) are payed 3 until 4 times more than a pure dairy breed one at the same age. By this way, profitability of the milk farm is improved by the sale of the crossbred calves. The crossbreeding selection scheme of BBG: Belgian Blue Group BBG has been created in 2003 and is the leader on the market for the Belgian blue genetic for crossing. Since the beginning, BBG is working on a special selection scheme, dedicated to
crossing. And they are the only one in the world to emit official indexes (thanks to the participation of the AWE: Walloon Breeders Association). BBG works especially on 4 significative characters for the use of the breed in crossing: Birth weight: to obtain a not to heavy calf, Ease at birth: to reassure the breeder that the birth of the calf will be easy, Gestation length: to help the breeder in having one calf per year per cow, Conformation at birth: to get a better price for the crossbred calf So, if you use Belgian blue bulls selected by BBG in your dairy herd, you will obtain better incomes, without any negative impacts on your milk production! — Carol Deloume BBG Export Manager cdeloume@netbbg.com GULF AGRICULTURE
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SINGAPORE UPDATE
HOW AGRI-TECH CAN HELP SINGAPORE AND THE UAE BOOST DOMESTIC FOOD PRODUCTION
T By Nael Islam, Regional Group Director - Middle East and North Africa, for Enterprise Singapore
38
he food and agri-tech sector is a S$5 trillion (AED13.6 trillion) global industry. This comes as no surprise given expanding populations, and burgeoning food demand and consumption across the globe. In several parts of the world today, enhancing the ability to produce food locally to cope with food security concerns is earning considerable attention from individuals, communities and governments alike. The threats to food security are diverse; ranging from erratic weather patterns, fluctuating commodity prices, protectionist trade policies, and uncertain geopolitical landscapes. Singapore is a small city-state, less than two-fifths the size of the emirate of Dubai. Like the UAE, Singapore has limited arable land, scarce water resources and is highly dependent on food imports. To put it in perspective, both
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countries import nearly 90 per cent of the food they consume. Despite the obvious physical constraints that prevent it from becoming a traditional agricultural country, Singapore has the ambitious goal of developing its food production model and emerging as a leading hub for urban agriculture and aquaculture technologies. Modern technologies and innovations have opened up opportunities for small countries like ours to scale up food production capabilities. Urban farming, aquaculture and alternative protein are three areas in Singapore's agri-tech sector that hold the greatest potential. This is something that we, at Enterprise Singapore, a government trade and enterprise development agency, together with other public and private sector stakeholders, are committed to invest resources in.
The rise of urban agriculture From just six vertical farms in 2016 to over 30 today, urban farming is gaining momentum in the city-state. Urban farming involves growing plants in cleanroom-like conditions, with growers controlling every aspect of the cultivation environment; from lighting and nutrients to temperature and humidity. Singapore's agri-tech players, Sustenir Agriculture and Grower Agritech, show us that it is not unimaginable to cultivate crops such as strawberries and truffles in a tropical climate like ours. What makes the Singapore agri-tech scene truly exciting is the opportunity to produce food in underutilised and unconventional spaces. Citiponics Farm, a Singapore-based urban farming startup, is working together with government agencies to pilot a commercial MAY JUNE 2019
SINGAPORE UPDATE
efficient through significantly reducing the use of water.
urban farm on the rooftop of a multi-storied carpark at one of our residential neighbourhoods. Urban agriculture is an endeavour that countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait are eyeing with much interest. The GCC region's first commercial vertical farm, Badia Farms, that opened in Dubai in March 2018 uses hydroponics technology that allows it to save up to 90 per cent more water than traditional open-field farming, achieving six-times the yield from the same amount of land. Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), a subsidiary of Emirates Group, in collaboration with USbased Crop One Holdings, is coinvesting US$40 million (S$54.22 million or AED146 million) to set up a giant indoor farm this year. When completed, the facility will become the world's largest vertical farming facility in Dubai, producing 2,700 kg of herbicide-free and pesticide-free leafy greens every day while being resourceMAY JUNE 2019
Aquaculture: Fish for the future The seafood industry has grown increasingly vulnerable in the face of many challenges - overfishing, territorial disputes and environmental concerns. The future of sustainable aquaculture lies in technology-driven marine farming. To drive research and development in this space, in March 2019, Enterprise Singapore, together with a consortium of academic institutions, announced the setting up of a Centre of Innovation in Aquaculture. In addition to developing innovative urban aquaculture solutions, the centre aims to raise the bar for the industry through setting standards, product testing and certification, and promoting open sharing of knowledge and networks. Similarly, in the UAE, Dubaibased International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture is undertaking research on how reject brine - a by-product of desalination - can be used to improve the farming and growth conditions of fish such as Tilapia and Seabream. Insects and faux-meat Alternative proteins like plantbased meat substitutes and edible insects are gradually gaining uptake given the growing environmental concerns (i.e. greenhouse gas emissions) associated with traditional livestock production. This was reiterated in the recent World Economic Forum Report. In Singapore, some companies are developing unique plant-based proteins that mimic seafood and meat. For example, Nature's Nest, exhibited its new product label, Seago - a ready-to-eat snack which
is a plant-based seafood alternative at Gulfood 2019. Seago is an excellent source of protein for those allergic to crustaceans. Startups such as Protenga and Asia Insect Farm Solutions (AIFS) are also eyeing insect farming as sustainable livestock feed and human food. Eating insects might not be as startling as most of us would perceive. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that two billion people eat bugs as part of their standard diet. What's next? While agri-tech may still be at a nascent stage of growth around the world, it is critical to take a long-term view of developing this sector through building a vibrant agri-tech startup environment, seeding deeper government and private sector partnerships, and catalysing research and development. Singapore has started to make early moves to uncover industry talent, anchor experts, partners, investors and accelerators in shaping our agri-tech ecosystem. It is only by fostering innovation that countries can seek out ways to boost domestic food production and meet the needs of their growing populations. Her Excellency Mariam Al Muhairi, the UAE's Minister of State for Food Security, recently commended Singapore for topping the Global Food Security Index 2018, despite importing 90 per cent of its food supply. She noted that the UAE should strive to be among the top 10 on the index by 2021. Many parallels may be drawn and best practices exchanged between Singapore in South East Asia, and the UAE in the GCC region. Ultimately, it is important to recognise that food security is not just a national priority, but a global one.
URBAN AGRICULTURE IS AN ENDEAVOUR THAT COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN AND KUWAIT ARE EYEING WITH MUCH INTEREST
GULF AGRICULTURE
39
SPANISH UPDATE
BLUEBERRIES FROM SPAIN TO MIDDLE EAST WITH LATEST CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE TECHNOLOGY
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anLucar has made the first shipment of blueberries from Spain to the Middle East, using Carrier XtendFRESH™, the most advanced technology on the market in a controlled atmosphere. This innovative system regulates the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) inside the transport container, reducing and eliminating the ethylene released by the fruit. Thanks to this technology, it is possible to slow the natural ripening process of the fruit down, to extend its shelf life while preserving all its freshness and quality. All these benefits are especially important for a product as delicate as blueberries, and essential to maintain the premium quality of the fruit
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THIS INNOVATIVE SYSTEM REGULATES THE LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) AND OXYGEN (O2) INSIDE THE TRANSPORT CONTAINER, REDUCING AND ELIMINATING THE ETHYLENE RELEASED BY THE FRUIT. and vegetables that SanLucar produces and sells worldwide. “Logistics are for SanLucar a key factor in the development of our internationalization strategy, always acting as a springboard and never as a limitation. From this point of view, we are strongly committed to the new means at our disposal to preserve the high quality standards of our products on their long trip to the overseas markets", explains Christian Quintela, Logistics
Director at SanLucar. "In this sense -he adds- it is crucial to collaborate with leading shipping and logistics companies such as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company to find the most innovative preservation technologies in refrigerated containers, as well as the most optimal services and routes for each of the destination markets." In the coming days, SanLucar blueberries will be distributed in the Middle East supermarkets. Nowadays, SanLucar products have a great reputation among consumers in the United Arab Emirates, where the SanLucar Group has undertaken in recent years an important expansion plan and where the company has its own office in the city of Dubai. MAY JUNE 2019
THE PORTFOLIO IS
EXPANDING
29-31 OCT 2019 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE
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PRIME19 AD A4.indd 1
5/15/19 11:23 AM
WANGARA HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES: AN INDUSTRY LEADER
EASY-FILL™ The Trusted Name In The Middle East '3&& 4)*11*/( 50 6"& #09 0' 53&& 5*&4
EASY-FILL
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Controlled environment agriculture
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Postal Address
General Enquiries
Unit 2 65 Prestige Parade, Wangara WA 6065 Australia
PO Box 1656 Wangara 6947 WA 6947 Australia
Ph: +61 8 6305 0081 Fax: +61 8 6305 0571 Email: info@whsaustralia.com.au
whsaustralia.com.au
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