July- Aug 2018 edition of Gulf Agriculture

J U LY

ISSN 1751-8407

AUGUST

2018 TM

YOUR GATEWAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST AGRIBUSINESS

VISIT

US

AT

The 37 th Int’l. Agriculture, Water & Agro-Industry Show

STENDER OFFERS PEAT AND SUBSTRATES

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OMNIA INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA IS EXPANDING

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WANGARA EASY-FILLTM PLANTER BAGS

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UK’S LEADING SUPPLIER OF TREE & HEDGE BAGS

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLIED IN MACHINES

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CONTENTS

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NEWS UPDATE

PAGE 04

DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCTIVE AND REWARDING BUSINESS

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POLISH PLANTER BAGS

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SEEDS PLATES AND CRATES FOR GARDENING, HORTICULTURE AND SOFT FRUITS

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AMG BRINGS SOLUTIONS TO SPACES ENVISIONED

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600 HECTARES, 5,000 VARIETIES EXPORTED TO 60 COUNTRIES

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AGCO RETAIL FINANCE PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT ZAMBIAN FARMERS

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CASE IH UNVEILS NEW 2000 SERIES EARLY RISER® PLANTER

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FARMING THE OCEANS

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NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN SHEEP FARMING

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Editor in Chief Mohammed Nasser | Editor Megha Marie 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

Middle East Office: Al Saad Advertising & Publishing L.L.C., P O Box 25694, Sharjah, UAE, Tel:+971 6 5639494 Gulf Agriculture is read by agri professionals, farm managers & owners, landscape consultants, contractors, agri-equipment suppliers, horticultural engineers, greenhouse managers, agronomists, veterinary surgeons, ministries, poultry & dairy breeders, importers, distributors, manufacturers and whole salers of food and agri inputs.

Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2018 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.

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JULY AUGUST 2018

NEWS UPDATE

Norwegian innovation to turn barren soil into fertile land to amplify impact with support of Expo 2020 Dubai An innovative yet simple mixture of water and clay that transforms dry, sandy soil into lucrative arable land is to receive a major boost from global social impact programme Expo Live, run by organisers of the next World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai.

Norwegian firm Desert Control's 'liquid nanoclay' could help prevent a future global food crisis, with the United Nations estimating that agricultural productivity must increase by as much as 70 per cent to feed the expected 9 billion people on the planet by mid-century.

Liquid nanoclay - a scientific mixture of water and common industrial clay - can be sprayed directly onto affected land using existing irrigation methods. The liquid nanoclay particles seep into the sand and create spongy, hollow structures that retain water about 40 to 60 centimetres underground - the typical depth of plant roots.

The conditions created by liquid nanoclay allow water and nutrients applied to the soil to be retained far longer than traditional irrigation methods, allowing grass, wheat, carrots, corns and other vegetation to thrive.

The concept of liquid nanoclay was invented by Kristian P. Olesen, Inventor and Chief Technology Officer, while he was travelling in the Middle East.

Brage Johansen, Chairman and CEO at Desert Control, said: “Kristian noticed that farmers were applying clay on sandy patches of land to grow

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their crop and combined this with knowledge from his oil and gas background to create liquid nanoclay. The solution is patented in more than 60 countries, including the UAE.” Eight years of research and development later, Desert Control has proven the effectiveness of liquid nanoclay and intends to start the first commercial application in the UAE. Agricultural field tests in Egypt have shown the liquid nanoclay process cuts the need for irrigation by more than 50 per cent and produces similar or increased crop yields, with the effects lasting up to five years.

Atle Idland, Director Middle East at Desert Control, says: “Liquid nanoclay is going to be a game-changer for the agriculture and landscaping industry in desert regions. In line with the UAE leadership's vision to push the limits of innovation, we are glad to have this country as the first benefactor.”

With less water costs and better quality yields, Desert Control claims farmers can recoup the cost of liquid nanoclay within six months, and even faster for commercial greeneries.

Desert Control will use the Expo Live grant to build new mixers with larger capacity.

Remaining funds will go towards further research and development.

Nutriad Starts Distribution in Japan Multinational specialty feed additives producer Nutriad announced it has reached an agreement with Watanabe Chemicals to distribute its' products in Japan. This will allow Nutriad to become the

first European producer to introduce a Sodium Butyrate portfolio into the Japanese market. The step further confirms Nutriad's growth strategy in Asia.

With an annual feed production of 24 MMT Japan is a global top 10 producer. The country's industry is advanced in terms of production technology, with strong nutritional and veterinarian knowledge. Like several other countries in Asia, Japan is aiming to move away from its' dependency on AGP-s.

Nutriad was present with a booth at the IPPS in Nagoya, where it engaged directly with local feed mills and producers.

The show is held once every three years and provided an excellent platform to launch Nutriad's products in Japan.

Nutriad's CEO Erik Visser signed an agreement with Watanabe's President Shigehiro Hatanaka, in the presence of Watanabe's main sub-distributor Rokku.

“For several years Nutriad has been coming to Japan to find the right partner to develop our portfolio in this important market. In Watanabe we have found that partner. Over the past two years we have built the relation with Watanabe, analyzed the potential for our products, learned about the specific local challenges and trained staff of Watanabe and Roku,” commented Erik Visser.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Nutriad,” Mr. Hatanaka stated.

“Both Nutriad and Watanabe value trust, honesty and commitment, which are building blocks for a long-term relationship. The portfolio, scientific data and technical

JULY AUGUST 2018

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NEWS UPDATE

support of Nutriad will be well received in Japan.”

“The initial focus will be on the introduction of our Adimix® and Apex® range in poultry and ruminants, building on Watanabe's strong distribution network. These products fit in a strategy to reduce the dependency on AGPs. In the second half of this year we will announce next steps on the launch of the broader Nutriad portfolio,” concluded Mr. Visser.

Nutriad delivers products and services to over 80 countries through a network of own sales offices and distributors. Supported by 4 application laboratories and 5 manufacturing facilities on 3 continents. Find out more at www.nutriad.com

Even more on offer at Asia Fruit Logistica Leading companies across the global fresh fruit and vegetable business are gearing up to make a splash at Asia Fruit Logistica, which returns to Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo Center on 5-7 September 2018.

Asia Fruit Logistica confirmed its position as Asia's premier continental trade show for the fresh fruit and vegetable business in 2017, attracting more than 13,000 high-quality visitors from 76 different countries. Well over three quarters of those visitors came from Asia, representing 20 different markets across the Asia-Pacific region.

More than 800 companies from 43 different countries exhibited at Asia Fruit Logistica 2017, an increase of over 150 exhibitors compared with the 2016 edition. Many new companies and countries are joining the show in 2018.

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Many existing exhibitors are also ramping up their presence at Asia Fruit Logistica. The Korea pavilion will double in size compared with last year as the country's growers and exporters seek to capitalise on the growing appetite for Korean fruits and vegetables across the region. Regional produce powerhouse Dole Asia and Chinese fresh fruit importer Berda Fruit are both doubling the size of their stands.

Visitors to Asia Fruit Logistica will also find a wealth of information and insights through a busy programme of events at the trade show.

It all gets under way with Asiafruit Congress, Asia's premier fresh produce conference event on 4 September. Taking place the day before Asia Fruit Logistica at the same venue, Asiafruit Congress is the perfect primer to the trade show, providing an exclusive overview of market trends and enabling delegates to work out who and what to focus on at the three-day exhibition.

Delegates to Asiafruit Congress receive a three-day pass to Asia Fruit Logistica.

Workshop in Tunisia: PERLHUMUS, BioHealth and HUMIRON HUMINTECH's Technical and Sales Manager Dr. Yasser Dergham is in Tunisia to hold a workshop for the friends and partners at Cotugrain Impex.

The workshop, which is attended by 300 people, focuses on new formulations of PERLHUMUS as well as the products BioHealth and HUMIRON. In the course of permanently updating and advancing its production facilities, HUMINTECH is

able to formulize organic soil conditioner PERLHUMUS according to the special needs and demands of the customers.

The most outstanding benefits of PERLHUMUS granules as a soil conditioner are the demonstrable positive impacts on plant growth and health as well as on resistance to stress factors (dryness, salt and pesticides).

BioHealth is an extract made of humic acids and seaweed, available in three different varieties. It acts as a natural suppressor of soil-borne plant pathogens.

HUMIRON is a natural organic deficiency corrector on the basis of humic acids, available in two varieties.

Irrigation Association announces July as Smart Irrigation Month Advancing its mission of “promoting efficient irrigation,” the Irrigation Association announced July 2018 will once again be celebrated as Smart Irrigation Month. In its 14th year, Smart Irrigation Month serves as the showcase month to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in agriculture, landscape and turf irrigation.

On Tuesday, July 10, the association will kick off Smart Irrigation Month with Irrigation Technology Tuesday. IA members, along with companies and organizations celebrating Smart Irrigation Month, are encouraged to use this second Tuesday in July as the day to jointly celebrate all efficient irrigation has to offer.

“Smart Irrigation Month was started to increase public awareness of the value of JULY AUGUST 2018

NEWS UPDATE

water-use efficiency,” said IA CEO Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE. “With July being a top water-using month throughout much of the United States, it is the perfect time to share about the benefits of efficient irrigation. I am excited to see the creative ways our industry can promote the benefits of efficient irrigation this July.”

New bio-based ingredient challenges over usage of antibiotics in animal feed The global scientific research discovered that natural tall oil based resin acids have antimicrobial effects.

Several clinical animal trials showed that tall oil origin resin acids can improve animal wellbeing, and has a potential to

replace antibiotics in animal feed. As an outcome of the years of research, two Finnish companies, Forchem Plc. and Hankkija Ltd., in the joint innovation development project, created a revolutionary animal feed which meets the challenge of providing antibiotic-free food for growing world population.

Prevalence of antibioticresistant bacteria has rapidly increased, and resistance mechanisms have become more diverse in the past few years.

The global antibiotic resistance is the result of overuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Widespread antibiotic use in the food chain has also been recognized as one of the reasons for the development

HOW TO ELIMINATE MYCOTOXINS?

and spread of antibioticresistant bacteria. In industrial farming methods, antibiotics are often added in the feed to improve the productivity and rapid growth of food-producing animals, such as poultry, bovines, and livestock. Around 15,400 tons a year, an enormously 80% of all antibiotics sold, go to farmers in the USA. Only a small percentage of the drugs are used to cure real illnesses.

To overcome the disadvantages of microbial resistance, unnecessary antibiotic use needs to be cut down and replaced with sustainable solutions. Tall oil based resin acids are a natural way to modify microbial growth in animal intestine. This

When mycotoxins hit your animals, they can seriously impair their health and productivity. The performance of your farm is at risk.

Now you have the solution: ELITOX® by Impextraco.

For a complete protection, ELITOX® combines in one single product different strategies to eliminate the maximum number of mycotoxins. In other words ELITOX® unites in one single product different ways to counteract a wide range of mycotoxins.

It’s easy with Elitox®

Do you also want to benefit from the commitment of Impextraco?

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NEWS UPDATE

modification is diminishing the growth of harmful bacteria, enabling more space for the beneficial bacteria to grow and enhance the common health of the animal. Along with verified antimicrobial benefits, the bacteria does not create a resistance towards the substance.

The tall oil refinery Forchem Plc. together with the animal feed supplier Hankkija Ltd. brought a sustainable Progres速 animal feed solutions to the market. The tall oil origin resin acids used in Progres速-products are developed from by-stream of the pulp industry. As a part of the industrial ecosystem, Forchem refines and distillates the resin acids from crude tall oil. The needed amount of final essence for the feed is

small, only 01/1000 of the total feed weight is sufficient.

Increasing concern for safety and quality of meat and meat products is growing the demand for specialty feed additives.

Currently, the global animal feed market is expected to reach $17.5 billion by the end of 2018. According to Global Market Insights, the animal feed additives market share is expected to surpass $25 billion by 2024.

It is clear that the patented Progres速 animal feed innovation can change the state of food production.

Forchem sees the product as an excellent example of how crude tall oil can be refined and gain remarkable added value, instead of using it as biodiesel feedstock.

Recognizing the demand

and potential, the joint development of Progres速 products is strongly going forward. The innovation was rewarded by Chemical Industry Federation of Finland's Innovation Award in April 2018.

Valagro launches Master Supreme in China Valagro, a leading company in the production and marketing of biostimulants and other specialty nutrients, presented their premium line of watersoluble fertilisers, Master Supreme, to the Chinese market at the NCIC Global Specialty Fertilizer Convention, a landmark event for the Chinese agricultural market, organised

by China National Chemical Information Center (CNCIC).

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solution created by Valagro as a response to farmers' needs and it is able to provide a guaranteed nutritional and biostimulant effect.

Master Supreme watersoluble fertilizers line has a high quality and purity and is enriched with biologically active compounds such as Ascophyllum nodosum extracts and humich compouds. These new formulations are the result of exclusive GeaPower technology (GEA 582) and guarantee greater and more efficient crop nutrition, naturally stimulating the physiological processes of the plant, ensuring quantitative and qualitative increase in production. The Master Supreme line offers 5 different solutions to ensure the correct supply of nutrients and biologically active substances in every phase of vegetative-productive development.

The launch for the Chinese market follows many events that have taken place in Italy, Turkey, Spain and Greece since 2017 with the involvement of farmers, technicians and the main distributors in these markets.

IPM Discovery Centre Replaces hortivation

by IPM ESSEN On the occasion of IPM ESSEN 2018, hortivation started in Fair Hall 13. In the POS experience world for the green sector, the JULY AUGUST 2018

specialised trade will, next year too, find the latest trends, the newest sales concepts and practical recommendations for action about how the sales of flowers and plants can be consolidated. Then, however, no longer under the "hortivation by IPM ESSEN" name but instead under the "IPM Discovery Centre" title. The cooperation with the Dutch green stylist and trend watcher Romeo Sommers will be continued.

After the first event in Kalkar in 2016, the fair management had already decided in favour of docking hortivation on to IPM ESSEN. The decisive factor was the unanimous tenor in the sector: Not only would all the market leaders and decision takers be represented at the world's leading fair which would score points due to its high internationality but precisely the proximity between production and trading would also result in new chances for the horticultural industry. In 2018, hortivation was then successfully staged as a part of IPM ESSEN for the first time.

StorageCraft's Vision to Disrupt Storage Silos Gains Momentum StorageCraft®, whose mission is to protect all data and ensure its constant availability, announced strong momentum as channel partners and customers alike embrace the company's approach to seamless and integrated

The world’s leading trade fair Almost 163,000 highly qualified visitors, interested in new technologies for dairy, poultry and aquaculture 2,638 international exhibitors on more than 250,000 m² exhibition floor space The complete programme for animal production – breeding, feeding, housing, processing and marketing Leading technologies for renewable energies and decentralized energy supply

13 – 16 November 2018 Hanover, Germany Hotline: +49 69 24788-265 | expo@DLG.org www.eurotier.com | facebook.com/eurotier

including

NEWS UPDATE

data management, protection, and recovery.

“For too long, legacy bigiron vendors have encouraged IT buyers to think about their data and storage infrastructure in silos. This has created multibillion dollar protected markets that don't put the customer first and do very little to help as they become overwhelmed by data growth and the need to ensure its constant availability,” said Douglas Brockett, president of StorageCraft. “Those days are numbered. The market is now turning to vendors that are innovating by collapsing and unifying the entire storage management and protection stack into a single, integrated, self-protecting data infrastructure. This approach breaks down the barriers between primary, secondary and cloud storage and paves the way for a solution that is efficient, cost-effective and an order of magnitude easier to use. Our business momentum bears out this shift in market sentiment.”

Said Shridar Subramanian, VP of product management and marketing at StorageCraft, ”We expect to accelerate these growth indicators over the coming quarters. At VMworld 2018, we will be showcasing modern and ground-breaking solutions based on our vision of deeply integrated data protection, scale-out storage, and cloud-based recovery.”

Valoya Launches a High Intensity LED Grow Light for Greenhouses Valoya is the leading LED grow lights provider for crop science applications. Its fixtures are typicaly used by seed breeding companies, crop protection companies, vertical farms, 10

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research institutes and universities. This includes 8 out of 10 world's largest agricultural companies. The wide, patented spectra are what Valoya is known for and now these will become more accessible to greenhouse growers in Valoya's brand new luminaire for greenhouse cultivation - the RX400.

The RX400 is a dimmable 400W LED grow light that boasts a light efficiency of 2,3 µmol/W making it a suitable one-to-one replacement for a 600W HPS light. It is rated IP55 meaning it is suitable for highly humid and dusty locations and can whitstand getting sprayed by water. The RX400 is passively cooled and the little heat that is created is emitted upwards and not in the direction of plants. Its compact design results in minimal shading over the canopy and its lighting angle of 120° means it covers a large area of plants. In fact it can be placed up to 4 m (13') above the canopy, or if needed down to 0,5 m (20”).

Interpoma 2018 Gives Space to Innovative Ideas with Their First Startup Village Robotics, Superfood & Software Solutions are the keywords of the first Startup Village by Interpoma, which will inaugurate this year, entirely dedicated to innovative ideas to improve the various sectors of the apple industry.

The future of the planet is based on innovation and research. The biggest threats of the 21st century such as food security, climate change, scarcity of resources and the fight against waste, all have the same common denominator, agriculture. Technological

innovation will guide the search for a more sustainable development in all industries.

To produce more in quantity and quality, but with less resources (land, water, fuel) wasted, will be on of the biggest challenge and the boom of startups in the last years in various sectors of the agribusiness, will be one of the driving forces behind the development of technological innovations to tackle those.

After two successful editions of the “Interpoma Innovation Camp ", Interpoma international fair of the apple industry at Fiera Bolzano from 15. - 17. November. Will introduce their first "Startup Village ", a platform for the exchange of new ideas and innovative themes in the agriculture-apple industry between consolidated companies and startups with young talents and experts in the field.

Making agriculture work for - not against - biodiversity FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva has called for transformative changes in how we produce our food, grounded in sustainable agricultural systems capable of producing healthy and nutritious food while simultaneously safeguarding the planet's biodiversity.

"Biodiversity is essential for safeguarding global food security and nutrition, improving rural livelihoods, and enhancing the resilience of people and communities," he said in keynote remarks made at the start of a three day international dialogue (on mainstreaming biodiversity into agricultural policies and practices.

Healthy ecosystems JULY AUGUST 2018

NEWS UPDATE

provide a number of key services upon which humankind relies, such as water quality maintenance, nutrient cycling, soil formation and erosion control, and carbon sequestration. And healthy agricultural ecosystems provide the ecological foundations for food production, and the biodiversity of crops and livestock plays a critical role in humankind.

But today planetary biodiversity - genetic diversity at the level of organisms; diversity at the species level; and diversity ecosystem level faces a number of threats, the FAO Director-General noted.

"The way we are producing

our food is a big part of the problem", he said.

"Today, the world still produces food mainly based on the principles of the Green Revolution that started more than 50 years ago, and implies the use of high chemical inputs at a high cost for the environment," according to Graziano da Silva.

Yet he also noted that massive swaths of the Earth's surface are being used to grow food, raise animals, capture and farm fish, or produce forest products. This means that if managed sustainably - with biodiversity as a priority - the agricultural sector can make significant contributions to protecting biodiversity.

This renders promoting and facilitating the mainstreaming of biodiversity across all agricultural sectors "fundamental," FAO's Director-General argued.

A multi-tasking area at EIMA 2018 In the setting of the great review of agriculture engineering scheduled for next November 7 to 11 in Bologna Pavilion 33 III will host an EIMA Digital space and the EIMA Desk and EIMA Campus. The first of the three will be dedicated to industries producing software and advanced electronic systems for agriculture and agriculture engineering; the second will bring together such services as

The future, today.

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NEWS UPDATE

information on public contributions, information of revisions, courses for learners licenses for driving tractors and demonstrations on machine shops; the third will preside over universities and research institutions. Finally, Mech@griJobs on an initiative

by UNACOMA, the National Agricultural Machinery Dealers Association, is planned for young people studying in agrarian schools and technical institutes to inform them of employment in the agriculture engineering supply chain.

Expanded board to strengthen development at Koppert Biological Systems Koppert Biological Systems has increased the size of its board in response to the projected growth of the Dutch family company. Koppert is a global specialist in biological crop protection.

The new composition allows for more focus on specific areas of operation. The original board that includes CEOs Paul Koppert and Henri Oosthoek, and CFO Robert Pathuis, has grown to include Peter Maes to be Director Corporate Marketing, Martin Koppert Director Agri, and Joram Oosthoek Director Finance & Control. René Koppert and René Ruiter will take up the position of Director Horti. The new roles are much more specific in nature and, together, cover all areas in which the company operates.

In addition to the expansion, there is also a shift within the management. Founder Peter Koppert and advisor John Budé, formerly non-executive board members, are now taking place on the Advisory Board.

'Our rapid growth and the need 12

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for specific divisions like Horti, Agri and livestock, made us realize that it was time for change within the top tier of the company', says CEO Paul Koppert. 'Three of the original board members will stay on to ensure continuity and pass on their valuable experience in leading the company. The new board represents a healthy balance between experienced family members who are ready to take on additional responsibilities, and non-family members who have earned their spurs over the years.

The new members of the board each have their areas of expertise and we have every confidence that they will perform well in their new roles.'

New C-Conveyor from Poeth for efficiently recirculating powders, pellets and granulates without any risk of explosion Certain situations in powders, pellet and granulate handling require raw materials to be fed back vertically into the production process. Poeth has developed its new C-Conveyor specifically for these situations: it optimises the production capacity of recirculating conveying systems and minimises the risk of contamination. The new CConveyor is explosion-proof, so no costly investments in ATEX protection are required.

Low energy consumption is a further benefit.

Vertical conveying and reintroducing raw materials into the process is a regular requirement in production processes for powders, pellets and granules. Thoroughly emptying conveying systems is extremely important and one of the main conditions for an efficient and contaminant-free

production process. However, effectively emptying traditional bucket elevator systems, particularly when conveying lightweight, fine powders, is more easily said than done. Buckets attached to a belt or chain scoop dry raw materials from base of the elevator (feed point). At the discharge station, the product is thrown out of the buckets, powerfully but at low speed, under the influence of centrifugal force. Residues of the raw material are often left behind, particularly in the case of lightweight materials.

The result is a loss of capacity and crosscontamination in the elevator base. When handling potentially explosive raw materials, the minimum conveying speed is the bottleneck for bucket conveyors. Capital-intensive investments in ATEX protection are required as a result.

The new C-Conveyor from Poeth has been specifically designed for efficiently recirculating light powders and explosion-prone raw materials.

The C-Conveyor transports the raw materials horizontally first, and then vertically before reintroducing them to the process horizontally. The highly innovative C-Conveyor features plastic paddles which move through a closed channel on a chain and gently “drop” out of the conveying system at the release point. The design makes the C-Conveyor ideal for products that resist emptying.

Because the paddles seal hermetically to the conveying channel and base, product residue and product drop-back are minimised. This makes the C-Conveyor suitable for residuefree emptying of conveying JULY AUGUST 2018

NEWS UPDATE

BRANDT, a leading manufacturer of specialty products for the agriculture and turf markets, has added six new formulations to its proprietary BRANDT Smart System line of foliar nutrients.

The formulations provide fast, effective nutrient delivery and were designed for advanced tank mix compatibility and use with dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides.

“We've spent the last few years developing products that are designed for compatibility and performance in almost any tank mix environment,” said Brian Haschemeyer, Director of Discovery and Innovation at BRANDT. “We're pleased to see herbicide manufacturers approving the new BRANDT Smart System foliar products at this stage. This will be very beneficial to our customers that have switched over to the new cropping systems that want to continue using BRANDT nutritionals in their fertility program.”

Many of the new BRANDT Smart System formulations are approved for use with dicamba and 2, 4-D.

Dairy prices push the FAO Food Price Index up in May

cereals and dairy products and weak ones for sugar and vegetable oils.

The FAO Dairy Price Index increased 5.5 percent in May, averaging 11.5% higher than a year earlier.

Tight supplies in New Zealand, the leading exporter of dairy products, are behind much of the market firmness in recent months.

INTERPOMA

2018

BRANDT Expands BRANDT Smart System® Flagship Foliar Nutrient Line

jumping significantly. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 176.2 points during the month, up 1.2 percent from April.

The FAO Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. The May increase built on a recent trend featuring rising price quotations of major

INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW FOR THE CULTIVATION, STORAGE AND MARKETING OF APPLES 15TH - 17TH NOVEMBER 2018 / BOLZANO, ITALY Thu - Sat: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

lars.it

systems without risking crosscontamination. The C-Conveyor can run perfectly at speeds of <1m/s. So the C-Conveyor is capable of conveying explosive raw materials safely and cost-efficiently without the need for costly investments in ATEX protection.

WITH THE

L INTERNATIONSA CONGAPRPLESE “THE ” IN THE WORLD

interpoma.it/en/

Global agricultural food commodity prices rose in May, with dairy prices JULY AUGUST 2018

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SAUDI AGRICULTURE PREVIEW

DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCTIVE AND REWARDING BUSINESS

FOCUSING ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND ITS PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS FISH FARMING (PISCICULTURE) IN LINE WITH NEW GOVERNMENT ORIENTATIONS AIMED AT ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY

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audi Agricultural Exhibition 2018, The 37th International Agriculture, Water and Agro Industry Exhibition Which will take place from 7-10 October 2018 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the 37th exhibition will be held with the participation of international companies, specialized in agriculture and food from all over the world.

The exhibition aims to achieve the Ministry's vision of achieving sustainability of

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environment and natural resources, in such a manner that would ensure water security, contribute to achieving food security, and improve quality of life in KSA. The Ministry seeks maintaining distinguished performance in developing and applying comprehensive policies and effective strategies, as well as promoting services by engaging the private sector and the competent authorities, with a view to achieving prosperity and sustainability of the environment, water and agriculture.

More than 27 countries

from Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Netherlands, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States of America and Saudi Arabia will participate in the exhibition As in previous years, Saudi Agricultural Exhibition will offer many opportunities for productive and rewarding business. Focusing on organic agriculture and its products, as well as fish farming (pisciculture) in line with new government JULY AUGUST 2018

SAUDI AGRICULTURE PREVIEW

orientations aimed at achieving sustainable food security.

The Saudi Agricultural Exhibition is the largest and most well-known exhibition in the Kingdom, which gathers more than 350 local, regional and international companies, where decision makers, business leaders and suppliers gather to explore several investment and partnership opportunities and discuss the latest international industrial trends for importers, buyers, traders and food manufacturers locally and regionally.

For 37 succession years, the Saudi Agricultural Exhibition, held in line with the Saudi Food Exhibition, the 25th International Trade Exhibition for Food Products, and the Saudi Food Packaging Exhibition, the 8th JULY AUGUST 2018

International Trade Exhibition for Food Processing and Packaging Technology, has strengthened its leading position in the field of Agriculture development and its related

industries due to its active contribution in supporting and developing the agricultural sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and moving it into international levels.

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15

PEAT & SUBSTRATES

STENDER OFFERS PEAT AND SUBSTRATES

S

tender AG is a leading producer and supplier of peat and substrates. The company has two factories in Germany (Schermbeck, Papenburg) and in the Baltics.

Based on these operations and a sophisticated logistic network, the company ensures the supply of its customers with Stender products.

“The decision Stender AG made to consequently develop

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further approved products and to modulate culture specific soils, gives our clients certainty and time. Stender AG's long standing know-how makes up the base on our development of soils. Our employees are constantly at the gardener on site, they support the production and they adjust the substrates” explains the export manager Mr. Stefan Specking.

“This continuous transfer of

knowledge makes a development of herbs substrates for the horticulture production. Uniform, fieldtested mixtures are the base for strong and aromatic herbs”.

“Stender maintains a credible handling with the substrates since years. This also reflects in our sales of hobby substrates. The recipe is “Professional quality for the hobby gardener!” This way we JULY AUGUST 2018

PEAT & SUBSTRATES

have developed our organic hobby substrates for herbs and vegetables which will be aligned continuously to the production horticulture. The application area extends from potting herbs, over the use in little greenhouses to soil improvement of existing vegetable patches. Filled in 8coloured 40 litre bags, this product achieves all demands on high-class hobby substrates in the premium sales”.

“Stender Bio Vegetable Substrate is a special soil for potting herbs, vegetables in plantings beds or containers. It is peat reduced and has light fertilization. It follows the requirements of an environmentally friendly

JULY AUGUST 2018

Mohamed Adel Zaraa, Stender Area Manager for Arab Countries

product. It is the basis for strong and aromatic herbs and vegetables. Stender Bio Vegetable Substrate is available in 40 litres bags”.

Stender Premium Peat Products are characterised by the high quality of the peat used. Stender uses first class selected white peat only. The peat is sieved in different fractions and made appropriate for later application. Thus, the fine peat which is especially ideal for propagation has a fraction size of 0-10 mm, the peat with a medium structure has a fraction size of 0-40 mm, and the coarse peat, which for example is used in the cultivation of rhododendron, has a fraction size of 10-22 mm or 20-40 mm. All Premium Peat products are available in bales of 250 litres, 300 litres and Big Bales of 6 m3.

GULF AGRICULTURE

17

FERTILIZERS

Omnia Australia's production facility and (below) leonardite mine.

OMNIA INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA (OIA) IS EXPANDING

O

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

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JULY AUGUST 2018

FERTILIZERS

Omnia International Australia

0800 774 629

www.omnia.net.nz

*the science of growing

N U T R I O L O G Y *

The most concentrated humates in the world

Coated (right) and uncoated (left) Urea granules

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 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 K-humate 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

Omnia’s range includes: • K-humate: K-humate 26% (Liquid) K-humate S100 (Dry) - 100% soluble • OmniBond: Biostimulant coatings that increase NPK and Urea effciency • K-Fulvate: Organic chelating agent • Seaweed - PuraKelp/K-Kelp: Pure bull kelp seaweed concentrates • Trace Element Range: Organically chelated/complexed • Foliars: For crop management • OmniBio: Microbes

Omnia is currently seeking distributors & agents in all parts of the world

+61 3 5133 9118 info@omnia.net.au www.omnia.com.au

www.omnia.net.nz 0800 774 629

JULY AUGUST 2018

TM

N U T R I O L O G Y *

*the science of growing

PLANTER BAGS

WANGARA HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES: LARGEST SUPPLIER OF EASY-FILLâ&#x201E;˘ PLANTER BAGS AND TOP QUALITY HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO THE MIDDLE EAST

Geoff Stowe

20

Why are your products so highly valued in the Middle East market?

The original design of our products was made with the Australian market in mind.

After visiting the Middle East, we found that the growers there had many of the same challenges that Australian growers were facing. Our products stood up to the harsh and extreme climate in the Middle East, just as they did in Australia. We use only top grade virgin materials and our UV additives are of the highest quality available. Cheap imitations do not hold up in the extreme climate and do not last. What may seem like a

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bargain buy, will cost more in labour and investment to replant and replace.

of these different climate conditions is makes WHS truly an industry leader.

What makes WHS an industry leader?

With over 20 years of experience with a product that we innovated and perfected, customers have come to rely on our industry knowledge and customer support.

Universities and government agencies have entrusted EasyFillâ&#x201E;˘ for many years. Our customer base has grown to include Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Our ability to adapt and service our product to meet all

How long have you had a presence in the Middle East?

Our first visit to the Middle East was over 20 years ago.

Since then, we have cultivated a diverse customer base, helping establish many valued, long-held relationships. We have been present at many major Trade Shows in the region sharing our knowledge and experience. We make it a priority to personally visit the local nurseries and greenhouses to better understand our customer's needs.

JULY AUGUST 2018

PLANTER BAGS

Does your company offer any guarantees on its products?

Easy-Fill™ planter bags are recognised around the world for their dependability and manufacturer's guarantee. The company believes in manufacturing a superior product with personal customer service that includes adapting the design for different environments and individual needs.

What other products do you offer?

We support the Horticultural Industry from the very beginning with products such as propagation tubes and seedling trays. We have a wide variety of these to suit any species of plants JULY AUGUST 2018

and trees. Some of our best sellers into the region are our flower tubes and specialised planter bags for date palms. Our product line of portable hedge bags and tree collars have also been well received. WHS remains committed to the Middle East market through expert advice and ongoing product development.

WHS Australia, thank you for taking the time and giving us some insights into the unique benefits that your products have provided us here in the Middle East. It's clear to see why Wangara Horticultural Supplies is recognised as the largest supplier of superior horticultural products to the Middle East.

‘‘

OUR FIRST VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE CULTIVATED A DIVERSE CUSTOMER BASE, HELPING ESTABLISH MANY VALUED, LONGHELD RELATIONSHIPS. WE HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT MANY MAJOR TRADE SHOWS IN THE REGION SHARING OUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO PERSONALLY VISIT THE LOCAL NURSERIES AND GREENHOUSES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR CUSTOMER'S NEEDS GULF AGRICULTURE

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PLANTER BAGS

ARE YOU MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S EVER DEMANDING CUSTOMER?

T

oday we live in a world where we can access things immediately.

Technology allows us to have whatever we require at the touch of a button. This theory now also applies to hedges.

Instant hedging has become increasingly popular for today's ever demanding customer.

When putting the finishing touches to the landscaping of a development - whether that be a hotel, housing, commercial premises, or even an event - customers don't want to wait years for beautiful, healthy, fullygrown hedges.

Instant hedges are far superior to conventional hedges and provide many benefits including providing security to a perimeter, screening off areas, creating a visually attractive backdrop and providing environmental benefits. They are also quick to install, long-lasting and provide immediate gratification. They can even allow for the opportunity of renting out instant hedges to events and exhibitions where they are only required on a short-term basis.

Beck Group's specialist HedgePlanta container bag has been designed specifically as an innovative solution for the commercial grower to meet today's demand for immediately available, fully-grown stock.

Manufactured from UV treated woven polypropylene, HedgePlanta bags feature 4

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JULY AUGUST 2018

PLANTER BAGS lifting loops for easy handling and transportation of instant hedging direct from the grower to a landscape project.

These cost-effective bags are non-laminated to enable good drainage. Unique to these container bags are the 2 hook & loop straps, and reinforced sides to ensure the bag stays securely in shape.

HedgePlanta bags are available in a range of sizes to meet growers' requirements.

Bespoke sizes, colours and branding can also be produced to customer's specific requirements (minimum quantities apply). Please contact us for a quotation.

Free delivery to the UAE Beck Group are a leading

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planter bag supplier within the UK, however we also distribute our bags worldwide. Our competitive prices and FREE DELIVERY to the UAE has enabled us to

supply our bags to wellknown growers within the country.

To discuss your requirements further, including the possibility of bespoke sizes, colours and branding, please contact us on +44 1432 263598, email info@beckgroup.net or visit www.treeplanta.com

GULF AGRICULTURE

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PLANTER BAGS

POLISH PLANTER BAGS

M

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.

JULY AUGUST 2018

‫ﺗﺤﺖ رﻋﺎﻳﺔ ﺳﻤﻮ اﻟﺸﻴﺦ أﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ آل ﻣﻜﺘﻮم رﺋﻴﺲ ﻫﻴﺌﺔ اﻟﻄﻴﺮان اﻟﻤﺪﻧﻲ ﻓﻲ دﺑﻲ رﺋﻴﺲ ﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ ﻣﻄﺎرات دﺑﻲ‬ Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports

I PM D U BAI International Plants Expo Middle East ‫اﻟﻤﻌﺮض اﻟﺘﺠﺎري اﻟﺪوﻟﻲ ﻟﻠﺰﻫﻮر و اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت ﻓﻲ اﻟـﺸـﺮق اﻷوﺳـﻂ‬

SOWING IDEAS, REAPING SUCCESS 01-03 | OCTOBER DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE

WWW.IPM-DUBAI.COM

An event organized by:

UR O Y BOOK OW! EN C A P S Supported by:

SEEDING TRAYS

SEEDS PLATES AND CRATES FOR GARDENING, HORTICULTURE AND SOFT FRUITS

S

PID, the leading European manufacturer of injection molded trays has designed and developed during the past 20 years a full range of reusable seedling trays made of polypropylene.

The company located in France, tries as well as possible to cover the plants nurseries needs by proposing worldwide an efficient and sustainable growing and logistic system. Focusing on standards (Euro size 600x400mm and Danish size 540x300mm), SPID products are compatible with almost the machines, and suitable for the deliveries.

The aim of SPID is to innovate coherent to the market, and to propose propagation containers that are mechanized, washable, easy to handle, and durable for more than 15 years. In fact, the UVstabilized injected multi-cell

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trays from the company SPID are high quality made to be reuse several times per year and to last at least more than a decade. Actually the manufacturer supplies over the world, through an agency network, seeds plates and crates for different markets whose gardening, horticulture and soft fruits.

Without any comparison to the polystyrene or soft plastic thermoforming trays, the injected hard plastic trays SPID present some more advantages as: UV stabilized to withstand time Ecological: made of polypropylene the trays are re-usable and recyclable Smooth walls to insure a total cleaning and disinfection, an homogeneous cell filling and a perfect crop removal Especially designed to get

more uniform plants and better performance of the young plants at transplant stage Adapted to automatic filling and transplanting systems Ensured traceability by barcodes or RFID label identification Stackable or nestable, to enable easy transportation and fit CC containers Moreover SPID trusts that such solution can bring some technical benefits to the plant raisers, and thinks that it is better to invest in a convenient reusable production tool as rigid trays, than to spend a wide amount of liquidities into a single use packaging every year.

Should you have any interest into long life propagation trays, be informed that SPID team would be pleased to give you some further information, advise and support. More details on internet: www.spid-trays.com JULY AUGUST 2018

PLANTS & TREES

AMG BRINGS SOLUTIONS TO SPACES ENVISIONED

H

ave a big project? Say like in a golf club, a park, a hotel, or any other type of landscape project that requires trees, big, mature trees where you need many of them and some which cannot be found in your country? This is where we come in.

AMG, an international tree brokerage firm offers this full-service, high volume, sales and shipment of large trees from the United States to places around the world.

“We strive to offer quality plants which includes palms, tropical, fruit trees, and ornamentals to natives, evergreens and deciduous. As long as regulations allow it to be exported/ imported, and we think it can survive the trip, we handle it. Our products are hand-picked by our knowledgeable and experienced staff, gathered and transported with great care, then packaged and shipped with the attention your project deserves,” says Mark Smith, AMG President.

“We also strive to provide the highest quality products with unparalleled service and dependability while still being able to offer a competitive price. Our team is also well experienced, licensed and insured

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as we handle trees of many different sizes and types. They ensure to go an extra mile to fulfill your tree needs and will update with the status of your order every step of the way.”

“After the relevant details of inquiries are collected from customers, we prepare the trees by washing the roots, trimming, inspecting, spraying nutrients and etc., and pack their roots in a breathable fabric, coconut husk-based medium with water and nutrients to carry them through the journey.

Since in some cases regulations don't allow exporting trees with soil on them, we carefully clean their roots in our preparing process”, added Smith.

Finally they are loaded and transported into shipping containers to your port of choice in Florida, so that they can be shipped to your country, treating and positioning them to avoid too much stress.

AMG ensures to be with you every step of the way, notifying you of developments and any issues that arise throughout the process, so you can bring to life the beautiful spaces you've envisioned!

For more information www.international-tree-broker.com JULY AUGUST 2018

PLANTS & TREES

600 HECTARES, 5,000 VARIETIES EXPORTED TO 60 COUNTRIES

5

,000 plant varieties grown and exported to 60 countries in the world, 600 hectares (1,500 acres) employed for production, 4,000 m2 (43,000 square feet) dedicated to logistics, 2,000 m2 (21,500 square feet) office space, and a total surface area of 26,000 m2 (280,000 square feet) in which are housed, among other things, the terminals, the administrative headquarters and the equipment depot: these are the key figures of Piante Faro.

The nursery. quality, in quantity 600 ha. (1,500 acres) devoted to the growing of 800 plant species and over 5,000 varieties: this, in summary, is the production capacity that allows our company to meet all our customers' needs.

Medium and large sized trees, succulent and ornamental plants, citrus plants, shrubs, herbaceous plants, 20 to 300 year old specimens: whatever your request, we are ready to fulfil it. In detail: Greenhouse plants: 40 ha. (98 acres) of greenhouses, 5 ha. (12 acres) of shade structures, and 1 ha. (2.5 acres) of 11m high glasshouse to host the most majestic specimens; Specimens: over 20 hectares dedicated to the tallest trees Open-field plants: hundred of hectares offering the largest assortment of Mediterranean and sub-tropical climate plants in Europe.

From Sicily to the world.

Excellence has no borders We export to over 60 countries.

To achieve this result, we rely on JULY AUGUST 2018

production, logistics and distribution capabilities designed to preserve the plants' health, deliver on time, and meet extremely high service standards.

We take care of everything ourselves: from packaging to loading in our 3 terminals, to shipping via land, sea and air.

Through our experience, we

have developed unique knowhow in exports: we are familiar with all the laws and regulations applicable in the different countries, and guarantee flawless deliveries, anywhere.

For more information www.piantefaro.com GULF AGRICULTURE

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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

AGCO RETAIL FINANCE PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT ZAMBIAN FARMERS

A

GCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE:AGCO) (www.AGCOcorp.com), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, has established a Retail Finance Partnership to support Zambian farmers in the purchase of farm equipment.

Launched at AgriTech, Zambia's outdoor agriculture expo, the new partnership between AGCO, its national distributor BHBW Zambia Limited and the Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc (Zanaco) will provide

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retail financial solutions for farmers purchasing machinery from AGCO's Massey Ferguson brand.

“Access to credit is a crucial requirement for farmers seeking to acquire the right equipment to expand and advance their businesses,” says Nuradin Osman, AGCO Vice President and General Manager Africa. “This partnership has been set up to address the specific needs of the agricultural industry which is often perceived as too high a risk for financial service providers due to its seasonal

nature, irregular income streams and exposure to external factors such as the weather, pests and commodity price fluctuations.”

“AGCO understands the pressure that Zambian farmers are facing - from small-scale farmers through to commercial enterprises and large agriprojects. Together with our partners BHBW Zambia and Zanaco, we have developed a finance solution aimed at the full spectrum of farming operations which offers affordable and lowrate financing in the form of financial lease and loans.”

JULY AUGUST 2018

AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

GREEN HOUSE EDX - EDX M

Disc harrow for mixing the soil Specialists for 40 years in innovative equipment for minimum tillage and conservative agriculture and for 10 years specialists also in seeding

ESQ CH

26011 Casalbuttano (Cremona) - ITALIA Via Giovanni Paolo II, 12 Tel. +39 0374 362680 - Fax +39 0374 362280

Medium-heavy grubber

SEAC COMBI

Combined equipment for the double layer working: deep tillage and surface crumbling

www.ma-ag.com - info@ma-ag.com JULY AUGUST 2018

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AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

CASE IH UNVEILS NEW 2000 ® SERIES EARLY RISER PLANTER

C

ase IH is introducing the brand new 2000 Series Early Riser® planter, the first to factory-integrate industry-leading seed placement technologies from Precision Planting® into a completely new system featuring a best-inclass, all-new, rugged row unit.

This new planter is not only extremely accurate, it's also robust enough to deliver precise placement across all terrains, crop types and speeds for faster, more uniform emergence.

Designed for modern seed types, treatments, populations and conditions, the new planter can be easily customized to a range of soil types, terrain, fertilizer/chemical application needs and varying crop residue

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management practices. Plus, a streamlined design and tool-free crop changes and adjustments result in simpler maintenance.

Daniel Bordabossana, Marketing Manager for Case IH Middle East and Africa, commented: “The Early Riser planter family sets the agronomic standard with the flat-bottom seed trench it forms.

This leads to earlier, more uniform emergence and higher yields. The new 2000 Series Early Riser planter builds on this legacy, and combines the most accurate planter technologies in the industry with an all-new rugged row unit.

With the new planter, growers will reap the benefits of earlier emergence that is the hallmark

of the Early Riser name while planting at the higher speeds they need to be competitive in today's agriculture.”

Built for speed and accuracy Heavy-duty cast components enable the 2000 Series planter to withstand high speeds and tough, fast-changing conditions.

The 65 cm toolbar clearance and a 60 percent increase in vertical row-unit travel help accommodate uneven terrain without sacrificing accurate seed depth and consistent closing - even at speeds up to 16 km per hour.

The equalising gauge wheels are pulled by the row unit

JULY AUGUST 2018

AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

instead of being pushed. This means that they easily “walk” over residue and soil clods to minimise depth variation. It also results in greater stability at faster ground speeds and adverse field conditions.

The Early Riser unit uses offset double disk openers to slice a trench through heavy residue and hard soil. The low angle opener and specially contoured gauge wheels produce a uniform trench, and retain moist soil next to the trench. A furrow forming point defines the seed trench and forms loose soil, creating the perfect seed delivery environment. Patented covering disks gently squeeze the trench closed, returning moist soil over the seed.

A wide press wheel lightly firms soil on top of the furrow to eliminate air pockets, ensuring optimal seed-to-soil contact for

JULY AUGUST 2018

quick germination. The unique chevron tread pattern scores the soil to encourage surface cracking for easier emergence in crust-prone soils.

Factory-fit precision planting technologies The 2000 Series Early Riser is the only planter with factoryintegrated Precision Planting technology. This allows producers to customize their planter direct from the factory.

Developed specifically for the 2000 series, the all-new vSet® 2 meter and vDrive® electric drive deliver accurate and consistent seed singulation, populations and in-row spacing for a variety of crop types. This new metering system, combined with DeltaForce® hydraulic down force and row-by-row shut-offs for seed, liquid fertilizer and chemical, allows each row unit to react individually to changing conditions for better seed placement. Additional new features that can be customized

from the factory include the Advanced Seed Delivery™ (ASD) system for the most accurate seed delivery and placement from the meter to the furrow.

Successful test results: one to three days faster germination Case IH tested the 2000 Series Early Riser planter in the field at a number of customers' farms in the Southern Africa region in 2017. The tests revealed that the seed placement accuracy delivered by the Case IH planter resulted in early emergence one to three days faster than with other planter row units. It was tested in different conditions and in every case stood out from competition. In dry soil with very little or no moisture, it consistently delivered accurate and uniform planting, while in extremely wet conditions, the gauge wheels didn't get plugged with mud and the planter exceeded the dealer's and customer's expectations.

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FERTILIZER MACHINES

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLIED IN BAGTECH MACHINES

F

ounded in the 80's in South Africa with more than 30 years of expertise in agribusiness equipment, Bagtech International offers fertilizer equipment and management services for main players of industry with 90+ successful custom-made projects and 40+ consulting & services. Its success is due to a passion: engineering.

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The Bagtech team started from a concept to produce equipment that had to be simple, sturdy, reliable and repeatable as it was required to work in very harsh environments. Bagtech has designed its own online monitoring system enable to change settings remotely accessible from anywhere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our online systems allow us JULY AUGUST 2018

FERTILIZER MACHINES

to access client's machine just in time to help them according to their needs” said Fred Coelho, Managing Director.

Now, the company is in the unique position of running the equipment it manufactures and sells. Currently, the company bags and blends more than 400,000 tons per annum for 10+ clients at various operational sites including clients like Omnia, Yara, Gavilon and others around South Africa. “It is this mix that allows us the understanding of clients' needs that has made us an efficient warehouse JULY AUGUST 2018

management company” said Fred Coelho.

Over the past 24 months the company has delivered, installed and commissioned equipment for over 6 countries in Africa. One of its clients includes Toyota which encouraged and trusted in Bagtech's AI technology and experienced team to design the project of the first fertilizer blending plant for Kenya. The plant was designed and built according to Toyota Safety Standards. This machine can blend, add micronutrients, screener the dust, and coat and then bag the fertilizer by itself with 100% precision.

The capacity of the plant reaches 50 tons per hour bagging 18 bags per minute.

The bagging machine can bag from 10 to 50 kilo bags.

The case can be found on company's youtube channel as well as other cases.

“The fertilizer markets have different requirements to each country and we are prepared to design the customers' needs anywhere.

We are not only a supplier we want to bring solutions to our customers” - said Fred Coelho.

Manufacturing from company's workshop the machines are designed after extensive interaction with the client whereby the team are involved in all aspects from the warehouse design as well as the warehouse layout. All machines are made from stainless steel and Bagtech team are able to manufacture machines with capacities ranging from 40 tons per hour through to 75+ tons per hour.

A smart system with integrated artificial intelligence controls all aspects of the process and allows for the memory of flow rates which leads to the efficient management of time.

No matter where you are Bagtech team will provide a solution to your warehousing and equipment needs. Bagtech is your partner in the Agribusiness industry.

OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS THE COMPANY HAS DELIVERED, INSTALLED AND COMMISSIONED EQUIPMENT FOR OVER 6 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA

www.bagtechint.com bagtech@bagtechint.com GULF AGRICULTURE

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AQUACULTURE

FARMING

THE OCEANS E

AS THE WORLD'S POPULATION GROWS AND WILD CAPTURE FISHERIES DECLINE, IT IS EXPECTED THAT AQUACULTURE WILL EXPAND RAPIDLY TO MEET AN EXPECTED GLOBAL SUPPLY SHORTFALL IN SEAFOOD, AND MORE GENERALLY, IN PROTEIN STOCKS

36

xpansion of marine aquaculture is widely predicted to fill the protein supply-demand gap as the global population approaches nine billion. Despite the vastness of the ocean, selection of optimal aquaculture sites requires application of modern tools and expert knowledge, particularly with regard to predicting, understanding and managing environmental impacts. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process therefore plays a key role in the sustainable expansion of aquaculture, and it is often a mandatory component of proposed larger-scale aquaculture developments.

BMT Oceanica's Principal Marine Scientist, Dr. Glenn Shiell and BMT WBM's Technical and Innovation Manager, Dr. Michael Barry, describe a state-of-the-art EIA approach to assessing the potential impacts of sea cage operations in coastal

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environments. Drawing on recent work for the proposed aquaculture facility near Geraldton, Western Australia, both Shiell and Barry highlight the application of a novel recovery module, with the capability to predict seafloor recovery times during fallowing.

As the world's population grows and wild capture fisheries decline, it is expected that aquaculture will expand rapidly to meet an expected global supply shortfall in seafood, and more generally, in protein stocks. 'Getting to Eden', a report by the global action network, Fishing for a Future (http://www.fishingfuture.org/about -us/), suggests the shortfall in fish protein could reach 62 million tonnes annually by 2030 if not addressed via reduction of waste, improvement in fisheries management and the expansion of aquaculture.

As reliance on aquaculture increases globally, so too does the requirement for modern tools and

techniques to better predict and manage the associated environmental impacts. Indeed, as the scale and number of operations increases, so too does the complexity of the environmental impacts, and the level of scrutiny applied to them by regulators, the general public and even the aquaculture industry itself. Recent controversies in Tasmania and increasing public perceptions of the alleged link between aquaculture and visible environmental degradation have put a spotlight on these issues.

It is very clear that development of aquaculture however important to food security - must be undertaken using the best possible tools for predicting both the instantaneous and cumulative effects of aquaculture, to provide confidence that the impacts are negligible, or if not small and entirely manageable.

Despite recent advances in the development and use of JULY AUGUST 2018

AQUACULTURE

numerical tools to assist with environmental impact assessment, the industry still falls somewhat short of being able to provide 'off the shelf' and fully integrated models capable of reliably determining the aerial extent of benthic and water column impacts and associated recovery rates during fallowing.

Having access to tools that can offer these insights is often of interest to government departments so that they can provide robust and defensible advice to key stakeholders (e.g. regulators and the general public) on environmental impacts. More practically, the application of such tools can help to minimize the risk of undue criticism, better inform public perceptions and improve confidence in the environmental approvals process, leading to better outcomes for the public and industry.

In partnership with the University of Western Australia (UWA), BMT recently JULY AUGUST 2018

developed a novel and innovative suite of modelling tools to assist the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (DoF) in its assessment of a proposed aquaculture operation in the southern Abrolhos Islands, off the west coast of Australia (the Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone, MWADZ).

BMT and UWA took existing water column and benthic biogeochemical numerical tools and built extensions to allow for the numerical simulation of: the trajectory of released particulate waste and surplus feed and their final resting points on the seafloor; their subsequent saltation (if any) and lateral benthic migration; their eventual benthic accumulation; and then finally the remineralisation of accumulated particles and the associated sediment cleansing over subsequent multiannual periods.

Some of these modelling

techniques are not new, however their linkage, dynamic application over multiannual periods and use to examine detailed sedimentology during fallowing is unique.

Specifically, this approach allowed, for the first time in Australia, the robust investigation of predicted water column and benthic recovery times of different proposed cage configurations, and assessment of these against legislated acceptability criteria.

Understanding these processes provided DoF with the opportunity to prepare a robust and scientifically defensible EIA for the MWADZ, to estimate the carrying capacity of the zone and provide advice on the approach to operation management; all of which provided confidence to the regulator that the proposed development could be sustainably managed, without compromising the prescribed environmental values.

BMT's knowledge of the regulatory criteria enabled the DoF to custom build an integrated model capable of answering highly specific questions asked by the regulator.

The model not only predicted the zones of impact, but also assisted regulators to understand how to manage differing production scenarios through a series of timed fallowing events.

An effective EIA is key to gaining approval for any proposed aquaculture development zones. Having an integrated team of experts who can deliver the specific requirements for the EIA and provide a practical understanding of the potential constraints faced by fish farmers has undoubtedly raised the bar and set the benchmark for a new best practice approach.

THE SHORTFALL IN FISH PROTEIN COULD REACH

62 MILLION TONNES ANNUALLY

BY 2030

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37

ANIMAL NUTRITION

NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN SHEEP FARMING

T

By Dr. Hansel Geo Thomas, BVSc & AH, MS (Edin.)

38

he success of any type of livestock farming is determined by the yield produced, meat quality and the maintenance of excellent herd health conditions. Therefore, adequate and proper nutrition is key to the welfare, health and productivity of all animals. Apart from nutrition, other factors like temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind also have direct effects on animals as well, especially in tropical climates such as the Middle East.

In this article, we will try to discuss the basic nutritional aspects involved in sheep farming, especially in the Middle East.

Feeding should never be considered as the act of merely providing for the animals immediate needs, because it has a great impact on future production, yield and meat quality. Inadequate feeding regimes during key periods of embryonic, foetal and early postnatal growth leads to poor herd health, low yield and poor meat quality. A wellplanned diet with the correct levels of nutrients can reduce overall feed costs.

Sheep are ruminant animals.

The bacteria, protozoa and fungi in the rumen of the sheep is responsible for helping them digest the fibrous foods, such as forages, that they consume. Hence, feeding

GULF AGRICULTURE

the microorganism-filled rumen should be the most important consideration while formulating diets for sheep.

In tropic and subtropic environments such as the Middle East, natural pasture has both lower nutritional value and lower tiller density than in temperate regions. Hence, most of the animals (sheep) in this region are largely impacted by nutritional stress.

A good diet for optimum growth should consist of adequate quantities of water, carbohydrates and fats (energy), proteins, vitamins and Minerals.

In regions where there is environmental stress, additional nutrients may have to be added to their regular diet.

Water Requirements: The usual recommendations for sheep in moderate climates are approximately 3.8 litres of water/day for ewes on dry feed, 5.7 litres/day for ewes nursing lambs, and 1.9 litres/day for finishing lambs.

However, animals in hotter climates (like ours) use more water for evaporative cooling.

Sheep adjust to the excessive heat stress by increasing evaporative cooling through panting. Even with the provision of good quality water and shade for the sheep, water

consumption can be higher by about 40 percent than in winter.

In extreme conditions, the water consumption can be 70 percent above that in winter. For optimum productivity, it is absolutely essential that the water availability to the sheep is monitored daily during all weather conditions.

Energy Requirements: It's not the quantity of forage but the quality of forage that determines whether energy for maintenance and production are met. Higher the forage quality, higher the feed intake. For Ewes, the greatest requirement for energy is during the first 8-10 weeks of lactation. This is because milk production gradually starts declining after that, as the lambs start foraging on their own.

A body scoring system is usually employed to assess energy adequacy in sheep using an objective 1-5 scoring system, with 1 being extremely thin and 5 being extremely obese. This is determined by palpating the amount of fat covering on the spinous processes and transverse processes in the lumbar region of the sheep. Most healthy productive ewes will have a score ranging between 2 to 3.5. Sheep with a score lesser than 2 should be examined thoroughly and fed up to attain a higher score, and JULY AUGUST 2018

ANIMAL NUTRITION

ewes with a score of less than 1 should not be considered for immediate breeding. Those sheep with a score that is greater than 3.5 should be fed less. Changes in diet should always be done gradually, and drastic reduction in total energy intake should be avoided, especially if an ewe is in middle to late gestation. Adequate feed space ranging from 300mm to 450 mm must be allocated for the ewes in order to ensure all animals are fed well.

Rams should have a target body condition score of 3.5 before tupping. Testes size and sperm production are highly responsive to nutrition. It is recommended that there must be an increase in the ram's nutrition at least 7 weeks prior to tupping, inorder to achieve good sperm quality and quantity. As supplementation with concentrates increases, the intake of forage is likely to decrease.

Protein Requirements: Usually good-quality pasture and forage provide sufficient protein for mature sheep. However, it is recommended to add a protein supplement along with the forage.

The stage of the ewe must be taken into consideration while supplementing protein. While 7% dietary crude protein is needed for maintenance in most sheep, this quantity will vary during periods of growth, gestation and lactation etc. Alternatively, protein supplements, such as oilseed meals, cottonseed meal, soybean meal or commercially blended supplements can be fed to meet the necessary protein requirement.

Mineral Requirements: The major minerals required in the diet of a sheep include Sodium, Chlorine, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sulphur and Potassium. The JULY AUGUST 2018

trace minerals required in the diet are Cobalt, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Mangnese, Molybdenum, Zinc and Selenium.

Sodium and Chlorine (as salt): Sheep need salt especially during stages of reproduction and lactation. Adult sheep will consume approximately 9 g of salt daily, and lambs will consume 4.5g of salt.

Calcium and Phosphorus: In plants, generally the leafy parts are relatively high in calcium and low in phosphorus, whereas the reverse is true of the seeds.

Legumes, in general, have a higher calcium content than grasses. As grasses mature, phosphorus is transferred to the seed. Deflourinated rock phosphate and ground limestone are used in cases where there is a low phosphorus and calcium content in the diet.

Iodine : A deficiency of iodine is usually manifested as goiter in the adult and as lack of wool and/or goiter in lambs. This can be prevented by feeding iodized salt to pregnant ewes.

Cobalt & Copper: Adult sheep require ~0.1 ppm of cobalt in their diet, whereas pregnant ewes require approximately 5mg of copper daily. Sheep are more susceptible to copper toxicity, hence care must be taken to avoid excessive copper intake.

Selenium: This element is effective in at least partially controlling nutritional muscular dystrophy. The dietary requirement is ~0.3 ppm. It also plays an important role in sperm quality of the ram.

Zinc: Lambs usually require ~30 ppm of zinc in the diet on a dry-matter basis. Zinc is also an essential trace mineral requirement in rams for testicular development and for sperm quantity and quality.

Vitamin Requirements: Sheep diets usually contain adequate supply of Vitamins A, D and E. When fed diets rich in carotenes, sheep can store large quantities of Vitamin A in the liver to meet their requirements for as long as 6 months.

Vitamin E is poorly stored in the body; hence a daily intake is essential. Green feeds and germ of seeds are excellent sources of Vitamin E. Its deficiency coupled with low intake of Selenium can lead to nutritional muscular dystrophy.

The rumen microorganisms usually synthesize Vitamin B and Vitamin K and hence, these supplements are not necessary always. The tissues of the sheep synthesize Vitamin C, however, a steady supply of the same can also be added in the diet to improve conditions of the sheep. Vitamin D2 is derived from sun-cured forage, and vitamin D3 from exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light.

Finally, in order to ensure greater productivity, it is important to know the exact constituents in the feed and ascertain the level of protein, energy, vitamin and mineral enrichment it is providing to the sheep. This can be achieved by conducting regular feed analysis of samples sent to local food testing laboratories.

Dr. Hansel Geo Thomas is the director and founder of Charis Vets, Kingdom of Bahrain.

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39

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