Nov-Dec 2022/ Gulf Agriculture

ISSN 1751-8407

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

2022

Y O U R G AT E WAY T O T H E M I D D L E E A S T A G R I B U S I N E S S

23 The ultraconcentrated liquid soil activator for organic farming

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Optimized water management starts with knowing your soil

35 Latest greenhouse concept takes indoor farming to the next level

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AgraME attracts over 4000 industry professionals

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Contents Editor M. Matt Associate Editor Jessie Jorge Graphic Design Elizabeth John Contributors Dr. Hansel Geo Thomas Neville J. Chandler Shakeeb Kolakadan Registered Office Matt Media Intl. Ltd. 12 Gateway Mews London N11 2UT United Kingdom US Office Matt Media (USA) LLC. 1713 E. Morgan Court Gilbert, Arizona 85295 Middle East Offices Matt Media LLC. Sharjah Media City United Arab Emirates Al Saad Adv. & Publishing LLC P O Box 25694, Sharjah United Arab Emirates info@gulfagriculture.com www.gulfagriculture.com Gulf Agriculture is a publication from Matt Media Intl. Ltd. (UK) and 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 wholesalers of food and agri inputs.

24 News 04 Apples 22 Fertilizers 23 Garden Centre 24 Urban Gardening 26 Irrigation 28 Soil Moisture Sensors 30 Feed Additives Agricultural Equipment 32 Feed Safety Agrotextiles 34 Irrigation Show Preview Greenhouse 35 IPM Essen Preview Saudi Agriculture Review Agra Middle East Review EIMA International Review

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All rights reserved. The opinions and views expressed in the 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 readers particular circumstances. The publishers regret that they cannot accept liabilities on any error or emissions contained in this publication.

Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2022

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News insulation sandwich panels have been revealed as the cost-effective insulation and cladding solution installed on a major vertical farm project in Dubai, paving the way for other vertical farm developments elsewhere in As the next megatrend in the the Middle East. field of agribusiness and Emirates Flight Catering, the nutrition, vertical farming is a inflight catering arm of UAEspace-saving, sustainable and based Emirates Airlines efficient way of growing plants producing more than 55 that promotes future global million meals annually, food security. However, as an recently opened the world’s indoor farming solution, largest vertical farm, internal temperature control Bustanica, located near Al and regulation remains critical Maktoum International Airport to the success of vertical at Dubai World Central. The farms, especially in regions 330,000 sq ft indoor facility experiencing extreme summer will produce more than one temperatures such as the million kilograms of highMiddle East. Polyurethane quality leafy greens including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens and spinach annually, while reportedly requiring 95 per cent less water than International Crop-science conventional agriculture.

Conference & Exhibition The indoor Exclusive Event on Agri Inputs in UAE hydroponic farm, built using Organized by: polyurethane-based PESTICIDES MANUFACTURERS & FORMULATORS sandwich insulation ASSOCIATION OF INDIA panels, showcases PMFAI the versatility of this best-in-class building material, while demonstrating Venue: Hyatt Regency Dubai & its superior Galleria, Deira, Dubai UAE. insulation and sustainability properties of this dynamic product when compared to alternative building insulation options, such as rockwool.

Supplied by Dubai-based system house, Pearl Polyurethane Systems and

POLYURETHANE INSULATION PANELS REVEALED AS MEGATREND ENABLER FOR WORLD'S LARGEST VERTICAL FARM

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16 & 17 February 2023

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manufactured by its production partner, leading UAE panel manufacturer Emirates Industrial Panel (EIP), this cladding product is lightweight and quick to fit, as well as offering advanced fire and smoke resistant properties.

Commenting on the opening, Martin Kruczinna, CEO of Pearl Polyurethane Systems, said: “We are thrilled to support this world leading sustainable farming project by supplying our high-performance EcoPearl polyurethane material for the metal sandwich insulation panels installed on Bustanica together with our manufacturing partner, EIP. These panels comprise a rigid polyurethane foam core, laminated with metal sheets on either side, and are typically used as wall and roof cladding, to keep heat out by minimising thermal energy transfer.

“Key considerations for the vertical farm operators, as with any other building owner, is how to regulate the indoor temperature to ensure optimal crop harvests in the extreme Middle Eastern climate without using expensive cooling systems effective building insulation is therefore critical. With rising energy costs, better insulation means less energy consumption, leading the fight against global warming.

Pearl-supplied rigid polyurethane foam used in this project is by far the most superior means of insulation on the market and we are proud our EcoPearl product is a key component of this cutting-edge sustainable farming project as it achieves this world-first and serves as a megatrend enabler

November-December 2022

promoting global food security,” added Kruczinna.

Speakers confirmed so far include: • Keynote addresses VERTICAL FARMING from UAE Food & BUSINESS LEADERS Beverage Manufacturers PLAN CONGRESS IN Group and Carrefour.

• World vertical farming ABU DHABI leaders AeroFarms, Building on its rising Infarm, N.Thing and prospects worldwide, the YesHealth. vertical farming industry will • Middle East innovators hold its first Middle East Al Aliyo, Beirut Farm, Congress from 12 to 14 Natufia and Uns Farms.

December in Abu Dhabi.

The programme aims to “More Governments raise the profile and throughout the region are awareness of Vertical identifying vertical farming Farming as well as as integral to their support the development strategies for healthy and growth of individual nutrition, local fresh businesses through best produce and year round practice and networking. sustainability,” commented event organiser Richard AIM FOR CLIMATE Hall, Chairman of specialist DRIVES CLIMATEfood consultants Zenith SMART Global.

AGRICULTURAL, “This inaugural FOOD SOLUTIONS Middle East conference THROUGH 30 will connect leading INNOVATION international and regional SPRINTS operators and suppliers alongside Government The Agriculture Innovation authorities, advisers, Mission for Climate (AIM investors, customers and for Climate), a global media,” he added. initiative led by the UAE With the theme of and the US with the Strategy for Selfsupport of over 275 Sufficiency, the first Vertical government and nonFarming Middle East government partners, Congress will be held in announced commitments association with the UAE of channeling increased Food & Beverage Business investments in climateGroup and in partnership smart agriculture and food with FoodTech Valley (a systems innovation from joint initiative between 42 countries and over 235 WASL and the UAE non-governmental Ministry of Climate Change partners with a total value and Environment). exceeding US$8 billion.

The 3 day event will The announcement was include multiple made at a high-level event presentations and panels, titled ‘From Sharm El two evening receptions, Sheikh to the UAE and round tables for best Beyond: Transforming practice development and Food Systems through vertical farm tours in Dubai Climate-smart Agriculture’, as well as Abu Dhabi. organized by the UAE at

November-December 2022

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News its pavilion during the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), running from November 8 to 16 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

In addition, the global initiative will see 22 new innovation sprints, bringing their total number to 30.

Innovation sprints provide an opportunity for non-government partners to invest in specific, impactful, expedited efforts to drive the goals of AIM for Climate.

Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change

and Environment, said: “A paradigm shift towards resilient, sustainable, productive agriculture and food systems is integral to tackle climate change and enhance food security. AIM for Climate is helping countries make that shift and has managed to exceed its target of securing investment commitments in climatesmart agricultural innovation worth US$8 billion. In addition, we are pleased to see our partner base more than triple – from 79 partners at COP26 to 275 at COP27. We

will continue to raise the bar and mobilize even greater investments and coordinated support to drive global food systems transformation at the scale needed to counter our common challenges.”

She noted that food systems innovation is a key priority of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051. In this context, the country focuses on advancing R&D in saline agriculture and controlledenvironment agriculture (CEA).

Officially launched at COP26, AIM for Climate galvanizes support and investments for

BLUE CARBON AND ANGOLA’S MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DELEGATION EXPLORE WAYS TO ACCELERATE TRANSITION OF ANGOLA INTO DE-CARBONIZED ECONOMY

Blue Carbon, recently founded in the UAE with an aim to support carbon removal projects around the world, hosted a four-day workshop for Angola’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry delegation in Dubai.

Commenting on the visit, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, the Founder and the Chairman of Blue Carbon said, “We see great potential in Angola because of its huge forests which are natural ‘carbon sink’ sites.

Therefore, we are confident that Angola can play an instrumental role in the world’s efforts to fight climate change.”

It may be mentioned that Angola’s forests are spread on over 69.3 million hectares of land, 55.6 per cent of its total territorial area, with 68.9 million hectares of native (natural) and 61,000 hectares of planted

rainforests. Leveraging on preserving its forests, Angola has a significant potential globally to fight the negative effects of the climate change.

In order to collaborate with Angola in preservation of Angolan forests, Blue Carbon shed light on its newest and innovative solutions which play a key role in monitoring, reporting and verification of forest carbon, thus developing the most appropriate solutions.

As Blue Carbon supports carbon removal projects across the world, the discussion explored ways of bringing in nature-based solutions for Angola to help the country in its reforestation campaign.

Blue Carbon focused during the workshop on youth, being a significant segment of the Angolan population as the company underscored the importance of building local capacities in Angola via enabling sustainable knowledge and awareness programs as well as

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organizing workshops, webinars and e-learning sessions.

During the workshop, Blue Carbon also offered conducting national forestry inventory and aggregate data to Angola.

Participants of the workshop agreed that it is imperative to take constructive steps now in this direction, otherwise the world will have to face huge losses to prevent negative effects of climate change.

The participants stressed on the need to adopt serious measures for low carbon economy to ensure sustainability for generations to come.

Blue Carbon offers solutions to boost efforts needed to reduce energyrelated carbon emissions to net-zero level by 2050 in compliance with the Paris Accords, the participants of the workshop were informed.

Moreover, Blue Carbon serves as an enabler of blue and green economy operational frameworks that sets the agenda for the implementation of international climate agreements.

November-December 2022

News climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to enable solutions at the intersection of global hunger and the climate crisis.

FOOD SECURITY & SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AT THE HEART OF THE MIDDLE EAST STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT The 4th edition of VIV MEA, the international trade show from feed to food for the production & processing of poultry meat, eggs, fish and dairy in the Middle East and Africa, takes place from 20-22 November 2023. VIV MEA brings together the livestock world with 500+ global and regional suppliers from the entire supply chain of all animal species production.

Strongly business-driven, with a clear focus on innovation, technology and scientific

research, VIV MEA is by far the top show for the animal husbandry industry in the whole region since 2016 when the first edition took place.

Alongside the VIV MEA trade show, wholly focused on animal based protein as usual, the organizer VNU Europe will separately bring extra contents and products from suppliers of controlled environments and precision agriculture as well as innovations and technologies for smart food production, covering topics such as: plant based protein production; improved nutritional value and health; organic food concepts; increase yields programs; control pests solutions; water saving systems; energy use management; and more.

“At VIV MEA, we strive to bring delegations and industry leaders from all over the world to share their global perspective on a variety of agri-food topics. In fact, we are

looking forward to welcoming approximately 8,000 visitors from around the world, and especially from the GCC,” affirmed Mrs. Renate Wiendels, Senior Project Manager, VIV worldwide.

VNU Europe invites all professionals in the field to save the date for an event of business networking, knowledge and future-focused discussions shaping the next standards in agri-food production.

ALLTECH INTRODUCES EGALIS® HIGH-QUALITY SILAGE INOCULANTS Alltech, a global leader in the agriculture industry for more than 40 years, is proud to introduce Egalis®, a new range of high-quality silage inoculants that maximize nutrient quality, increase forage stability and reduce dry matter

EU FINANCED CAMPAIGN “EUNIQUE” A product presentation event took place in the frame of the implementation of the EU financed campaign “EUNIQUE”, on Wednesday 9th of November 2022 at 19.30. pm, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Plaza Ballroom Dubai Deira Creek (Baniyas Road, P.O.BOX 476, Dubai, UAE).

During the event, the participants, professionals from the Horeca sector, importers, distributors had the opportunity to learn more about the promoted products, to be informed about their nutrient value from a special nutritionist and to savor their delicious flavors with plates specially prepared for the event.

The EU financed campaign “EUNIQUE” aims to promote the

delicious European PDO and PGI products from Greece and Cyprus, to UAE and Saudi Arabia and increase their awareness.

Some of the participant products in the program are the delicious PDO olives, the full of flavors PDO

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cheeses and so many other delicious products from Greece and the delicious Loukoumi Geroskipou PGI from Cyprus.

To learn more about the EUNIQUE program visit the website: euniqueproducts.eu

November-December 2022

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News loss to help maintain optimal animal performance. Egalis drives proper fermentation and assists epiphytic bacteria to control the fermentation through the use of specific bacteria.

“The Egalis range of products brings together decades of expertise in fermentation, utilizing bacteria strains specifically selected by Alltech scientists to maximize nutrient and dry matter protection,” said Matthew Smith, vice president at Alltech.

“Together with our on-farm support teams and range of services, Alltech helps to improve fermentation to produce superior-quality silage, enabling producers to hold

onto more of what they grow, from field to feed passage.”

UAE AND SAUDI ARABIAN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROFESSIONALS CONCLUDE SUCCESSFUL FRUIT ATTRACTION EVENT Fruit Attraction 2022, the leading event for the global fruit and vegetable sector, has concluded following a successful event in Madrid, which welcomed international participants from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

As part of the Guest Importing Country

Programme, among the Middle East buyers represented were Panada Retail Company and Waha Fruits Trading Company, both based in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the event, a representative of Panda Retail Company said, “Fruit Attraction has evolved tremendously in recent years, giving exporters in Spain and other regions the opportunities to work with companies around the world in more innovative ways. Fruit Attraction remains one of Europe's most important fruit and vegetable events, where you can find suppliers from around the world all under one roof.”

The event, organised and

INDONESIAN STATE-OWNED AGROCHEMICALS COMPANY, PT PUPUK INDONESIA LAUNCHES UAE OPERATIONS Indonesian State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), is expanding opportunities for trade cooperation in ammonia, urea, NPK, and other products by opening a representative office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, 31 October 2022. Through this expansion, Pupuk Indonesia hopes to further expand its trading businesses and gain broader access to raw materials and other industrial developments.

In his remarks, the First Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprise of the Republic Indonesia, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, stated that Pupuk Indonesia as the largest fertilizer producer in Asia plays an important role in the world fertilizer trade. In 2022, Pupuk Indonesia is predicted to achieve a revenue value of USD 6 billion or

a two-fold increase in the last five years.

Pahala further stated that the opening of a representative office in Dubai by Pupuk Indonesia is a very strategic step because there are three initiatives that Pupuk Indonesia will develop in the future. “The first one is making sure that they have operational excellence, including supply chain efficiency. The second is about food security and optimization, where fertilizer becomes one of the key success factors to have a better food security. The third, we also believe that Pupuk Indonesia can also become one of the producers of the products related with the green and circular economy, such as through green ammonia, green hydrogen, or in the mid-term include blue ammonia and blue hydrogen,” Pahala explained.

Also present in the launch was

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the Consul General of Indonesia in Dubai, Kartika Candra Negara, who highlighted the close relationship between Indonesia and the UAE. He said “This launching is very timely. Why? Because we have seen that for the last three-five years, the relationship between Indonesia and UAE keeps on increasing exponentially. We can see how the trade relationship, the investment, the other sectors, people to people contact, and culture relationship keep on increasing,” said Kartika Candra.

November-December 2022

News hosted at the IFEMA MADRID exhibition centre in partnership with FEPEX, welcomed 89,535 professionals from 137 countries during the three-day event and 1,740 exhibitors from 57 countries.

Exhibitors were primarily made up of European countries representing Italy, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium, as well as the Americas with exhibitors from countries such as Ecuador, the United States, Chile and Colombia, and from Africa.

Once again, Fresh Produce, the exhibition area for fruit and vegetable producers and traders, was the most populated area, accounting for 72%. However, this year’s edition also saw a 57%

increase in the Fresh Food Logistics area and a near 100% increase in Smart Agro.

Organised by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, Fruit Attraction 2023 will be held from 3 to 5 October at the fairgrounds.

FERTIGLOBE, SCATEC, ORASCOM CONSTRUCTION AND THE SOVEREIGN FUND OF EGYPT START COMMISSIONING OF “EGYPT GREEN” Fertiglobe, the strategic partnership between ADNOC and OCI N.V., the world’s largest seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia combined, the largest nitrogen fertilizer producer in the Middle East

and North Africa (“MENA”) region, and an early mover in clean ammonia, announced the start of the commissioning of the first phase of the green hydrogen plant in Ain Sokhna, Egypt, during an event at COP27, attended by Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre.

Egypt Green, which is owned, built, and operated by Fertiglobe, Scatec ASA (OSE: SCATC), Orascom Construction (NASDAQ Dubai: OC: EGX: ORAS) and The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, marks an important milestone in the development of a green hydrogen ecosystem in Egypt and the broader African region.

The launch of the hydrogen facility comes as world leaders

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News gather for the United Nations COP 27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where they seek to accelerate global climate action through emissions reduction. Unless we make sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, global warming will exceed the Paris agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In order to secure affordable, accessible and sustainable energy security for future generations, an accelerated shift to renewable energy and lower carbon intensity fuels is required. Green hydrogen, which is produced from water using renewable energy

sources, has the potential to play a significant role in decarbonizing hard to abate sectors, such as heavy industries, power, and global shipping.

Ain Sokhna has a strategic position close to the Suez Canal Economic Zone with the possibility of using renewable electricity to develop an industrial hub near global shipping lanes.

Fertiglobe has a strong global network through its shareholders OCI N.V. and ADNOC and is an early mover in hydrogen and low carbon ammonia. The hydrogen tie-ins for up to 100 MW of electrolysis have already been installed at Fertiglobe’s two existing ammonia plants in Ain Sokhna.

INTERNATIONAL GREEN WEEK 2023: 15TH GLOBAL FORUM FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE MEETS TO DISCUSS THE TRANSFORMATION OF FOOD SYSTEMS Under the heading ’Transforming food systems: a global response to multiple crises’, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir is extending an invitation to the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), which will take place from 18 to 21 January 2023 in Berlin. The GFFA is the leading international conference on major issues concerning the world’s farming and food

TOMATO GROWER REDGROW FROM BELGIUM EXPANDS WITH PHILIPS GREENPOWER LED TOPLIGHTING

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), world leader in lighting, will supply Belgian tomato grower Redgrow with LED grow lights again. After a number of successful years of cultivation with a combination of HPS and Philips GreenPower LED interlighting, Redgrow took the next step to a lighting installation with 295 µmol/m2. The Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact (TLC) was selected due to the rising energy

costs. The TLC made the transition from the existing HPS installation to LED easy for Redgrow and gave them the possibility to grow yearround.

In 2019, Redgrow made the transition from using only HPS lighting to a hybrid combination with Philips GreenPower LED interlighting, thereby raising the light level from 180 µmol/m2 to 255 µmol/m2. “Given the fact that the energy prices were rising, and we knew we were not going to make extensive use of the HPS, we raised the hours of use for the interlighting. Because of that we were able to use the interlighting for

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more hours than the HPS.” Alain Moortgat says. “This year we came to approximately 1000 hours of HPS and 2000 hours of interlighting. That was a lot more last year. With the low energy prices, we then came to 2000 hours of HPS and 3000 hours of interlighting.” In the meantime energy prices have gone up, which might affect lighting hours for coming season. At this moment we light the crop with the LED installation, and the HPS lights will hardly be used.”

Alain does see a difference in pruning: “Due to the high energy prices and less lighting hours, we had to prune at 3 tomatoes. In January we were back at 4, and now at the end of cultivation we almost leave everything, so up to 6 tomatoes. We planted our new crop back in August and started harvesting as of half of September.”

November-December 2022

News industries. The event will take place parallel with the International Green Week for the fifteenth time.

The focus of this year’s conference is on the transformation of global food systems. In addition to the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity and Covid-19, the situation with the war in Ukraine is reaching crisis point. We are in danger of the largest global food supply crisis since World War Two. At the GFFA more than 2,000 international representatives of business, science, society and politics will discuss what action can be taken in order for a transformation of food systems to take place. The Agriculture Ministers’ Conference with around 70 ministers will be the political highlight of the event.

The focus is on these questions: • How can we create crisisproof food systems?

• How can we create climatefriendly food systems?

• How can we conserve biodiversity?

• How can we cooperate better to ensure sustainable global food systems?

In order to discuss the comprehensive transformation of global food systems the GFFA 2023 will take the findings of the UN Food Systems Summit into account. The aim is to further the debate and explore ways of establishing partnerships at national and international level.

In addition to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) which is responsible for the event, a number of leading international organisations and players, including the EU Commission, the WTO, FAO and World Bank, are also taking part as organisers. The GFFA is organized by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

November-December 2022

FOOD TECH VALLEY PARTNERS WITH TRADELING TO BOLSTER UAE’S FOOD ECOSYSTEM Food Tech Valley, which is being developed by wasl Asset Management Group, is a UAE-government-led initiative that was announced in 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and

Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that seeks to triple the UAE’s food production and position the nation as a global destination for the industry, partners with Tradeling, the MENA’s e-marketplace focusing on B2B transactions. The aim is to ensure a number of benefits for both parties and B2B buyers and sellers, as well as to bolster the primary goal of growing the UAE’s

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News self-sufficiency in food imports.

The agreement was signed at wasl Experience Center by Ahmed AlShaibani, Project Lead at Food Tech Valley, and Marius Ciavola, Chief Executive Officer at Tradeling, in the presence of senior officials from both entities.

Several key objectives were agreed upon to ensure that Food Tech Valley realises its potential of being a commercial hub for industry experts in the food ecosystem.

Tradeling’s platform will grant business users access to food and agricultural technology products via easy payment solutions, logistics, warehousing solutions, and marketing and customer acquisition benefits. Food Tech

Valley will establish a B2B marketplace powered by Tradeling to help support, connect and match buyers from across industries, including hospitality, which is host to F&B sellers who source local and international quality products and raw ingredients.

This collaboration will enable a digitalised trade experience that will support food producers by helping expand their businesses in the UAE. Tradeling will support local producers by accelerating their growth through the platform. Credit finance solutions will also be offered to select eligible companies, comprising flexible payment options for SMEs and start-ups.

FEED COST CHALLENGES AND HUGE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES: HIGHLIGHTS AT POULTRY AFRICA 2022 Nearly 1,600 professional delegates from 53 countries visited the 123 exhibiting companies at the 3rd edition of Poultry Africa, successfully concluded in Kigali, Rwanda.

The poultry broiler and layer industry of the Sub-Saharan Africa met in Kigali for a stimulating business gathering with global suppliers and international speakers of the feed to food poultry supply chain.

Poultry Africa 2022, the most complete trade show for poultry

ALIAXIS INVESTS IN FREIGHT FARMS, A WORLD LEADER IN VERTICAL FARMING TECHNOLOGY Aliaxis SA, a world leader enabling access to water and energy through inventive fluid management solutions, announced that it will invest in Freights Farms, a world leader in vertical farming technology and software allowing 90 to 99% water savings compared to traditional farming.

Freight Farms was founded in 2012 in the United States, with the mission to enable access to locally produced food. Nowadays, the company has evolved into an industry leader working with a diverse portfolio of educational institutions, entrepreneurs, non-profits, resorts, and more — all across five continents. Freight Farms offers a platform of products and services for controlled environment agriculture, including the Greenery™ S, a modular hydroponic grow system and farmhand®, an Internet of Things (IoT) farm management software that

creates optimal climates using live and historical data from growing operations and connects to the system via a proprietary controller design. Freight Farms employs 50 people.

This strategic partnership will be part of Water for Food business unit within Aliaxis Next, the newly created division of Aliaxis to select, incubate, nurture, and grow businesses from new domains to improve water management.

“Currently, 70% of fresh water is used for food production,” says Eric Olsen, CEO of Aliaxis. “By investing in Freight Farms, we are delivering on our Growth with Purpose strategy to help produce affordable, fresh and locally produced food with much less water. Freight Farms is at the forefront of innovation of vertical

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farming. This market is growing at more than 25% of compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and is expected to be superior to $10bn market by 2026.”

“Aliaxis is an ideal strategic partner to Freight Farms,” comments Fredrik Östbye, Head of Aliaxis Next.

“Agriculture is one of Aliaxis’s four main customer segments with three of our regions, India, Latin America and Australia, having strong ambitions in micro-irrigation, greenhouse technology and digital farming.”

November-December 2022

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News professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa powered by VIV worldwide, kicked off with an exciting program and 22 Speakers at the Leadership Conference on October 4th. This high-level conference welcomed Industry Leaders and top sector players from many countries, among which Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, to name a few. The attendees experienced a full day of inspiring and informative presentations on African industry updates, sustainable poultry production, opportunities and challenges for the egg industry in Africa, innovative feeding solutions, and biosecurity for the African

market.

The Poultry Africa 2-day Expo followed on October 5-6 presenting 123 exhibitors from 30 countries led by The Netherlands, Turkey, Belgium, France, Rwanda, India, Germany, Italy, United States, and Kenya.

A wide range of products covering the full supply chain were on display, among which farm production equipment, animal health ingredients and additives, feed production equipment, data management solutions, breeding and hatching, farming, slaughtering, processing and egg handling systems.

Around 1,600 professional visitors took advantage of this 3rd edition of the event. Major visiting profiles included poultry farmers, veterinarians, nutritionists, breeders, feed ingredient & additive manufacturers, feed milling and processing operators, poultry product and farm equipment distributors, packaging equipment manufacturers, as well as scientists, media and institutions. Rwanda counted for 55% of the total visitors, while the remaining 45% came from 53 countries, with the African continent participation head by Uganda, Nigeria,

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA MAKES STRONG RETURN Global fresh produce industry celebrates coming together again at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022.

Nearly 10,000 trade visitors from over 70 countries attend Bangkok show. Some 420 exhibitors from 42 countries and regions showcase products and services, with 18 national and group pavilions.

Survey results underline high quality of trade visitors and buyers.

Exhibitors report strong business meetings and outcomes. ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS and ASIAFRUIT BUSINESS FORUM programme packed with expert insights and lively discussions. Winners of ASIA FRUIT AWARDS 2022 announced at the show.

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA succeeded in reuniting the global fresh fruit and vegetable business in Asia.

High-level trade visitors from all over the world converged on Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on 2-4 November 2022 for the first in-person edition of ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA since 2019.

After a three-year break, exhibitors and visitors seized the opportunity to meet again with customers and colleagues, make new connections and contacts, and gain expert insights on the latest industry trends and innovations.

The trade show floor was buzzing as attendees made the most of getting back to doing business face to face. Many exhibitors reported back-toback meetings for all three days of the event and remarked on the

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high quality of buyers and trade visitors coming to their stands.

“We’re delighted ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022 has concluded successfully in Bangkok this year, and we’d like to thank every single person who has taken part,” said David Axiotis, managing director of event organiser, Global Produce Events (HK) Co., Limited.

“Feedback from our exhibitors and visitors has been very positive, and it only strengthens our commitment to providing this highquality, efficient and leading trade platform for Asia’s fresh produce business.”

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA attracted nearly 10,000 trade visitors from over 70 countries. Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia were the top five countries represented in terms of visitor numbers.

Visitor survey results confirmed the high quality of trade visitors, with 85 per cent of them responsible or closely involved in the purchasing and procurement decision-making process for their companies.

November-December 2022

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 Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Cameroon, Burundi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

This marked an increase in the international audience, compared to the last edition.

WORLD FIRA 2023: ROBOTS PUT ON A SHOW IN OPEN FIELD FOR THE 7TH EDITION OF THE EVENT Robots and autonomous solutions for a more sustainable agriculture are making their way onto farms. In the light of this development, World FIRA is also evolving by offering its 7th edition in the field from February 7 - 9, 2023. Expo, demos, conferences, networking and scientific symposium will be on the program of World FIRA 2023, for a unique event bringing together farmers, start-

ups, innovators, researchers and students within the Agrobiopole Campus, on the outskirts of Toulouse.

While the global market currently includes 9.3 billion agricultural robots worldwide (most of them milking robots, but not only), specialists forecast that the number will reach 35 billion by 2030 (Source: Statista 2022 Agricultural robots: global market unit volume 2020-2030).

The World FIRA organizers have been talking about this infatuation for several years: "We see dozens of new robot projects and autonomous solutions for agriculture entering the market each year," says Gwendoline Legrand, co-director of GOFAR, the organizing association of World FIRA. "At the same time, more and more farmers around the

world are sharing the challenges they face: increasingly scarce workforce, agronomic difficulties or the desire to improve their productivity and environmental impact are some of the main reasons they are interested in agricultural robots."

With this in mind, GOFAR has decided to renew its leading event by offering an edition that is 100% in the fields. "The main challenge being to welcome as many farmers as possible, we kept the event in the winter period," explains Maialen Cazenave, co-director of GOFAR. "We are therefore working with the FR CUMA Occitanie, which runs the open field demos, in order to offer cultivated plots, in line with the functionalities provided by the robot manufacturers."

STRONG PERFORMANCE OF EUROTIER AND ENERGYDECENTRAL: PIONEERING INNOVATIONS ENABLE TRANSFORMATION OF LIVESTOCK AND ENERGY

Strong performance for the EuroTier and EnergyDecentral 2022 trade fairs in Hanover, Germany. After four years, the world's leading trade fair animal farming and livestock management, as well as the leading trade fair for decentralized energy supply impressively showcased the innovative strength of both sectors.

Over 1,800 exhibitors from 57

countries and more than 106,000 visitors from 141 countries travelled to Hanover from 15-18 November, 2022. With more than 400 professional events and conferences, the trade fair duo confirmed its leading position. Exhibitors and visitors expressed high satisfaction.

In challenging times, EuroTier was able to set important trends for the future development of the national and international animal husbandry industry. Organizer DLG (German Agricultural Society), together with its partners, presented an exhibition and technical program with the guiding theme "Transforming Animal Farming". Focusing on a successful

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future for the animal husbandry industry, the theme showed how, with technical innovations, increased productivity alongside an increase in animal welfare and sustainability can be achieved – in particular applying new solutions in the areas of digitization, automation and robotics.

The majority of exhibitors came from Germany, followed by the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Turkey and the UK. China, Ireland and the USA followed in the other places.

Exhibitors from Arab countries such as Egypt, Morocco and Algeria were also represented. The proportion of international exhibitors was around 60 percent.

Next EuroTier and EnergyDecentral will take place from 12-15 November, 2024 in Hanover, Germany.

November-December 2022

News Weeding, harvesting, sowing or data collecting: the demos will be an opportunity to see about twenty autonomous machines in action and in real conditions, and to discuss with the manufacturers in attendance.

World FIRA 2023 is now positioned at the crossroads, between the "CES of agricultural robotics", with many start-ups and innovations presented and an exhibition specialized in autonomous solutions for agriculture, with many robots and machines marketed and available now for farmers.

WORLD FIRST” BEEFREE HONEY MOVES A STEP CLOSER Dutch plant-based ingredients pioneer Fooditive will begin large-scale production trials of the world’s first 100% bee-

free honey in the New Year.

By mass-producing a bioidentical honey that eliminates the need to intensively farm honeybees, Fooditive aims to create a scalable, provenanced supply. As well as providing all the benefits of traditional honey, this will address consumer concerns about animal welfare and sustainability.

Leveraging the same patented biotech process already used to create Fooditive’s revolutionary vegan casein, which was launched last year, honey DNA is copied into a proprietary strain of yeast.

When fed with nutrients and precision-fermented to replicate the metabolic processes that occur in the honeybee stomach, this yields a product with the

same characteristics and functionality of bee-produced honey – from taste, colour and viscosity to its health benefits.

The production trials will recreate the lab-proven concept in 1,000-litre fermenters, with samples to be made available for potential customers to try and test out in their own applications.

The development of Fooditive’s bee-free honey has been driven by concerns that common apicultural management practices in commercial beekeeping can be detrimental to the welfare of farmed honeybees and wild bee species that together play a vital role in pollination, increasing the risk of disease that can lead to colony collapse and declining wild population.

DGW AND DUBAI FISHERMEN CO-OP ASSOCIATION COLLABORATE TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE FISHING SOLUTIONS Dubai Government Workshop (DGW) and Dubai Fishermen Co-op Association have signed an agreement to foster sustainable solutions in the fishing industry by manufacturing fishing equipment from recycled materials. As part of this collaboration, DGW will provide the Association with equipment made from recyclable materials.

H.E. Fahad Ahmed Alraeesi, CEO of DGW, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in establishing sustainability within the fishing industry through recycling practices, consequently promoting the sector, and fostering environmental awareness.

Alraeesi said: “This agreement is in keeping with efforts to ensure the sustainability of fishing as a cultural and traditional heritage in the United

Arab Emirates. DGW also aims at preserving the marine environment by supporting recycling efforts across all industries.”

Abdulnasser Alshamsi, General Manager of Dubai Fishermen Co-op Association, said: “The move is a part of the Association's commitment to empower and support fishermen in Dubai and to sustainably growing the fishing industry through practices that protect fisheries. We are excited to advance our partnership with DGW and broaden our cooperation in areas of shared interest, in keeping with our commitment to preserving the environment, helping Dubai's fishermen, and perpetuating this line of

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work that we have long carried on from our parents and grandparents.”

Furthermore, this partnership comes in continuation of both sides’ collaboration in implementing initiatives to support Emirati fishermen. The recycling of fishing tools campaign is one of these efforts, which was launched by DGW and the Association to support Emirati fishermen and promote employment in the fishing industry.

November-December 2022

GREEN, GREAT, GORGEOUS! 24 – 27 JANUARY

Plants Technology Floristry Garden features

WELCOME TO IPM ESSEN! ◆ GREEN trends and sales-boosting POS concepts ◆ GREAT product choice and international

partner network ◆ GORGEOUS new plant varieties and

technology innovations All this at IPM ESSEN – the globally leading horticulture exhibition.

WWW.IPM-ESSEN.DE #ipmessen #weareipmessen

Apples

EUROPEAN APPLES RIPE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST MARKET FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL HARVEST

A

new report by the French National Apple and Pear Association (ANPP) has revealed that Middle East consumers can look forward to sweeter French apples this year due to naturally occurring increased sugar content, a result of the dry summer witnessed across Europe.

According to the report, European apple production is forecast to top 12 million tonnes, while French apples will see levels of around 1.35 million tonnes, putting the harvest on par with 2020 and 2021 despite the testing conditions faced during one of the hottest summers on record in Europe.

A range of well-known apple varieties will be available, including the Golden Delicious, which remains the most produced apple in France, Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Red apples, and Juliet.

Daniel Soares, Marketing Export manager from Interfel, said: “The 2022 apple vintage will be unlike anything we’ve seen for several years. The dry and hot conditions created numerous challenges for apple growers; however, the resulting fruit has good quality

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and is extremely tasty with high sugar content.

“The Gala, which is very popular in Middle East countries, is usually predominantly red in colour, but due to the day and night temperatures varying less this summer, it will have a beautiful red and golden skin and will be incredibly tasty due to exceptional sugar content.

Middle East fans of apples are in for a treat this year.”

Another factor contributing to the great taste and longstanding production of French apples is the eco-responsible production process of apple growers. This includes following environmentally friendly methods that respect biodiversity in orchards while ensuring the economic balance of their fruit farms.

This innovative agroecological approach is based on the principles of integrated fruit production, which focuses on the supervision of orchards, biological control methods and cutting-edge techniques to ensure quality products for all consumers. In 2022, the apple crop of eco-friendly orchards will account for more than 70% of French production.

In a bid to support French apple producers export their products to the Middle East market, the European Union and Interfel, the French fresh fruit and vegetable interprofessional organisation, have confirmed a three-year plan which involves a series of activations targeting consumers, retailers and young chefs. The program will include over 442 in-store tastings, retail seminars and culinary training sessions, pop-up stands in several malls throughout the GCC, and activities with retail chains.

According to Interfel, French apple exports to the Middle East recorded a slight decline in the 2021-22 season; however, they still topped 22,000 tonnes, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar imports up 2% and 12%, respectively. The UAE imported over 8,600 tonnes, which is on par with the previous year.

The ANPP divides French apples into five categories: gourmet, fragrant, balanced, rustic and tonic. The most popular type of apple grown in France is Golden, which represents 35% of all apples grown in France today. In the Middle East, the Gala apple's sweetness makes it the most popular in the region.

November-December 2022

Fertilizers

TRUST STRONG-26, THE ULTRACONCENTRATED LIQUID SOIL ACTIVATOR FOR ORGANIC FARMING

T

rust STRONG-26, the Ultraconcentrated liquid soil activator with 26% Humic and Fulvic acids- for: • Development of strong root system.

• P romotion of nutrient absorption and increase of cation exchange capacity.

• S oil activation and pH correction.

• C orrection of soil acidity that is caused by frequent fertilizer application.

• O xygenation of the root system and avoidance of root rot.

• S timulation of beneficial microbial activity.

STRONG-26 is rich in Humic and Fulvic acids, Organic matter, Macronutrients and Trace elements. It is made of natural, plant derived deposits of Leonardite.

Application STRONG-26 is applied either by fertigation or foliar application at a rate of 3-5L/Ha. Certified for use in organic agriculture according to EU Regulation 2018/848 for organic farming.

November-December 2022

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

23

LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE RETAIL AND LANDSCAPING

E

stablished in 1985, AlShaheen Nurseries has been ever since developing itself as one of the leaders in the field of agriculture retail and landscaping. AlShaheen Nurseries provides a complete set of agriculture and gardening services. The team is run by well qualified engineers and experienced supervisors, with a long and successful track record in agriculture projects execution. The company is located in Shuwaikh, 4th Ring Road, Nurseries Area. It’s our pleasure to introduce our wide range of services we offer the following: • Landscaping and planting

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division for indoor and outdoor gardens. Wholesale division (For Agricultural Companies only).

• Maintenance team for agricultural projects and house gardens.

• Designing and implementing irrigation systems.

• Wide range of indoor and outdoor plants.

• Wide range of flower and vegetable seeds.

• Different sizes and colors of plastic net shades.

• All kinds of natural and chemical fertilizers.

• Peat Moss, potting soil, hydroton.

• Agent and distributor of indoor and outdoor pots of different shapes and sizes.

AlShaheen Nurseries showroom is considered as a garden center for selling indoor and outdoor plants – Grass – Peat Moss – Potting Soil – Plastic Net Shades – Pots – Rocks – Seeds – Natural and Chemical Fertilizers – Agrilite – Irrigation Sys. – Water pumps – Insect

November-December 2022

Garden Centre

killer – Hydroton – Palm bags.

The Company aims to provide many items to serve different customer’s tastes, in addition to provide the best quality and less prices under one roof.

AlShaheen Nurseries owns a farm in Wafra area specialized in growing plants, flowers, and paspalum grass, runs by well qualified engineers to provide the market and the agricultural companies with the best varieties and quality. The farm is considered one of leading farms in Wafra in growing plants, flowers, and paspalum grass.

The Project Division is run by well qualified team of engineers

and supervisors to design landscape and maintain gardens. There is a team for designing & implementing irrigation systems.

The wholesale division was established in 2000 to provide

the Ministries and the agricultural companies with plants, garden tools and irrigation systems. Since then, the division has been supplying some of the leading government and private projects.

P O Box: 22138 Safat, Kuwait Code: 13082, Tel: +965 24740140, Fax: +965 24713823, www.alshaheen.com.kw,

@snafco

Urban Gardening

LIVING IN THE CITY IS NO LONGER A COMPROMISE FOR ENJOYING ALL THE BENEFITS OF FARM FRESH PRODUCE AND HERBS

"

LOOK OUT FOR CONTAINERS THAT ARE EASY TO USE, REQUIRE MINIMAL INSTALLATION AND ARE SUITABLE FOR YOUR GROWING AREA

"

What is the first step in urban gardening?

Setting aside a designated area for your new garden is the first step. When you look at your area, remember that you can use all of the space that goes up the walls too. This will double or triple your growing space. Using hanging baskets and planters as well as wall gardens, you can easily plan to grow a wider variety of produce.

For those lucky enough to have access to a communal rooftop, the building association can set aside an area for raised bed gardening as well as container growing. This is an initiative that a few of the residents can bring up with the building association, as its benefits include a social network between residents, promoting the apartment complex as a “green” building, saving energy and reducing the carbon footprint.

If the rooftop is not an option, then, ANY size balcony can become a food garden. With the clever use of space saving containers from grow bags to stacking planters and vertical wall gardens, you can easily harvest fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs all year long.

Most urban gardeners decide to start growing

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tomatoes. Tomatoes are easy to grow from either seed or seedling (small plant) and can be put in containers. It’s always a good idea to grow complimentary vegetables, fruits and herbs so that you can make the most of your produce garden.

Lettuce is easy to grow, loves sharing a container with tomatoes (as well as carrots, parsnips, garlic, chives, cucumbers and more). Lettuce and tomatoes have similar growing seasons and compliment each other in the kitchen.

Basil is an herb that will compliment your tomatoes in summer salads and pizza toppings. Herbs have the versatility of growing on kitchen sills as well as vertical wall gardens, or just sharing space with vegetables in a container or pot.

tomatoes first. There are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes from tiny cherry tomatoes to huge beefsteak

What container is best for an apartment balcony, rooftop garden or villa?

Choosing your container will be the next step. With your space measured out, you will know how long and wide your containers will need to be to make the most of the space you have. You can plan on using the wall space to install vertical wall gardens for growing herbs and small vegetables. You can

November-December 2022

Urban Gardening

also choose to invest in hanging baskets or hanging planters to utilize the roof space of your area.

Check online or at your local garden center for products that are tailored for urban farming. Look out for containers that are easy to use, require minimal installation and are suitable for your growing area. If you have access to a water tap on your balcony, you can also invest in an automatic watering kit with a timer. If you don’t, then you will need to set a reminder on your phone or a note on your fridge to water your garden.

Think of gardening as having a new pet. It will require daily attention at first. Once you start to reap the rewards of your daily visits, it will be second nature to check in on it and feel joy with every new sprout and harvest.

Knowing what you plan to grow will help you decide on the best containers. Large raised garden beds are ideal for a community, school or shared rooftop space. They

November-December 2022

are large enough to offer large quantities of produce to share. In smaller areas raised garden beds can be bulky and occupy too much balcony space. Compact containers such as grow bags, stackable pots and tiered containers are ideal and more versatile in function and movability for a small balcony. These containers can all be used for growing vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, parsnips, radishes, onions, asparagus, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, sunflowers, potatoes, chilli peppers, celery, spring onions and beets.

baskets and hanging planters.

The added height also keeps the fruit off the ground and away from crawling pests.

Herbs love growing in containers and you can utilise the wall space in your balcony or the window sills for growing many different herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, coriander, rosemary, sage and dill.

You are now ready to start planting your urban garden. We would love to share your project, send us your urban garden pictures on FB @whsaustralia.

Ask your questions or give us ideas for future articles info@whsaustralia.com.au

What should you grow?

Fruits that will grow easily in an urban gardens and balconies include blueberries, lemons, limes, melons, dwarf fruit trees such as peach, nectarine and figs will all grow well in containers that allow adequate drainage.

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherry tomatoes thrive in hanging

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

27

Irrigation

EMPOWERING SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER

GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN AID EVENT

RESPONSIVE DRIP IRRIGATION’S

AID INNOVATION CHALLENGE WINNER

number one goal is to provide a solu�on that eases the water crisis and its consequences. Besides scarcity, the main problem being faced is the lack of potable water in the world, due to inadequate management of water resources.

Water con�nues to be contaminated due to poor or no sanita�on, the discharge of domes�c sewage and industrial waste without proper treatment, and chemicals from agricultural ac�vi�es.

With growing global awareness that the planet's limited resources are in crisis, the next step is to take advantage of new technology, such as GrowStream™ system, that enables be�er methods and prac�ces provides a sustainable future, but can also begins to regenerate these resources.

GrowStream™ is a new technology that allows sustainable irriga�on in any environment, be it urban, golf courses, sports fields, ornamental gardens, and small or large agricultural environments, such as greenhouses or open fields, on land or ver�cally.

THE WORLD’S FIRST AND ONLY PLANT-RESPONSIVE IRRIGATION & FERTIGATION DELIVERY SYSTEM @2020 RESPONSIVE DRIP IRRIGATION, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

RDI’s system not only significantly saves on water usage, fer�lizer usage, and money, but also solves global problems such as food security, poor food supply, in quan�ty, diversity and quality, and fosters the sustainable development of the surrounding area. While these issues extend across the globe, it is those who have the least access to informa�on, the least educa�on, and the lowest incomes on whom RDI is focused. The simplicity of the GrowStream™ system allows displaced smallholder farmers to grow diverse crops, without requiring specialized knowledge, to feed themselves and their families and improve their economic posi�on.

WWW.RESPONSIVEDRIP.COM INFO@RESPONSIVEDRIP.COM USA +1-941-792-9788 & UAE +971-2-666-6156

RDI NRº1 GOAL

LIMITED RESOURCES

Provide a solution that eases the water crisis and its consequences to Humans and Earth.

GrowStream™ system provides a sustainable future with better methods and regeneration of resources.

SIMPLE TO INSTALL

LESS WATER & FERTILIZER

Simple to operate with minimal infrastructure and low maintenance cost.

System can be used season after season, outlasting drip irrigation.

SUSTAINABLE

It can run on gravity, reducing energy cost. Regenerative Farming with No tillage.

Improves organic matter, restores the soil health and carbon sequestration.

WINNER

2021 Aid Innovative Challenge Award, RDI constructed a greenhouse for the ACTION AGAINST HUNGER project in Iraq.

Uses 30-50% less water and fertilizer. Works with poor quality water, treated wastewater, and in non-arable land or degraded soil.

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER RDI Kit Package includes the system setup for smallholder farms. Mixed cropping and orchards. Costs range: $1500 to $2000 per acre depending upon row spacing & crop.

CROP DIVERSITY

No need for complex ET calculations or soil percolation factors.

Multiple crops can be grown on a single system. in harsh environments.

BETTER RESULTS

Healthier plants, higher yield faster to develop for earlier harvest. Uniform, high-grade produce that is more resistant to diseases and pests.

Soil Moisture Sensors

OPTIMIZED WATER MANAGEMENT STARTS WITH KNOWING YOUR SOIL

S

oil is the basis for agricultural management, and water is of vital importance to plants, not only as a building material, but as a transport medium of nutrients to the plant. But plants are not the best at utilizing water, only 1% of water that is taken up is converted into biomass.

Therefore, it’s important for soil to maintain the functionality of water storage and supply for optimal plant growth.

Soils are natural drainage systems, which ensure aeration and adequate supply of oxygen and other nutrients to plant roots and soil biodiversity. When exposed to excess water, these drainage systems work to move water through the soil levels to the groundwater table – while undergoing periods of drought, plants will have to survive on water reserves built up in wet periods. This is why monitoring soil moisture is so important, not only for plant health but for soil viability as a resource for agricultural management.

sloping, shade etc.

•C rop type (root depth) • Soil type (and differences in soil type across fields or projects) • Organic matter content • C ompaction • The underground (hard pans, underground water flows, etc.)

• If irrigated: the number of irrigation zones, valves, lines Soil moisture levels can change drastically within very short distances. This is largely due to the reasons listed above, which is why measuring soil moisture needs to be done at multiple points across a field. Soil isn’t homogeneous, and (hyper)local soil moisture measurements are needed to get a good picture of soil moisture levels across a field, which is the key reason why Sensoterra sensors have a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

It’s our belief that in order to have a complete picture of water behavior within a soil, more datapoints are necessary across a field, rather than just one centralized location.

Soil is the variable There are multiple activities which influence a soils’ water holding capacity and can therefore influence the moisture values derived from monitoring tools. Key factors influencing soil moisture are: • Terrain accents, like higher areas, lower areas,

How many sensors do we need on our farm or project?

Unfortunately, there is no ‘golden rule for the number of sensors per hectare’, but from practical experience we know that a good total picture can be derived from some cleverly placed sensors.

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Based on the above factors and years of experience in field, we have developed a couple or rules-of-thumb: • Terrain accents: if there are altitude difference in fields and/or landscaping projects, it can be assumed that the higher parts are drier, and the lower parts are more wet. This simple

November-December 2022

Soil Moisture Sensors physics (gravity), and higher parts are often more exposed to wind and solar radiation.

If a field has a higher part and a lower part, we advise at least 2 sensors – one for each scenario. Additional insights can be provided by one or more sensors in the ‘middle’.

• Crop type: if different crops are grown, with different characteristics like for example root depth, leaves, canopy density, and moisture preference, we advise to place at least one sensor per crop type.

• Soil type: different soil

types show different moisture behavior. Sandy soils behave completely different than clay soils. If both soils are present in a field or landscaping project, both should be measured.

• Organic Matter: The presence of soil organic matter is relevant as water molecules will bind to organic matter and remain present longer in soils with organic matter than those without or with minimal levels.

• Compaction: Infiltration rates are influenced by soil compaction, where high

levels of compaction reduce the water holding capacity, as well as increase topsoil erosion from water and nutrient runoff.

• The underground: this can be a tough one, because we can’t ‘look into the soil’.

For example a hard pan can prevent water to infiltrate into lower levels, leading to wet patches. Often, soil moisture sensors are an ‘early warning’ system, giving an indication that a certain area needs to be examined further.

• Irrigation system: for irrigated land/projects, one could choose to put one sensor in every irrigation zone. Of course, this can also be aggregated to 1 sensor per X irrigation zones.

Furthermore, with drip irrigation systems or in an orchard, it can be insightful to put multiple sensors along an irrigation line.

Of course, in very large areas It might not be economical to place one sensor per hectare or even one per 2 hectare. In these cases, we advise to split up the terrain or project in ‘zones’ with similar characteristics. A good way to identify these areas is by integrating moisture data from satellites.

By the way, it is often thought that satellite data competes with sensors. We think satellite data is extremely useful and should be used, but it does not provide the insights of real time measurements in the root zone of the plants.

Hence the data should be combined, to get the best insights to support decisions.

For more information, visit www.sensoterra.com

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

31

Agricultural Equipment

F

ollowing on from its success in the North American market, Bobcat’s line-up of innovative ground maintenance equipment (GME) is now available to customers across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The news was announced at Bauma 2022.

Gul Nalcaci, senior product manager for the company’s GME range, said: “Bobcat aims to rank within the top-three GME manufacturers in Europe.

To achieve this ambitious goal, we are rolling out our ground maintenance machinery across the region. Bobcat’s EMEA offering will include compact tractors, zero-turn mowers and turf equipment, which is supplemented by the company’s existing mini track and small articulated loaders.”

Loaders designed with versatility in mind Bobcat’s GME range includes

32 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

BOBCAT ROLLS OUT GROUND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT IN EMEA the recently launched MT100 mini track loader, and L23 and L28 small articulated loaders that entered the market last year. These machines remove the need for manual labour, replacing the use of wheelbarrows, shovels and hand tools across multiple ground maintenance applications. The models are also versatile tool carriers, with a broad range of compatible attachments that

enable contractors to maximize productivity and safety when undertaking ground maintenance tasks.

More mower for your money Following the acquisition of Bob-Cat Mowers, Bobcat is introducing a large, industryleading family of rugged, mowers to the entire EMEA region. Models will include ride-on, stand-on and

November-December 2022

Agricultural Equipment commercial walk-behind mowers, all of which are engineered to deliver a superior quality cut in less time. Aimed at both lawn-care professionals and residential users, Bobcat mowers are equipped with innovative cutting decks – available in a variety of sizes – to give users a professional edge. With a wide range of durable, zeroturn units on offer, there’s a Bobcat mower for every operator and application.

tough and versatile, delivering excellent productivity, superior comfort and maximum uptime.

With an extensive catalogue of proven attachments, Bobcat provides solutions to meet every demand in the ground maintenance sector. What’s more, GME customers will

benefit from Bobcat’s alreadyestablished service and logistics network, which covers every corner of the EMEA region,” concludes Gul Nalcaci.

For more information, visit www.bobcat.com

Top-class turf equipment Following its acquisition of Ryan Turf Equipment, Bobcat is offering expertly designed, high-performance turf-care equipment across the entire EMEA region. This expanded portfolio of heavy-duty, commercially built and longlasting machinery includes aerators, power rakes and dethachers, overseeders and sod cutters.

Compact Tractors to suit every requirement Bobcat is offering three compact tractor platforms – the 1000, 2000 and 4000 series – which feature nine new models designed to meet the needs of EMEA customers. Each model varies in size and engine horsepower, with the option to choose between manual and hydrostatic transmissions, and open canopies (ROPS) and cabs. Bobcat’s compact tractors can be equipped with front, mid and rear connections and power take-offs. The proven Bob-Tach system comes as standard on all front-end loader platforms, enabling users to switch attachments for multiple jobs easily, delivering greater value and versatility for their businesses.

“All of our ground maintenance machines are

November-December 2022

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

33

Agrotextiles

SAVING WATER IN AGRICULTURE: UP TO 50% WITH ARRIGONI AGROTEXTILES

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epending on their structure, colour and level of shading, all Arrigoni protective screens for agricultural crops enable water saving, with reductions of up to 50% compared to the open field.

These are the findings of a wide-ranging study by the Arrigoni group, leader in the production of agrotextiles for use in farming, presented at the Eima international agricultural machinery exhibition.

The study presents the outcome of field tests conducted from April to October 2022 at the Group’s research station at Putignano, near Bari.

The data examined during the test related to the evaporation of water from the soil and evapotranspiration, meaning the combination of evaporation from the ground and transpiration by plants, which defines a crop’s total water loss.

The test considered the Fructus®, Protecta® System, Prisma®, Robuxta® and Arricover® ranges – in other words, all Arrigoni’s most widely used coverings – with astonishing results. In fact, the study revealed that the use even of a protection system not specifically designed to save water but intended for other functions, such as climate control, protection from wind or

34 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

insect pests, or shading, also provides major benefits in terms of limiting water consumption.

“On the basis of the tests conducted,” Arrigoni engineer Marco Lippolis explains, “first and foremost it must be specified that the rate of water saving for a fruit or vegetable crop depends primarily on the weather conditions and the geographical area where it is measured. However, in general terms, as the temperature in the external environment increases, the percentage saving provided by protective screens also rises.

At the same time, again according to average values, water saving capability tends to increase in proportion to the agrotextile’s shading coefficient.”

Specifically, Robuxta® and Prisma®, coverings produced to provide protection against excessive exposure to UV radiation and to reduce internal temperature, were found to have a water saving capability of between 40% and 50%. On the other hand, Protecta® System, designed for rain and protection against insects and low temperatures, provided a saving of 38.5%. Fructus®, the Arrigoni solution for hail and for protecting orchards, enables a water saving of 32%. Finally Arricover®, the system for bioclimatic control in

greenhouses, achieves a 23% reduction in water use.

Each of these data, limited to the specific geographical area and climate, may also provide even more precise figures for each crop of application when combined with the single crop coefficients of the FAO’s Penman-Monteith method.

“Water saving is destined to be a more and more crucial challenge to the agriculture of today and tomorrow,” comments Paolo Arrigoni, CEO of the group of the same name.

“We need only remember that according to FAO data, it takes from 2,000 to 5,000 litres of water to produce enough food to feed one person for a day.

With our study, conducted to scientific standards in association with ten or so universities and specialist international centres such as CIHEAM, we have made a major contribution to one of the most pressing emergencies facing the entire sector.

Naturally, our research will continue, but we are very happy that our figures establish new bases for the production of all the most common fruit and vegetable crops.”

For more information, visit www.arrigoni.it

November-December 2022

Greenhouse

CERTHON'S LATEST GREENHOUSE CONCEPT TAKES INDOOR FARMING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

C

erthon launches its latest innovation: SupriSun. As a grower, this new greenhouse gives you full control over the amount of light coming in. It is a greenhouse concept that, together with the climate systems, gives you the control you are used to having in an indoor farm. "You can think of it as an indoor farm, but without the high energy costs because you are utilizing the power of the sun," says John van der Sande, Chief Innovation Officer. The SupriSun can be built as a stand-alone greenhouse as well as in combination with Certhon's earlier innovation: Gronos.

The SupriSun is a new greenhouse concept with special screens and dimmable

November-December 2022

LEDs. By combining these two, the amount of light can be optimally controlled. The focus here is on both the homogeneity and controllability of the light. This also provides an energyefficient application for indoor farming. If the greenhouse remains closed, growing conditions can be optimally controlled and the plant's needs can be met perfectly while still making use of the sun's light and heat.

Avoiding high energy costs LED lighting, dehumidification, and other installations in climate chambers and greenhouses require a lot of energy and electricity. "Because energy costs are skyrocketing and power prices are a bottleneck for

many indoor farming projects at the moment, it is necessary to keep coming up with highquality technological solutions," Van der Sande points out. The SupriSun greenhouse runs not only on energy but uses the forces of the sun in the process.

"By combining the sun's influences with the special screens, dimmable LEDs, and climate systems, you achieve a controllable climate and a stable temperature and light level. That way, you save on the high energy costs that do come with a full indoor farm." When the SupriSun greenhouse remains closed, diseases and viruses also do not get a chance, as there is no interaction with the outside air.

For more information, visit www.certhon.com

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

35

Feed Additives

SEAWEED METHANE REDUCTION

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ou may have read or heard about methane as it relates to the dairy and beef industries. Methane is a simple hydrocarbon gas and a large contributor to greenhouse gases and global warming. Methane is naturally occurring on Earth; it is the main component of natural gas and is produced by ruminants as well as by the decay of organic waste.

Agriculture contributes 36% of methane emissions in the United States, mostly from livestock. As the climate continues to change, many researchers and governments are looking for ways to reduce output without affecting production of livestock. One promising solution comes from the most unlikely of sources: the ocean.

Several research groups around the world have come to the same conclusion: feeding just a small amount of seaweed to cows could cut methane emissions by 80%.

Work being done in the United States, Canada, and Australia

36 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

has come to the same conclusion: a bit of seaweed could do the trick.

In the United States, UC Davis researchers fed dairy cows small amounts of seaweed a few years ago, and discovered that methane output could be reduced with no taste coming through in milk. In 2021 they published the results of a five-month long trial where beef cattle were fed three ounces of seaweed daily and grew at the same rate as the control group, but burped 82% less methane. Another taste test proved that there was no change in the taste of the beef, which might be crucial for consumers.

Another trial, this one in Prince Edward Island, Canada, found similar results. North Atlantic Organics takes seaweed that has been tossed onto beaches by the waves, dries it out, and markets it as a feed additive for minerals and nutrients as well as a 20% reduction in methane production. The cows don’t

mind the small addition, and the results speak for themselves.

This breakthrough provides an important tool in combatting climate change.

Ruminants play an integral role in feeding the world, so while the average American might be able to cut some meat out of their diet, there are many for whom a bit of beef or milk is life-giving nourishment. If a simple, natural additive could remove much of the methane from livestock farming, agriculture would be credited with feeding the world and saving the world.

In addition to the benefits to the environment, reducing methane production in ruminants allows more energy from feed to be fully metabolized and used to produce larger animals or more milk. This gives producers even more reason to feed seaweed; it promotes digestibility.

There are still a few roadblocks in the process. The

November-December 2022

Feed Additives

most effective type of seaweed is Asparagopsis taxiformis, which is not found in large enough quantities in the wild to be fed to millions of cattle. Seaweed can be farmed, and this is being investigated. It would also need to be dried and made into a feed additive, which is what North Atlantic Organics is doing in Canada, however

November-December 2022

their methane reduction efficacy rates dropped significantly when compared to the UC Davis trials, which used whole seaweed.

Once there’s an effective feed made, some producers would like to see government incentives to feed seaweed additives. There are already incentives through the United States government to reduce

methane output on farms.

Anerobic digestors, which turn manure into energy, are currently subsidized by the USDA, but not every farm can build or operate one. A feed additive could make a large difference faster and more easily accessible.

For more information, visit www.silostop.com

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

37

Feed Safety

THE IMPORTANCE OF FEED SAFETY FOR SAFE FOOD

Emmanouil Geneiatakis, FAMI-QS Secretary General

O

ver the last years, the feed sector started gaining the attention of the food sector regarding its role towards food safety.

Even though we are talking about two sectors (feed and food) with similar characteristics and complexity, there is one big difference regarding who is the end user of the output of each sector. For the feed sector, the end user is the food-producing animal which, on its turn, will be the main input for the food sector. On the other hand, the end user for the food sector is the “human”.

The quality and safety of feed for animals intended for human consumption will have a direct impact on the quality and safety of the food produced from these animals. Given the anticipated growth of the world’s population to around 9 billion people by 2050, and the associated higher demand for animal proteins, it is vital that the feed industry, as well as the wider agricultural chain, can meet this challenge in a sustainable and safe way.

From a regulatory perspective, regulators over the last decade started to be more attentive to

38 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

the feed hygiene requirements.

In 2003, the Feed Hygiene Regulation – EC 183/2003 laying down requirements for feed hygiene – was introduced in Europe. The breakthrough of this regulation was that HACCP became a mandatory regulatory requirement for the feed sector.

Following the implementation of the Feed Hygiene Regulation, a number of sector specific schemes (deriving from different feed industry sectors) was developed with the view to support the feed industry in implementing this regulation.

Gradually, other regions like Australia, Canada, and U.S.A. started developing further their regulatory requirements for the feed sector.

Feed safety risks have changed as to their likelihood to happen, and a holistic approach regarding how to manage those risks is necessary. Given that the feed sector today is part of the global value chain, additional effort for the management of these feed safety risks is required. The implementation of a feed safety management system provides the necessary assurance that the associated feed safety risks will be managed properly. An example of a feed safety management scheme for the sector of Specialty Feed Ingredients can be found in the FAMI-QS Certification.

Recent scandals in the worldwide food and feed sector have highlighted the need to strengthen fraud prevention measures across the entire supply chain. Not only is this necessary to protect the health of consumers, but corporations

and regulators both know that trust is the foundation upon which efficient, functioning markets are built. In addition, there is public concern that the food or feed sector is being used for intentional acts that could harm an individual or the public for ideological or financial purposes.

Third-Party Certification (TPC) and particular feed schemes are becoming an important feature of the global feed chain.

Nowadays, Feed Business Operators’ operational activities take place in a rather complex legal and business environment.

Today we have moved from local sourcing to global sourcing. This affects the level of controls which are required.

Although TPC is voluntary, it is an important requirement for a Feed Business Operator to gain market access and to communicate all aspects related to the safety of the feed ingredient, in a uniform language. FAO defines the food chain approach as: “Recognition that the responsibility for the supply of food that is safe, healthy & nutritious is shared along the entire food chain – by all involved with production, processing, trade and consumption”.The same approach can also be applied to the feed chain.

TPC eg FAMI-QS could be seen as a mechanism for the development of feed safety culture, minimising risks entering the feed/food chain, enforcing feed safety regulatory requirements and supporting global fair trade.

November-December 2022

THE QUALITY AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR SPECIALTY FEED INGREDIENTS AND THEIR MIXTURES.

OUR VISION Excellence and Trust in Specialty Feed Ingredients.

OUR MISISON We set the worldwide leading accredited scheme for the feed industry contributing to safe food. We facilitate trade, driven by uncompromised focus on risk management, safety and quality. With our collective experience, knowledge, and expertise, we proactively respond to the emerging challenges for the specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures.

Key Features Accredited Feed Safety Management System

Unannounced audits

Dedicated chapter on Good Manufacturing Practices including Human Health

Transparency on the certification scope of certified feed business through our public list

HACCP supporting document per manufacturing

Facilitate the worldwide trade of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures

Additional Mandatory Feed Fraud Prevention and Feed Defence module

FEED SAFETY - QUALITY - INTEGRITY FAMI-QS is a preeminent quality and feed safety management system for the sector of specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures. With our collective experience, knowledge, and expertise, we proactively respond to the emerging challenges for the specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures. www.fami-qs.org

Irrigation Show Preview

IRRIGATION SHOW HEADS TO LAS VEGAS

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xcitement is building as the Irrigation Association gathers irrigation professionals from all over the world to celebrate the work done in the industry — while showcasing an exciting future of what is yet to come.

Register now for the 2022 Irrigation Show and Education Week, scheduled to be held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas.

This year’s show brings back the industry-renowned exhibit hall, featuring hundreds of the leading landscape and ag irrigation companies to provide unique solutions to irrigation

40 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

needs. The popular new product contest returns to celebrate its 20th year, showcasing the newest irrigation and landscape lighting products and technologies to hit the market in the last year. Other exciting features on the show floor include Innovation Row introducing today’s hottest irrigation tech startups and Innovation Hub providing live product demos, pitch competitions and announcements.

The 2022 Irrigation Show will host Industry Insights presentations throughout the week to cover relevant

business- and irrigation-related topics to help attendees grow their businesses and better understand the state of the industry. Networking opportunities abound, with high-energy events like a Craft Brewfest and Viva Las Vegas Reception.

IA University courses will be offered during the show and will take your knowledge and expertise to a new level.

Attendees also have the option to take a certification exam and become IA certified, showing a commitment to attaining the highest level of expertise and knowledge.

The 2022 Irrigation Show offers numerous opportunities to explore the industry, connect with peers and learn new ideas.

Check out irrigationshow.org to register and see the full schedule of events.

November-December 2022

IPM ESSEN 2023: FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF HORTICULTURE

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fter the latest IPM ESSEN advisory board meeting, the participants agreed: horticulture is facing major challenges. In addition to the shortage of skilled workers and climate change, the energy crisis is a particular concern for the green sector.

Modern technology can be an instrument to make production fit for the future.

IPM ESSEN will therefore focus on the technology sector from 24 to 27 January 2023. The new "Horticultural Technology Innovation Centre" will celebrate its premiere in Hall 4.

"We are tackling the challenges of the industry together. The best opportunity

November-December 2022

for this is the next IPM ESSEN. At the beginning of the year, it will be the trend-setting platform for the green sector, where our topics will be discussed expansively and innovations will be presented", says Eva Kähler-Theuerkauf, Chairwoman of the Advisory Board and President of the North Rhine-Westphalia Horticultural Association.

Horticultural Technology Innovation Centre - what is planned Companies and start-ups, as well as research and science, will present their products and projects in a joint area in Hall 4. In addition, panel discussions and keynote lectures will encourage

IPM Essen Preview

exchange and provide information on the current state of science. What possibilities horticulture is already successfully using for sustainable and energysaving production will also be the subject of the educational show in the Horticulture Infocentre in Green City. The motto is "Gardeners can do it! Conserving resources and producing sustainably".

Tours on the subject of climate trees and perennials What are the trees of the future? Which plants are tolerant of heat, drought, heavy rain and storms?

Climate change is also making itself felt in urban green spaces. Green space authorities and planners want to use plants that can also cope with difficult climatic conditions. IPM ESSEN is therefore once again offering tours on the subject of "climate trees". In order to also focus on the promotion of biodiversity, this offer will be extended for IPM ESSEN 2023. In cooperation with the Bund deutscher Staudengärtner, the Stauden Ring and selected exhibitors, perennial plant tours will be offered. The meeting point for this is Hall 6.

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

41

Saudi Agriculture Review

SAUDI AGRICULTURE 2022 ATTRACTS 21000 VISITORS AND OVER 450 EXHIBITORS

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he 39th edition of the Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, the Middle East largest and most influential event for the agriculture industry was hosted once again at the prestigious Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from 17th to 20th October, 2022.

The trade exhibition and concurrent conference organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment Water & Agriculture (MEWA) welcomed more than 21,000 industry professionals who could once again source their needs from the over 450 exhibitors from the Kingdom and fourty-five countries.

The exhibition played a massive role in contributing to

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Saudi vision 2030. At the exhibition, more than 28 agreements of cooperation and cooperative exchange were signed, in addition to various commercial deals.

The exhibition and the accompanying forum also had the presence and participation

of scholars and academics from different countries of the world, as well as from various Saudi universities. More than 38 working papers were presented, in addition to research in the agricultural field.

Alongside the exhibition,

"ALONGSIDE THE EXHIBITION, MANY ACCOMPANYING WORKSHOPS WERE ALSO HELD, WHICH MADE THE SHOW A BUSINESS HUB FOR MAKING DEALS, AND MEETINGS, PROVIDING FACILITIES, OPTIONS, PLANS, AND STRATEGIES IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, AND THE LATEST FINDINGS OF THE WHOLE WORLD IN THIS SECTOR.

"

November-December 2022

Saudi Agriculture Review

many accompanying workshops were also held, which made the show a business hub for making deals, and meetings, providing facilities, options, plans, and strategies in the agriculture sector, and the latest findings of the whole world in this sector.

The speech of His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, during his opening of the exhibition and the accompanying forum, disclosed that the Kingdom has achieved high self-sufficiency rates for many crops, which contributed to supporting and enhancing food security, and led to an increase in local

November-December 2022

content and output, directly or indirectly, in manufacturing and importing.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, Ajlan bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan confirmed that the national committees of the Federation of Chambers have achieved many achievements in line with the state's goals to achieve food security and economic prosperity and that they seek to overcome difficulties to stimulate agricultural investment in Saudi Arabia.

The CEO of Riyadh Exhibitions Company, Muhammad Al-Husseini, said at the end of the exhibition that the success of the show

comes in strengthening this vital sector, mainly as it served as an umbrella and a forum between the countries of the world in Saudi Arabia.

The presence of the most prominent authorities, organizations, and ministries, along with sector leaders and investors, is clear evidence of its importance, quality, and the extent of its desired benefit.

They are preparing for the 40th Saudi Agriculture Trade Exhibition to be more significant. They have more involvement, including seminars and scientific workshops that will further enhance the exhibition and create a significant mark in the agricultural field worldwide.

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

43

Agra Middile East Review

AGRAME ATTRACTS OVER 4000 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AS FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY DOMINATED AGENDA

E

xploring the Middle East and North Africa's pathway to food security, AgraME – the region's most advanced agriculture event – officially concluded at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 26th October.

Officially inaugurated by His Excellency Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant UnderSecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCE), AgraME explored topics such as sustainability, aquaculture, biodiversity, and smart farming.

Delivering the conference keynote on the opening day, His Excellency pointed out that ongoing efforts contributed to the UAE’s leading position in the MENA region on the Economist Impact’s Global Food Security Index 2022, compared to the third

44 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

place in 2021. “The country ranks 23rd globally, advancing 12 places on last year,” he said.

Alameeri also noted that employing modern technologies is crucial to enhance food security by increasing production capabilities and ensuring its sustainability. “Therefore, organizing specialized conferences and exhibitions provides important platforms to showcase the latest innovative specialized solutions in the sector and promote opportunities to benefit from and leverage in an optimal manner. I was pleased to witness a rich agenda dealing with vital topics, such as aquaculture, controlledenvironment agriculture, vertical farming and greenhouses.”

Other leading experts that took to the stage included Juan Carlos Motamayor, the Head of NEOM’s

Food Sector; Pierre Broun, NEOM's Director of Agriculture – Food, and Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO of Agritecture and a worldrenowned agricultural expert.

Meanwhile, Erika Parente, Director of Farming as a Service at Cultivat’d, led discussions on animal feed and saving food miles, with impactful insights from Gabriel Zarafonitis, President of Farm Anywhere.

“We saw a number of really insightful sessions take place on engaging youth in the agriculture and aquaculture industries and celebrating women in agriculture,” said Brent Crosbie, Exhibition Director of AgraME. “This year, we also welcome NEOM as our ‘Future of Food Partner’, so our visitors had the chance to explore the role technology will play in the transformation of

November-December 2022

Agra Middile East Review represents the first vertical farming event in the Middle East, which addressed critical challenges around the arid nature of the land and the technologies and processes which are advancing agricultural processes in the region.

One of the exhibitors driving innovation within sustainable food production is Sustainable Planet, whose aim is to create sustainable and climate-friendly food sources with plant-based protein such as water lentils. Speaking from the show, Sven Kaufmann, CEO, Sustainable Planet, said that with the global population growing at a rapid pace, now is the time to start looking at innovative alternatives to ensure future food security.

“There will be 10 billion people globally in 2050, equating to 50 to 70 per cent more food being required,” he said. “Currently, animal protein is the primary protein source with more than 90 per cent of all animal feed being soybean based, there is a crucial

global food systems as envisioned by the NEOM Food Sector and its various initiatives.

“We also put an increased focus on sustainability, and with innovative companies such as Sustainable Planet taking part, industry visitors were able to witness the whole gamut of innovation that’s not only happening regionally, but across the globe.”

More than 4,000 local and international industry professionals met in Dubai to showcase their products and solutions aimed at achieving selfreliance in food production. The event was also co-presented alongside AgroFarm and three other key vertical event platforms: AquaME, AgraME Fresh, and the newly launched HortiME, a dedicated exhibition area and conference stream that

November-December 2022

need to increase soybean cultivation – an impossible task as there is insufficient arable land.

“Industrial soybean production dramatically impacts the planet, equal to meat. Moreover, excess consumption of soybeans is detrimental to human health. We predominantly use water lentils for our products, which not only produce 10-15 times more protein per hectare than soybeans, but, in optimal conditions, do not need arable land, reproduce every 24 hours, 95 per cent of water used is recycled, and the process is climate positive, producing 300kg of CO2e per hectare a day.”

The event also welcomed key sponsors Abu Dhabi's AlDhara, world leaders in innovative food solutions and optimised supply chains, and Canada's Cultivat’d, renowned agtech brokers and experts in indoor farm technology.

AgraME is returning 9-10 October 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and is free to attend for industry professionals.

EIMA International Review

EIMA 2022, THE BEST EVER The 45th edition of the world exhibition of agricultural machinery closes with the extraordinary number of 327,100 visitors, which improves the record of 2018 (317,000) and establishes itself as a top event on the international scene. Rendez-vous in Bologna, for the next edition, from 6 to 10 November 2024.

T

he 2022 edition of EIMA international reached its highest ever result, with 327,100 visitors, of whom 57,300 from abroad. During the five days of the exhibition - an event of worldwide importance for the agricultural machinery sector, organised

46 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com

by FederUnacoma - the number of visitors exceeded the record (317,000) set in the 2018 edition, before the crisis caused by the pandemic.

The Bologna exhibition thus overcame the most critical two-year period for trade exhibition events (2020-2022),

brought about first by the health emergency and then by the difficult economic situation, and strengthened its leadership in the trade exhibition landscape. Foreign visitors, from every continent, accounted for 18% of the total attendance, and 80 official delegations of economic operators - organised thanks to the ICE Agency - animated business meetings in the Foreign Delegations Pavilion that was specially set up.

"The success of EIMA confirms the growing interest in new-generation agricultural technologies to meet the food needs of a global population that will grow by almost a billion within the next ten years - declared FederUnacoma president

November-December 2022

EIMA International Review

Alessandro Malavolti - and confirms how in every region of the world, work is being done to innovate cultivation methods, seeking to make scientific and sustainable use of water resources and soil fertility". "In this perspective added Malavolti - a trade exhibition like EIMA has an important mission also for the years to come".

"The result of this edition is the result of a very rigorous monitoring that we carry out as a Federation, trying to offer

November-December 2022

manufacturers and the trade public increasingly efficient trade exhibition services added FederUnacoma General Manager Simona Rapastella - and it is also the result of the substantial investments we have made to promote the exhibition and to involve all strategic targets".

"Additional investments were made by BolognaFiere to improve the structures of the exhibition centre - concluded Rapastella - which will continue in the coming years

in step with a show that has a great present and a great future".

The next edition of EIMA International is already set for 6 to 10 November 2024, but a major event for agricultural machinery will also take place next year, with the return of Agrilevante by EIMA, the exhibition dedicated to mechanisation for crops in the Mediterranean area, which will be held at the Bari exhibition centre from 5 to 8 October 2023.

www.gulfagriculture.com | Gulf Agriculture

47

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xpand your ag irrigation knowledge. xplore unique solutions and new products.

he Irrigation Show and Education Week brings you the tools you need to improve your ag operation and make new connections. in the Irrigation Association in Las Vegas, Dec. 5-9, to be part of the largest trade show dedicated to irrigation!

• Meet leading ag irrigation companies, including tech startups looking to share their unique innovations with the industry.

•

See the latest product and technology innovations during the 2022 New Product Contest.

•

Connect with industry experts to get answers to your most pressing questions on ag irrigation.

• Enjoy unique events like the Viva Las Vegas Reception, a Craft Brewfest and more.

Growers attend FREE: Use promo code GA22 for a FREE full registration to the show!

Register now at www.irrigationshow.org to experience everything we have to offer at the 2022 Irrigation Show!

Expand your ag irrigation knowledge.

Explore unique solutions and new products.

The Irrigation Show and Education Week brings you the tools you need to improve your ag operation and make new connections. Join the Irrigation Association in Las Vegas, Dec. 5-9, to be part of the largest trade show dedicated to irrigation!

• Meet leading ag irrigation companies, including tech startups looking to share their unique innovations with the industry.

• See the latest product and technology innovations during the 2022 New Product Contest.

• Connect with industry experts to get answers to your most pressing questions on ag irrigation.

• Enjoy unique events like the Viva Las Vegas Reception, a Craft Brewfest and more.

Growers attend FREE: Use promo code GA22 for a FREE registration to the show.

Register now at irrigationshow.org to experience everything we have to offer at the 2022 Irrigation Show!

December 5-9, 2022 | Trade Show | Dec. 7-8 Las Vegas Convention Center | Las Vegas, Nevada

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The Groundwater Association

CONTACT US AT

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