Jan-Feb 2019 edition of Gulf Agriculture

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CONTENTS

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20 24

Cover photo: Philips Lighting

NEWS UPDATE

PAGE 04

GULFOOD UPS KNOWLEDGE-EXCHANGE ANTE WITH FIRST-EVER INNOVATION SUMMIT

PAGE 18

THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING PLACE OF THE INTERNATIONAL GREEN SECTOR

PAGE 20

THE IRRIGATION SHOW: A SPECIAL TIME FOR INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES

PAGE 22

VERTICAL FARMS ATTRACTING GREATER INTEREST AND INVESTMENTS IN THE GCC

PAGE 24

INTERPOMA 2018 — EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND APPLES IN BOLZANO

PAGE 26

GROWTECH HIT THE HIGH RECORD WITH VISITORS FROM 120 COUNTRIES!

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CLARIANT AND EASTMAN ANNOUNCE AGROCHEMICAL COLLABORATION

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Editor Megha Mary Matt | Associate Editor Jessie Jorge Graphic Designer Elizabeth John | Production Manager Abdul Shareef Contributors Neville J. Chandler, Douglas Bott, Shakeeb Kolakadan, Dr. Hansel Geo Thomas Registered Office: Matt Media International Ltd. 12 Gateway Mews, London N11 2UT, UK E-mail: gulfag@emirates.net.ae Web site: www.gulfagriculture.com

US Office:: Matt Media (USA), LLC, 1713 E. Morgan Court, Gilbert Arizona 85295 Middle East Office: Al Saad Advertising & Publishing L.L.C., P O Box 25694, Sharjah, UAE Gulf Agriculture is a publication from Matt Media International and read by agri professionals, farm managers & owners, landscape consultants, contractors, agri-equipment suppliers, horticultural engineers, greenhouse managers, agronomists, veterinary surgeons, ministries, poultry & dairy breeders, importers, distributors, manufacturers and whole salers of food and agri inputs.

All rights reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are requested to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstance. The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for any error or omissions contained in this publication.

Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2019

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JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE

Agri-tech Startup Pure Harvest Smart Farms Pure Harvest Smart Farms Ltd. — a transformational, technology-enabled arid climate agribusiness based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - hosted a grand product launch event at its farm. The event was to announce the successful first harvest and retail market entry of its premium quality tomatoes from its inaugural high-tech greenhouse in Nahel, United Arab Emirates. The event was attended by international investors, customers, and notable dignitaries including H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Almheiri - Minister of State for Food Security, H.E. Ambassador Frank Mollen representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E Mr. Mohammed Bin Obaid Al-Mazrooei - President of Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, Mr. Magnus Olsson - Founder and MD of Careem, Mr. Richard Dallas Senior Managing Director of Gulf Capital. Pure Harvest aims to be part of the solution to the region's growing food security, water conservation, and sustainability challenges.

Pure Harvest's proprietary solution has positioned the Company as a pioneer of highyielding, year-round, local production of fresh fruits and vegetables within the GCC region. The Company's breakthrough growing system was specifically designed for addressing the challenging summer-time climates of the Arabian Gulf region. The inaugural greenhouse was developed in partnership with CerthonTM Greenhouse 4

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Solutions, a leading Dutch designer and builder of modern greenhouses. Indoor temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels are carefully balanced and automated using a climate management computer system developed by PrivaTM, a leader in horticulture and building automation.

The Company achieved first harvest of its initial products (candy tomatoes, tomatoes-onthe-vine, and cherry tomatoeson-the-vine) approximately two months after commissioning its facility in early-August. Early results have been overwhelmingly positive, with the greenhouse achieving market-leading produce quality and beating targeted yields by 20% for its first season - evidence that the solution can be economic at scale. The performance of the greenhouse climate control system has enabled the Company to be the first agribusiness company in the UAE to produce commercial quantities of fresh tomatoes during extreme summer climate conditions.

Pure Harvest is currently selling its products to major retail customers across the UAE including Spinney's, Carrefour, Waitrose, Zoom, and Choithram's as well as select hotels and restaurants, including the Four Seasons.

Driven by the early success of its launch, Pure Harvest is now preparing to launch a $10 million+ fundraising for its expansion within the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in early-2019. In October 2018, Pure Harvest received a disbursement of AED 5.5 million, from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund

(MBRIF), a federallysponsored initiative conceived and sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, and operated by the Emirates Development Bank (EDB).

SORTEX F optical sorter helps 3rd generation farmer to vertically integrate and reduce sorting costs by up to 90% Bühler technology is enabling the world's largest fig grower to double its processing capacity to 20,000lbs per hour and reduce increasingly expensive costs associated with sorting, by up to 90%. The SORTEX F sorter is helping The Specialty Crop Company to provide their customers with dried figs that are free from damage and foreign material, including wood, rocks, puncture vines, bird pecks, sunburn and mold.

Kevin and Diane Herman founded the California-based business in 1989 and although figs are their main product, they successfully grow kiwi, persimmons and pomegranates.

Additionally they experiment with other produce and at the moment are attempting truffles and goji berries. Remarkably they also farm almonds, pistachios and walnuts and are ranked among the world's top 25 nut-growers.

“I come from a small farming family, as does my wife,” Kevin recalls. “When I graduated college, I went to work for a farm management company, before starting my own. Over the years, the business has evolved. There's now an even balance between owning, leasing and managing our farmland.”

Speciality Crop's ranches are located in California's JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE

Madera and Merced counties.

“Our company mission is to provide consumers with healthy food that's sustainable and tastes great. We farm about 8,000 acres, and about half of that is given over to figs. I've been growing figs for a long time,” Kevin admits.

Food safety is extremely important for Specialty Crop, as is quality. Kevin explains: “My customers have zero tolerance for foreign materials, as their products are used for making pastes, concentrates and diced figs which go on to be used in foods such as cereals, jams, sauces, fillings and the famous Fig Newtons cookies. For consumer pack varieties, aesthetics as well as safety is important. This is why the SORTEX F is vital for our business.

Stephen Jacobs, Business Development Manager North America at Bühler Group, comments: “The advanced camera technology used on the SORTEX F can reliably differentiate between good and bad product, enabling problematic FM and defective product to be accurately removed.

“Furthermore, Specialty Crop's choice to invest in the larger F2 model has enabled them to sort 20,000lbs (9,000kgs) of figs per hour twice what they were able to sort previously.”

So, why did Kevin choose Bühler's Sortex technology?

“We grow almonds and I was talking to a few almond handlers about our issues when sorting figs. One of them suggested that I talk to Bühler.

I'm delighted I did, because the technology is fantastic and their customer service is peerless.”

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

Tunisia Trains first set of Drone pilots for agricultural productivity Eight pilots have successfully passed their drone flight training in Tunisia following a two-week intensive training period organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Tunisia, the African

Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Busan Techno Park.

The training which focused on handling, maintenance and the security aspects of flying drones, took place in Tunis from 19-30 November 2018.

The eight were the first batch out of 40 candidates selected

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NEWS UPDATE

for the exercise, which envisages training a total of 400 young Tunisians by 2021.

The project will also see the setting up of a training center equipped with training drones as well as computer simulation tools for drone control. This center is expected to be upgraded to a center of excellence in drone technology.

The training also focused on promoting drone-centered activities in Tunisia in view of promoting efficiency and effectiveness.

“It is very good training. I want to share my experience. I would like to participate in this project and contribute for the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in my country Tunisia and my region, Africa,” said Lazhar Meskine, an air traffic management engineer, who was among the trainees.

After accumulating 20 hours of flight time and passing the practical flight, they obtained a “Drone Pilot Certificate” recognised by the Tunisian government. The four best trainees from this first batch will undergo further training for eight weeks to accumulate 100 hours of flight time. This will make them eligible to take the certification examination and qualify as drone pilot trainers.

The Toro Company recognized as a lead sponsor of the 2019 Irrigation E3 program The Irrigation Foundation is pleased to announce that The Toro Company will be a lead sponsor of the 2019 Irrigation E3 program. Through this sponsorship, E3 winners will receive education and travel awards for the 2019 Irrigation 6

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Show and Education Conference in Las Vegas.

The E3 program provides students and faculty with exposure, experience and education in the irrigation industry by giving them the chance to attend classes, network with industry professionals and walk the trade show floor at the annual Irrigation Show. Since the program's inception, The Toro Company has been a huge part of the program's success. When it began in 2012, there were six winners, and in 2018 the program grew to 32 participants.

“Toro's sponsorship since the start of the program is a key reason for the increase in applications year after year,” said Foundation Director Janine Sparrowgrove. “We are thankful that The Toro Company and other sponsors are playing an active role in securing the future of the irrigation industry through support of Foundation programs such as E3.”

Sites in Morocco and Spain recognized as important for the world's agricultural heritage A traditional saffron cultivation system in Morocco, an argan-based agro-pastoral system and an ancient olive trees system in Spain won recognition from FAO as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

All the sites feature unique ways to produce nutritious foods and/or spices using traditional knowledge and skills while improving local people's livelihoods and preserving biodiversity.

The sites were designated

by the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group based on selection criteria, including: global importance, their value as a public good in terms of supporting food and livelihood security, agrobiodiversity, knowledge systems, adapted technologies, cultures, and outstanding landscapes.

It is the third time that sites in Iran and Spain are added to the global agricultural heritage systems list and the second time for Morocco. FAO's global agricultural heritage network now consists of 57 remarkable landscapes in 21 countries around the globe.

The Saffron Farming System is located in Iran's central plateau that has an arid and semi-arid climate. Severe water shortages in the area pose major threats to food security and livelihoods of local communities.

However, proper use of water resources supplied by the Qanat (or aquaduct) irrigation system and production of high value added products, especially saffron, have created a unique opportunity for farmers and residents of the region to improve their livelihoods.

Saffron does not require large quantities of water compared to cereals, which has resulted in allocation of more areas for the cultivation of this invaluable crop making it a major source of income for many farmer households.

Today it plays a key role in creating job opportunities, reducing migration, providing sustainable livelihoods, improving efficiency in water use and productivity as well as developing eco-tourism in the area.

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NEWS UPDATE

Douglas Products Creates Plant Health Division Douglas Products announces the formation of a new Plant Health Division following the addition of two companies known for innovation in Biological plant nutrition and soil health. Growth Products, based in White Plains, New York, joined Douglas Products on October 19, 2018; and AgriEnergy Resources, based in Princeton, Illinois, joined on December 10, 2018. Growth Products produces and markets liquid nutrient and biological technologies serving the turf and ornamental, agriculture,

arbor care and residential markets, and serves the citrus market in Florida through its G.P. Solutions division.

AgriEnergy Resources specializes in the development and production of microbial and other soil fertility products for horticulture and row crops.

“We are excited to expand our resources and expertise with the addition of two companies which each have over 30 years of proven track record for developing innovative solutions aimed at improving soil health and increasing plant productivity,” says Wes Long, CEO. “The mergers are a major

PanAmerican Seed® Promises Huge Colour Impact At IPM PanAmerican Seed will welcome thousands of attendees to IPM Essen 2019, where the company will showcase a new look at its stand that promises huge colour impact. This year's focus is Pansy Cool Wave® and the NEW Viola Quicktime. Both series will launch fresh new colours and concepts, including a showstopping display of a larger-than-life flower basket filled with pansies. The company's 55 m2 stand will be located in hall 2 stand 2B29.

Pansy Cool Wave is the best-performing spreading pansy series on the market and is currently available in 14 colours and three mixtures. The plants are more vigorous than other spreading pansies, and they deliver better-looking hanging baskets and patio containers than any other Spring- and Autumn-flowering product. Introductions to see at IPM include Cool Wave Strawberry Swirl and Cool Wave Raspberry Swirl.

PanAmerican Seed will also debut its new Viola Quicktime series, which offers six different colours. Quicktime flowers faster than any other Viola cornuta series used for the same production schedules, and allows you to start your viola crop up to two weeks later and still ship full-bodied pots on time in Spring.

According to PanAmerican Seed European Sales Manager, Jean-François Ignasse, the booth spotlight is one you don't want to miss. “Our stand will display a huge attractive basket with the new Cool Wave varieties. This is really something special,” Ignasse says. “For our submissions to the IPM 2019 Novelties Show, our Viola F1 Frizzle Sizzle Mini Mixture adds a unique frilly flower form to violas and is great for containers or 'close-up' landscapes. We're also submitting Pansy Cool Wave Strawberry Swirl. We're confident these unique intros will impress IPM judges.”

Look for the PanAmerican Seed sales team during IPM, Jan. 22-25, 2019, in hall 2 stand 2B29. They'll be happy to introduce you to the extensive product assortment and answer all your questions. For more information, visit www.panamseed.com.

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step in our company's vision to expand its branded specialty chemicals and biological solutions portfolio for the Agriculture and Turf & Ornamental segments.”

“The announcement addresses an important issue within agriculture and T&O the demand for proven sustainable biological technologies, adds Vince Adams, Chief Business Development Officer for Douglas Products.

“Under the Douglas Products banner, Growth Products and AgriEnergy Resources will capture R&D, Agronomical support and manufacturing synergies,” Adams says. “We will ensure that service and support to dealers, distributors and end-use customers will continue without disruption, but our main goal is to better serve customers by leveraging the combined strengths of all three companies. We will expand investment to develop new soil and plant health solutions both in the U.S. and overseas. And we will also take advantage of efficiencies in, logistics, warehousing, regulatory affairs and marketing.”

“Creation of a Plant Health Division is a strategic move,” Long adds. “Douglas Products has served agriculture for 103 years, primarily to protect grain.

Its Ag product portfolio includes two postharvest fumigants, ProFume® gas fumigant and PH3 (phosphide) as well as several insecticide brands. The addition of Growth Products and AgriEnergy Resources now provides solutions from planting through post-harvest as well as expands the technology portfolio into the Turf & Ornamental market.”

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE

Case IH and New Holland Agriculture announce innovation awards ahead of SIMA 2019 From state-of-the-art precision technologies to innovative new features, Case IH and New Holland Agriculture continue to enhance CNH Industrial's reputation across the whole of the agricultural machinery spectrum. This excellence has recently been recognized by the awarding of two Bronze Innovation Medals from the SIMA Organization; one for the XPower electrical weed control system to Case IH and the other to New Holland for its Dynamic Feed Roll Reverser on the CR Combine Harvester.

SIMA hosts the bi-annual international farm machinery exhibition, of the same name, which will be held in Paris,

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

France in February 2019.

Ahead of the exhibition, a jury of international agriculture professionals has declared Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, both global brands of CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI), Bronze Medal winners of the SIMA 2019 Innovation Awards.

The electrical weed control system with its 'electroherbicide' technology, developed by the Swiss firm, Zasso Group, is branded under the XPower name by Case IH. Developed in response to the need to find more sustainable solutions for weed control, it will be marketed as part of a suite of new Case IH precision farming technologies. Digital herbicide technology is at least as efficient as chemical herbicides in terms of

controlling weeds, and is more efficient, economic, practical and crop-safe than mechanical weeding, in addition to which it does not disturb the soil nor encourage further weed growth.

The system is as effective on larger weeds as smaller ones.

At the same time, it is more practical, safer and cheaper than scorching or burning systems used for total weed control. Units can be adapted for different row crop systems, and can be controlled via ISOBUS Class 3 compatible tractors. The technology can be used with other systems in the growing suite of Case IH precision farming products.

New Holland's Dynamic Feed Roll (DFR) Reverser on the CR combine harvester range is an innovative feature which enables the operator to

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NEWS UPDATE

clear blockages of the Dynamic Feed Roll from the cab, saving considerable time and making the most of the productivity of the highest-capacity combine in the world. This new feature adds to the existing Header and Feeder Reverser and the Concave Overload Protection system, to provide even better protection from crop overload.

The benefits of the DFR Reverser for customers are not only the convenience of clearing blockages from the cab, but most importantly the dramatic reduction in the time it takes to complete the operation, from two hours to just 10 minutes. As a result, when harvesting with a high-capacity combine such as the CR9.90, together with a tractor and grain cart, this can save the operation between Euro 600 to Euro 800 per hour, based on an average of 5-6 hectares harvested per hour and an 8-10 tonnes yield per hectare. This means a significant benefit to the customer's productivity and profitability.

Signify teams up with world's largest gerbera grower Holstein Flowers for 1-hectare Philips GreenPower LED toplighting project Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, announced that Holstein Flowers, the world's largest and most innovative gerbera grower, is beginning a trial project using Philips GreenPower LED toplighting in a full climate compartment of 10,000 m2.

LED toplighting will provide the right light spectrum to optimize cultivation and boost efficiency, while improving quality and yield.

“We are seeing a shift in 10

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yield optimization and yield quality for gerbera growers, realizing that they can use LEDs to bring the harvest of gerberas forward,” said Udo van Slooten, Business Leader Horticulture at Signify. “This gives them a head start over the competition and gives them a more predictable offer to their customers.”

Being ahead of the competition is nothing new for Holstein Flowers. Established in 1946, the family-run business grows over almost 130 gerbera varieties across 11 hectares and is currently the largest gerbera grower worldwide. Holstein Flowers is also one of the world's cleanest gerbera growers and has a continuous focus on sustainability.

“We chose to work with Signify because they are the market leader in LED lighting in horticulture,” explained Hans van Holstein, Managing Director for crop and innovation at Holstein Flowers.

“So far, they are the most knowledgeable and experienced in growing gerberas with LED lighting and developing dedicated crop light recipes.

This makes Signify the best suited partner to meet this challenge. I was impressed with the commitment and flexibility of the team”.

Holstein Flowers believes innovation can play a key role in optimizing every stage of the process, from breeding to packing. This belief led to the initial investment of 10,000 m2 for the LED project, allowing Holstein Flowers and Signify to test the LED lighting in the real circumstances of a full climate compartment and truly understand the effects of LED on gerbera. The project will help to determine the optimal

light recipe before expanding in March.

A major benefit of LED is that it enables growers to raise the light intensity without increasing the temperature in the greenhouse. “We expect it will give us a better control over our climate and crop, so we can achieve high quality produce and yield at the same time. On top of generating valuable insights into the potential of LED lighting in the cultivation of gerberas, the project will further our understanding of how we can make horticulture more efficient and sustainable,” Van Holstein said.

Red and yellow, the colours of Macfrut 2019 The exhibition halls of the Rimini Expo Centre will be refurbished to host the 36th edition of Macfrut, to be held from 8 to 10 May 2019: the exhibition centre will sport the colours of next year's two key fruits, namely red as the “Cuneo Red Apple PGI” and yellow as pineapple. Apples the specialty product of Piedmont, the Partner Region of Macfrut 2019 - will be the stars of the event, whereas pineapples will be the main theme of the second edition of the international Tropical Fruit Congress on exotic fruit.

The exhibition area, covering 55,000 square metres divided into eight exhibition halls, will include a novelty: the Greenhouse Technology Village, an area dedicated to greenhouse horticulture that will be set up between the halls at the East Entrance. This project stems from the fact that, in protected horticulture, both hardware and software technology play a crucial role JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE

in production and management processes. The advantages of using natural resources more efficiently are becoming increasingly evident: as far as greenhouse crops are concerned, they allow water and chemical fertiliser consumption to be optimised and environmental impact to be reduced to a minimum, since growing crops in a protected environment means that fewer plant protection products are used.

Participating exhibitors will represent 11 sectors, covering the entire fruit and vegetable supply industry: seeds, breeding & nursery, crop technology, production, trading and retail, post-harvest machinery & technology, packaging

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

materials, fresh-cut produce, dried fruit, logistics and services. During the 2018 edition, the exhibiting companies were divided as follows: 38% from the “production, trade and distribution� and fresh-cut produce sectors; 28% from the post-harvest technology and machinery sectors; 14% from the pre-harvest technology and machinery sectors, 12% from the breeding and nursery sectors, and 8% from the logistics and service sectors.

With regard to visitors, their profiles are generally in line with those of exhibitors: 37% from the production and freshcut produce sectors, 26% from the post-harvest machinery and technology and packaging

sectors, 17% from the seed, nursery and production technology sectors, 12% from the trade and distribution sectors, and 8% from the logistics and service sectors.

Macfrut 2019 will be a trade fair packed with interesting content. Acqua Campus and Macfrut Field Solution will be the two dynamic areas dedicated to pre-harvest technology: the former will showcase innovations in irrigation, whereas the latter will involve a display of cutting-edge technology for the horticultural and fruit sectors in a 700-square metre test field.

The Tropical Fruit Congress and the Table Grape Meeting will be the two major events scheduled: the former will

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NEWS UPDATE

focus on emerging produce (lime, papaya and passion fruit), focusing especially on pineapples during the Pineapple Day, whereas the latter will be entirely dedicated to table grapes, featuring Italian and international speakers. The Greenhouse Technology Village is the newest addition, featuring the latest innovations in technology, materials and technical equipment, seeds and nurseries.

Kissabel®, good northern hemisphere crop With excellent quality in the leading countries and exciting prospects from first marketing tests, the 2018/2019 harvest of Kissabel® apples in France, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy and US concluded between October and November.

IFORED's partners in the Northern Hemisphere continue to develop coloured flesh varieties, from pink to intense red, capable of winning over consumers right across the world. In October the new brand Kissabel® also debuted at Fruit Attraction - Madrid, one of the leading shows in the fruit and vegetable sector. At the dedicated stand visitors were able to admire the innovative appearance and discover the unexpected flavours of the Kissabel® varieties.

The harvest in Germany has been great, according to Dirk Zabel, Head of Variety Innovation at Deutsches Obstsorten Konsortium.

“We were very pleased by the excellent quality of this year, especially for the Kissabel® Red, which was really good both in color and taste - Zabel reports - The first tests with German retailer 12

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Edeka gave very good feedback and we have very high expectations for all the Kissabel® varieties, as we are going to plant more trees in the following years”.

The harvest in United Kingdom has been very positive as well. Switzerland too is making progress on Kissabel® growing.

“The crop has been good, especially for Kissabel® Yellow, which has very good quality fruits. The Kissabel® Orange is also nice, with an homogeneous flesh coloration Jeanne Giesser, Fenaco Leman Fruits, says - We have a good, attractive product, well received by the customers, the technichal work in the following years will make it even more interesting for clients and consumers”.

“In Italy we had a good harvest of the Kissabel® Red, both in term of quality and yield - Luca Lovatti, Novamela - we are still gaining experience in terms on agronomy and storability. We want to deliver to our consumer the best experience in term of color in combination with texture and taste”.

“Right now, we are focusing on Kissabel® Red - Josep Maria Benet, Technical Director at Nufri (Spain) reports - We are making trials on different altitudes and climate conditions to find the best growing area in order to offer to the market the suprising red inside apple they are waiting for”.

Also the United States picked Kissabel varieties this Fall. “We continue to refine the needed horticulture for red fleshed varieties. We have made some exciting discoveries that have improved how Kissabel® varieties respond in our climate - Dale Goldy, Best Practices

Committee Chairman, NBT Coop, says - We will begin commercial plantings sometime around 2021 so we will have the first Kissabel® fruit on the market in 2023 or so”.

Irritec's eXXtreme Tape® at Eima 2018, a real force of nature Irritec, a Sicilian company and one of the primary reference players for the international irrigation sector, presents the revolutionary eXXtreme Tape®: the unstoppable dripline.

The result of Irritec Research & Development, which has always been guided by its founder Carmelo Giuffrè, eXXtreme Tape® is the revolutionary development presented at Eima International 2018 by the Sicilian company based in Capo d'Orlando, in the province of Messina. After having imposed itself on the world market of irrigations and, in particular, of drip irrigation technology, it now has six production plants, more than 700 employees, and more than 140 countries throughout the world where its products are distributed.

The point of arrival of an important Research & Development process that follows the company's vision to simplify work and optimise the use of every single drop of water, eXXtreme Tape® offers a new and innovative idea of water management for drip irrigation.

Created to extend the use of this precise system and attentive to water saving - now applied to 5% of the world's irrigated surfaces but quickly spreading even in areas served by “difficult” and unfiltered waters, eXXtreme Tape® has a simple but efficient technology.

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

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

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

Mulch mats for weed protection

Small mulch mats

Elastic mulch mat

Packing and transportation

Arrangement and transportation

Arrangement and transportation

Packing and transportation

Metal trunk shaping rings

ARBO®-STRONG

ARBO®-SAUNA

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

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

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

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

NEWS UPDATE

The patented double continuous filter that runs along the length of the pipe increases the filtering surface from 20 to 100 times compared to that of a standard product.

The presence of the continuous double filtration system optimizes the purification of water rich in impurities and salt by keeping the labyrinths, the actual flow regulators, clean and efficient for greater supply uniformity during the entire useful life of the drip line.

Tests carried out in the Center of Irrigation Technology at Fresno University, USA, have shown the extreme resistance of the product - which is usually disposable - that does not show any partial or total blockage even with the use of a 70 mesh (unit of measure used to determine the granular particle size distribution) sand media equal to approximately 0.2 mm.

Therefore, in addition to ensuring careful and targeted management of the water thanks to its significantly increased life cycle (reaches a lifespan of ten times more than a similar tape), eXXtreme TapeÂŽ reduces the amount of plastic released into the environment (it has a thickness of 100 microns and is 100% recyclable) and thanks to the low working pressure (from 0.3 to 0.5 Bar), it provides valuable energy savings.

FAO and WFO to help farmers drive global agricultural agenda The World Farmers' Organisation (WFO) and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reaffirmed their commitment 14

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to help farmers become the drivers of the global agricultural agenda.

The new FAO-WFO agreement will focus on supporting and promoting the key role that farmers and their organizations play in efficient, inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food systems; reducing rural poverty; reaching food and nutrition security; and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It will do so by building farmers' capacity to lead decision-making processes on agricultural policies at all levels, based on best sustainable agricultural practices that farmers are already applying.

"This agreement will help build a farmers-driven agricultural agenda to bolster global Zero Hunger efforts, and better support the interests of millions of farmers worldwide. Farmers can bring a range of innovative solutions to the complex challenges we face today," said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General for Climate and Natural Resources.

"We, as farmers, rely very much on the support of FAO for the creation of a global political environment in agriculture, which is favourable to our farming systems, our families and our communities. As economic actors, our expectation is to increase productivity, tackling climate change, and contribute to global sustainable development. We are ready to do our part and we are deeply grateful to organizations like FAO that support us in this ambitious agenda," said Theo De Jager, WFO President.

Organic Milk Market Remains Highly Consolidated; Top Four Players Account for Over 30% Revenue Share, Finds Fact.MR The organic milk market is likely to maintain healthy growth rate during the assessment period 2018-2028, as steadily growing awareness among consumers in the last decade translates into commercial opportunities for companies. The organic milk market continues to be in ascendancy, despite longstanding challenges pertaining to high price.

Although global demand for organic milk remains limited to a cohort of consumers, particularly those with higher disposable incomes, recent sales figures in emerging markets are encouraging. Fact.MR, in its latest study on the organic milk market, estimates global sales to increase by 440,000 liters in 2018 over 2017.

The study projects that the sales of skimmed organic milk are estimated to witness an upswing throughout the period of assessment on the back of high protein and calcium content. Further, less cholesterol content in skimmed organic milk continues to remain instrumental in driving demand for the product, particularly among consumers focusing on fat reduction.

However, the demand for partly skimmed organic milk is projected to expand at a relatively faster pace during the period of forecast. According to the Department of Health, partly skimmed organic milk is a favorable choice for babies owing to easy digestion and nutrient content.

Growing health concerns JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE

and focus on well-being have translated into obligations on use of organic labels and certifications. Consumers have been cautious regarding ingredients in food items they consume and organic milk and its derivatives are no exception. This has led market players to adopt clean labels that detail the ingredient content including percentage of fats and other vitamins.

However, growing distress among small scale farmers about stricter regulation in emerging markets continues to pose challenges.

According to the study, the organic milk market is a consolidated landscape, with few players accounting for high revenue shares. The consolidated nature of the market can be gauged from the fact that top four companies account for nearly 30% revenue share of the market. The study finds that large players in organic milk market are focusing on product line extensions to meet the evolving demand.

The tier II and tier III players are also focusing on joint ventures to increase their global footprint and capitalize on the emerging opportunities in new markets.

SanLucar is pioneer in exporting seedless Ecuadorian table grapes to Europe Until the end of January 2019, SanLucar, the premium brand for fruit and vegetables, will deliver around 300 tons of table grapes from Ecuador to Europa.

Those stem from the GLOBALG.A.P. certified SanLucar farms Santa Elena and Lourdes. This new export programme makes the company 16

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the main producer of Ecuadorian table grapes for sales abroad.

By shipping a container of the grape variety Crimson in 2016, SanLucar was the first company to export seedless table grapes from Ecuador to the European market. This time, however, it is a more ambitious project with great novelties.

In total, up to 20 containers will arrive at the port of Rotterdam in the following weeks, which will be distributed to the most important supermarket chains in Europe. In addition, the range of first-class export grapes will be expanded to three varieties: table grape Crimson, Jack´s Salute and Sweet Globe.

The climatic conditions in Ecuador have proven to be optimal for the cultivation of table grapes: they deliver a product that is widely accepted in countries such as Germany due to its excellent quality and taste. In autumn, SanLucar shipped the first samples of these varieties, which were tested on the company´s trial fields in Ecuador and have been rated with excellent results. This led to the selection of these three special varieties for the commercialisation on foreign markets.

To ensure the continuity in the grape production process and to monitor the quality of these fruits, SanLucar has been working in constant collaboration with Agrocalidad since 2016. This official Ecuadorian agency is in charge of control and regulation for the improvement of plant health and food safety.

“We are very happy with the progress of our programme for

developing the grape production in Ecuador, which we started in 2014. Moreover, we are grateful to Agrocalidad for the cooperation and support they constantly give us”, explains Leonel González, Country Manager of SanLucar Ecuador.

Chile's cherry exporters invite Chinese consumers to 'enjoy a red moment Chilean cherry exporters, who form part of ASOEX's Chilean Cherry Committee, are launching an ambitious, consumer-focused promotional campaign in China, which will emphasize opportunities to share Chilean cherries with family and friends. Under the slogan, 'Enjoy your red moment,' the 2018- 19 campaign is aiming to build on the success of last year's Chilean cherry promotional drive in China by taking in a wider range of cities, wholesale markets and retail outlets across the country.

An industry-wide effort bringing together Chilean growers, exporters and the Chilean government, together with Chinese produce importers, distributors and retailers, the 360º campaign will feature outdoor media advertising and point-of-sale promotions across 65 cities over 39 days.

In the run-up to Chinese New Year on February 5, 2019, the campaign will focus on social media actions, promotional work on China's most important e-commerce platform, trade media advertising, PR events, and merchandising, as well as advertising on outdoor media.

The reach of the campaign will be nationwide across China, with a greater emphasis on regional cities.

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

GULFOOD PREVIEW

GULFOOD UPS KNOWLEDGE-EXCHANGE ANTE WITH FIRST-EVER INNOVATION SUMMIT

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lobal food sector power brand Gulfood - the world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition - will celebrate its new 'The World of Good, The World of Food' theme by launching the Gulfood Innovation Summit, a robust new conference programme, in 2019.

In line with the 'good' proposition of its core theme, the 24th edition of Gulfood - running at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from February 17-21, 2019 - will see consumer preferences feature heavily in the Gulfood Innovation Summit, where three-days of industry

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discussion, from February 18-20, and the airing of a global social and economic outlook for the F&B industry on its first day.

The Summit will also feature exclusive question-and-answer sessions with globally acclaimed chefs, influencers and industry leaders on the challenges of introducing breakthrough concepts to local markets.

“The summit will tackle a diverse range of issues which are already impacting, and will continue to effect, the global F&B industry during this hugely transformative part of its history,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions &

Events, DWTC. “As an educational forum, the Summit is a vital learning ground and essential for those looking to keep up with the pace of change this sector is currently experiencing.”

Global talent descends on Dubai Keynote addresses on the industry's challenges and opportunities and global food supply will come from Dr. Bernhard van Lengerich, Board Member of Beyond Meat and former Chief Science Officer & Vice-President of Technology Strategy, General Mills; and Paul Newnham, Director of the JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

GULFOOD PREVIEW

World Food Programme, United Nations. A blueprint for the Design of Good Food for the future, meanwhile, will be the Summit domain of Dr. Nigel Hughes, SVP Research & Development, Kellogg's.

Elsewhere, incisive success pointers will be unveiled by some of the biggest names in the local, regional and international business with distributors picking up tips from Bhushant Ghandi, General Manager of international F&B powerhouse Truebell, which is one of the GCC's largest independent food and licensed beverage importers.

Retailers and online disruptors come to the fore Retailers will hear how changing consumer preferences are driving a sector revolution in a panel discussion aimed at JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

airing new strategies, showcasing technologies and ensuring industry players select the right product mix, while Yusuff Ali, M.A., Chairman and Managing Director of retailing giant Lulu Group will feature on the panel alongside a senior representative of hypermarket chain MAF-Carrefour.

Some of the biggest online delivery channel players will also take to the Summit stage to give their views on how the sector will continue to impact the F&B scene. Deep insights will come from Anis Harb General Manager (Dubai) of Deliveroo; Spencer Price, CEO of Halla I/O; and Toon Gyssels, Chief Operating Officer, Talabat.

The Summit spotlight will also fall on Saudi Arabia and Egypt with industry forecasts being proffered for both countries.

Gulfood at a glance Gulfood visitors will discover a show packed to the DWTC rafters taking up more than 1,000,000 square feet with 5,000 exhibitors and 120 country pavilions vying for business with the latest F&B produce and showcases across eight primary market sectors: Beverages; Dairy; Fats & Oils; Pulses, Grains & Cereals; Health, Wellness & Free-from; Meat & Poultry; Power Brands; and World Food.

Gulfood 2019 is a trade event open strictly to business and trade visitors. The show is open 11am-7pm from February 17 20 and 11am-5pm on February 21. Visitors who pre-register before February 07 will save AED150 (USD40) on the on-site entry fee of AED420 (USD114).

Visit www.gulfood.com

VISIONARY SPEAKERS FROM BEYOND MEAT, THE UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME AND KELLOGG'S AMONG INDUSTRY STARS TO SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON 'GOOD FOOD' AND OTHER INDUSTRY TOUCHPOINTS

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IPM ESSEN PREVIEW

THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING PLACE OF THE INTERNATIONAL GREEN SECTOR

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rom January 22 to 25, 2019, around 1,600 exhibitors from 50 countries and experts from all over the world will make IPM ESSEN the number-one information and ordering platform in the green sector.

The range on offer will be comprehensive and unique: The numerous innovations and solutions of the exhibitors will address the entire green value added chain. From producing horticulture via garden centre operators, horticulturalists and landscapers right up to florists for all of them, a visit to Messe Essen will offer valuable suggestions, new products and a lot of things worth knowing for their business.

In 2019, the exhibitors will be provided with a particularly high-quality environment for

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their presentations. Because IPM ESSEN will take place on Messe Essen's modernised site which will set new standards at the end of the last construction phase in 2019. Spacious, singlestorey halls and a lot of daylight are already offering perfect conditions now. During IPM ESSEN 2019, a new hall numbering system will therefore be applicable for the first time. Companies for everything to do with plants will be exhibitors in Halls 1, 1A, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 8A and 8B, in the foyer of the Grugahalle as well as in the Galeria. Visitors will find technology not only in Halls 3 and 4 but also in the Galeria. In Fair Hall 5, companies from floristry will present themselves in a concentrated form in one place.

As accustomed, garden features

and accessories will be accommodated in all the halls in a thematically appropriate way.

Belgium is the Partner Country of IPM ESSEN 2019 A companion over many years will be the partner country of IPM ESSEN in 2019. This honourable role will be bestowed on Belgium. Since the very start, exhibitors from IPM ESSEN's neighbouring country have supported the world's leading fair in the green sector.

Already on the occasion of the premiere in 1982, Belgian companies presented their products at Messe Essen. After all, the country is leading in horticulture with around 80 percent of the European azalea production. In 2019, the Belgians will have a JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

IPM ESSEN PREVIEW

particularly grand appearance at the fair: The Belgian ornamental plant exhibitors will show their plants on the joint booth in Hall 2. The tree nurseries will be represented in the new Halls 6 and 8. On all the days of the fair, there will be an informative programme on the joint booth in Hall 2.

Moreover, Belgium will be the focus of attention at the International Horticulture Forum with the subject of sustainable horticulture.

"Explore Your Industry!"

The IPM Discovery Centre in Hall 8A will concentrate on sales concepts for garden centres. Under the creative direction of the green stylist Romeo Sommers, the products of the exhibitors at IPM will be combined in a skilful way and incorporated into appealing sales concepts. No matter whether in the lectures in the Speakers' Corner, during guided tours or off their own bat - in the IPM Discovery Centre, visitors will explore, experience and learn how they can reach their customers of tomorrow and arouse their enthusiasm time and time again.

Excellent Supporting Programme Flanks the World's Leading Fair for Horticulture The Green City in Hall 1A is traditionally the meeting place of the green sector. Here, numerous associations such as the Central Horticultural Association and the North Rhine-Westphalia State Horticultural Association will introduce their available ranges in the Horticultural Info Centre.

Professionals in the sector will offer valuable suggestions for your own business in JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

demonstrations, workshops and special shows.

In the Teaching Show, everything will revolve around the root and its surroundings in 2019. Aspects relating to the optimisation of the root area will be examined under the motto of "Underground Good!"

Testing, research and advice facilities will provide information about the diverse aspects of the often invisible but decisive part of plant production.

IPM ESSEN will be the international platform on which the best will gauge themselves against the best. The popular Innovation Showcase will go into the twelfth round and will choose the most beautiful plant novelties from the exhibitors at IPM. The new edition of the Show Your Colours Award will look for the best marketing story about shrubs and woody plants. And during the IPM Fair Cup, young novice florists will show what creativity is hidden in them when they present their workpieces on the subject of "Wild Thing - Natural, Original, Cheeky and Free".

International stars in floristry will have a rendezvous on the show stage of the Trade Association of German Florists (FDF). Amongst others, Frédéric Dupré from France, Sara-Lisa Ludvigsson from Sweden as well as the two Dutch floral designers Hanneke Frankema and Hans Zijlstra will show first-rate floristry on the highest level. Germany's best florists will offer a young, dynamic show. Amongst other highlights, they will design an alternative blossoming gift for Valentine's Day under the motto of "No Classic". There will be fast-paced action during the Flower Battles. In this creative

competition, the professionals will design a flowery arrangement within minutes.

The central constituent of Hall 1A will be the Bloom's special show. Green products and nature will play essential roles in the case of the Bloom's Trends 2019. The visitors will find inspiring floristry on four trend subjects. Theme houses in different styles will show trend-oriented goods presentations, consumerrelevant and up-to-date products, plant innovations as well as feasible floral ideas.

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IA SHOW REVIEW

THE IRRIGATION SHOW: A SPECIAL TIME FOR INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES

N

early 4,000 people from 43 countries attended the 2018 Irrigation Show and Education Conference in Long Beach, California, Dec. 3-7.

The education conference was one of the largest in recent history, hosting classes, seminars and learning labs on various agricultural and

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landscape irrigation topics. The Irrigation Association offered the opportunity for irrigation professionals to become certified at the show through any of its eight different certification exams.

The event kicked off with a powerful message by keynote speaker Mark Eaton, a 7-foot-4inch tall former NBA defensive

player and team-building expert.

Eaton told a packed room about his unconventional journey from auto mechanic to NBA All-Star and delivered his “four commitments� to help attendees play at the top of their game.

Following the keynote address, the trade show floor opened, giving irrigation professionals the opportunity to JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

IA SHOW REVIEW

‘‘

THE IRRIGATION SHOW STRIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THREE KEY THINGS EACH YEAR: PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO THE MARKET AND PROVIDE AN INFORMAL VENUE FOR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS CONNECTIONS.”

interact with 267 exhibitors and learn about products and services that could help their businesses. In addition to exploring the trade show floor for ideas, attendees had access to the industry's latest technologies and innovations at the new product contest, which had a record-breaking 58 entries.

Several networking events and socials also took place, allowing attendees and exhibitors to mingle. The opening night party included live music and a chance to try a variety of cuisine from local food trucks.

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

The 2018 New Product Contest winners were announced at the general session, hosted by IA CEO Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE; 2018 IA President Warren Gorowitz, CLIA; and incoming 2019 IA President Ed Santalone Jr. They recognized and honored the 2018 award winners and shared what the IA has accomplished over the past year.

“The Irrigation Show strives to accomplish three key things each year: provide educational opportunities, introduce new technologies to the market and provide an informal venue for business-tobusiness connections,” Hamlin said. “The feedback so far says that we accomplished our mission in Long Beach!”

The Irrigation Show was a special time for industry colleagues to reunite and attendees to meet irrigation professionals from around the world. Being together under one roof, those in the industry celebrated the work done in the past year and looked to the future of what is yet to come.

The IA now sets its sights on Las Vegas in 2019, where it will once again co-locate its show with the National Ground Water Association, Dec. 2-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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AGRA ME PREVIEW

VERTICAL FARMS ATTRACTING GREATER INTEREST AND INVESTMENTS IN THE GCC

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growing importance is being given to vertical farming, among other Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) methods across the GCC and is generating interest and increased investments from regional and overseas players.

According to Orbis Research, the MEA vertical farming market is expected to reach USD 1.21 billion by 2021 at a CAGR of 26.4% from only

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USD 0.38 billion in 2016.

One of the GCC countries leading this change is the UAE, which has upcoming projects facilitated by the government as well as private players to help increase food security in the region. These include the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment allotting space for 12 vertical farms to be built

by Shalimar Biotech Industries, and the world’s largest vertical

farm for Emirates Airlines by Crop One Holdings Inc. With around 90 per cent of food being imported in the UAE, territorial problems of water scarcity and small percentages of arable land, vertical farming is becoming increasingly vital to ensure food security within the region.

H.E. Mariam Al Mehiri, Minister of Future Food Security and a leading campaigner of urban farming JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

AGRA ME PREVIEW

build a Food Valley that’s all about food technologies.”

plans to create a ‘Food Valley’ or a technology hub, dedicated to the development of food and farming automation. The Food Valley, and other governmentled initiatives, are being introduced to attract and enable a new generation of farmers to help build future sustainability.

Commenting in a recent interview with euronews, the Minister said “[The idea] comes from the Silicon Valley in the United States, where you have technologies, or start-ups, sprouting and developing into commercial giants.” explains the Minister. “We want to bring this to the UAE and JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

The Middle East and Africa: A prime location for CEA to successfully take off By capitalizing on vertical space, and controlling the environment for year-round optimal growth, CEA can produce significantly more yields per square foot than traditional agriculture, while using only a fraction of the water.

AgraME 2019 is once again creating a platform for the latest technology to be showcased to the regional agribusiness market, along with promoting knowledge sharing between leaders in the global industry and key local players around urban farming techniques and methods.

Henry Gordon-Smith, Founder and Managing Director of Agritecture and an acknowledged global thought leader in urban agriculture, stated that the Middle East has an unprecedented ability to reshape critical infrastructure that supports modern human life; “The potential is certainly there to transform what has historically been a relatively small traditional farming industry into perhaps the most technologically advanced agriculture industry in the world. This means economic development, increased production of nutritious local produce, and lowered food costs, all with minimal water consumption and increased resilience to climate change and foreign markets” said Gordon-Smith who will be speaking at the AgraME Conference in March.

Commenting on the Middle East market, Bob Hunsche, Sales Manager, Van der

Hoeven said; “We are really starting to see the horticulture industry take off in the Middle East. We have just completed the largest greenhouse project in the UAE (11 ha). With the most advanced technology in terms of climate and humidity control, the facility is expected to locally produce 3,000 tonnes of tomatoes year-round with the aim of helping the UAE become more self-sufficient in its food production. AgraME 2018 was a great event and we are really looking forward to connecting with more projects at the 2019 show!”

Samantha Bleasby, Exhibition Director of AgraME said, “With the aim of increasing food security in the Middle East and attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of zero hunger, we are excited to present the industry with new technologies from around the globe and free-to-attend learning and networking opportunities that will increase productivity in the region with sustainable use of water and land resources” The show is attracting key players in the CEA industry such as Certhon, Agrotonomy, Veggitech, Wuxi, iGrowths Technology Co. Ltd, Ozorganic Urban Farming LLP and Van der Hoeven.

Taking place from 5 – 7 March 2019 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, AgraME 2019 will bring to Dubai some of the leading innovators and urban farming experts to provide the industry with valuable information and knowledge.

Henry Gorden Smith

For more information about AgraME, please visit: www.agramiddleeast.com GULF AGRICULTURE

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INTERPOMA REVIEW

INTERPOMA 2018 — EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND APPLES IN BOLZANO

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he 11th edition of Interpoma, the world's only trade fair dedicated to apples, closed its doors with extremely positive results. During the three-day trade fair, from 15 to 17 November, 20,000 trade visitors, including around one hundred representatives of the Italian and international trade press, flocked to the city. From Armenia to the Central African Republic, a quarter of the participants were international visitors from 70 different countries. The exhibition halls were fully booked with 489 exhibitors from 24 countries. The success continued during the traditional, international congress "The Apple in the World.” This year, a new format was chosen and the sessions were limited to the first two days only. More than twenty speakers from all over the world gave lectures on the latest developments in the industry to packed halls.

"The topics dealt with at the congress were met with particularly great interest, e.g., the emerging apple nations in the East, India as a possible

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market of the future, organic farming methods, the further development of integrated production, and questions revolving around the apple varieties of the future," explains Thomas Mur, Director of the Fiera Bolzano Exhibition Centre, who adds: "The extremely satisfied exhibitors, the high international popularity and the interest of business and politics show us that Interpoma is an internationally unique event in our portfolio."

Interpoma Technology Award This year's Interpoma Technology Award was all about

technologies and machines. The prize is awarded for technological innovations in the FIELD and POST HARVEST categories by the Fiera Bolzano Exhibition Centre in collaboration with the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Free University of Bolzano and the Italian Society of Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Growers (SOI). 25 companies from 8 countries took part. In the FIELD category, first prize went to CBC Europe - Biogard Division for the product Mister Pro + Isomate ® CM Mister 1.0.

Meanwhile, BIOMETIC, a division of MICROTEC, won JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

INTERPOMA REVIEW

the POST HARVEST category with the Q Eye XP. Exhibitors very satisfied "The event was a complete success and the trade fair is very international: we were able to make contact with Americans and visitors from almost all over Europe and the world such as Canada and Australia," explains William Connell-Smith, an engineer working for British exhibitor Redpack, adding: "Selling machines is not an easy task. First and foremost, we must be able to show interested parties the benefits of our products."

"We were pleased to register a large number of visitors. Many international visitors, especially from Greece, Spain, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco, Poland and Russia came to see us. This is a very positive sign, as it shows that people are interested in apples not only in Italy, but also in other Mediterranean countries and throughout Europe," stresses Gabriele Maccanti, owner of Maccanti Vivai.

"This is my first time at Interpoma. We import most of our apples from Italy (Royal Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny)," says Elie Shahin, Import Manager of Kaf in Dubai. "The trade fair gave us JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

the opportunity to get to know the majority of our suppliers personally, and the technological aspect of cultivation was emphasised as well. It was simply great to learn something about the challenges of apple production and we are very happy to have met the people who supply our markets."

According to Stuart Tustin of New Zealand, a speaker at the congress and jury member of the Interpoma Technology Awards: "The variety of new technological concepts I became familiar with at Interpoma is simply fantastic. There are many different approaches, from automation and remote sensing systems to other very creative technologies. I think that in Northern Italy the fields of technology and mechanical engineering are very strong.

What I saw impressed me a lot."

"Italian apples, due to their quality, cultivation methods and sustainable production, have all the characteristics needed to conquer distant markets," explains Giulia Montanaro of Assomela, the Italian Association of Apple Producers.

"We are suffering somewhat from the fact that export institutions are not always as present as we would like them to be. We would like to work

more closely with them, because as producers we really do everything we can to reach the markets of these countries. Over the past three days, this internationalisation of the industry was easy to observe at Interpoma. In the corridors, I met people from different nations as well as exhibitors from different parts of the world. In my opinion, this circumstance could also be put to practical use from an export point of view, i.e. the Italian apple market could be made more international so that Italian apples could conquer as many markets as possible."

Interpoma continues on the path of internationalisation. The 3rd edition of Interpoma China will take place for the first time in Shanghai in 2019. "Interpoma Bolzano was an excellent opportunity to explore the interest of exhibiting companies in the Chinese market," explains Martina Bonatti, Exhibition Manager of Interpoma China.

"The feedback was very positive and we already laid the foundation for a successful Interpoma China 2019. The trade fair will take place from 15 to 17 April as part of Fresh Logistics China organised by MMSH - Messe MĂźnchen Shanghai".

WITH 489 EXHIBITORS FROM 24 COUNTRIES AND 20,000 VISITORS FROM OVER 70 NATIONS, THE ELEVENTH EDITION OF INTERPOMA WAS MORE INTERNATIONAL THAN EVER. BOLZANO WAS ABLE TO FURTHER CONSOLIDATE ITS REPUTATION AS THE APPLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

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GROWTECH EURASIA REVIEW

GROWTECH HIT THE HIGH RECORD WITH VISITORS FROM 120 COUNTRIES!

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he world's biggest exhibition in greenhouse industry, Growtech Eurasia 18th International Greenhouse, Agricultural Technology and Livestock Equipment Fair hosted 86.780 visitors from 120 countries and more than 800 companies and brands from 30 countries in Antalya.

The top 5 highest number of visitors came from Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Algeria, respectively while the top visitors were from Antalya, Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara and Konya, respectively. The Netherlands, Spain, China, Korea and for the first time this year Hungary exhibited through Country Pavilions. Organized under the main theme of 'the Global Engagement of Agriculture and Technology' on an area of 50k square meters at Antalya Expo Center between November 28 and December 1, 2018, the

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fair was organised under the 5 categories 'Seed', 'Greenhouse and Irrigation Technologies', 'Plant Nutrition and Protection', 'Tractors & Agricultural Machinery' and 'Livestock'.

Worldwide buyer groups were at Growtech‌ A Hosted Buyer Program was organized during the fair under the organization of West Mediterranean Exporters Union (BAIB) and in coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Commerce. 29 companies from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kirghizstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Moldova and Jordan attended the program.

Moreover, buyer groups from many countries including Russia and Uzbekistan, the world's largest investors in greenhouse, also made substantial purchases and cooperation at Growtech Eurasia.

Growtech is now a global brand...

Mr. Engin Er, Growtech Exhibition Director said, “Growtech, the world's biggest exhibition in greenhouse industry we have been organizing for 18 years in Antalya, is now a worldwide brand. More than 800 International companies and brands in agricultural sector, international visitors from 120 countries, national and international leading press agents, they all have gathered under the same roof for 4 days at Growtech, Antalya. We hit, even surpassed, our visitor target with 87k visitors from 120 countries. While the entire world is facing many issues, mainly economic, we take justified proud of organizing an international fair, which is visited by so many people that you even couldn't walk on the aisles, where multiple languages are spoken and where many different cultural outfits show JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

GROWTECH EURASIA REVIEW

up. We have already started our preparations for the next edition that will be organized between November 27-30, 2019. Even more, most of our exhibitors have already booked their booths for the next year”.

Innovation in the Agricultural Sector Exhibited at Antalya …

Organized under the main theme of 'the Global Engagement of Agriculture and Technology', Growtech Eurasia 18th International Greenhouse, Agricultural Technologies and Livestock Equipment Fair has hosted many remarkable products, innovations, R&D investments and striking brands this year, too. Many brands, which stand by the farmer and agriculture and provide solutions for their needs and expectations such as remotecontrol agricultural machines engineered with artificial intelligence, drones, vermicompost producing machines have been exhibited at the fair.

Growtech Agricultural Talks under the Spotlight…

Promoting the latest technological advancements in JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

agriculture each year, Growtech International Greenhouse, Agricultural Technologies and Livestock Equipment Fair has hosted many events. Agricultural Talks were organized with the theme of 'Opportunities in Turkish Agriculture' for the second time this year at the fair. Winners of ATSO Growtech Agricultural Innovation Award and 3rd Plant Breeding Project Market Awards were announced at the ceremony organised during the fair. Panels, conferences and presentations have been also conducted for 4 years on major topics about agricultural production by the Municipality of Muratpasa, the Association of Fertilizer Manufacturers, Importers and Exports (GUID), the Greenhouse Construction, Equipment and Hardware Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association (SERKONDER), the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry of Antalya, Antalya Branch of Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects TMMOB and Muratpasa Chamber of Agriculture.

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PLANTER BAGS

WANGARA HORTICULTURE: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS AND INNOVATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST With 2018 coming to an end, Wangara Horticulture would like to personally thank all our business partners in the Middle East for another year of loyalty.

Wangara Horticulture first established itself as a leader in this industry with high quality products and personalised service.

Our proven and unique Easy-Fill™ round bottom planter bags arrived in the Middle East 25 years ago to help the local growers and nurseries achieve much better results for their trees and plants.

Drawing on its experience with the harsh Australian climate, Wangara Horticulture was able to improve all aspects of above ground growing and translate that to a product that has stood the test of time and still continues to be a leading quality product in the world.

Our local business partners have been instrumental in providing us with feedback that led to improvements and new innovative products. The Easy-Fill™ Hedge bag was the first of its kind in the world, when it was introduced.

OTHER PRODUCTS FOLLOWED, LIKE OUR:

Long lasting and specialised SEEDLING TRAYS

Nursery specific TREE COLLAR

Plant and flower specialised HANGING BAG

And our latest addition of a HANGING WALL GARDEN

Despite efforts to try and copy our products, our company's high standards, scientifically tested products and personalised service cannot be duplicated.

Thanks to the warm welcome we received from the Middle East and the personal friendships that have followed, Wangara Horticulture will continue to be present and engaged in an ever changing and flourishing region.

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JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

WANGARA HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES: AN INDUSTRY LEADER

EASY-FILL™ The Trusted Name In The Middle East FREE SHIPPING TO UAE & BOX OF 900 TREE TIES

EASY-FILL

™

Controlled environment agriculture

* until January 2019

Recyclable Healthy roots without spiraling Direct control of soil and plant health Save water

Climate-smart product

UV stabilized including handle stitching Heavy duty and long lasting Easy to move and relocate plants Increased return on investment Organic friendly agriculture WHS Australia

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Unit 2 65 Prestige Parade, Wangara WA 6065 Australia

PO Box 1656 Wangara 6947 WA 6947 Australia

Ph: +61 8 6305 0081 Fax: +61 8 6305 0571 Email: info@whsaustralia.com.au

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FERTILIZERS

OMNIA INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA (OIA) IS EXPANDING

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mnia Holdings is a diversified Industrial Group with specialized services and solutions for the agricultural, mining and chemicals industries.

Omnia International Australia has been a leading manufacturer of humates, fulvates, kelp, biostimulants, fertilizer coatings, organic chelated trace elements, seed treatments and foliars since 1990.

Omnia has substantially expanded its Humate production capacity through investment in new plant and technology; this was completed in February 2018.

Omnia produces the world’s most concentrated humates and is

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internationally recognised for quality and proven performance. Not all humates are the same.

Independent testing of various humates, showed large variations in the humic acid content between label values and tested CDFA values (California department of food and Agriculture). CDFA is a worldwide recognized method for analysis of humic acids. Some products were below 10% of their label values. Omnia produces liquid K-humate 26% (26% Potassium Humate) and a granular Khumate S100 (85% Potassium Humate). These are minimum values as per the CDFA method.

FertiCoat is a

biostimulant coating that improves fertilizer efficiency and profitability.

Ferticoat can also be used to stick trace elements on to fertilizer.

Omnia uses Australian Bull Kelp to formulate pure Kelp and nutrient enriched foliars that can be used to manage physiological processes in plants.

Omnia continues to grow and prosper, offering extraordinary values to its customers by tailoring unique solutions to their business needs through product and service innovation.

Omnia is exporting worldwide and is looking for more distributors that can partner with Omnia. For more information, visit www.omnia.com.au JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

Advertorial

KNAUF AQUAPANEL

“It’s all about the substrate” – Meet our growth expert When it comes to horticulture, there is hardly a way around Dirk Mühlenweg. Being the responsible sales manager at Knauf’s business unit ‘horticulture’ for 27 years, he knows his bearings around high-quality substrates made from perlite. “It’s all about the substrate”, he says. Himself a learned gardener and stately approved landscaping specialist, Mühlenweg has accompanied the massive developments in his field during that time. Most of all it is the growing importance of sustainability in the business, which makes him happy and spurs his engagement in the industry.

One highlight in Mühlenweg’s professional career was the market launch of the RHP certified gardening perlite PERLIGRAN® in 2003.

Since then the product has earned wide renown for its quality and durability, and even was put up in the FibL list in Germany and Switzerland, which qualified it for organic gardening and agriculture.

Today, PERLIGRAN® can be found around the world, being internationally used as a substrate additive as well as a pure medium: “As a natural mineral product, it is the ideal choice to combine healthy plant growth, efficiency and sustainability“, says Dirk Mühlenweg.

“PERLIGRAN® has an especially low weight, while featuring a high capillarity and very good drainage.” And the material’s ability to be re-used up to five times, when used in its pure form, is a practical add-on that appeals to Mühlenweg as a salesman as well as a nature-loving gardener. Because PERLIGRAN® easily combines economical benefits with resource efficiency it is truly sustainable.

Besides being the producer of PERLIGRAN® plant substrates, KNAUF AQUAPANEL also is specialised in natural and sustainable building materials. As a premium brand, the company has developed AQUAPANEL® Cement Board as an innovative drylining solution for wall, floor and ceiling applications. It forms an important part of the Knauf Exterior Wall and the Knauf Wetroom Solutions with AQUAPANEL® technology. Under the brand name TecTem® the company offers interior insulation boards, which received the German “Blauer Engel“ certificate. The portfolio is completed by floor and insulation compounds, the VOLITE® additive as well as several more refined industrial perlites. The company is based in Dortmund.

AGROCHEMICALS

CLARIANT AND EASTMAN ANNOUNCE AGROCHEMICAL COLLABORATION

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‘‘

CLARIANT HAS, IN RECENT YEARS, PLAYED A PIONEERING ROLE IN FORMULATION SCIENCE AS AN INNOVATIVE SUPPLIER AND COLLABORATION PARTNER” Ralf Zerrer Global Head Innovation and Strategic Marketing at Clariant's Industrial & Consumer Specialties Business Unit

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lariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Eastman Chemical Company, a global advanced materials and specialty additives company, are proud to announce an exclusive cooperation agreement for the distribution of Eastman's Tamisolve NxG solvent, an innovative, low-tox, and highly effective solvent for the agrochemical industry.

TamiSolve NxG was developed for the global plant protection sector, for use in plant growth regulators, biological control agents, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.

Under this exclusive agreement, Clariant will globally market and sell TamiSolve NxG under Clariant's trade name, “Genagen™ NBP.” In a plant protection market governed by rigid regulations and increasing demand on efficiency due to a growing population, crop protection players must develop innovative, efficient, and environmentallyfriendlier solutions. Eastman and Clariant's collaboration is a testament to both companies' commitment to the industry and these goals. Combining their resources and expertise, the two

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companies seek to bring Genagen NBP to the forefront of the agrochemical field. The collaboration will deliver significant business benefits to agrochemical formulators and end customers alike, bringing chemical production excellence from Eastman and application and formulation expertise from Clariant.

In recent years, Clariant has made massive strides in the agrochemical market. In addition to expanding its portfolio of crop solutions, in 2017, the company announced its investment in an R&D greenhouse that houses opportunities for real-world crop protection testing and advances in future solutions.

“Clariant has, in recent years, played a pioneering role in formulation science as an innovative supplier and collaboration partner”, said Ralf Zerrer, Global Head Innovation and Strategic Marketing at Clariant's Industrial & Consumer Specialties Business Unit. “That we have entered into such a collaboration with Eastman is a testament to our capabilities to expertly support the agrochemical industry in terms of developing highly effective formulations that

are both safer for the environment and those involved in their handling.”

With a lack of effective, lowtoxicity crop protection solutions on the market, Genagen NBP is a powerful, best-in-class water miscible solvent with excellent toxicity labeling for agrochemical formulations. The dipolar aprotic solvent works well in a variety of different applications thanks to its excellent solvency power and water miscibility. It is a safer alternative to commonly used dipolar aprotic solvents.

“We are delighted to be entering this cooperation agreement with Clariant for the marketing of Genagen NBP, the latest addition to our leading-edge active ingredients portfolio for the agrochemicals industry”, said Dave Watson, Director Agricultural Chemical Intermediates, Eastman.

“Clariant's formulation knowhow and extensive reach into the market will ensure the success of this innovative ingredient.”

With this collaboration Eastman and Clariant utilize their strengths to bring more sustainable, efficient, and innovative solutions to farmers throughout the globe.

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

SUBSTRATES

Substrates are the best choice to enable all-year-round regional cultivation and distribution. RHP-certified PERLIGRAN® offers the best quality for vegetable cultivation.

365 DAYS OF VEGETABLE GROWTH: CROP IN CLOSED SYSTEMS WITH PERLIGRAN®

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oday's consumers want it all: Fresh vegetables all year long, but produced regionally. What was a contradiction for decades, now has become possible, thanks to cultivation in closed systems. Already widely known in flower cultivation, PERLIGRAN® is a decisive help in enabling the continuous production of the most popular vegetables.

Tomatoes, cucumbers or peppers can be grown

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regionally all year long. To ensure their successful cultivation in closed systems, an ideal substrate is needed.

Here PERLIGRAN® offers the optimum quality for the cultivation of vegetables: It is based on perlite, a type of volcanic rock, and therefore a natural mineral product.

Thanks to a thorough screening of fine grains, it guarantees best drainage, structural stability and ventilation. Besides fulfilling

the requirements of the strict Dutch RHP standard, PERLIGRAN® also is the only perlite product that was added to the FiBL list as a soil additive for organic farming.

PERLIGRAN® can be used in vegetable cultivation in its pure form but also in mixtures with coconut or wood fibre substrates - for example in grow bags, which become increasingly popular in vegetable farming. During JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

SUBSTRATES

PERLIGRANÂŽ is re-usable in its pure form. Thanks to a special steaming technique, viruses, fungi and bacteria are effectively neutralized. Thus the phytosanitarily safe product can be used up to five times after its primary use and preserve valuable resources.

processing, a special steaming technique is used that effectively neutralises viruses, fungi and bacteria.

So even after a long time the substrate is safe from compaction through degradation. And as it dries more effectively, there is more fibrous root mass JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

available to the plant. Perlite itself is an inert material and therefore inactive in all organic processes. Thus it allows for perfect control of the substrate and also for a reliable specification of fertilisers.

In total the phytosanitarily safe product can be used up

to five times after its primary use, helping to preserve valuable resources. And afterwards it can easily be disposed of, as it is 100% compostable. PERLIGRANÂŽ is the substrate of choice, when it comes to 365 day vegetable farming. www.perligran.com GULF AGRICULTURE

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MYCOTOXIN SURVEY

Wheat harvested in Western Europe 2018.

NUTRIAD GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 2018 MYCOTOXIN SURVEY IN WHEAT Author: Radka Borutova; Business development manager at Nutriad International

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he presence of mycotoxins in feed and foodstuffs is an important concern for human and animal health. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Claviceps species of fungi are ubiquitous in nature and under ideal conditions, often infect crops and forages in the field, during storage, shipment and processing.

Mycotoxins can cause serious health problems in animals and their presence in agricultural commodities may result in

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serious economic losses.

Mycotoxins are also suspected of causing a variety of human diseases, including some forms of cancer. It has been estimated that mycotoxin-contaminated grains cost grain handlers and the livestock industry several hundred million dollars annually (CAST, 2003).

The 2018 Nutriad mycotoxin survey covered 50 wheat samples from across Great Britain and Ireland. All samples were collected directly from farms or animal feed production sites almost immediately after the harvest when the probability that some storage mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A (OTA) will have developed was low.

Sample providers were advised to follow the principles of good sampling (Richard, 2000).

Analytical personnel and/or laboratory staff were not involved, and therefore, did not influence any part of this procedure.

350 analyses were conducted to test for the presence of the 7 mycotoxins most frequently found in agricultural commodities intended for animal production. The survey provided insight into the incidences of aflatoxin B1 (AfB1), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, fumonisins (FB1 + FB2) and OTA. All 7 mycotoxins were JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

MYCOTOXIN SURVEY

analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS). For the purpose of data analysis, non-detection levels were based on the limits of quantification (LOQ) of the test method for each mycotoxin: AfB1 <1 μg/kg; ZEN <15 μg/kg; DON <50 μg/kg; FB1 <20 μg/kg; FB2 <20 μg/kg; OTA <1 μg/kg; T-2/HT-2 toxin <10 μg/kg.

Typically, the levels of DON and ZEN in wheat tend to be lower in Northern England and Scotland, moderate in Western England, Wales and Ireland and highest in Southern and SouthEastern England.

Results The results show that 28% of wheat samples were contaminated with DON and none of the samples contained AfB1, ZEN, T-2 toxin, HT-2toxin nor FB1 and FB2. The average concentrations of all identified mycotoxins were low while the highest concentration of DON found in 1 of the samples reached only 131 μg/kg.

One sample was contaminated with OTA and its concentration was 76,7 μg/kg (Table 1).

Comparing DON and ZEN contamination levels of wheat in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, it is clear that the contamination levels in 2018 are comparable with the levels in 2014 (Figure 1).

Comparison of percentage of positive samples in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (>LOQ)

that of 2014 and significantly better than in 2016 and 2017.

However, based on the results of this survey conducted immediately after the 2018 harvest, the 2018 wheat crop in Great Britain and Ireland should not automatically be considered safe for inclusion into finished feed rations for all animal species and a degree of vigilance is prudent.

Vigilance is always advisable as cereals in animal feeds originate from many sources. Some South European cereals harvested in 2018 have been shown to be contaminated with medium to high concentrations of

aflatoxins. The last possible line of defense is the detoxification of mycotoxins in vivo. The addition of proven mycotoxin deactivators to animal feeds is a very common method to prevent mycotoxicosis and is an effective strategy to keep mycotoxin risk low under any and all conditions.

Nutriad delivers products and services to over 80 countries through a network of sales offices and distributors.

These are supported by 4 application laboratories and 5 manufacturing facilities on 3 continents. Find out more at http://nutriad.com/

Table 1 - Mycotoxin contamination of wheat in Great Britain and Ireland

Abbreviations: AfB1=aflatoxin B1; DON=deoxynivalenol; FB1=fumonisin B1; FB1=fumonisin B2, OTA=ochratoxin A; ZEN=zearalenone

Figure 1 - Comparison of percentage of positive samples in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (>LOQ)

Conclusion The Nutriad 2018 mycotoxin survey in Great Britain and Ireland concluded that the year's harvest of wheat is of good quality in terms of mycotoxin contamination. The quality of wheat is similar to JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

GULF AGRICULTURE

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POLISH UPDATE

POLISH PLANTER BAGS

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

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

Under the brand of

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MARTEX速, the company offers mats for protection against weed, containers for ground and water perennials, expanding tape for connecting of tree and its support, multicolour marking tape, protective material for draining pipes and trees located near the roads and streets, tunnels/ sleeves for ventilation and weights used in foil tunnels.

Additionally, the company offers the following range of products: jute textile (in bales and KARO type clothing), jute felt, knitted fabric/net for shading, bedding material for application directly on ground, geo-textile, foil and foam with thermo-insulative properties

for plants and objects (in bales and variety of formats), capillary mats for tables, wrapping band for trees, stabilizers of ground in the slopy area.

Water saving jute mat, for application in dry and hot climate, which effectively reduces water evaporation and its assimilation by weed; aluminum foil coated container which reflects sunlight, and thermoinsulative inserts, for application inside bags, pots or directly on ground are also included in the product range.

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

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

CROP FARMING

ANIMAL FARMING

AQUACULTURE

ANIMAL HEALTH

THE ROOTS OF YOUR SUCCESS PERLIGRAN for professional horticulture

100 % natural PERLIGRANÂŽ creates the best horticulture conditions for strong, healthy root growth as a basis for vigorous plants and maximum yields. It is available in consistently high quality and allows customers to choose between diďŹ&#x20AC;erent screening grades and grain sizes: Classic, Extra, Medium and Premium.

www.perligran.com