FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA - JULY/AUGUST 2021 EDITION

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CONTENTS

Volume 9. Issue 4. July/August 2021

News

Editor’s Note America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves antioxidant DHQ made from apples

Image courtesy: Insta-Pro International

Executive Editor Anthony Kiganda editor@farmersreviewafrica.com Writers Silimina Derick, Bertha M. Contributing Writers Nqobile Bhebhe Zimbabwe Oscar Nkala Botswana Bertha M South Africa Anita Anyango Kenya Project Manager Victor Ndlovu sales@farmersreviewafrica.com Art Director & Layout Augustine Ombwa austin@arobia.co.ke Correspondents Isabel Banda zambia@farmersreviewafrica.com Sales & Marketing Gladmore. N gladmoren@farmersreviewafrica.com Mandla M. mandlam@farmersreviewafrica.com Kholwani. D kholwanid@farmersreviewafrica.com Polite Mkhize politem@farmersreviewafrica.com leslien@farmersreviewafrica.com East African Liaison Arobia Creative Consultancy Tel: +254 772 187334, arobia@farmersreviewafrica.com eastafrica@farmersreviewafrica.com Published by : Mailing Times Media +27 11 044 8986 sales@farmersreviewafrica.com

06

03

Farmers in Uganda decry low prices of vegetables

One of the main challenges facing Africa is how to export finished products instead of raw material.

INSIGHT

13

In fact, experts have agreed that the only viable option for Africa is to add value to products and provide transport and production of African goods.

Bayer launches its decarbonization program for agriculture in Europe

Yet the benefits of value addition are many.

Whenever we export processed goods, we create jobs for the youth and add value to local economies as opposed to spending it abroad. Value addition will also boost Africa’s quest for industrialization.

NEW PRODUCT

18

TOMRA 5C delivers on promise of added value and efficiency for the almond company

Statistics show that Africa imports every year $35 billion worth of food which is projected to rise to $110B in coming years if nothing is done to add value to our exports and decrease exports.

Feature Kanu Equipment appointed new Case IH dealer for Ghana

28 38

Value addition in agriculture is the way to go

24

Boosting broiler productivity with ExPress® soy meal Standard Bank partners with Timbali agriculture incubator to support and grow local emerging farmers

And this includes products such as coffee and tea which ironically is mainly produced in Africa.

As one expert has said we cannot take unprocessed products to the market and expect high profit.

And that is why Africa needs value addition now to not only boost industrialization but also growth.

Anthony Kiganda

editor@farmersreviewafrica.com

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Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications, but no warranty is made as to such accuracy and no responsibility will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further, opinions expr essed are not necessarily shared by Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd

Mecmar .................................................................17 Metalmont ….........................................................34 NTN…..................................................................IFC Polmac …..............................................................25 Sahara Exhibition ................................................30 Serap Industries ...................................................41 Soucy Truck …......................................................44

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NEWS

The AGRF’s agriculture matchmaking platform initiative links some 4,000 actors in the agriculture sector to investment and networking opportunities

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he African Development Bank’s (www.

AfDB.org) incoming Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr. Beth Dunford, and Director for Agricultural Finance and Rural Infrastructure Development Atsuko Toda joined development leaders online to launch this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Agribusiness Deal Room. The AGRF’s agriculture matchmaking platform initiative links some 4,000 actors in the agriculture sector to investment and networking opportunities.

In her first public engagement since her appointment, Dr. Dunford gave keynote remarks at a virtual session that drew more than 200 participants on Tuesday, 29 June. Dr. Dunford said that across Africa, there is a growing class of “agripreneurs” who are looking for investment, partnerships, technical knowhow and financing to scale up their business.

“The African Development Bank is excited to grow its partnership to this initiative. The Agribusiness Deal Room compliments our efforts to expand finance for agribusiness to enable small and medium enterprises to grow and attract new and innovative sources of sustainable capital,” she told the online audience.

Organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, this fourth edition of the Agribusiness Deal Room will be featured at the annual

2 | July - August 2021

AGRF Summit that convenes stakeholders to facilitate partnerships and investments in African agriculture. The Agribusiness Deal Room specifically supports governments and companies with access to finance and partnership opportunities. Dr. Dunford told session attendees that the platform aligns with the Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy (https://bit.ly/3hCzaMr), which seeks to ensure that the growth of the agricultural sector includes food security, and encourages inclusive growth by involving more women and youth. She also said Bank support of the Agribusiness Deal Room signals a commitment to a collective vision to accelerate Africa’s food system transformation.

“In my new capacity with the Bank, I’m looking forward to working with the AGRF and so many partners with us online, to see these food systems become more sustainable and more resilient,” Dr. Dunford added.

This year, the AGRF Agribusiness Deal Room will focus on addressing the challenges in agricultural lending to small and medium enterprises, or SMEs. “The huge potential of the agricultural sector on the continent remains unmet, with agriculture potentially the engine of African economies. We designed the Deal Room to build the capacities of SMEs while at the same time connecting them with sources of financing. We are looking for

investments and partnerships that will unlock the sector’s potential,” said Dr. Fadel Ndiame, Deputy President, AGRA. The Bank is one of 24 Agribusiness Deal Room partners that bring complementary capabilities, resources, and networks to the platform. Toda served on one of two discussion panels at Tuesday’s launch, the first focused “Investments for resilience, public and private sector strategies,” the latter, themed “Building SME capacity to mitigate risks for a sustainable African food system.”

Speaking to the theme of building SME capacity, Toda said that these often under-the-radar businesses play a key role in delivering food to African tables and in generating employment.

“SMEs are the engine of growth for food supply chains. If you look at any food supply chain, between 65 – 90% of the food supply is actually through small and medium enterprises,” Toda said. “For people to have jobs in Africa – it is very difficult to get into the formal sector. So, the informal sector - the small, medium enterprises are so important for creating jobs on the African continent,” she added.

Dr. Dunford will be responsible for the Bank’s strategy, lending and other activities in agriculture, as well as in water and sanitation, education, health, and Bank-wide work on employment and gender equity.

NEWS

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves antioxidant DHQ made from apples

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n a move that will benefit apple growers around the world, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), a product now available for sale in the USA. “DHQ is a powerful antioxidant that has a greater antioxidant capacity when compared to vitamin C, and it is ideal in a variety of on-trend food applications, including beverages, yogurt and chocolate products,” says Dr. Linda May-Zhang, research, science and innovation officer at Blue California, the company marketing Taxifolin BC-DHQ®.

According to South Africa’s largest exporter of South African apples and pears and a company wholly owned by its growers, Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, what is especially good news about this move is that there is another potential customer for a large volume of fruit.“While also found in olive oil and red onions, Taxifolin is found in red apples in the highest concentrations,” says Tru-Cape’s Quality Manager Henk Griessel.

According to May-Zhang, immune health will remain a top priority for consumers as 64% of global consumers are looking to improve their immunity over the next 12 months, reported

by FMCG Gurus, Top Ten Trends for 2021, December 2020.

“DHQ seeks and neutralises free radicals in the body, and its unique molecular structure makes it especially effective at preventing cellular damage.

It can also play an important role in skin health since it protects cells and stimulates collagen and elastin production in the skin. Taxifolin BC-

DHQ has much to offer as a powerful antioxidant in food and beverages as it provides improved colour stability for beverages, extends shelf life, and enhances flavour,” said May-Zhang.

“Not only is DHQ regarded as a promising ingredient to immune health, it may also be used in cosmetic applications for anti-aging and UVprotection.”

AfDB and Italian Technical Cooperation Fund extend €990,000 grant to boost agricultural value chains in Mozambique

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he African Development Bank (www.

AfDB.org), with financing from the Italian Technical Cooperation Fund, has provided a €990,000 grant to help smaller agro-processing enterprises boost production and quality control.

The project will enable the businesses to better tap into national and regional markets and capitalize on the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique is the implementing agency.

of the Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique, at the ceremony to hand over the grant funding.

“We are pleased to receive this grant from the African Development Bank and the Italian Technical Cooperation Fund, which will benefit about 300 agro-processing and agribusiness Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) associations in Mozambique, particularly youth and women-led SMEs operating along the development corridors of Nacala-Beira-PembaLichinga,” said Dr. Agostinho Vuma, President

African Development Bank country manager Dr. Pietro Toigo noted that the grant would provide critical support to Mozambique, especially amid the socioeconomic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. “We are pleased to partner with the CTA and the Government of Italy to support Mozambican SMEs recover from the COVID pandemic and scale up their competitiveness, as part of the African

“The grant is apt to further step up the intense bilateral relations in the agriculture area built through the many projects financed by the Italian cooperation and that it can act as a catalyst to extend it to the private sector where it exists a huge and largely untapped potential,” underlined the Italian Ambassador Dr. Gianni Bardini.

Development Bank’s commitment to help Industrialise Africa and Mozambique,” he said.

The project supports the goals of Mozambique’s Country Strategy Paper (2018-2022), which focuses on two strategic pillars: infrastructure investments that enable transformative inclusive growth and job creation, and agricultural transformation and value chain development.

The Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr. Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita, highlighted the importance of such initiatives and their catalytical role in promoting Mozambique’s agriculture modernization and the industrialization of critical sectors of the economy.

Recently the Bank approved a $1 million grant to boost local content and the development of initiatives of small and medium enterprises.

July - August 2021 | 3

NEWS

US $1.2M granted for agroprocessing in Mozambique

African Continental Free Trade Area. About 300 businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises led by women and young people operating along the Nacala, Beira and PembaLichinga development corridors will benefit from the program.

The project will address one of the major problems faced by small scale producers and processors who wish to trade beyond their local markets which is their lack of certification. According to the Italian ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, it will act as a catalyst to extend the private sector which has “a huge and largely untapped potential”.

M

ozambique has been granted US $1.2million from African Development Bank (ADB) and the Italian Technical Cooperation Fund to help small agro-processing enterprises boost production and quality control.

Confederation of Mozambican Business

Associations (CTA) President Agostinho Vuma, spoke durng the grant signing ceremony and said the funds will be channelled under a program implemented by them set to help businesses enter into the national and continental markets and capitalise on the opportunities created by the

“we are pleased to partner with the CTA and the government of Italy to support Mozambican small and medium-sized enterprises recover from the Covid pandemic and scale up their competitiveness, as part of the ADB’s commitment to help industrialise Mozambique and Africa,” said to Pietro Toigo, the ADB representative in Mozambique.

Mozambique’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Carlos Mesquita, welcomed the initiative, stressing its catalytic role in promoting Mozambique’s agricultural modernisation and the industrialisation of critical sectors of the economy.

Africa Agri-Food Development Programme opens for applications

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he Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., today jointly announced a call for applications to the Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP). The AADP is a collaboration between the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under which Irish agri-food companies are eligible for matching funding of up to €250,000 to develop commercial projects in Africa which are of benefit to local communities. The AADP also supports feasibility studies.

“I am delighted that my Department is once again providing support to the Africa Agri-Food Development Programme. The AADP enables Irish agri-food companies to leverage their

4 | July - August 2021

agriculture expertise to partner with African companies in the development of sustainable local food enterprises; to support the growth of markets for local produce; and to facilitate mutual trade between Ireland and Africa,” said Inviting applications, Minister McConalogue.

“The purpose of Africa Agri-Food Development Programme is to encourage Irish and African agri-food companies to work together in new, innovative partnerships. Agriculture is the key to unlocking Africa’s huge economic potential, just as it did in Ireland. I have seen how the AADP delivers commercial success while contributing to the sustainable development of local communities, for example in Kenya where it is supporting a revitalisation of the seed potato industry.

It is to our mutual benefit to share lessons we learned in the transformation of our agriculture with partners in Africa. I believe that Irish agribusiness, which has grown to world class over the past few decades, has a particular part to play in this, and the AADP is our way of supporting this,” Minister Coveney added.

Applications for AADP support must be submitted online. Details on the programme can be accessed at: https://www.dfa.ie/our-rolepolicies/international-priorities/africa/ AADP/ The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 July 2021.

NEWS

Biovision to train more farmers on organic farming

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The ecological organic agriculture is supported by the Swiss government and African Union.

The German government through GIZ is also establishing hubs which are centres of providing information, training and linking farmers to markets.

iovision Africa Trust is seeking to empower and have more smallholder farmers adopting agroecology organic agriculture practices especially women and youth.

Speaking during the launch of the organisation’s Strategic Plan 2021-2024, Dr David Amudavi, Executive Director, Biovision Africa Trust said the programmes are already being implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

In line with changing consumers preferences, Dr Amudavi noted that more farmers are now thinking of alternatives of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

“Our approach contributes towards more sustainable farming, a healthier diet for citizens, reducing the pace of climate change and minimising its negative impacts. We see ourselves as an agent of change that helps to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers particularly women and youth in Africa,” said Dr David.

“The information we share with farmers is informed by research. We work very closely with researchers and trusted information sources like Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation and International Centre of Insect and Physiology and Ecology that promotes technologies we share with farmers,” explained

Upon completion of the training, a farmer will be able to make own manure from materials within the farm and will be able to mix various crops come up with strong chemicals that kill and keeps away pests and diseases.

Andreas Schriber, Board Chair, Biovision Africa Trust.

Dr Amudavi lauds Biovision Africa Trust saying its the institution that is now being recognized to support the comprehensive agriculture development programme of the African Union Commission on the side of ecological sustainable agriculture.

Ms Anne Nyaga, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, lauded Biovision Africa Trust for becoming a Pan African Organisation working in Africa and in Kenya advancing ecological organic agriculture in Kenya and African continent.

“We are happy to see Trust’s remarkable recognition by the African Union Commission as its official host of the continental Secretariat to the Continental Steering Committee overseeing the coordination of mainstreaming ecological organic agriculture in food systems in Africa,” she said.

Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank, AGF ink US $20 milllion pact

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he African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (AGF) and Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) have inked a US $20milli0n Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for agribusinesses in the country. The commissioner for financial sector development from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Dr Charles Mwamwaja witness the signing ceremony and said the the partnership was a boon to Tanzania’s Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP-III).

The Plan seeks to increase the country’s capacity for production; building a competitive economy that would stimulate Tanzania’s participation in trade and investment; and stimulate human development. According to the agreement the disbursed loan will enable the bank to guarantee SMEs in the agri-value chain in applying directly for loans at the bank.

Despite the fact that SMEs constitute 95% of all businesses in Tanzania and between 35% and

50% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - they were still finding it difficult to access bank loans.

“Most traditional banks and financial institutions require collateral valued at between 125% and 150% of the loan amount being applied for. The MoU will help agri-SMEs to access more financial support at affordable cost and, ultimately, contribute to the transformation of agriculture, the economy and the lives of Tanzanians,” said Dr Mwamwaja.

TADB managing director Japhet Justine said the partnership gives his bank room for lower interest rates and lending conditions that are affordable and, therefore, friendly. “Our Integrated ValueChain Finance (IVCF) model that we have adopted also ensures that a wide-range of agriSMEs are compatible for this loan product. Our bank aims at empowering the SMEs involved in different stages of the agri-value chain, including inputs, infrastructure, production, storage,

processing, transportation and markets,” he said.

AGF Group CEO Jules Ngankam said the MoU signalled a strategic partnership between the two organisations in achieving significant impact within the SME sector in Tanzania.

“While this partnership is of great importance to SME owners and prospects in Tanzania, it is also a trailblazing opportunity for women-led or owned businesses. Through the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) partnership that my organisation has with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), AGF will also be able to extend the AFAWA Guarantee Facility to TADB in helping to increase financing of Tanzanian women-owned agri-businesses,” he noted.

July - August 2021 | 5

NEWS

Funds released for agroecology and marine biodiversity in Senegal

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S $65million has been released by the French development agency (AFD) for agroecology and the protection marine biodiversity in Senegal.

The investment is earmarked for the development of sustainable agriculture in 13 communes in the north-west of the country and for the preservation of marine protected areas. It is intended for the

Amadou Hott, Senegal’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation.

Senegal had early on subscribed to the agroecological approach by hosting the first Pan-African Symposium on Agroecology in November 2015. The West African country has also subscribed to the “FAIR Sahel” project. An initiative launched in June 2021 by AFD and the European Union (EU) Commission for the agroecological intensification of agriculture in the Sahel region.

implementation of the programme for economic and local development and agro-ecological transition in the Senegal River Valley/Delta.

The funds will also see the implementation of the second phase of the project to extend and support the protection of four marine areas in Casamance and Sine-Saloum in southern Senegal. With the Saloum and Casamance deltas, Senegal has a wetland ecosystem of global importance with a large mangrove forest and a diversity of marine species. However, strong human pressure on natural resources and wetland ecosystems, and climate change, are endangering the balance of these fragile environments.

“The agro-ecology programme aims to strengthen the economic performance of agro-pastoral systems, improve resilience in the face of climate change and contribute to more sustainable management of the territory’s resources,” said

To address this situation, AFD’s approach is to pursue the principles of community-based management to reduce pressure on natural resources through the creation of incomegenerating activities for women.

Farmers in Uganda decry low prices of vegetables

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armers in Uganda who grow vegetables at Bumusse Irrigation Scheme in Manafwa District, have decried low prices of their products. The farmers attributed the drastic fall in prices to closure of weekly markets and the ban on inter-district travel. The government early this month imposed the restrictions in a bid to contain the surging cases of coronavirus in the country.

Mr Fred Wekesa, a farmer, said they currently sell a sack of cabbage at Shs15,000 down from Shs30,000.

“The prices have dropped for instance, we are selling tomatoes at Shs 500 a kilogramme yet we used to sell them at Shs1,500,” he said.

The Bumusse Irrigation Scheme, which sits on 15 acres of land in Bumusse Village in Bukusu Subcounty, was established in 2018 by the Ministry of Water and Environment to promote commercial agriculture.

The scheme was lobbied for by area woman MP, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu and currently provides a stable water supply for growing vegetables throughout the year even in the period of dry spell.

Ms Kitutu said the farmers were zoned in specific

6 | July - August 2021

projects as part of the government programmes to fight poverty and unemployment. “The farmers’ income levels are much better than they were six years ago. They are now more organised and enterprising,” said the MP. Ms Kitutu also noted a total of 2,000 women entrepreneurs in the district are also organised in associations and are growing passion fruits, irish and sweet potatoes, cabbage, avocado, watermelon, among others. “Other groups are specialised in crafts making, tailoring, catering

services but all this in bid to improve on their household income,” she said.

Despite the low prices, some farmers hailed the scheme and said it has improved their livelihoods.

According to Mr Gideon Nate Israel, a pump operator and farmer, before the scheme started, he used to grow cabbages and tomatoes, which would fetch him not less than Shs900,000 a year.

But now he earns more than Shs1 million just in one season and about Shs12 million in a year.

NEWS

CMGP, CAS merger completed

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frican Development Partners II (ADP II), a fund advised by Development Partners International (DPI), and AfricInvest have announced the completion of Compagnie Marocaine de Goutte à Goutte et de Pompage’s (CMGP) merger with Comptoir Agricole du Souss (CAS), creating a new champion in Moroccan and African agriculture, which will be known as CMGP-CAS. The merger brings AfricInvest into the partnership alongside ADP II through an investment targeting the expansion of efficient irrigation and agricultural water management technologies to enable greater output and sustainability in agricultural production.

and operational model and great progress has already been made in executing the merger.”

Jacques Alléon, CEO of CAS, said: “The interactions between our teams have confirmed to us that our businesses share the same values of excellence, integrity, and care for our people.

This merger will accelerate the growth of our businesses and allow us to become a partner and employer of reference for Morocco and the continent.”

Sofiane Lahmar, Partner at DPI, said: “We are thrilled that CMGP has achieved this key milestone and look forward to continuing to work

with Youssef, Jacques, and the CMGP and CAS teams on implementing this new and exciting strategy. With the combination of CMGP and CAS, we have created a major player in the sector, that will focus on innovation to better serve our clients and improve farmers’ income and quality of life.

Integration of the new business is underway, and we are confident that the close cultural fit and shared ambitions of the two companies will enable a smooth transition, and help accelerate the growth aspirations across the continent, with plans to reach all major West African markets by 2024.”

CMGP and ADP II were advised by Derenia Capital, Smyle Finance, PwC and Allen & Overy.

CAS was advised by BMCE Capital Conseil and Norton Rose Fullbright. AfricInvest was advised

by DLA Piper.

Through its involvement, the AfricInvest team also aims to support the growth of CMGPCAS’s partnerships across the African continent, mobilising its own network, especially in East and West Africa.

Brahim El Jai, Senior Partner at AfricInvest, added, “AfricInvest is excited to be partnering with CMGP-CAS in the next stage of its development, accelerating best-in-class irrigation and fertilization solutions for its partners to maximize food production with less water usage. Moreover, we are pleased and proud to help deliver on our impact promise through supporting the growth of irrigation solutions that improve living conditions, and through bringing infrastructure for water adduction and sanitation that enables access not previously in place.”

Agriculture is a critical industry in Morocco, employing 40% of the workforce, and accounting for 14% of GDP. Leveraging a combined 100 years’ experience in the sector with a focus on innovation, the new business, with combined sales of MAD 1.7 billion, will work to pioneer solutions in irrigation, fertigation, crop protection and solar energy to combat key challenges in Africa such as water scarcity and food security.

CMGP and CAS also bring a complimentary focus in terms of product range and distribution channels, that will enable the combined business to become a world-class partner to farmers across the region, creating a one-stop-shop in the Moroccan and African agricultural sector.

Youssef Moamah, Founder and CEO of CMGP, said: “This is an historic day for our two companies. Together we are a clear Moroccan leader in irrigation, agricultural supplies, solar energy, and water infrastructure. We’ve been working closely to define in detail our strategy

July - August 2021 | 7

NEWS

AKILIMO digital platform improves potato yields in Rwanda

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digital platform has improved potato yields in Rwanda. The AKILIMO digital platform was launched in 2020 by CIP, RAB, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the One Acre Fund to address low yield challenge in the country.

The platform was brought to serve cassava and potato farmers. To date, the digital platform operates in three counties where it has undergone nearly 200 trials to evaluate variations

did have small differences across districts. A second season of multilocation trials has begun in the same districts along with a set of farmermanaged trials to compare blanket fertilizer recommendations with the tailored fertilizer recommendations provided by AKILIMO.

in fertilizer use among sites. These data will be used to calibrate AKILIMO for crop and spatial models.

T h e A K I L I M O - t a i l o r e d fertilizer recommendations can be delivered to farmers using a variety of tools, such as smartphone apps, printable guides, and/or IVRbased messages directly to farmers. It is expected that AKILIMO will be extended to cassava in the near future and possibly to rice (in collaboration with the Africa Rice Center) over the next five years. Potatoes are cultivated across Rwanda and they are growing in popularity. The majority of the crop is produced in the northwestern region of the country in the districts of Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu, and Rubavu.

AKILIMO considers fertilizers that are commonly available to potato farmers and provides recommended use for those fertilizers to the individual farmers. Based on last year’s data, recommended fertilizer use rates exceed the government’s recommended rate 300 kilograms of NPK fertilizer per hectare but

For this reason, the International Potato Center (CIP) and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) are focusing their efforts in this area to release varieties that are high-yielding, pest and disease resistant, and climate-resilient.

Land disputes resolutions in Zimbabwe begins

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and disputes resolution in Zimbabwe has begun. The Mashonaland West land committee is sorting out long-standing disputes to bring order to the farming sector.

National Lands Commission chairperson Mrs Tendai Ruth Bare recently reported that her commission received over a thousand land dispute cases, mostly involving things like boundaries, a majority being in Mashonaland West. Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, who is spearheading the fact-finding mission together with district lands officers, said that the government has adopted an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

“We are going to find lasting solutions to these challenges as some have been on farms for over 20 years. As the Government, we have to follow the existing laws so that we don’t end up affecting the farmers who have made these areas their homes. There are various options that we can explore including replanning but we will be guided

by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa,” said Mary.

As a way to discourage corruption, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said the committee was also

8 | July - August 2021

which other officials demanded bribes. However, the exercise is going to benefit only those that are on the original list of land applications,” said Minister Mliswa-Chikoka who also chairs the provincial lands committee.

going to address issues of farmers awarded land but were failing to use it so that the province becomes more productive.

“There are farmers who are failing to maximise on their land. It is an option on the table that the size is reduced so that we benefit other land seekers.

As Vision 2030 touches on the welfare of people including allocation of titled-land to people, which is key to production and productivity as farming is business, we intend to empower farmers by giving them lease agreement forms.

“The Lands and Agriculture Ministry is currently working to address these challenges. There were chaotic land distributions in the previous years in

Zvimba East Legislator, Tawanda Tungamirai noted the double allocation of land and offer letters was a major problem in the constituency since the beginnings of land reform. Zvimba district lands officer Mr Harinangoni concurred with Cde Tungamirai saying: “Various political leaders in the previous administration have tried to address the challenges but never yielded any results. The problem is that all these farmers were given offer letters to regularise them which has resulted in physical attacks and destruction of property and livestock.”

The Government, through the fast track land reform programme, resettled over 300 000 people in a space of five years which was bound to create challenges that the commission is addressing now. Other land disputes in the province include acquisition of indigenous-owned farms, double allocation of land where you get two people on the same land and offer letter withdrawals, inheritance and divorce cases.

NEWS

Rwanda mulls adding fish farming to agriculture insurance scheme

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he government of Rwanda has announced plans to incorporate fish farmers in the agricultural insurance scheme to help these farmers avoid making such losses in the future.

This follows successive incidents where thousands of fish suffocated due to lack of oxygen leading farmers to count losses in millions. The latest incident took place in Eastern Province where thousands of fish died on Lake Muhazi following depletion of oxygen due to water turnovers that triggered a deadly ‘algal bloom’ for mature fish.

A similar incident occurred on the same lake in January, leading to the death of thousands of fish of the Tilapia variety. At the time, more than

3,700 tilapia fish died. According to findings, the water turnover that triggers a deadly algal bloom phenomenon for mature fish is most likely to happen during the night because of oxygen competition between fishes and algae.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said they will include fish farming in the subsidized insurance product dubbed ‘Tekana’ which usually caters to dairy cows, pigs, poultry and crops dubbed, ‘Tekana’.

“Fish farmers are advised to place cages at a depth of more than eight metres far from the shores, to put enough space between cages and clean them regularly to allow access to enough oxygen. Farmers should also have portable

oxygen meters to test the amount of dissolved oxygen. Fish that weighs more than 500 grams should also be fished out because they are at high risk in case of depletion of oxygen,” said Solange Uwituze, Deputy Director-General in charge of Animal Resources, Research and Technology Transfer at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).

Affordable bicycle-wheel wood-frame handcart developed in Malawi for Agri transport due to their use of these expensive, difficulttowork and/or hard-to-find building materials.

The Malawi Cart was designed to require only common lumber and two ordinary bicycle wheels.

Fasteners are common nails, along with a few wood screws and small bolts. Several large (8mm x 15mm) bolts were used in the prototype, but when such bolts were found to be unavailable in the nearest large town, widely available and cheaper bicycle rear axles were substituted for them in all later models.

The Malawi Cart rides on two 28-inch bicycle rear wheels (see photos on page 8 for details). Rear wheels were chosen over front wheels because of their greater strength. They have 40 spokes (as against a front wheels’ 36), their axles are longer and thicker and their ball bearings larger.

In Malawi, the cost of a rear wheel differs from the cost of a front wheel merely by the price of the four extra spokes. The rims commonly available in Malawi are of the archaic and inherently weak Westwood pattern.

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n affordable bicycle-wheel wood-frame handcart has been developed in Malawi for agriculture rural and urban transport. “The Malawi Cart” has been designed for smallholder farmers and by city dwellers for whom animal drawn carts are unaffordable or impractical or both. The cart derives from existing bicycle-

wheel-handcart designs, most of which have until now been executed in steel, plywood, or some combination of the two. (Sullivan, 1983; Hathway, 1985; Barwell et al. 1985; Dennis & Smith, 1995; Doran, 1996; Stiles & Stiles, 1998).

All of these earlier designs however, have only limited potential for widespread adoption in SSA

Where available, the far stronger Westrick (or Endrick) pattern rims should be employed. The Malawi Cart was designed so that its body four sidewalls and most of the floor--can be easily removed without tools (it is fastened in place by four wooden swivel catches) to facilitate the carriage of long poles and planks. The design also allows for alternative, purpose-built cartbodies to be dropped in place on an existing cart chassis.

July - August 2021 | 9

NEWS

Kirinyaga farmers in Kenya to benefit from four more markets

These markets have come at a time when the county government, through the Wezesha Kirinyaga economic empowerment programme, is supporting farmers’s groups to increase agricultural production with the aim of improving their livelihoods.

The farmers are being supported to undertake various projects in poultry, avocado, tomato and dairy value chains, hence the market have become an integral part of the entire agricultural value chain. Governor Waiguru noted that the new market will allow them to store their produce there overnight.

The governor also revealed that plans to establish an avocado collection and packaging center are underway. Avocados grown in the county will be processed, packaged and branded at the processing plant in readiness for local and export markets.

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irinyaga farmers in Kenya are set to benefit from additional four markets being constructed in the county. These will bring to 15 the number of modern markets that Governor Anne Waiguru’s administration has built in a span of three years.

The main beneficiaries of the markets that are under construction in Githure, Gathoge,

Karumandi and Makutano are avocado and tomato farmers. Some of the markets that have been completed and in use are Kagio, Kutus, Kerugoya, Makutano, Wang’uru, Kagumo, Kianyaga, Kiamutugu, Sagana and Kibingoti.

The new markets are meant to offer a conducive environment for farmers to aggregate their crop for marketing purposes.

Hides and Skins manufacturing plant to be built in Kenya

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enyan livestock farmers are set to benefit from a Hides and Skins manufacturing plant to be constructed in Athi-river – Machakos County.

Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture – State Department for Livestock Mr Harry Kimutai said the move aims to avoid wastage of skins and hides after animals are slaughtered. He noted that livestock farmers in the country were losing millions of shillings due to the wastage and loss of hides and skins after they slaughter their animals as a result of lack of a government tannery.

“Livestock farmers in the County should not throw away their hides and skins after slaughtering their animals since the government will soon provide a

10 | July - August 2021

market for their products and it will be beneficial to the livestock farmers and pastoralists,” said Mr Kimutai.

The hides and skins finished products inform of tanned leather would no longer be imported since local industries that manufacture leather products like shoes, belts, hand-bags, wallets among others will easily source the materials within the country, hence encouraging buyKenya build Kenya.

Livestock farmers in Kericho Count would also immensely benefit as a result of the development and construction of the tannery factory in AthiRiver since they will have a place to market their hides and skins.

She added that a tomato factory will also be constructed to enable processing of the produce for the local and export markets. The factory will enable farmers earn more money from tomato products and save them from post-harvest losses.

To boost production, farmers have been supported to establish nurseries where they are propagating quality tomato and avocado seedlings for sale to other growers within and outside the county.

NEWS

Bosch projects UCL sugar factory expansion

UCL - Strike Receivers

UCL - condensate vessel

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osch Projects was appointed by UCL Company (Pty) Ltd to undertake three major projects for the recent expansion at its sugar factory in Dalton, KwaZulu-Natal. These projects comprised Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for the raw house expansion, chainless diffuser widening and process equipment supply.

“A major challenge was to complete the work necessary at the factory for UCL to meet its 2021/22 season requirements, with sufficient capacity to process the increased sugar cane crop,” explains Steve Rosettenstein, Sector Director: Sugar, Bosch Projects, a member of the Bosch Holdings group of multi-disciplinary consulting engineers. “In spite of tight time constraints during difficult COVID-19 conditions and the short two-month plant maintenance shutdown period, Bosch Projects successfully implemented these three projects simultaneously, between July 2020 and March 2021.

Detailed integration engineering and design encompassed full process, mechanical equipment, piping, civil, structural, electrical and control systems engineering, commissioning and close out.

Because of COVID-19 implications, coupled with the fast-paced nature and congested brownfield factory environment, the Bosch Projects team needed to be innovative and creative in its approach to detailed engineering solutions and the application of expertise.

UCL - inside view of the chainless diffuser

The utilisation of the latest technology – an advanced augmented reality 3D model tool – enabled the construction teams to visualise the new plant integration live on site.

“Following a four-month feasibility study undertaken by the Bosch Projects team to evaluate the potential increase in factory crush capacity from 150TCH to 175TCH, the company was commissioned to provide EPCM services to address the expansion project’s technical, commercial and contractual requirements.”

Services undertaken by Bosch Projects during the EPCM project, included project management, programming and scheduling, procurement and contract administration, construction management, commissioning, quality assurance and cost control.

Effective solutions were achieved for the client by utilising cloud-based multi-user design collaborative tools, specifically designed for remote working. Advanced technology enabled frequent online 3D model reviews and provided state-of the-art technology for site data gathering and meaningful interaction with site staff.

UCL - Lowering of continuous vaccum pan

In addition, the team was responsible for a world first widening of the Bosch Projects chainless diffuser, to increase cane throughput by approximately 25%. The team undertook the manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of a 1m width extension to the factory’s moving screen diffuser, to handle the increased crushed cane required to justify the back-end factory expansion. This chainless diffuser was initially designed and installed by Bosch Projects for UCL in 2006.

July - August 2021 | 11

NEWS

The widening of the chainless diffuser required redesigning and replacement of many structures and components, including stage juice spray pipes and process piping and a new dewatering drum and kicker. A new juice distribution system, which comprises fully adjustable juice launders, allows optimum process control. Pumps and piping were relocated to suit the updated design.

Receivers (30m3 and 50m3 respectively), a 1.5m3 condensate vessel and a 17m2 rotary screen for draft juice screening.

The Bosch Projects equipment team was responsible for every aspect of these equipment supply projects – including design compliance, in accordance with project specific and regulatory pressure vessel standards and specifications, the fabrication and quality control of the fabrication, logistics, rigging and installation, as well the commissioning and hand-over under strict COVID-19 conditions.

New 3CR12 troughs, side-walls and roof sections, as well as a new structure on one side of the diffuser, have been installed and the existing rafters were extended. The project also required additional lifting screws, hydraulic cylinders, pumps, piping and new hydraulic structures. New civils and foundation works and reconstructed walkways and access ways were also installed.

This component of the project - comprising full process and mechanical design, project and construction management, fabrication, installation and new civil and foundation works - was executed in nine months.

Bosch Projects works closely with its technology partners and fabricators to ensure manufacture of all equipment adheres to stringent international quality standards and exact design specifications.

UCL- long tube evaporator

critical process equipment items, to fast-track the procurement process and meet project timelines.

As part of the expansion project, UCL also The process equipment items supplied were a appointed Bosch Projects to design, fabricate, 45m3 “C” Continuous Vacuum Pan (CVP), a 2 Ü~äÑ=é~ÖÉ=mêÉëëìêÉ=ï~ëÜÉê=~ÇîÉêíKKéÇÑ===N===NQLMTLOMOM===NQWPU supervise installation and commission several 500 m2 Long Tube Evaporator (LTE), two Strike

The company, with a network of offices in Africa, South and Central America and the United Kingdom, also has technology partners in the South East Asian region and the USA. These recent projects undertaken by Bosch Projects, enhance the company’s extensive track record, as Bosch Holdings celebrates its 60th birthday this year.

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INSIGHT

Bayer launches its decarbonization program for agriculture in Europe

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n line with the political objectives of the EU Green Deal, the program’s main goal is to fight climate change by establishing carbon farming practices at farmers’ level with benefits for the entire agricultural value chain / Program kicks off with over 25 farmers across seven countries in the EU and beyond: France, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom and Ukraine Bayer has announced the European launch of its global Carbon Initiative. The main goal is the decarbonization of the food value chain focusing on farmers’ activities for a more resilient and sustainable food system. It brings together farmers and food value chain players to explore future reward structures for farmers implementing new carbon reduction practices and thus contributing to the Green Deal objectives of the European Commission. The new European Carbon Program recognizes the pivotal role growers and their land can play in helping to

create lasting, positive environmental impacts and is an integral part of Bayer’s sustainability commitments specifically aimed at reducing field greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by 30% in 2030.

“Our Carbon Program actively contributes to the development of carbon farming activities in Europe by working directly with farmers in their role as primary producers and involving companies throughout the food value chain.

This collaboration at a food value chain level will help decarbonize the European food system in a way that works for farmers, the environment and consumers,” said Lionnel Alexandre, Carbon Business Venture Lead for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Bayer Crop Science.

“The main idea is to reward growers for adopting climate-smart farming practices like using cover crops, tillage reduction, crop rotations and precision nitrogen application. These activities

sequester carbon in the soil while improving soil health, resilience and productivity as well as limit emissions.”

To support these operations, Bayer will develop a digital tool which will allow farmers to claim rewards based on accurate and verified data.

It will be compliant with current data privacy standards and will be reliable and simple to operate for every farmer. This digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) solution builds on Bayer’s industry-leading digital farming platform Climate FieldViewTM. The 27 participating farmers from seven countries are collectively contributing about 500 hectares of land from their farms based in France, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Germany as well as Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Central to the European Carbon Program is the practice of co-creation: farmers, Bayer experts and food

July - August 2021 | 13

INSIGHT value chain players work together in a carbon farming lab where they can jointly test activities and generate learnings. Discussions with several food processors and retailers are ongoing, and they are expected to join the Carbon Program by the end of the year.

After establishing the current carbon content in the participating farmers’ lands as the baseline for the project, farmers will implement climate smart farming practices like using cover crops and tillage reduction.

This implementation of new practices will be continuously monitored and improved. The learnings and the further insights gained from the participating project partners from across the food value chain will inform the design and implementation of an accurate and reliable digital MRV tool. The program is expected to deliver this new digital solution in the next three years, while its implementation within Climate FieldViewTM is planned for the third year.

“An intact soil structure and organic matter soil management are decisive for securing my income”, said Stefanie Peters, Agro-Farm GmbH Nauen and part of the Bayer ForwardFarm network. “In my opinion, carbon farming, the sequestration of carbon in the soil, can make a great contribution to this. I am also looking forward to working with a variety of partners within Bayer’s carbon program.”

The European launch is part of the company’s Global Carbon Initiative which launched in the U.S. and in Brazil in July 2020. In these countries, Bayer is the first agriculture company to offer all the necessary technologies in terms of seeds and traits, crop protection and digital solutions, cost-efficient MRV and certification according to internationally recognized standards.

Alexandre Teillet, Head of New Business Models at Bayer Crop Science for Europe, Middle East and Africa, summed up: “Our vision is that in the future, food retailers or food processors will be

able to work with confidence on effective carbon emission reduction projects involving their partner farms from their specific supply chains.

At the same time, farmers, as primary producers of a stable and longer food value chain, shall be rewarded in a transparent and fair way – for their effective carbon emission reductions conducted through their farming practices everywhere in the world.”

This European Carbon Program kick-off is the latest addition to Bayer’s actions to help decarbonize Food Systems in Europe. Earlier this year, the company announced its participation into the EU Carbon + Farming Coalition which is driving a farmer-centric approach for designing Food Systems decarbonization solutions in the region. The Coalition will also deliver to the European Commission a set of recommendations to help framing EU policies that will enhance climate smart solutions adoption at scale.

Kenya to host the AGRF 2021 Summit neglected value chains like millet that are profitable and nutritious crops, and invest in youth in agriculture.

The AGRF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward.

Jennifer Baarn, acting Managing Director, AGRF, said that the 2021 Summit is taking place at a defining moment for the continent.

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enya will host the AGRF 2021 Summit, which this year will focus on the bold actions needed for agriculture to fuel the continent’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and continued food systems transformation.

The four-day Summit will take place from September 7 until 10 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Speaking during a courtesy call to H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President, Republic of Kenya, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, the former Ethiopia Prime Minister and AGRF Board Chair, applauded the Kenyan Government for making agriculture a priority, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s inspiring to see the progress Kenya has

14 | July - August 2021

made in agriculture, this is the kind of visionary leadership that the continent needs to end hunger and malnutrition and for our continent’s shared prosperity,” H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn said.

President Kenyatta welcomed the forum and affirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening agriculture and boosting Kenya’s food security.

He said the forum would showcase the country’s agricultural leadership on the continent, and forge closer partnerships with the private sector.

The President also urged the AGRF partners group and another stakeholder to increase investments to strengthen smallholder farmer resilience, support the development of often

“This year’s AGRF takes place when the global voices converge around food systems. It is also the time when the world’s focus turns to the economic and social recovery from the COVD-19 pandemic.

We have learned a lot in the past 18 months, there are a lot of opportunities to accelerate and catalyze agricultural transformation,” Ms. Baarn said.

She added that the 2021 Summit will provide a platform to highlight and unlock many of the political, policy, and financial commitments and innovations needed to get back on track to targets outlined in the Malabo Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals.

This year the Summit is expected to host over 10,000 delegates virtually with a scaled-down physical event in Nairobi.

AWARD NEWS

Elgon Kenya Director Bimal Kantaria feted for his investment in Kenyan agriculture Among international organizations working with ASNET is the SDG Partnership of the UN – Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

At the height of Covid-19 last year, Dr Kantaria working with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Rotary International and the Kenya Flower Council formed the Caravan of Hope Initiative that delivered flowers to caregivers in Kenyan hospitals and the UK, to encourage first-line health workers as the virus crushed the world.

Kenya flower industry was among the most hit by global lockdowns and the flower donations were meant to give hope the world woul bloom again.

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griculture Sector Network Chairman and Elgon Kenya Managing Director Bimal Kantaria has been awarded the Productive Business Civility Award by US-based iChange Nations Organization in recognition of his role, investment and impact in agriculture, education, health and social services.

The award is set aside for the Top World Civility Leaders who are making a global impact with their businesses, innovations and initiatives.

“I am honoured and humbled to receive the 2021 Productive Business Civility Award along inspirational great business leaders across the globe who have committed their time and effort to make the world a better place,” said Dr Kantaria in his acceptance.

Last year, Dr Kantaria was elected chair of the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) the umbrella organization of agribusiness organizations and stakeholders seeking to steer the industry into the required transformation into the driver of Kenya’s economic development. The body was formed on realization that the important sector is not as productive as it should be despite its massive potential in food security, industrial development and job creation.

ASNET brought together the national government, county governdments, development partners, non-governmental organizations and agriculture sector value chain players to craft a joint strategy to refocus and grow the industry into a global force. Given his involvement in agriculture sector initiatives developemnt and support, Dr Kantaria

was naturally picked by his peers to steer the structural formation of ASNET. The network has since gone regional, following the establishment of the Agriculture Confederation of East Africa, which seeks to negotiate with governments and businesses in the East Africa region to formulate a policy to support a seamless movement of goods across borders to spurr agriculture development with the EAC borders. This effort, despite the EAC Heads of State Summit pledging since 2011 to spearhead a regional approach to agriculture development has not taken off but with ACEA, the dream is close to becoming realized. Dr Kantaria is the chair of ACEA.

For his efforts, President Uhuru kenyatta named him with among the Uzalendo Award honours, given to exemplary supporters of the war against Covid-19. Elgon Kenya donated food rations, hand sanitizers and masks as its contibution to containing the spread of the virus.

Dr Kantaria is the patron of the annual National Farmers Awards that seeks to reward the country’s farming champions ranging from small enterprises to large commercial entities. The all inclusive scheme recognizes women, persons with disabilities and the youth. Winners have become icons, mentors and model farmers, demystifying agribusiness as a career of choice.

The awards have been recognized and earned a Presidential trophy. The scheme is supporting the recently revived 4K Clubs movement that seeks to reintroduce farming initiatives in Kenya’s primary schools and young farmers in secondary schools. Dr Kantaria is also the patron of the newly formed Agriculture Media Society of Kenya that seeks to support the training of agriculture journalists in reporting about the sector.

I Change Nations was founded by Dr. Clyde Rivers, the acting Representative to the United Nations – New York for the Interfaith PeaceBuilding Initiative (IPI) and the United Nations Department of Public Information. Dr. Rivers is also the Spokesman Worldwide for World Civility Day. “I am honored to be able to work alongside such amazing people, who. are changing the world and creating a culture of honor and civility.

Each one is an icon and a difference maker,” said Dr. Clyde Rivers.

Dr Kantaria has supported health, education, and the homeless among many other initiatives.

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PRODUCT

Zinc fertilisers are essential to boost cereal-crop yield

In zinc-deficient soils, zinc application increases maize yield due to increased kernel numbers and kernel weight in inferior grains. An adequate zinc supply in maize plants maintains high pollen viability and a sufficient carbohydrate source.

Here the critical shoot zinc concentrations for high pollen viability and high kernel numbers of inferior grains have been shown to be 31.2 and 33.6 mg/kg respectively.

The international HarvestZinc project HarvestZinc has demonstrated that simultaneous foliar applications of zinc, iodine, selenium and iron in the same solution results in significant increases in zinc, iodine and selenium concentration, and modest ones in iron in grains of different wheat cultivars under various agro-ecological conditions, without grain yield trade-off.

An optimal supply of zinc in a well-managed fertiliser programme can have a measurable increase in crop production.

By Simon Norton, International Zinc Association, Africa Desk

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n Sub-Saharan Africa, soil health concerns are largely due to poor nutrient supply in the soil.

Increasing population pressure on agricultural land has led to a breakdown of traditional practices, resulting in much higher nutrient outflows. Also, there is insufficient support to small farmers to implement soil and cropping practices that could potentially reverse this depletion.

A consequence of poor soil health is the high prevalence of food and nutrition insecurity due to lower agricultural production, less fodder for cattle, less fuel wood for cooking and less crop residues and cattle manure to recycle nutrients to soils. Carbon dioxide emissions also increase due to soil nutrient depletion and deforestation.

Although zinc is an essential micronutrient for plant growth, zinc input has received far less attention than nitrogen, phosphorous or even irrigation. Almost half of cereal-growing areas globally have soils with a low level of plantavailable zinc.

Therefore, the application of zinc fertilisers is essential in such soils to boost cereal yield and grain zinc concentration. Numerous studies have indicated that maize grain yield, for example, increases significantly when zinc fertilisers are applied to zinc-deficient soils. This calls for a better understanding of the critical role that zinc fertilisers play. Not only are half of the world’s agricultural soils deficient in zinc, so is a third of the global population as a result. The use of zinc-

16 | July - August 2021

enriched fertiliser (for instance zinc-coated urea or zinc-enriched NPK) in Turkey, Australia, South Africa or India has resulted in significant increases in yields, as well as boosting zinc concentration in rice and wheat. The best way to increase zinc density in grain has been demonstrated to be foliar applications.

A recent study revealed that “agronomic biofortification using a foliar-applied fertiliser containing iodine, alone or in combination with selenium and zinc, is effective in improving grain iodine concentration.” The study also examined potential iodine losses during the preparation of foodstuffs with the enriched grains, and found that iodine levels had lowered but remained significantly higher than foodstuffs prepared with non-enriched grains.

Therefore, it is critical to consider global micronutrient balances in order to improve crop yield and quality and human health.

Studies have also shown the importance of balanced nutrient feeding for improving livestock productivity. Ensuring optimal supply of zinc in a well-managed fertiliser programme can have a measurable increase in crop production and return on the farmer’s investment, while the increased concentration of zinc in plans is also beneficial to human health.

This calls for an enabling environment based on strategic cooperation with the fertiliser industry supplying the products, scientific organisations assessing the extent and impact of micronutrient deficiencies in soils, plants and human populations, and governments which stimulate the adoption of biofortification practices by farmers through economic incentives, subsidies and legislative mandates, together with technology and knowledge transfer.

An adequate zinc supply in maize plants maintains high pollen viability and a sufficient carbohydrate source

LESS LOSSES & TOXINES MORE VALUE & QUALITY TO YOUR MAIZE

Grain dryers for farmers, coops and drying centers.

PRODUCT

TOMRA 5C delivers on promise of added value and efficiency for the almond company

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he Almond Company is the almond handling and processing operation for Harris Family Enterprises, a group of companies dedicated to quality farming and food production. It processes more than 100 million pounds of almonds for domestic and international distribution. The company purchased a TOMRA 5C premium optical sorter which has been operating at its Madera, California facility for the past six months with excellent results.

“We have been super impressed with the TOMRA 5C’s performance,” says Scott Eastom, COO of The Almond Company. “We have applied this machine specifically to our confectionary grade almonds and noted feedback from our customers stating that our product ‘was as good as it ever has been’.”

A boost to the facility’s efficiency, productivity and profitability The TOMRA 5C premium optical sorter combines industry-leading sensors with machine learning and big-data analysis to ensure the most accurate foreign material removal possible. It has the capability to see and analyze defects with a degree of detail unseen in machines of its kind, and detects even the smallest imperfections with its high-resolution lasers.

The TOMRA 5C has been engineered to examine mass quantities of nuts and dried fruit with ease, increasing the operation’s efficiency while addressing some of the biggest challenges of the nut and dried fruit such as labor, food safety and product quality. In just six months operation at The Almond Company, the sorter has already made a significant impact on all these aspects, as Scott Eastom explains: “We have increased this specific product’s production by 20 to 25 percent, producing at higher volumes, in less time, with less labor required.”

18 | July - August 2021

The valuable information provided by the TOMRA Insight cloud-based data analysis platform connected to the TOMRA 5C, also plays an important role by allowing to make informed business decisions. Scott Eastom, speaking of his experience with the TOMRA 5C, comments: “Machines are always going to be more efficient and more accurate. They provide streams of consistent data, day in and day out. We can also manipulate and specify them to enhance our operation and better suit our product flows based on the data they provide.”

A sound investment for the future Scott Eastom is delighted with the added value the TOMRA 5C has brought to The Almond Company’s operation: “When evaluating a piece of equipment, we look for it to pay for itself in three to five years, and this machine will. The versatility of the TOMRA 5C adds to its value, which offers a more significant Return on Investment.

We are currently only using the TOMRA 5C for one product application, but we intend to use it in various spots and on other applications in the future. We know the future is automation.

This equipment strengthens our operation with greater consistency and reduces dependence on personnel and variables.”

TOMRA’s collaborative approach delivers results Scott Eastom is also very impressed with TOMRA’s collaborative approach, which sees its teams working closely with the customer to ensure the best result for their operation, and remaining at their side for the long term: “We were really allowed to see and evaluate the machine performance in a hands-on setting. Once we got things going, TOMRA’s machine did the talking.

It was a nice change of pace to have someone stand behind the solution, continue service, and grow the relationship after the install.”

About TOMRA Food TOMRA Food designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting machines and integrated post-harvest solutions for the food industry. We innovate the world’s most advanced analytical technology and apply it to grading, sorting, and peeling.

Over 12,800 units are installed at food growers, packers, and processors worldwide for confectionery, fruit, dried fruit, grains and seeds, potato products, proteins, nuts, and vegetables.

The company’s mission is to enable its customers to improve returns, gain operational efficiencies, and ensure a safe food supply via innovative, useable technologies. To achieve this, TOMRA Food operates centers of excellence, regional offices, and manufacturing locations within the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

TOMRA Food is a member of the TOMRA Group that was founded on an innovation in 1972 that began with the design, manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems that optimize resource recovery and minimize waste in the food, recycling and, mining industries and is committed to building a more sustainable future.

TOMRA has 100,000 installations in over 80 markets worldwide and had total revenues of 9.9 billion NOK in 2020. The Group employs 4,300 globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: TOM). For further information about TOMRA, please see www.tomra.com.

BERTUZZI FOOD PROCESSING Srl, founded in 1936, is one of the major world players in the design and supply of machines and complete plants to transform any type of vegetable and fruit into juices, concentrates, baby food, jams, ready-made drinks etc.

BERTUZZI FOOD PROCESSING Srl, fondée en 1936, est l'un des principaux acteurs mondiaux dans la conception et la fourniture de machines et d'installations complètes pour la transformation de tout type de végétales et de fruits en jus, concentrés, aliments pour bébé, confitures, boissons prêtes à l'emploi, etc.

www.bertuzzi.it

FEATURE

An in-depth episode on the BKT Network dedicated to one of the most famous BKT ranges km/h without changing the tire pressures when passing from field to road.

For these reasons, AGRIMAX FORCE is the reference solution for various users who choose to equip their tractors with these tires, as in the case of the Agriverde company in Cerro Maggiore, in the province of Milan in northern Italy, which specializes in the sale of tractors and agricultural equipment, and in innovative harvest techniques.

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griculture is a pivotal industry. It is not only crucial in providing food security worldwide, but it’s also the main source of jobs and livelihoods on our continent. Yet, despite its potential to feed the growing global population, Africa remains home to more than half of all the people in the world who face food insecurity.

AGRIMAX FORCE is one of BKT’s best-selling tires and has been created to improve the performance of high power tractors on all types of soil. It is one of BKT best known ranges due to its versatility, resistance and speed: all fundamental qualities to facilitate the work of farmers and subcontractors.

An entire episode of BKT Network is dedicated to AGRIMAX FORCE, which “explores” all its features. The episode is available at this link upon free registration: ht tps: // w w w.bk t- net wo r k .c o m / bk ttraining/training-agrimax-force-episode IF technology A key feature of the AGRIMAX FORCE range is IF technology, which guarantees a limited impact of the machinery on the ground, ensuring the well-being of the soil. IF technology, reinterpreted

by BKT, allows the machinery to enjoy a wider tire footprint to achieve a high flotation capacity and a uniform distribution of loads at low pressures.

These are measures that make it possible to significantly reduce soil compaction, ensuring a better water drainage and an increase in the air

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passage in order to provide the crop roots with all the necessary moisture and nutrients for their growth.

In addition, the tread design of the IF tires improves driving efficiency by reducing transport cycles and maximizing field works thanks to an excellent traction that increases the yield per hectare. And all this without the need to change the tire pressure, which insures effective time savings. Like all tires equipped with IF technology, AGRIMAX FORCE is designed to guarantee a product life-cycle that is 10% longer than the standard equivalent solutions. Even in lowpressure use conditions, these tires demonstrate their strength and resistance over time, both on rural soil and on the road.

Finally, IF technology favors the correct flexibility of this tire, which helps maintain its structure even in the event of heavy stress, thanks also to the reinforced AGRIMAX FORCE casing, thus ensuring a maximum performance, efficiency and – last but not least – total driving comfort for the operator.

Case study: the Agriverde company of Cerro Maggiore AGRIMAX FORCE represents a winning solution for high-power tractors above 250 hp: a combination of efficiency, resistance and flexibility but also – and above all – speed. In fact, this tire is characterized by a speed rating D, which allows the machine to travel at up to 65

In fact, with more than 15 years of experience on lands of different nature and configuration, the company has been able to offer its services with a lower environmental impact at a cost that is about 30% lower than that of traditional processing.

This is possible thanks to the Agriverde operating mode, which consists in working the soil in a single phase before the sowing time instead of the traditional three phases.

The company has decided to replace the original tires of its Fendt 936 Vario tractor by equipping it with AGRIMAX FORCE IF 710/60 R34 164 D on the front axle and IF 900/60 R42 180 D on the rear axle. The result? BKT tires allowed the user to benefit from extraordinarily long working hours, optimizing field works at low pressure (1.0 bar on the front tires and 1.3 bar on the rear tires) for over 3,200 hours of work.

This was possible also thanks to a correct support area of the vehicle, which allowed to perfectly distribute the weight of the tractor and to unload all the weight onto the ground.

Sizes AGRIMAX FORCE has been so appreciated that it has encouraged BKT to continuously expand the available sizes. There are now 20 different sizes in the catalog.

In 2019, the brand even developed the largest size ever made by BKT for an agricultural tire, launching the IF 750/75 R 46 with a diameter of 2.30 meters; this solution meets the needs of modern agriculture and the growing demand for equipment for increasingly powerful tractors.

Sign up for free on BKT Network and watch the episode: https://www.bkt-network.com/ bkt-training/training-agrimax-forceepisode

Bologna, 19-23 October 2021

The Event INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL AND GARDENING MACHINERY EXHIBITION Organized by

In collaboration with

Salons

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FEATURE

BI meets the demanding requirements of the food and beverage industry

ABB Motors available from BI.jpg

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he food and beverage industry maintains a fine balance of priorities and requirements.

Customers need dependable low and nomaintenance (sealed for life), cost-effective foodgrade solutions that can withstand the rigours of corrosive, acidic, wet and excessively hot environments, with a focus on hygiene and food safety standards.

Leading supplier Bearings International (BI) has a range of bearing and power transmission solutions for all companies with food and beverage manufacturing, production, packaging, processing and distribution facilities, including OEMs, explains Market Segment Development Leader Hennie van Vuuren.

Where lubrication does take place, food-safe certified solutions is a necessity. However, added to this requirement and due to the nature of the application, solutions also have to have specialised sealing arrangements that are effective and can withstand being purged without damage.

“Meeting these demanding requirements is a high priority for BI,” comments van Vuuren. “We are well-positioned to service our customers with world-renowned brands known for these unsurpassed performance requirements in such a challenging environment.”

BI covers an extensive range of products and brands specifically for this sector. These include bearings and seals (FAG, Cooper, Koyo, Rexnord, Link-Belt, Craft and Dodge), power transmission products (Bauer, Dodge, Imak), linear motion products (INA), flat-top, stainless steel and plastic chains (Rex, MCC and Marbett), couplings and drives (Mayr, Jaure, Tschan, Motordrive), electric motors (Alpha Drive and ABB) and variable speed drives (V-Drive and Yaskawa).

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Dodge Food Safe bearings available from BI

“The food and beverage industry is the mainstay of society and our daily lives. Its importance is therefore immense, hence our ongoing focus to support this segment. Population growth alone is fuelling its rapid expansion. Hence there is a current market requirement for a robust, reliable and industry-specific supplier. With over 1 800 food production companies in South Africa, this is a major industry for BI,” comments van Vuuren.

BI’s strategy for the food and beverage industry is to be a supplier of choice, differentiated by quality service and products. “We strive to service our customers with product offerings from the most common to specially-engineered solutions, living up to our slogan of ‘always there making it work’.

Hennie van Vuuren, BI Market Segment Development Leader

Due to our extensive footprint countrywide, we are able to engage with all roleplayers in this segment on a continual basis to ensure that our offering of quality, value-driven, cost-effective and sustainable products and solutions remains relevant,” highlights van Vuuren.

“We are always looking to improve, such as offering maintenance-free solutions and upgraded sealing arrangements. We are also looking to develop and supply sealed motorised drives for ease of use and durability as a bolt-on solution that requires no modifications,” reveals van Vuuren. He stresses the need for regular and proactive maintenance in the food and beverage industry.

“In this market segment in particular the ‘run to fail’ concept adopted by many other industries must be approached differently. Well-managed maintenance schedules with the assistance of BI will ensure more reliable, sustainable solutions, ensuring more uptime and a reliable supply to end-users,” concludes van Vuuren.

The Varispeed VDrivePlus from BI is a larger, more advanced drive

FEATURE

How animal genetics can contribute to a healthier planet

I

By Madeline Musselman n the past, agriculture was focused on feeding the population in the same way it had been done for many years. Consideration of sustainable use of feed, land, and water was not a major priority. However, a transformation is now taking place as more and more people are aware of the strain our planet is under and will continue to grow in the future if we stick with the status quo.

Research has shown that it is possible to produce the same amount of food while operating in an environmentally sustainable way.

High quality animal genetics have a key role in contributing to a sustainable food system. At the start of the value chain, we consider economic, social, and environmental sustainability in everything that we do. How is environmental sustainability connected to animal genetics and what are the areas of future opportunity?

Understanding environmental pressures What kind of planet will we leave for future generations? Is it too late to make a difference?

And how can we change our food system to make a positive impact? There are a lot of questions, with no easy solutions. As a first step, our goal is to evaluate and measure the impact we have

on our environment. Efficient use of resources, including feed, water land use is part of the equation.

Feed is responsible for 50% to 80% of the environmental footprint of animal protein. In the past, feed conversion was mainly important for reducing the cost of production, but we now know that it also plays a critical role in environmental impact, as well as producing animals with high nutritional value and quality. For all our species, measuring feed conversion is a key component of our breeding program. For example, feed stations have been installed in all our turkey pedigree facilities. This allows us to track individual birds and select those that are most efficient at converting feed.

The feed-food conflict The feed-food conflict can be boiled down to a simple question: Is it efficient to grow crops to feed animals if it could also be used for human food? Examining this question can help us create a more efficient system to feed the entire world.

Research shows that there are a number of factors that impact whether land use to grow crops for animals is an efficient use of resources.

Different factors include, the type of land used to feed animals, what animal it was and whether the animals are able to consume waste products humans cannot consume.

In some cases, crops are a more efficient use of land for the purpose of protein production.

However, in other examples, animals are more efficient in using the land to produce protein.

For example, raising dairy cows on peat soil is found to be a much more productive use of the land than trying to grow human grade crops on it. Other examples are based on the feed input.

Laying hens can utilize nutrients that humans can’t. It all comes down to examination. Without understanding and studying these environmental pressures, we cannot, as a collective, find the most effective methods of producing food.

July - August 2021 | 23

FEATURE

How do animal genetics factor?

Animal genetics can offer possible solutions to reduce the environmental impact. By examining animal genetics, we can increase an animal’s adaptability for a specific type of diet. If we can adjust an animal’s ability to convert lower emission input diets, such as the use of specific waste streams or food residues, this could make a huge difference in carbon emissions. Not only does this reduce the number of resources used for feed, but animals could be part of the solution in reducing waste in the food system. Another route to lower emission animals is the selection on animals emitting lower greenhouse gasses.

Due to genetic diversity, animals digest their feed differently and this leads to differences in the production of various gasses. Research has focused primarily on ruminants so far as they are responsible for roughly two-thirds of the total GHG emissions of the livestock sectors. Researchers are measuring the total and composition of the gasses individual cows produce and there is clearly a genetic basis of variation in excretion that raises the possibility of reducing manure emissions by breeding for reduced excretion.

Going back to the basics, gradual genetic progress in every new generation has an important impact on saving resources and reducing our carbon footprint. 2% may not seem significant, but 2% more genetic progress in each generation reduces resource use and feeds more of the world’s population. Looking at laying hen genetics, we breed our birds to live longer healthier lives, so they can reach 500 first quality

eggs in their lifetime. Gradual genetic progress has made it possible for our laying hens to lay far more eggs now than in 1970.

consumer trust. One example is a pilot project we participated in to use blockchain technology for the enhancement of animal welfare in turkeys.

Environmental balance As a genetics company, there are several opportunities we can investigate and support.

Gradual genetic progress allows us to make an impact on our carbon footprint, but how else can we make the entire system more sustainable? Application of existing innovation and technologies can increase the availability of food and reduce the environmental footprint of agricultural production. Technology for tracking and tracing such as blockchain has great potential for better use of resources and to build

Universal application of knowledge and solutions will bring significant gains in output, like crop yields or harvest results, especially for smallscale farmers.

Kanu Equipment appointed new Case IH dealer for Ghana

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anu Equipment Ghana Limited has been appointed as the new Case IH dealer for Ghana, providing sales and service support for a wide range of Case IH equipment and machinery. Customers throughout Ghana will benefit from dealership facilities in both Accra, the country’s business capital, and Takoradi, the business capital of Western Ghana. The facilities include a parts counter, workshop and equipment warehouse.

Kanu Equipment has recruited experienced team members with a passion for customer satisfaction to support Case IH agricultural machinery sales and servicing. Kanu Equipment was founded in October 2012 by Stephen Smithyman.

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“‘We are delighted to be appointed as the dealer for Case IH in Ghana and to grow our partnership with Case IH where we represent them in Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Cameroon,” Mr Smithyman said. “Case IH has done an elaborate evaluation of our teams and systems and we have a very qualified and capable team in Ghana

We’ve only just begun examining the pressures of environmental sustainability. To protect the health of our planet and future generations, we will continue to invest in finding efficiencies through high quality animal protein and investigate new opportunities. to ensure we are fully equipped to serve our new customers that Case IH products will bring.”

New Business Development Manager, Ebenezer Arkoh-Gaisie, said he is excited to be working with Case IH. ”I am very happy and excited to be part of the Case IH family, again, after years of working hard promoting, and selling Case IH tractors in Ghana,” he said.

“The Case IH JX75 and JX90 Straddle tractors are perfectly suited to Ghanaian farmers due to their reliability, durability and power. The robust components ensure reduced downtime and a long operating life even in the most demanding terrains.

“I think the farmers of Ghana will enjoy working with Case IH machinery, just as we look forward to working with them to increase their productivity.”

IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT

DISPLAY

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POLMAC S.r.l. Via Statale Sud, 137 - 41037 Mirandola (MO) ITALY - Ph.: +39.0535.20004 - Fax: +39.0535.26595 - info@polmac.it - www.polmac.it

COVER STORY

How Extrusion can shape food and feed processing T

he concept of extrusion was inspired by the Archimedean screw (or the screw pump), in which turning a screw inside a pipe is used to transfer water from low-lying water bodies into irrigation channels.

The food industry was not the first sector to adopt extrusion technology. In fact, this technology was first introduced in the plastics and rubber polymer industry. In the 1930s, extrusion technology was adopted by the food industry. The extrusion application in foods started in the 1930s with the production of breakfast cereal pellets and dry pasta on single screw extruders (SSE).

Dry pet foods were manufactured with extruders in the 1950s. Incredibly, the versatility of this technology was further enhanced by the introduction of twin-screw extruders (TSE) in the 1970s. TSEs had a more comprehensive range of operation; they handled a broader array of raw material particle sizes and had better conveying characteristics, especially for formulations that were difficult to run on SSEs. One of the greatest advantage of Extrusion processing technology is that it allows mass

production of food and feed via a continuous, efficient system that ensures uniformity of the final product.

Moreover, the extrusion process eliminates some of the naturally occurring toxins and reduces the micro-organisms present in the final product, thereby making them safer for consumption.

According to IMARC Group, the global extruded snack food market reached a value of US$ 45.42 Billion in 2020. The demand for extruded snack foods is expected to increase exponentially in the emerging markets in the years between 20212026, fuelled by urbanization and population growth.

In fact, many breakfast cereals and ready-to-eat snacks, confectionery, pre-made cookie dough as well as animal feed can be produced by Extrusion.

Many extruded products puff and change texture as they are extruded because of the reduction of forces and release of moisture and heat.

The extent to which it does so is known as the expansion ratio.

Many food extrusion processes involve a high temperature for a short time. Important factors of the extrusion process are the composition of the extrudate, screw length and rotating speed, barrel temperature and moisture, die shape, and rotating speed of the blades. These are controlled based on the desired product to ensure uniformity of the output.

Moisture is the most important of these factors, and affects the mix viscosity, acting to plasticize the extrudate. Increasing moisture will decrease viscosity, torque, and product temperature, and increase bulk density.

This will also reduce the pressure at the die.

Most extrusion processes for food processing are carried out at low to intermediate moisture (moisture level below 40%). High-moisture extrusion is known as wet extrusion, but it was not used much before the introduction of twin screw extruders (TSE), which have a more efficient conveying capability. The most important rheological factor in the wet extrusion of highstarch extrudate is temperature.

Extrusion is also used to prepare semi-moist and dry expanded pet foods, aquatic food, and foods for laboratory animals. Whereas, cat and dogs foods are directly extruded and dried.

Feed for ornamental fish, high-grade complete feeds to maintaining the health, foods for exotic species in aquariums can also be made from extrusion process. This permits better utilization of available cereal grains, vegetable and animal proteins.

Extrusion machines There are two types of extrusion technologies that are in use today; the single screw and the twin screw machines. The single screw machines are the most popular type of extruders because

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they are relatively cheap, simple and easily provide a continuous output.

Single screw extrusion uses one screw within a cylindrical barrel to continuously push plastic through a constant profile die. Production rate is typically measured in mass per hour (lb/hour or kg/hour) and is controlled by the screw speed of the machine.

In single screw extrusion, the shear rate is quite high. For example, the shear rate in the metering section of the screw can be well above 100 1/ sec. The high shear region such as the melting film between the unmelted pellet and barrel, the clearance of the barrier flight as well as the Maddock mixing section, can have a shear rate well over 1000 1/sec.

In order to create a design with greater operating flexibility and with greater operational control, twins crew machines were developed. Twin-screw extruders can be co-rotating, counter-rotating, intermeshing or non-intermeshing in terms of basic designs. Co-rotating, intermeshing screw designs have dominated that scene as far as these extruders are concerned. This is because of relative ease of design and manufacture compared to counter-rotating designs.

Single and Twin-Screw Compared Twin-screw extruders allow the development and production of a greater array of products but at a significant cost. The complexity of their screw design makes it expensive compared to the single screw design. A very unique characteristic of a twin-screw machine is the ability to configure a single machine to perform two distinct tasks or functions at the same time.

The screw design of twin-screw extruders can dramatically affect operating efficiency and machine capability. Screw components in the feed section of the barrel can be single, double or even triple flight arrangements. With more flights intertwined on the shaft, the conveying capacity of the screw is reduced but the residence time distribution (RTD) is lower. This promotes a firstin, first-out movement of the extrudate.

Additionally, twin screw extruder has remarkable mixing capability, because of the intermeshing screws and the broad diversity of specialized screw designs that allow the extent of mixing to be precisely adjusted leading to control the degree of mixing. On the other hand, mixing capability of single screw extruders is very limited having flow restrictions to enhance mixing through special screw designs.

Boosting broiler productivity with ExPress® soy meal W

ith all of the gains in broiler productivity and efficiency over the years, you’d be excused if you believe that most or all of the progress in this industry has been achieved.

With tens of billions of chickens right now on Earth, it would seem that our work is done.

What more can we do?

– increase nutrient digestibility (i.e., the amount of a nutrient that is absorbed from the intestine and is then available for growth) and increase feed intake (i.e., supply more total nutrients, some of which are digestible, and some are not).

Well, what if you could use better, higher-quality ingredients and get both?

The goal of any nutrition program is to supply more nutrients, in the right proportions, to enhance performance while controlling feed costs. There are two main ways to do this

A recent study at Iowa Study University has shown the way for how to further advance broiler nutrition and improve performance.

High-shear dry extrusion of ingredients, in particular soybeans, followed by oil pressing to reduce the residual oil content to 6-8%, has been used for decades to make a higher-quality version of soybean meal (ExPress® soy meal).

More recently, highshear dry extrusion of corn has been used. These two ingredients were used in combination to replace the commodified versions in a broiler performance experiment. The results were quite remarkable.

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FEATURE COVER STORY

improvements. This means there is still room to improve with better-quality ingredients.

So how does it all work?

The equipment has to work in tandem to create high-quality ExPress® soymeal. With all of the moving parts involved in the ExPress® process, it can get a bit complex.

IT ALL STARTS WITH SHEAR As ingredients go through the extruder barrel, screws and steamlocks, they are exposed to very high shear rates which create very high temperatures in a short cook time (20 seconds) deactivating anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors.

HOW A CLEANER WORKS Unlike a destoner, a cleaner sorts material based on particle size instead of bulk density.

HOW A DESTONER WORKS Destoners have a large table that vibrates at various frequencies that can be tilted up or down, filtering out stones and other dense objects.

Feed intake was increased dramatically (12.4%), while body weight gain increased even more (12.9%) – indicating a numerical improvement in feed conversion ratio. This makes sense because, in addition to increased intake, it’s been known for decades that ExPress® soy meal exhibits greater amino acid digestibility and metabolizable energy compared to both commodity, solvent-extracted soybean, and other types of mechanically processed soy meals.

Given that a certain target weight is required to go to market, using high-shear dry extruded

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ingredients in place of commodity corn and soy resulted in four fewer days to achieve this goal.

Over the course of a year, a production unit would be able to achieve one additional flock.

There are additional performance gains to be had in broilers with the use of better ingredients – ExPress® soy meal and high-shear dry extruded corn. The enormous gains in broiler productivity up to this point have been achieved, in part, to advances in genetic selection. The results of the Iowa State study indicate that broiler nutrition has not kept up with advances in broiler genetic

HOW THE EXTRUDER WORKS The extruder is a positive displacement machine designed to apply shear forces to raw ingredients in order to process them into finished goods.

HOW AN OIL PRESS WORKS Mechanical oil pressing is a cost efficient, versatile and chemical-free method that allows one to process oil seeds easily.

HOW A DECANTER WORKS Crude oil enters into the front of the decanter into the scroll conveyor and solids are pushed by the conveyor to the outlet.

Features: Flexible scale of operation from a few tons per day to several tons per hour Consistently produces oils and high quality low-fat meal No hazardous waste produced Proven system worldwide

CAPACITY: 7,500 - 8,400 lbs. /hr (3,400 - 3,810 kg. /hr)

9000 Series Extruder

Model 5005 Press CAPACITY: 3,800 - 4,200 lbs. /hr (1,727 - 1,909 kg. /hr)

Michael Martin

p: +32-475-62-6320 mmartin@insta-pro.com www.insta-pro.com

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation

The 33rd Edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition for Africa and the Middle East

12-15 September 2021 Egypt International Exhibition Center

To stay informed about exhibition updates visit our website

www.saharaexpo.com

In Partnership With

Strategic Partner

Sponsor

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ADVERTORIAL

Oilseed Production: Lower Capital Costs Do Not Always Equal Higher Profit A review of Anderson’s Dox™ Extruder and Expeller® system for energy consumption and profitable soybean oil production

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ike any business, oilseed manufacturing requires careful analysis of costs to derive maximum profit. Operators should carefully consider the total cost of both capital and operating expenditures when investing in new machines. The lower-cost option upfront may not prove to be such a bargain throughout a machine’s entire lifecycle.

Today, there are compact extruders available on the market that can be purchased and installed at a relatively low cost. While these extruders have proven to be very popular in recent years, a quick analysis shows they can drive up costs over time in several ways. One of the most significant operational cost factors to consider with industrial equipment is energy consumption. It turns out

that stand-alone, compact dry extruders lack energy efficiency, particularly when viewed within the context of the entire oil-extraction process.

Energy consumption A quick examination of the specifications of leading systems demonstrates the energy consumption and subsequent cost savings.

Two compact extruders feeding one Six compact extruders feeding three 12-inch Anderson Dox Extruder and standard oil press standard oil presses 12-inch Oil Expeller press Soy Processed

2 TPH

6 TPH

6 TPH

Combined horsepower

325 HP

975 HP

700 HP

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ADVERTORIAL

Those who invest in compact extruders will use two, one-ton per hour (TPH) extruders to feed a single, two TPH press. Two extruders with 125 Horse Power (HP) and a press with 75 HP equates to a 325 HP needed to process two TPH of soy. To handle six TPH of soy, these plants would have to run six compact extruders and three presses for a whopping 975 HP. Why is six TPH important? Because that is the yield available from a single 12-inch Anderson Dox Extruder and 12-inch Oil Expeller press, which run at a combined 700 HP. So while the Anderson configuration may cost more upfront, it saves more over the system’s lifecycle. And this savings is not insignificant.

Going by the average energy cost of seven to nine cents per kWh, a typical producer could shave upwards of $100,000 off their operating budget per year.

Maintenance Costs Energy consumption is not the only factor when calculating operating costs. Equally important are the repair and maintenance burdens associated with multiple smaller machines.

Compact extruders are more likely to require a

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rebuild every three to four weeks. In contrast, the Anderson Dox Extruder has an average rebuild of 22 to 24 weeks, primarily due to its larger size and more rugged construction.

As operators know, maintenance is not only calculated by direct costs but also by the indirect cost of lost production. Of course, with six smaller machines, maintenance might be able to be scheduled so that only one-sixth of your production capacity is down at any one time.

However, experienced operators find that a longer maintenance cycle on a single machine delivers greater overall productivity than a process running at less than full capacity for extended periods of time Quality Control A third factor that is important to keep in mind is production quality. Processors that fail to provide adequate quality control tend to quickly lose business to competitors. By deploying a series of machines across the extraction process, manufacturers run the risk of producing inconsistent results as wear and tear, heat generation, and other performance metrics start to diverge. With a single extruder and a

single press, the resulting oil will remain highly consistent.

Anderson’s Unique Dox Extruder Anderson’s Dox Extruder is unique in that it comes in sizes of up to 6 TPH, it can operate for up to six months without maintenance and can also mount a drainage cage that allows it to process materials with high oil content. It is designed to cook and dry the material before the expelling process. Its high-shear environment ruptures the oil-containing bodies within the oilseed and generates frictional heat. This heat deactivates harmful enzymes within the oilseed.

It cooks the proteins for a more efficient pressing and then flash-dries excess moisture.

The numbers speak volumes.

The Dox is specifically engineered to double the capacity of an oil press, replace expensive steam-heated cooking vessels, double the life of the pressing parts, and reduce meal oil residuals to under 6%. Its size and rugged construction will significantly reduce operating expenses throughout the machine’s lifetime, easily overcoming difference in price compared to compact extruders on the market today.

Anderson’s High-Shear Extrusion System Reduces the number of steps for oilseed preparation, doubles pressing capacity, increases profitability, and extends the life of your oilseed equipment.

Anderson Expeller® Press

Anderson Dox™ Extruder

Presses over 100 metric tons per day in a single machine with residuals as low as 5%.

Designed to mechanically shear, cook, and dry the material for improved oil recovery.

Andersonintl.com

|

1 (800) 336-4730

REDUCING CROPS LOSSES TOGETHER WITH METALMONT

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oday, preserving the loss of the most important crops for the human and animal nutrition is a crucial issue for the whole world, especially for Africa. According to the FAO Food and Agricultural Organization, the 14 % of the global food is simply lost in the postharvesting activities, because of a not optimal storage process.

Reducing that percentage is the leitmotiv and the main purpose of Metalmont, an Italian company working in the bulk products storage field. How does Metalmont face this vital issue? Basically in 2 phases:

Telescopic Chain conveyor for the load of burges - Romania

•

Closely cooperating with the main players of the sector like crop producers, grain traders, storage plant installers, in order to provide the best and the most suitable storage solution, according to the end-users needs.

•

By internally designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions for the mechanization of silo storage plants like handling and precleaning equipment, the whole range of accessories like catwalks, divertive valves and shutters, and the most unique and innovative solution for the automatization of flat storage warehouses.

Warehouse grain reclaimer - Romania

Silo plant mechanization - Portugal

Wheat Pre-cleaner - Italy

Customization and equipment adaptation The main Metalmont strength is customization: the needs of a Russian grain trader will never be the same of an African cocoa beans producer.

Start taking care of your crop with Metalmont solutions!

Indeed, in 25 years of experience, Metalmont equipment has been adapted to work with a wide range of products like wheat, barley, paddy rice, all type of pulses, cocoa, coffee beans, soya and even soybean meal, used in the poultry industry, and has been installed in 18 countries including some African countries like Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and Mauritania, as well as Saudi Arabia

The equipment is suitable for: • wheat • barley • sorghum • paddy rice • soya & soybean meal • cocoa & coffee beans • and more

METALMONT.IT

Cocoa handling equipement - Ivory Coast

OPINION ANALYSIS

LAND REFORMS Strategies to foster youth understanding of the importance of sustaining land activities or new landowners and looking at opportunities for job creation

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and Reform: In the backdrop of a sluggish economy that does not create enough jobs for a growing number of unemployed youth, government and the private sector need to work in concert to develop and implement strategies that are anchored around harnessing the land reform programme to generate employment opportunities.

The recent statistics released by Stats SA show that over 60% of young people are without a job in South Africa. It is no wonder that it is mainly black youth and women, the sector of the population that is landless, who bear the brunt of unemployment and poverty. Calls for the expropriation of land without compensation offer a glimmer of hope to these young people, many of whom have abandoned any effort to seek employment out of despair.

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While there is unanimity that the willing buyer willing seller model hasn’t borne the expected results to accelerate land reform and restitution, it is generally agreed that the redistribution of land can be a catalyst that can alleviate youth unemployment, foster entrepreneurship and revive the ailing rural economies.

According to Peter Setou, Chief Executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund, an equally enough focus should be dedicated to developing practical models of supporting beneficiary communities to enable them to use the land productively and in a sustainable manner.

“The formation of small-scale farming cooperatives is one of the feasible avenues that can be explored for creating employment in periurban and rural areas. Co-operatives have a

long history in South Africa and this model has a proven track record of being a sustainable source of income and food security. However, small scale farming requires support in the form of capital, irrigation support, facilitating the private ownership of land, skills development, access to farming implements and markets to sell produce,” says Peter Setou, Chief Executive Officer of Vumelana Advisory Fund.

Setou points out that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a blow to small scale farmers who have the least resources to mitigate against the far-reaching impact of the nationwide lockdown. Citing the findings of a study by BeyonciCOVID Business Surveym, Setou says the future prospects of the country’s small and micro-farming community looks bleak as only 13% of the country’s up-and-coming farmers

have managed to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

Environmental Organisation, the agency initiated a community-based programme programme called Sebenza Umhlaba Campaign (meaning “work the land” in isiZulu) aimed at raising awareness and education about climate change and hunger and fostering the participation of community members, including youth in leveraging the potential of land as an income generating resource.

The study found that while 63% of commercialscale farmers are back to their pre-pandemic operational levels, only 13% of South Africa’s upand-coming farmers have managed to bounce back.

The study further found that the hard lockdown deprived small scale farmers of their primary market and source of revenue, which is mainly source of revenue sidewalk food stalls, fresh produce markets, corner shops, other SMMEs and NGOs which were compelled to close shop during the hard lockdown.

“Many beneficiary communities who do small scale farming lack the financial resources to offset the impact of Covid-19, and they don’t have the requisite capital to venture into commercial farming. Small scale production has served as an entry point for many communities into field of agriculture and food production. Denying these small scale the support they require to become sustainable and scale up their operations will sound a death-knell to emerging farmers, which in turn undermines the land reform programme,:” says Setou.

At the heart of this campaign was imparting local farming skills and showcasing how working the land productively can help to fight hunger and to mitigate the negative impact of climate change.

Peter Setou

“Through these programmes we have been able to impart much-needed skills to young people to enable them to make a sustainable living. Moreover, we have managed to show tangible benefits of how the land can be used in a sustainable manner to address some of the pressing socio-economic challenges facing our country,” says Nompumelelo Melaphi, Director of Rethink Africa.

Former president Thabo Mbeki wrote a 15page document in which he cautioned the ruling party on calling for land expropriation without compensation, saying it would lead to a “very serious disincentive to investment which our country cannot afford”.

He adds that he is encouraged by the R1.2 billion COVID-19 disaster fund intervention that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development announced last year to assist small-scale farmers.

Setou points out that small scale farmers have a critically important role to play to meet the evolving future food demands of a growing and increasingly rich and urbanised population.

Citing the findings of research group Springer Link, Setou says more than 80% (475 million) of the world’s farms operate on less than two hectares of land and although these farms account for only 12% of the world’s farmland, they provide an estimated 80% of the food produced in Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Small scale farmers play a key role in the food security equation and their contribution to the rural economy is without a doubt immense. In the South African context where women and young people bear the brunt of poverty and unemployment, small scale farming can be catalyst that can drive job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities our country solely needs,” says Setou.

The Vumelana Advisory Services Fund is of the view that in addition to government support, a number of barriers needs to be removed in order for small scale farming to gain traction.

Lack of state support was highlighted as a major

Nompumelelo Melaphi

impediment for productive small–scale farming, particularly in a province like Limpopo which has a chronic problem of erratic climatic conditions and water scarcity.

According to Setou, there is a need to implement area–based planning and match the available land to the needs of the youth. “This requires local municipalities to play a lead role and integrate land reform into the Integrated Development Plans (IDP). Beneficiary selection committees are key in ensuring a youth–driven participatory and consultative land redistribution programmes for small scale farming to become sustainable,” he says.

Developmental agency Rethink Africa has done a lot of work in exploring how the financial services sector and the private sector should be responding to the challenge of savings and wealth amongst ordinary South Africans, in particular the poor, black majority.

Working

in

partnership

with

Ekurhuleni

Vumelana Advisory Fund has always maintained that the increasing and highly politically charged calls for land expropriation are not doing much to attract private sector investors who have the skills and funding required to assist beneficiary communities to turn their land into commercially viable assets that can revalitise the rural economy, foster entrepreneurship and generate much-needed employment opportunities.

Vumelana Advisory Fund is of the vie that the private sector needs to see itself as an important role player that can either ensure the success of the land reform programme through engagement with all the relevant stakeholders and availing its expertise. Working with beneficiary communities, the private sector has an opportunity to forge joint ventures and initiate commercially viable initiatives by empowering these communities with much-needed expertise such as access to infrastructure, to agronomic inputs, to technology and technical expertise, to capital and to markets.

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FEATURE

Back to Basics Standard Bank partners with Timbali agriculture incubator to support and grow local emerging farmers

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tandard Bank, Africa’s largest financial services organisation by assets, has approved a series of zero-interest loans with zero initiation fees to help secure emerging farmers’ participation in the upcoming winter planting season. This forms part of the bank’s wider ambitions to support and develop small businesses in the country.

“After the onslaught of Covid-19, many small and micro farmers missed out on the 2020 winter planting season,” explains Julian Felix, Head: Products and Sectors, Standard Bank.

“They were also stuck with excess produce as export market demand slowed and local retailers clamped down on supply chains to focus on major offtakers.”

Through its enterprise development programme, which focuses on empowering black-owned businesses in South Africa with financial support and guidance, Standard Bank established a lending solution for emerging farmers participating in the Timbali Agriculture Incubator Programme.

Based in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, Timbali has for the last 17 years provided mentorship and skills to smallholder commercial farmers. It aims to create sustainable wealth through a scalable model that identifies direct market opportunities.

“Timbali guides farmers through an intensive, six-month training and mentorship programme to develop the technical aspects of their operations.

As an NGO that relies on government funding and lacks financial capacity, however, the incubator had trouble in assisting its farmers with inputs for the upcoming planting season. This is where we, as Standard Bank, identified an opportunity to close the funding gap.”

As it stands, Standard Bank has approved low to no interest loans for sixteen emerging farmers who applied, had been through Timbali’s programme successfully and met the criteria developed, which, Felix says, allows the farmers to access working capital they would not ordinarily have under normal lending conditions. A number of farmers applied for the loan. Standard Bank is currently in the process of loan approvals for more farmers spanning commodities from vegetables to flowers.

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be received by not only offtakers but locals and feeding schemes, which will address the issue of food security and contribute to building the social fabric of our society.”

Helping farmers to create selfsustaining operations The loan will cover the farmers’ costs of planting between one to two hectares of vegetables ranging from tomatoes, butternut and green peppers. Meanwhile, Timbali, through its mentors, will assist with the technical skills to prepare the ground appropriately, ensure planting happens at the right time, and manage the fertiliser and the entire farming process properly.

With a view of enabling the means to create selfsustaining farming operations, Standard Bank has committed to assisting these farmers over the next two to three planting seasons. It is also providing financial and business advice through one of its business development suppliers, J&R Accounting, to assist farmers with the financial and technical aspects of their operations. The crops that are planted before the winter cold sets in are expected to harvest around August and September. At this time, they will be received by offtakers for delivery at major retailers including Woolworths, Pick n Pay and MultiFlora, among others.

Identifying and responding to a fundamental need: Support for emerging farmers “As Standard Bank, our involvement in Timbali is about developing a new model for assisting smallholders and effecting social change in impoverished communities around the country.

“Ultimately, it comes down to our purpose as an organisation: Africa is our home, we drive her growth. The communities in which many of these farmers are based face high levels of poverty and social insecurity. The produce grown will

Eunice Judith Mathebula, one of the five farmers to receive the loan from Standard Bank, says: “At first, I was afraid and nervous about the proposal of the loan financing, but after Timbali explained the benefits to me, it was clear that this was indeed a great opportunity. The financing has enabled me to purchase production stock that I could never afford by myself: Seeds, fertilizers, chemicals and irrigation materials. With the financing from Standard Bank and technical support from Timbali, I see myself becoming a commercial farmer in the next coming five years.

Another emerging farmer, Zanele Lubisi, says that she was “shocked” at the news that she had been selected for funding support with zero interest from Standard Bank, after struggling to successfully secure a loan for many years. Lubisi says that with this loan, she has never been able to plant as many crops now as she did when she first started farming. “Finally, after many battles, I have the means to grow my business and access formal markets.”

Felix says that the market of emerging farmers is growing but we have identified that there is a large need for support and skills transfer from larger farming players with skin in the game. “With that in mind, the opportunity to support farmers in the Timbali incubator quickly found support within Standard Bank. The speed of execution was made possible by leveraging our expertise within both the agriculture sector and enterprise development to meet a fundamental need. This simply demonstrates the power of collaborating with different areas within the organisation and showing up as a well-organised team that solves for customer problems.”

He concludes by saying that “at Standard Bank, we are actively involved and deliberate about providing universal services – within banking and beyond – that will develop and grow small businesses owned by black citizens to create shared economic value for the country”.

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FEATURE

How smart technologies in dairy farming make the difference

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aced with tighter margins and the growing demand for milk products globally, today’s dairy industry is trending towards farms with larger, high performance herds. This means not only more complex operations, but also increased scrutiny on a wide range of environmental and socio-cultural issues: challenging with manure waste and its impact on soil, water and air quality, concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, or concerns about the use of antibiotics, to name a few. For farm managers, it’s not just low milk prices and high feed costs causing headaches. Today’s landscape is challenging on a whole new level, demanding new skills along with new levels of efficiency. To meet the challenge – to manage the complexity, keep their operations profitable, and fulfill the growing list of requirements and demands – farmers are turning to smart technologies for help. And it’s making a difference.

Smart farming – the new normal Dr. Beate Maassen-Francke is Product Manager Farm Management Software at GEA, being a global leader in the dairy industry technology and an early mover in smart dairy farming solutions.

With over 22 years of experience in the industry,

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she’s been there to see smart dairy farming take root. “I remember the feeding computer Codatron 80, one of the first ‘smart’ farming solutions back in the 90s,” she recalls. Today, according to a recent German Bitkom study almost 1 in 2 farms in Germany for example are using intelligent feeding systems and almost as many are using agricultural apps for smartphones or tablets. 21% of dairy farms in Germany already use milking robots, with demand growing around the world.

And according to the latest study from Dutch ABN AMRO bank, the worldwide market for agricultural robots can double in size in 5 years’ time. “Optimal herd management on the farm has now become one of the most important success factors for modern and sustainable livestock farming,” says Maassen-Francke. And more and more often today, optimal herd management means relying on smart technologies: sensors, robots, digital tools and software.

Better work for farmers Effective time management is a critical success factor for today’s dairy farmers. “To get through their to-do list for the day, herd managers absolutely need to be more time-independent,”

says Maassen-Francke. “They need to be informed in real time on where and when to intervene.” Combining sensors and software with mobile devices allows farmers the flexibility of not having to be in the barn or in front of the PC around the clock. Moreover, mobile devices allow all employees across the farm to stay up to date and to coordinate more effectively. The increasingly IT-based nature of work on the farm may be benefitting the industry in other ways, too. Dr. Ute Müller from the University of Bonn’s Institute of Animal Sciences sees smart technologies making agriculture attractive again to younger people.

“It has been difficult to recruit talent in rural regions because of associations with herd management as strenuous and generally outdated method of work. But this is fortunately changing,” she says.

“In my daily work with my students, I see them getting excited about combining their practical and scientific knowledge with the power of IT to manage the complexity of modern-day dairy operations. This is an important element that we shouldn’t underestimate in terms of the longterm sustainability of agriculture and its required industry itself.”

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FEATURE

Better health for cows The “big data” generated by today’s dairy farms is also improving animal health. With GEA’s CowScout system, on the market since 2012, it is possible to track each cow´s activity data, such as lying and eating times for example. With its heat detection feature, the CowScout also provides data on optimum time for insemination.

The CowScout sensors continuously measure the cow´s behavior – 24/7 every day in the year – CowScout generates an alert if the cow´s behavior deviates from her usual activity patterns, comparing her behavior to the previous weeks rolling average. A new optional positioning function allows for faster locating of cows and thus immediate action.

Another example is GEA’s DairyMilk M6850 cell count sensor, which uses patented sensorbased technology to measure somatic cell count classes in milk for earlier detection of mastitis. By analyzing milk at each udder quarter individually, the sensor gives farmers a new level of early detection capability to protect the health of their herds. “Real-time data and analysis allow managers and veterinarians to intervene earlier with targeted action so cows can recover quicker from illness and require less antibiotics,” says Maassen-Francke.

Also GEA’s feeding systems support farmers in their feed management and feeding strategy, which plays a very important role for high-performance cows. With DairyNet, a precised control and programming of feeding stations in the barn and in the milking robot including group management, different rations, feeding ingredients etc. is possible. The herd management software can show at a glance, where to improve the feeding strategy which affects not only the better health of the herd but also the farm’s feed costs. This precision feeding conserves the resources in many respects.

Making data smart Especially on large farms, using sensor technologies with 24/7 monitoring capability generates huge amounts of data. As in any other industry today, a system is only “smart” if it can manage the flood of data effectively. That’s where the software comes in. So what is the key to good herd and farm management software?

“It’s important to understand that farm managers don’t want to see data, they want to see information,” says Maassen-Francke, who recently oversaw the launch of GEA’s new DairyNet herd and farm management software in Germany. “They want to see where they can improve processes and strategies, where they

42 | July - August 2021

can improve animal welfare, where they can save on resources and costs; they want to see the key figures at a glance, customized to their needs.”

Developed and tested together with international dairy producers, DairyNet features a user-friendly interface with graphics and diagrams depicted visually and tailored to the individual needs of the farm.

While sensors, smartphones and software are opening up all manner of new possibilities, they also increase a farm’s dependence on fast, robust connectivity. “This is a potential limiting factor, because especially in rural areas all over the world, network coverage – with the kind of security and transmission rates required by smart farms – is not yet complete in most of the cases,” says Maassen-Francke. GEA’s answer is DairyNet Box, essentially a local server that allows the DairyNet system to be installed locally to secure operating processes and ensure fast response times on site.

“Ultimately, the job of a good herd management software is to empower dairy farmers take full advantage of the opportunities this digital transformation has to offer.” – Dr. Beate Maassen-Francke, Product manager Farm Management Software at GEA Changing the game Smart technologies are not just making familiar processes easier, faster and more efficient, they’re also opening the door to brand new territory. To explore this potential, GEA takes part in critical dairy research with governments and world-renowned institutes, engaging with students and entrepreneurs to mine nextgeneration solutions. GEA’s AutoDry project offers an example of the milking technology industry joining forces with agricultural scientists to rethink the use of antibiotics.

Initiated in 2015 as a joint project between GEA and the University of Bonn, AutoDry set out to change the way cows are milked in their last phase of lactation before the dry period, which is 6-8 weeks before the expected calving date.

Conventionally, cows are often administered an antibiotic treatment at the start of the dry period because the abrupt cessation of milking increases udder pressure and the risk of mastitis infections.

The goal of AutoDry was to develop a software that could gradually reduce udder emptying, i.e. milk yield, in the period before dry off to avoid abrupt cessation. Based on research conducted at the University of Bonn’s Campus Frankenforst test farm, GEA succeeded in developing milking

control software that helps to remove the milking cluster earlier and earlier in the last days before drying off. “This provides an automated way to ‘wean’ the cow down to a significantly lower daily milk yield and initiate involution, the regression of the mammary gland tissue, before the actual dry period starts,” says Müller, who led the University of Bonn research team for this project.

The software, which monitors absolute milk quantity rather than milk flow rate, is the first software of its kind that allows farmers to automate the initiation of involution. “Currently we are testing the software on larger farms to see how the changed milking control affects the routine work of drying off the cows,” says Beate Maassen-Francke. “This includes multiple optimization tests with other research partners before the patented software is ready for market.”

The results of the research farms so far show promise. “The software achieved an effective reduction in the milk yield of the cows before drying off. No cases of mastitis were recorded, and the average cell count was well below the limit,” says Müller. “So not only is the automated reduction gentler on the cow, but drying off can be done without antibiotics.”

“I believe this new milking control software will initiate a rethink in dairy farming.” – Dr. Ute Müller, Institute of Animal Sciences, University of Bonn Health, happiness … and sustainability Whether they’re shaking up the industry or making age-old processes faster and more efficient, smart technologies are empowering dairy farmers to rise to the many challenges they face today – helping them stay profitable, attract young talent, ensure herd health, reduce resource consumption, waste and even GHG emissions.

“We’re seeing these technologies make a difference because, most importantly, they’re enhancing the farmer experience and improving animal health and happiness, which is really the foundation for an efficient, cost-effective dairy business,” says Maassen-Francke.

“It’s also the foundation for a sustainable dairy business. As an example, scientists in Switzerland recently found out, that cows produce less methane as they get older. So if we can keep them healthy and productive longer, we’re not only conserving the farm’s living resources, farms can improve their climate footprint as well.”

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