Gulf agriculture may june 2014

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Y O U R G A T E W A Y 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

TAL TO GET GREEN-FINGERS AT GREENTECH

EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR REDPALM WEEVIL CONTROL

AGRAME ATTRACTS MORETHAN 300 EXHIBITORS

AVR: HIGH-CAPACITYPOTATO HARVESTERS

URBINATI: INNOVATIONIN HORTI BUSINESS

2014 28 3212

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NEW HOLLAND HAY AND FORAGE EQUIPMENTLEAVING NO LEAF ON THE GROUND

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2 MAY JUNE 2014GULF AGRICULTURE

Editor in Chief Mohammed Nasser Editor Marie Matthew Associate Editor Andrew Thomas Graphic Designer Elizabeth JohnMarketing Manager Megha Mary Matt Production Manager Abdul ShareefContributors Neville J. Chandler, P.K. James, Douglas Bott, Shakeeb Kolakadan, Dr. Terry Mabbett

Head Office Matt Media International Ltd, Woodgreen, London N22 5AR, UK.E-mail: [email protected], Web site: www.gulfagriculture.comMiddle East Office Al Saad Advertising & Publishing L.L.C., P O Box 25694, Sharjah, UAE, Tel:+971 6 5639494, Fax:+971 6 5639449.

Gulf Agriculture is read by agri professionals, farm managers & owners, landscape consultants, contractors, agri-equipment suppliers, horticulturalengineers, greenhouse managers, agronomists, veterinary surgeons, ministries, poultry & dairy breeders, importers, distributors, manufacturers and whole salers of food and agri inputs.Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2014

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CONTENTS

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

Cover photo courtesy: CNH

NEWS UPDATE PAGE 03

GREENTECH 2014: WELCOMING THE WORLD OF HORTICULTURE

TECHNOLOGY TO AMSTERDAM PAGE 10

AGRAME AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST AGRICULTURE PAGE 16

ENERGY BOOST FOR RACING CAMELS IN THE UAE PAGE 18

THE HAY-MAKING SPECIALIST THAT MAKES THE MOST OUT OF DESERT CROPS PAGE 24

PAVING THE WAY FOR FISH AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN WATER-SCARCE GCC PAGE 34

GRACE AND AL DAHRA BREAK GROUND ON FIRST PHASE OF

FCC CATALYST FACILITY AT KIZAD PAGE 38

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MAY JUNE 2014

African Farmers Expo andWorkshop Ploughing AheadIn only four years, the annualAfrican Farmers Workshopand Expo (AFWE) has grownfrom a local farming sectorexhibition in Gauteng to ahighly successful quartet ofthree-day shows additionallyhosted in KwaZulu-Natal,Limpopo and the North WestProvince. The nextJohannesburg event takesplace from 12 to 14 August atthe Johannesburg ExpoCentre (Nasrec) and isexpected to be the biggest andmost exciting yet!

“The show aims to empoweremerging and subsistencefarmers across South Africa,and boost the national farmingsector generally,” explainsMahlatse Masimini, CEO ofMoshate Media, organisers ofthe event. “There has beenincreasing interest in theAfrican Farmer's Workshop andExpo since the inaugural show,and that prompted our decisionto expand the event into theother provinces; the ultimateaim is to stage the expo in allprovinces of South Africa,culminating in a flagshipJohannesburg expo.

Part of the enormouspopularity and success ofAFWE is its focus on keyelements of the farmingbusiness such as a breeder'sexpo, the Agri Youth Indabaand the Agri Bizniz Summit.Other components include anindoor expo, outdoor expo, andthe highly popular free dailyworkshops.

“Exhibitors from the broadfarming trade understand theimportance of educating theirmarkets about the complexitiesof running a small agriculturalor livestock enterprise,” saysMasimini. “The shows provide

an invaluable opportunity forthem to connect with farmersand engage with otherknowledge leaders in theindustry.”

“The show aims to promoteand empower farmers in SouthAfrica and across the SADCregion, especially small andemerging enterprises, and toassist them in accessing much-needed finance and resources,”continues Masimini. “It's also aplatform to facilitate trainingand skills development forfarmers, encourage betterproduction practices and theuse of agricultural resources,share information on how toexpand and sustain farms, andinstil the spirit ofentrepreneurship.”

Participants at this year'sshow can expect some excitingnew features, aimed atincreasing value for sponsorsand exhibitors. Visitor badgeswill be colour coded accordingto sectors, for example freshproduce, dairy, livestock, etc.“This will enable exhibitors toidentify show visitors fromspecific sectors, saving timeand enabling them to getmaximum exposure to theirspecific target markets at theshow,” explains Masimini. “Wewill also invite procurementmanagers and businessdevelopment managers to thisyear's event, as business-to-business interaction is a vitalcomponent of the show.”

The popular two-dayAgriBizNiz Summit will beback this year, the theme forDay 1 covering “SustainableFood Production to addressFood Security in Africa”. Thetheme for Day 2 is “PromotingTrade and Investment Appealto drive AgribusinessGrowth”. The Summit bringskey stakeholders in the

agricultural sector together todiscuss pressing issues facingthe industry.

The popular Agri YouthIndaba follows objectives of theNational Youth DevelopmentAgency to provide a platformfor young aspiring farmers todiscover insights into farmingand agriculture as a potentialcareer after finishing school.The Indaba also enables youngentrepreneurs in the agriculturalsector to be more informed andto share their success stories.

The four African FarmersWorkshop and Expo events aresponsored by Ithala, Omnia,Masisizane Fund, Mintek,Standard Bank, University ofLimpopo, and Zoetis.

Macfrut 2014, the leadingevent for the fruit andvegetable supply chain After the positive resultsachieved in 2013, with 24,800registered visitors andexhibitors from more than 35countries, Macfrut, theinternational trade fair for thefruit and vegetable supply chainto be held in Cesena (Italy)from 24 to 26 September 2014,is preparing for its next edition.This year, once again, the keyword will beinternationalisation, whichcontributed to the success ofthe previous editions and willincreasingly be the main focusof the event.

With a 20% increase inforeign exhibitors compared to2012, and a 15% increase inforeign visitors, thus almostreaching 6,000 registeredvisitors, Macfrut begins aselective process that focuseson two areas: theMediterranean Basin and theBalkan region, strategic areasfor the production of WesternEurope and its technologies.

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Similarly, by examining thepotential demand fortechnologies for the fruit andvegetable sector in these areas,the international scene offers aparticularly wide range ofopportunities characterised byshort distances for continentalproducers.

Macfrut provides a targetedhigh value-added offer and hasunique features in the sectorscenario. It is a trade fair forthe supply chain, where visitorscan find all the useful elementsto set up strong businesses inthe global market. Theseinclude seeds, for whichMacfrut is an internationalshowcase and manyinnovations in the vegetable-growing and fruit-growingsectors every year, as well ascultivation and protectiontechniques, where multinationalcorporations and leading nichecompanies specialised inbiological pest control play akey role. Last but not least,product processing andpreservation technologies, forwhich the exhibition held inCesena can rely on the world'sleading district specialised infruit and vegetableapplications.

Technological innovationtherefore becomes an additionalstrategic and distinctiveelement for Macfrut, whichmakes Cesena's trade fair standout in an international context,primarily thanks to itsunparalleled conferenceprogramme: last year, as part ofthe exhibition, 23 conferenceswere organised, which involvedmore than 3,000 participants. Inaddition, the Oscar Macfrutaward ceremony, dedicated toinnovative technologies, seesan increase in the number ofparticipants every year andrising expectations of the

public. Finally, the territory inwhich Macfrut is held is a real“fruit valley”, where visitors tothe trade fair can find cutting-edge technologicalapplications. Last year's 820exhibitors, a 2% increasecompared to the previousedition, were involved in morethan 480 B2B meetingsorganised in collaboration withforeign delegations. They areproof of the key role thatMacfrut in Cesena plays in thisbusiness sector.

Return of the 'cherryFerrari' as the Glamour fruitseason beginsGlamour Cherries, the brandwhich has been nicknamed'Red Gold' for its high price taghas returned to supermarketshelves, following a furtherimprovement in flavour thathas led owner SAT Edoa toclaim it now has the globe'sbest-tasting cherries.

Harvested from high-techglasshouses in Lleida, Spain,Glamour Cherries are unique inbeing the only cherriesavailable anywhere in theworld during the months ofMarch and April, a full monthbefore the first early-seasonimports from California.

As they are only producedin small quantities usingcutting-edge productionmethods, the cherries arefamously expensive, their pricehaving led some to dub themthe 'Red Ferrari'.

In fact, a 100 gram bamboopunnet of large-size GlamourCherries can cost between Euro85 and Euro 125 during theeight-week season, leading thebrand to be featured inupmarket department storessuch as Harrods of London1.

However, the product'sexquisite taste and flavour has

been even more important inestablishing the brand'sreputation than the price tag.

According to SAT Edoa'ssales manager, Oscar Ortiz,this reputation for superiortaste and quality has beengained by the company'sdetermination to continuouslyimprove the already highstandard of the product,leading to an importantbreakthrough last year.

“Our agricultural researchteam has as its principal aim toimprove quality year after yearand last year, we achieved amajor improvement in terms offruit sugars and robustness,”explained Ortiz.

“This year, we are certainwe will continue to improvethese areas, working so thatGlamour Cherries, as well asbeing the only cherriesavailable worldwide betweenMarch and April, are also thebest in terms of taste.”

Harvesting for the 2014Glamour Cherries seasonbegan on 10 March at SATEdoa's glasshouse facility innorth-eastern Spain.

The company's totalproduction area for GlamourCherries currently covers50,000m2, with an additional10,000m2 of youngplantations that are not due toenter into production foranother two years.

“We are proud of theconsolidation we have achievedover recent years for theproject, business and brand ofGlamour Cherries, as it hasbecome established in each andevery country in which we haveclients,” said Ortiz.

“We continue to work toconsolidate the name ofGlamour Cherries as the best inthe world for their excellenttaste and quality.”

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MAY JUNE 2014

“Now is the time to remindconsumers that GlamourCherries' moment has arrived,”he added.

EIMA Green: the greenmachine in the foregroundThe market has returned tosound levels in the area ofEurope but indications of salesin Italy are still negative thoughthere are hopes for a reversal ofthe trend in the current year inlight of a very limited declinein 2013. The 2014 edition ofEIMA Green, the internationalsalon on mechanization ingardening and groundskeepingscheduled for November inBologna, was unwrapped at theVita in Campagna, Life in theCountryside Fair inMontichiari.

The sector of mechanizationfor gardening andgroundskeeping has comethrough its critical phase and isrecovering in dynamics.Following the internationalfinancial and economic crisis of2008-2009 the Europeanmarket is returning tosubstantial sales.

Estimates for 2013 are forsales on the continental market,the European Union andbeyond, coming to a total ofnearly 15 million units ofmowers, brush cutters, gardentractors and ride-ons and othertypes of machinery andequipment for hobbyists andprofessional groundskeepingfor a gain of 0.6% over the2012 figure. The UnitedKingdom was confirmed as the

leader on the continent thanksespecially to some types ofmachine, mainly mowers, with2013 sales at more than onemillion units to account for onequarter of the total of 4.3million for all of Europe.

Sales in Italy climbedsteadily in the opening yearsof the past decade to thenplunge with the onset of crisisconditions in 2009. After a12% drop in 2012 under theprevious year, the currentestimate is for a much morelimited decline of 1.6%shown by one million unitssold to signal a possiblereversal of the trend in 2014which might return the sectorto the black.

In detail, the data elaboratedby Comagarden on the basis of

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a sample of farms belonging toMorgan disclosed varioustrends for each of the products.Mowers closed the year down5.7% with little more than223,300 units sold, chainsawsshowed a sharper drop of12.8% with a total of 277,800units moved and leaf blowersand vacuums were off by 7.6%at 73,800 units.

On the plus side wereadvances for brush cutters, up16.4% with 207,000 unitssold, trimmers gaining 4.5%to 65,000 units and hedgetrimmers surging by 32% upto 86,900 units. Again on thedown side were hobbyist lawntractors, falling by 1.8% to14,000 units and hobbyistride-ons falling 8.7% to 5,100units whereas professionalride-ons rose 1.6% to 460units moved.

This round-up of data onmachinery and equipment forgardening and groundskeepingwas made public 21 March inMontichiari at the Vita inCampagna (Life in theCountryside) Fair - sponsoredby the publishing groupL'InformatoreAgrario - byComagarden, the association inFederUnacoma whichrepresents the Italianmanufacturers of machineryand equipment for gardeningand the maintenance of greens.Another purpose of the pressconference, led by theassociation's secretary foroperations, Federica Tugnoli,was the presentation of the newedition of EIMA Green comingup in the setting of the greatEIMA International expositionslated for 12 to 16 Novemberin Bologna.

For the most recent edition,the EIMA Green Salon hostedas many as 160 industries inthe sector, including 50 which

NEWS UPDATE

For more than 100 years steaming has been successfully applied in horticulture andagriculture. In particular as method for plant protection against all kinds of weedssteaming has been proven successful. Steam completely kills all soil infesting weedsand weed seeds merely through heat - both under glass and on open land. The result isalways a completely weed free soil, ideally prepared for consequent planting.

Research spanning over several years made at different German research institutessuch as the Service Center Rhineland Palatinate or the university of Hohenheimshowed that after surfacial steaming down to 5-10 cm depth with 90 degrees in openfield cultures such as arugula or baby leaf salads no weeds grew during the wholecultivation period from sowing to harvest.

The effect against all kinds of weeds was 100%. Furthermore a beneficial sideeffects could be impressively revealed: The steamed culture showed a significant headstart in growth of about 2-3 weeks and hence higher yield than such cultures whichhave been treated with herbicides.

For beds the company MSD in Durbach / Germany has constructed special tractorsuspension hoods with a total area of up to 20 square meters which are relocated step bystep after merely 5 minute steaming time. An even later development is MSD's steamrobot. It uses three steaming hoods made of aluminium and transports steam boiler andoil on it. Fully automatically and without supervision it drives in the track of the tractor.After a steaming process of e.g. 6 min (and hence a steaming depth of about 6 cm) thehoods are being slightly lifted up and the total unit moves forward about one hoodlength and the steaming process continues.

In accordance to the experience of the vegetable farmer Stegemeier from Bielefeldthat uses the machine already for 5 seasons of arugula cultures, 0.5 ha can be steamedwithin 12 hours. Stegemeier grows 4 cultures of arugula with 2 steaming sessions on thesame area in one season.

Weed control with steaming - a successful method


MAY JUNE 2014

arrived from abroad, takingover more than 15,000 m2 ofexhibition area. A look at thetrend of requests forparticipation in the 2014edition shows that the numberof industries is likely to groweven more with further gainsof those coming fromcountries around the globe,including the United States,Japan, Germany, South Koreaand China.

Tugnoli explained, “Thereview has strong internationalfeatures and will be a sort ofthermometer for gauging thetrend of the markets around theworld as regards professionalend-users as well as theamateur segment.

Within an event like that ofEIMA International, attentionwill be trained on techniciansand businesspeople inmechanization for agricultureand forestry and EIMA Greenis outstanding preciselybecause of the salon's dualdimension as a professionalreview for professionals andexperts in the field as well asan outing for the generalpublic of enthusiasts andhobbyists looking for technicalequipment and solutions whichensure quality, reliability andsafety in caring for homegardens,” the Comagardensecretary added.

Strong recovery followingtyphoon HaiyanTens of thousands of farmersare bringing in their first riceharvest just six months afterone of the worst typhoons toever hit the Philippines lefttheir fields in tatters and theirlivelihoods at risk, FAOannounced recently.

After Typhoon Haiyan hitthe central Philippines on 8November, 2013, the situation

was dire. More than 6,000people lost their lives, whilesome 600,000 hectares offarmland were destroyed,leaving millions of peoplewithout a source of income andthreatening food security.

"When I saw the extent ofthe destruction and damagecaused by the high winds andstorm surge, I thought thesituation was hopeless," saidrice farmer Lisa Canaber fromLeyte Province, one of theworst-affected areas.

However, thanks to animmediate response by theinternational community, theDepartment of Agriculture andFAO were able to assist tens ofthousands of rice farmersquickly restore and replant theirdevastated fields in the wake ofthe disaster, working closely

with the national government atall levels.

Within weeks of thedisaster, FAO, the Departmentof Agriculture and theirpartners began distributingcertified rice seeds to severelyaffected farmers, reaching 44000 families in time for theDecember/January plantingseason.

Some have already gatheredtheir crops, others will be doingso over the coming weeks andinto early June.

And as a result of the timelyprovision of certified rice seed,complemented by ureafertilizer, many farmers arealready seeing much higheryields than normal.

This will supply them notonly with food for familyconsumption, but also with seed

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Weather conditions in various countries and political tensions in the BlackSea region have made food markets more volatile, FAO reports in the newFood Outlook.

In its first major forecast for 2014, FAO puts cereal production at 2 458million tonnes (including milled rice), down some 2.4 percent from the 2013record, though global output is still expected to be the second largest ever.

The decline is likely to be more pronounced for coarse grains. Still, inventorylevels remain fairly good. Analysts say there is no cause for concern at this earlystage before the main 2014/2015 seasons get underway -- assuming trade flowsare not negatively affected by tensions in the Black Sea region.

Overall, world cereal stocks are expected to remain at relatively comfortablelevels, according to the report, a biannual publication which providesinformation on the short-term market situation and outlook for major foodstuffs. Lower pricing and El Niño weather conditions may keep world riceproduction lower in 2014, especially in Asia. In Thailand, a softening ofproducer prices could be the main factor leading to a contraction in riceplanting and production.

While production may be lower, international trade could expand to recordlevels in 2014, sustained by ample supplies in exporting countries andincreased purchases by traditional importers like Bangladesh, Indonesia and thePhilippines.

The 2014 global food import bill could stabilize at $1.29 trillion but animalproduct bills are set to increase, sustained by rising trade volumes and prices,the report says.

Weather and political tensions impact foodmarkets but cereal stocks remain adequate



for the next planting season aswell as surplus rice that theycan sell to boost their householdincomes.

"Had I not received thecertified rice seed to plant intime for the December/Januaryseason, I would have needed torely on external food aid foralmost a whole year," saidCarmen Cinco, who also farmsin Leyte Province. "I amhopeful now. We are on the wayto recovery."

FAO also provided 13,000farm tools and over 4,500tonnes of fertilizer to 80,000affected families. Now ricefarmers are reaping the benefitsof what is, for them, a first andcritical step on the road torecovery.

In addition to extensivedamage to rice farming, some33 million coconut trees weredamaged or destroyed byHaiyan, affecting thelivelihoods of more than onemillion coconut farmers. Giventhat coconut trees take six toeight years to becomeproductive again, small-scalecoconut farmers needed interimsupport in finding alternativesources of income -- most reliedsolely on coconut trees for theirlivelihoods.

After having consulted localcommunities, and in closecollaboration with theDepartment of Agriculture,Department of Agrarian Reform,Philippine Coconut Authority,Bureau of Animal Industries andother relevant governmentinstitutions, FAO is aiming tohelp about 30,000 small-scalecoconut farmers by providingvegetable seeds, farm tools, post-harvest equipment and livestocksuch as water buffaloes, goats,pigs and poultry.

"I need seeds, so I can sellvegetables at the market,"

Rosalia Garredo, a rice andcoconut tree farmer from LeyteProvince, said. "This andpoultry raising as an alternativelivelihood will help me beindependent until my trees areproductive again."

The goal is to diversifysmallholder farmers'livelihoods, thereby increasingtheir resilience to futuredisasters.

The typhoon also severelydamaged coastal mangrovesecosystems which play animportant role in local foodsecurity. FAO, in collaborationwith the Forest ManagementBureau of the Department ofEnvironment and NaturalResources, plans to support therehabilitation of agroforestrysystems and mangroves forestsand assist nearly 5 000vulnerable farmers withrequired agricultural andlivestock inputs.

Additionally, the stormdestroyed the assets of a largenumber of fishers, ranging fromfishing boats and gear toaquaculture ponds to onshorefacilities. An estimated 30,000boats were damaged, with some10,000 completely lost ordestroyed.

In developing andimplementing recovery projects,FAO is ensuring that pre-typhoon fishing capacities arenot exceeded; that fishers willreceive selective, non-destructive fishing gear; inputsupport; and technical guidancein responsible practices. About17,000 small-scale fishingfamilies will benefit.

Beyond recovery, FAO islooking to enhance theresilience and capacity offishing communities' to copewith future natural disasters.

FAO's typhoon Haiyanrecovery work to date has been

supported by the UN CentralEmergency Fund (CERF), theHumanitarian Aid and CivilProtection Department of theEuropean Commission (ECHO)and the Governments ofBelgium, Canada, Finland,Ireland, Italy, Japan, NewZealand, Norway, Switzerlandand the United Kingdom.

Potential of insects asresources for animal feedInsects can provide asustainable andenvironmentally-friendly optionfor animal feed, in addition toalready being a mainstay ofhuman diets for 2 billion peopleworldwide, FAO AssistantDirector-General EduardoRojas-Briales told aninternational gathering ofresearchers in The Netherlands.

Rojas spoke during theopening session of theconference, “Insects to Feed theWorld,” jointly organized byWageningen University and theUN agency. More than 400participants from 45 countrieshave gathered for the 14-17 Mayevent to examine the currentstatus and future potential ofinsects as food and feed.

“The time is ripe to thinkabout alternative sources offood in view of a growingworld population, climatechange threats and persistinghunger in many parts of theworld,” said Rojas, whooversees FAO's work inforestry and related foodsystems and livelihoods. Wildfoods contribute to the foodsecurity of millions of peopleliving in and around forestsand most of the insectsconsumed by one-third of theworld's people are collectedfrom the wild.

“Certainly insects alone willnot solve the world's food

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MAY JUNE 2014

security challenges but it wouldbe absurd not to mobilize theirfull potential in the fightagainst hunger andmalnutrition.”

“Raising insects for feed isan environmentally friendly andefficient way of producinganimal feed,” said Rojas.“Insects can be fed on bio-waste, compost and animalslurry, and can transform theseinto high-quality protein foranimal feed.”

“Recognizing the globalpotential of insects for food inthis conference is not toadvocate a change in the foodpatterns of the other two-thirdsof the global population that isnot used to eating insects, butto ensure that those whoconsume insects can continueto do so in the future in asustainable way, and tohighlight the different potentialcontributions insects can maketo food security in the future,”Rojas said.

He added that the challengeof feeding a projected 9 billionpeople in a sustainable way bythe year 2050 will “never beachieved based on one singlemeasure, but is only possibleby a convergence ofperseverant measures thatcomplement each other.”

Rojas mentioned bees as aprime example of the variety ofways in which insectscontribute to food security.Bees provide honey but theyare also the predominant andmost economically importantgroup of pollinators in mostgeographical regions of theglobe, supporting pollination of71 of the 100 crop species thatprovide 90 percent of theworld's food. Also, bees areamong the most commonlyconsumed insects in some partsof the world.

In addition to raisingawareness of the potential ofinsects in sustainable diets andfood production, conferenceparticipants plan to discuss avariety of related issues,including data-gathering,nutritional analysis, andregulatory and research

considerations, among others.Rojas said the international

scientific community couldmake “important contributionsby generating the rightmomentum to overcome thestill-existing bottlenecks and tounlock the full potential ofinsects for food and feed.”

NEWS UPDATE

9GULF AGRICULTURE


Greentech 2014, theinternational trade fairfor horticulture

technology which opens itsdoors from 10 to 12 June inAmsterdam RAI, will focus onthe twin areas of producttechnology for food andornamental horticulture,GreenTech will also feature acomprehensive range ofinnovations (with awards to match) and a unique blendof exhibition and excursions.

Professional flower andvegetable growers from around theworld will descend on Amsterdamin June, one of the nicest times ofthe year to visit this iconic city.The visitors to Greentech 2014 canexpect a return on their investmentin time and money.

“There is no internationalbusiness-to-business show withsuch an all-encompassingoverview of horticulturaltechnology,” says exhibitionmanager Mariska Dreschler.“Professionals cannot afford notto come to Amsterdam this Juneas, uniquely, every productiontechnology involved in flowersand vegetables will be featuredat Greentech. By productiontechnology we mean thetechnology - in the broadestsense of the word - that isdeployed in plant productionfrom seed to tomato orprimrose. Dutch companies areamong the leaders in this areaand GreenTech will serve abroad international platformwhere the Dutch sector can

present itself as the forerunnerit is, but also learn frominternational marketleaders.”

A fresh windThere has been a distinguishedhistory of major horticultureindustry events in Amsterdam,most noticeably the former HortiFair, also held in the RAI. Buthere the connections with thepast end - there is no structuralor financial link with this formertrade show and GreenTech hasbeen developed from scratch. Indoing so the organisers havebeen inspired by closeconsultation with the market toensure that GreenTech will be afresh new global meeting placefor the horticulture andfloriculture sectors.

GREENTECH 2014:WELCOMING THEWORLD OFHORTICULTURETECHNOLOGY TOAMSTERDAM

GREENTECH 2014:WELCOMING THEWORLD OFHORTICULTURETECHNOLOGY TOAMSTERDAM

1 0 MAY JUNE 2014GULF AGRICULTURE

GREENTECH PREVIEW


“At the heart of this approachare three sustainable andconnected themes,” sayshorticulture marketing directorFrans-Peter Dechering, whoplayed an important role in theconcept for GreenTech. “Wewill be organising sessions andtheme pavilions around thethemes of water, energy andbiobased. This will make itworthwhile for industries otherthan horticulture to also connectto the platform, including hightech, chemicals, life science &health and energy.”

Out and aboutThe decision to hold GreenTechin the second week of June(rather than November, themonth traditionally associated

with Horti Fair) is anothermajor innovation. This will addto the allure for people visitingAmsterdam at a time when thecity is in full bloom. “There arefew more beautiful places thanAmsterdam in June,” addsDechering. “What's more, thetiming has enabled us tocombine the exhibition with anextensive range of trials andexcursions.

“The so-called FlowerTrials -an open-house route forfloricultural breeders - havealready been successfullyrunning for the past decade in thesecond week of June. Now weare hopeful major vegetable seedcompanies will start an initiativealong the same lines. Add in thefact that everything can be seenwithin 50 km of Amsterdam andit is clear that internationalvisitors will thoroughly enjoyvisiting breeders and discoveringnew species of flowers andvegetables.”

Experienced organisers Another crucial advantage thatGreenTech has is that the eventis not only being hosted inAmsterdam RAI but alsoorganised by the RAI, one ofthe world's leading internationalexhibition and conventioncentres. “Amsterdam RAI is aprofessional and highlyexperienced organiser with noties to any of the participants,”points out Dreschler. “Thismeans short lines ofcommunication and a singlepoint of contact. All the RAI'sexpertise in organising leadinginternational shows inAmsterdam and abroad will beused to optimise the visitorexperience.”

Highlights will include adedicated content-based portalwhere visitors can fully preparefor their visit online and make

appointments to visit aparticular exhibitor. In additionto being a physical event,GreenTech will serve as avirtual platform where suppliersand buyers can get in touchwith each other. The RAI isinvesting in the creation of anonline community, online leadgeneration systems andmatchmaking tools.

Face to face “All these efforts willultimately ensure that thedoors of GreenTech are open365 days a year,” saysDreschler. “But everyone atthe RAI is convinced in theenduring value of face-to-face meetings to inspirebusiness, and that's why theexhibition in June is soimportant. We will focus onsolutions - enhancing thequality of products,enhancing productivity,lowering costs, marketing,food safety and sustainableproduction - while givingpeople the chance tonetworking with other quality visitors and industryleaders.”

The issue of innovations isalso a keynote feature ofGreentech 2014. All companieswill be showcasing the verylatest products and there willbe a GreenTech InnovationAward in the categories ofproduction, equipment andsustainability. “Good nutritionand well-being are crucial toquality of life,” saysDechering. “A growing worldpopulation requires sustainableproduction plus carefulattention to scarce resources. Itis clear that productiontechnology can make a vitalcontribution and theseinnovation awards willstimulate the process.”

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GREENTECH PREVIEW

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In June, the Rai inAmsterdam will open itsdoors for the first time for a

new exhibition dedicated tohorticulture. The biennialexhibition - GreenTech -Amsterdam is the new platformof international horticulturetechnology. UK-based SuperAbsorbent Fibre (SAF)manufacturer TechnicalAbsorbents (TAL) will joinaround 100 exhibitors at theinaugural event and will bedisplaying an array ofinnovative fibre and fabrictechnologies that aid efficientwater management.

The event - which will takeplace between 10-12 June - hasbeen designed to revolvearound three crucial themes:water, energy and bio-based.TAL will be in hall 9 closest tothe water pavilion and will bepromoting its Agrotas range of

SAF and converted fabrics,yarns and tapes, which allowusers to achieve optimumnurturing and growth conditionswhilst effectively reducingoverall water usage.

TAL's unique superabsorbenttechnology creates newpossibilities for thedevelopment of fabrics that canbe used for short and long-termsolutions, from hanging basketliners to commercial scaleprojects, even in areas of lowwater availability. Such fabricsare designed to achieve highlycontrolled delivery of water andnutrients to root systems, whilstsignificantly reducingevaporative loss and waterseepage. SAF can also be doseddirectly to the soil.

“We have developed aportfolio of products for thismarket” explains TechnicalSales Manager Mr Dave Hill.“From liner fabrics to durablefabrics that can be buried belowthe grounds surface, our superabsorbent technology offers asolution for those looking toreduce water usage or have aneed to ensure plants don'tdehydrate during transportation.

“Wherever there is arequirement to manage water andnutrient delivery in a controlledand environmentally safe way,we can help devise a solution. AtGreentech we will have a teamof development specialist's on-hand to introduce visitors to ourtechnology and meet aboutspecific projects if required.”


GREENTECH PREVIEW

For further information, please email:[email protected]

TAL TO GET GREEN-FINGERS AT GREENTECH




His Excellency Dr.Rashid Ahmad BinFahad, Minister of

Environment and Water, openedAgra and Vet Middle East onthe 25th of March 2014, theregions specialist agribusinessand veterinary trade events.

The three day event hasseen an impressive 26 per

cent year-on-year growth infloor space, which includeover 250 agriculture, poultry,fishing and horticulturebusinesses from 35 countries.Agra Middle East featured theAgribusiness Outlook Forumwhere experts discussed thelatest developments in GCfood security, preservation

and low cost sustainablefarming.

The forum discussed thechallenges related toagriculture and animalwelfare in the region, asclimate change, ground waterscarcity, population growthand how a higher standard ofliving contributes to the

AGRAME REVIEW

His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, has officiallyopened AGRA Middle East and VET Middle East in Dubai.

AGRAME ATTRACTS MORE THAN 300 LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS


MAY JUNE 2014

mounting food import billacross the region.

While more than 4,500visitors passed through the hallsof Agra and Vet Middle East,the remarkable success hasmeant that more than 40% ofthe floor space has alreadybeing occupied for Agra andVet Middle East 2015!

The fast-growing event forthe burgeoning Veterinaryindustry has witnessed a 71 percent growth in visitors since

2010, with the 2014 editionbringing more than 50international manufacturers andsuppliers of veterinary productsand services.

Held alongside Vet MiddleEast was the free-to-attendVeterinary Outlook Forumwhere leading experts discussedvarious topics includingdiagnostics, therapy, andtreatment of domestic, farm andexotic animals.

Organised by InformaExhibitions, Agra and VetMiddle East are held under thepatronage of His Excellency Dr.Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, witha continued support from the

UAE Ministry of Environmentand Water.

Organised by InformaExhibitions, AGRA MiddleEast and VET Middle East areheld under the patronage of HisExcellency Dr. Rashid AhmadBin Fahad, Minister ofEnvironment and Water. AGRAMiddle East is supported by theUAE Ministry of Environmentand Water, and sponsored byplatinum sponsor Al DahraAgriculture, while officialsupporters of VET MiddleEast include ConferenceSponsors Eithad Cargo and IFTAnimal Health; and LanyardSponsor Agthia.

AGRAME REVIEW

1 5GULF AGRICULTURE

00 LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS

THE THREE DAY EVENT HAS SEEN AN IMPRESSIVE 26 PERCENT YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH IN FLOOR SPACE, WHICHINCLUDE OVER 250 AGRICULTURE, POULTRY, FISHINGAND HORTICULTURE BUSINESSES FROM 35 COUNTRIES


The 2014 edition of theAgraME Awardscelebrated agricultural

innovations from around theworld at a glittering ceremonyand gala dinner in Dubai.

The awards were judged byan expert panel who selectedthe winners from a shortlist of14 projects across fivecategories. Dr. Rami Hamad,Farm Manager atthe UAE-based Al Rawabi DairyCompany won the FarmInnovation in Agricultureaward for his innovativeproject that helps to eliminateheat and humidity stress indairy cattle during the summer.

The honour for the FarmInnovation in Poultry went toTEXHA ProductionAssociationfrom Kiev,Ukraine, which was praised forits newly designed cageequipment for broilers growingwith a robotised unloadingsystem to minimise humaninfluence on the technologicalprocess.

Ma/ag S.R.L from Italyscooped the award for the BestNew Agriculture Product for theGulf Market for their culti-rapid

new generation machine, aninnovative equipment used forworking the soil as analternative to the plough.

UK-based Agri Lamp wasgiven the award for the BestNew Poultry Product for theGulf Market for their inductionpower systems designedspecifically for the poultryindustry. The new systemcontains a patented lightinduction technology, that isdesigned to be the safest, mostenergy efficient and user-friendly lighting systemavailable.

Another sustainable basedproduct was behind the BestNew Landscaping Product forGulf Market Award which waswon by Resysta BuildingMaterial, for their green,resistant, and sustainableoutdoor material, RESYSTA.

Richard Pavitt, AGRAMiddle East ExhibitionDirector praised this year'sfinalists and winners for theachievements they've made intheir businesses and theircontribution to agribusiness inthe Middle East.

“We've had an exciting year

for the AgraME Awards, giventhe diversity of industriesrepresented across the fivecategories. All of this year'snominations illustrated thediverse challenges andinnovative solutions inimplementing good agriculturalpractices on their farms, attheir production facilities, andin the management of theirbusiness.

“Informa Exhibitions isproud to have received somany entries for our secondedition of the AgraME Awards.Congratulations to the winnersand all those shortlisted.”


AGRAME REVIEW

AGRAME AWARDSCELEBRATE EXCELLENCEIN MIDDLE EASTAGRICULTURE


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Page | 2

Richard Pavitt, AGRA Middle East Exhibition Director praised this year’s finalists and winners

for the achievements they’ve made in their businesses and their contribution to agribusiness in

the Middle East.

“We’ve had an exciting year for the AgraME Awards, given the diversity of industries

represented across the five categories. All of this year’s nominations illustrated the diverse

challenges and innovative solutions in implementing good agricultural practices on their farms,

at their production facilities, and in the management of their business.

“Informa Exhibitions is proud to have received so many entries for our second edition of the

AgraME Awards. Congratulations to the winners and all those shortlisted.”

AgraME Awards Winners

Category Winner Project

Farm Innovation Award

Person – Agriculture

Dr Rami Hamad, Farm

Manager, Al Rawabi Dairy

Company

New innovative way to eliminate

heat and humidity stress during

summer in dairy cattle in Dubai

Farm Innovation Award –

Poultry Product

TEXHA Production

Association

The cage equipment for broilers

growing with robotized poultry

unloading system

Best New Product for Gulf

Market – Agriculture

Ma/ag S.R.L Cultirapid new generation


Market – Poultry

Agri Lamp Agrilamp Induction Power System

(ALIS)


Market – Landscaping

Resysta Building Material Resysta

Held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of

Environment & Water, AGRA Middle East is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Al Dahra

Agriculture and supported by the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water. The event is co-

located with VET Middle East, the leading event for the veterinary industry in the region.

Captions: The winners of the 2014 AgraME Awards celebrated last night at the Dubai

International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Ends


Agrivita FeedSolutions, the animalfeed division of

Agthia Group, has launched ahigh performance camel feedproduct specifically developedfor the approximately 70,000racing camels competingthroughout the UAE.

The Champion RacingCamel High PerformanceFeed arrives in the UAE forthe first time after one year ofextensive research anddevelopment between animalnutritionists and cameltrainers.

The high energy coarse mixwas showcased to thousands ofvisitors at AGRA Middle East.

Rajeswari Gopalan, TradeMarketing Manager atAgrivita Feed, said that thefeed is formulated formaximum speed andperformance of racing camels,enriched with minerals,vitamins, energy and nutrientsto enable endurance andprotection against high effortand stress.

“Agrivita has a team ofspecialists educating breedersand trainers of the benefits ofthe Champion Racing CamelHigh Performance Feed thathas been developed

specifically for racing camel'sunique physiologicalrequirements,” said Gopalan.

“For breeding, training orcompeting, we recommendthat racing camels consumebetween 1.5 to 2 kg ofAgrivita Champion feed perday at the discretion ofnutritionists and trainers, inorder to maintain optimumhealth and superiorperformance.”

The three-day event hostedmore than 250 regional andinternational companies inaquaculture, poultry, andhorticulture sectors.


AGRAME REVIEW

ENERGY BOOSTFOR RACINGCAMELS IN THE UAE

More zoom for UAE racingcamels: Agrivita FeedSolutions launched theirChampion Racing Camel HighPerformance Feed at AGRAMiddle East.


These include Canadian-based Agri-Plastics, which areshowcasing at AGRA MiddleEast their complete range ofcalf rearing hutches, includingthe SL Super Ventilation CalfHutch, a finalist at theAgraMe Awards for the bestnew agriculture product forthe Gulf market.

Noel Kelly, Director ofInternational Sales at Agri-Plastics, said: “The SL SuperVentilation Hutch is our mostpopular product with anopaque plastic that blocks outthe sun, while providingample ventilation for calves in

very high temperatures.“So far we've sold to

several projects for farms inKuwait, Israel, Lebanon, plusa brand new project in Jordanusing the SL SuperVentilation Hutch. Beforetrialling our products, thefarm in Kuwait usedtraditional metal boxes to reartheir calves in temperatures inexcess of 50 degrees Celsius,with a 20 per cent mortalityrate. After using the Agri-Plastic SL Calf Hutch in thesame temperatures, themortality rate dropped to justtwo per cent.”

Agri-plastics showcased theirvery popular range of calf hous-ing solutions at the three-daytrade show for the Middle Eastagriculture, horticulture, poultryand aquaculture sectors.

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AGRAME REVIEW

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The SOSPALM peg is an endotherapy method for the control of the red palm weevil. Its highefficiency and low maintenance costs have made SOSPALM the most used tool by professionals,local authorities, date producers, and nurseries.

The SOSPALM peg is permanently installed on the palm stem and after the simple application of aninjection, a dose of systemic insecticide travels to the point of growth, protecting it from the attacks ofthe red palm weevil. As it is installed in the lower part of the palm, it protects the entire stretch of thestem, which is essential to control lateral and basal attacks in Phoenix dactilyfera.

Technical ConferenceThe director of the Palmeral of Elche Department of Miguel Hernandez University of Elche and head ofPlant Growth at the Agricultural Council of Alicante, Doctor of Agricultural Engineering Mr. JoseManuel Llorens, has recently presented the results of endotherapy SOSPALM trials for the control of the

red weevil in palm trees.After two days of active presentation, in which around 250 experts took part, the following conclusionswere given:l The SOSPALM peg is an efficient method for injecting insecticides into the interior of the palm tree.l As the same point of injection is used, it is not necessary to repeat the perforations in the palm tree.

Results of the trials to measure the efficiency of different insecticidesl Monthly injections of 9 cc of Imidacloprid per palm dissolved in SOSPALM LIQUID kept the palm

trees alive for more than 2 years.l After monthly injections of 6 gr of Tiametoxan per palm via the SOSPALM peg, all palms had

survived after a two year period.l 100% of Phoenix Canariensis and Dactilyfera injected every 30 days with Tiametoxan, Imidacloprid,

Abamectine and Acetamiprid remained healthy.l Imidacloprid and Clotianidina had a positive effect in an upward circulation but little effect in

downward circulation.

Results of trials to measure the efficiency of Emamectinel In seriously infected palms, 45 cc of Emamectine injected every 90 and 120 days through 3

SOSPALM pegs per palm kept all the palms alive.

RED PALM WEEVIL CONTROL

SOSPALM: THE MOST EFFICIENT SYSTEMFOR THE CONTROL OF RED PALM WEEVILTHE MIGUEL HERNANDEZ UNIVERSITY OF ELCHE, ALICANTE- SPAIN, PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF THREE YEARSTRIALS ABOUT ENDOTHERAPY WITH THE SOSPALM SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL OF RED PALM WEEVIL


MAY JUNE 2014

l In healthy palms, doses of Emamectine of both 30 and 45 cc applied every 180 or 360 days have,to date, shown 100% efficiency, although new trials are needed in order to confirm these results.

Other notable trialsThe high pest pressure in the date producing areas, along with a very large number of tall palm trees,led to focus the efforts on creating a protocol that guarantees no pesticide residues in the date, aprime quality factor, and the protection of the point of growth in the highest palm trees. Until theseresults had been achieved, farmers had interrupted the treatments which left the palms unprotected.

Trials to detect insecticide residues in datesl Metjoul and confitera dates which had been injected with Tiametoxan, Abamectine and

Imidacloprid using the SOSPALM endotherapy up to 30 days before harvest, did not show any

insecticides residues above required levels.

Results of trials to detect the presence ofinsecticides in the stem of tall palm treesl In palm trees of up to 13 meters in height, with

monthly injections of Imidacloprid, the presence ofthis insecticide was detected at the growing point.

l In palm trees installed with SOSPALM pegs in March 2010 and inspected in April 2014, nonecrosis was detected and the stem retained its capacity of circulation of the injected insecticide.


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Inspection of the condition of the pointof installation of the SOSPALM pegafter 4 years of use. (Photos courtesyof Alicante Town Hall)



The full results of the trials canbe seen through the following link:http://palmeralelx.umh.es/trabajos-catedra-2/lucha-activa-contra-el-picudo-iii-tratamientos-con-endoterapia/

SOSPALM, SYSTEM TESTEDIN ELCHE, THE GREATESTPALMERAL IN EUROPE The pest situation in Spain issimilar to that of all theMediterranean countries, buthaving been the gateway of the redpalm weevil into Europe, researchhas been a priority in Spain,making it the country of referencefor research in the fight against thered palm weevil.

SOSPALM is a method thatoffers added advantages overtraditional endotherapy. Fixedinstallation of the peg in the palmtree without the need to repeatperforations avoids unnecessarydamage to the specimen.

SOSPALM improves laborproductivity when repeatedtreatments are carried out as it isnot necessary to move complicatedand heavy equipment.

The SOSPALM peg has beenspecially designed for permanentinstallation into the stem of thepalm. What is more the external


The SOSPALM peg has been speciallydesigned for permanent installation intothe stem of the palm. What is more theexternal and internal seal, an exclusivefeature of the design, avoids the closureof the capillary vessels of the palm tree and helps functionality over the passage of time.


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2 3GULF AGRICULTURE

SOSPALM improves labor productivity when repeated treatments are carried out as it is not necessary to move complicat-ed and heavy equipment.

and internal seal, an exclusive feature of the design,avoids the closure of the capillary vessels of thepalm tree and helps functionality over the passageof time.

As has been proved in all the official trials carriedout by the Department of Agriculture of Valencia inAlicante, the Department of Agriculture of Cataloniaand by the Department of Agriculture of Ibiza, andother official organisms, garden businesses,gardeners, nurseries and producers of dates, theSOSPALM system is the most efficient andeconomical as well as being the kindest to theenvironment in the fight against the red palm weevil.

www.sospalm.com


Saudi Arabia's agriculturaldevelopment has beenimpressive over the last

decades. Although widelythought of as a desert, thecountry has had the strength toconvert large desert areas intolush fields and cultivable land.

The government, with thecombined effort of the privatesector, has aided the process byimplementing major irrigationprojects and large scalemechanization. As a result, theKingdom of Saudi Arabia cannow declare to be self-sufficient

in a number of agricultural anddairy products. This is a majoraccomplishment for one of thecountries with the lowestrainfall in the world. Still, waterscarcity remains a majorchallenge and all the efforts tomaintain fertile farmlands must


AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

THE HAY-MAKING SPECIALIST THAT MAKESTHE MOST OUT OF DESERT CROPS


be supported by crop yieldmaximization. No doubt,agricultural equipment plays asignificant role in this scenario.

Arabian Auto Agency(AAA) is the Kingdom's mainsupplier of engineeredequipment and for theagricultural sector the companyis exclusively distributing NewHolland Agriculture productssince 1988. “From small up tolarge corporate farms, NewHolland equipment is the

preferred choice of ourcustomers as it suits well thespecific farming needs of ourregion,” says Gummuluri Rao,Product Manager at AAA. Thecompany complements theproduct offering with highquality, responsive after-salesservice and technical support.“This is highly appreciated bySaudi Arabian customers and akey pillar to build long-termloyalty with every one ofthem,” adds Mr. Rao.

Among the renownedcustomers of AAA there is theNational AgriculturalDevelopment Company(NADEC), one of the largestagricultural and food-processing companies in theMiddle East and North Africaand one of the very fewvertically integrated dairybusinesses in the world.NADEC produces a wide rangeof different products, fromfruits to olives, from alfalfa toother crops and animal fodder,and it is constantly looking forthe latest technology and thebest farming practices.

Recently, the company haspurchased five New HollandH8040 Speedrower® self-propelled windrowers. Theunits were delivered by AAAwhich also provides dedicatedafter-sales support andtechnical training to thehighly qualified NADECoperators and technicians. TheH8040 windrowers areworking in three farmingprojects across the country,respectively located in Jouf,Hail and Harad. The units aremainly used in the haymakingof alfalfa, which is still themajor crop in the Kindgom,largely utilized for cattle andcamel feed.

“NADEC is a loyalcustomer of New HollandAgriculture equipment sincemany years,” highlights Mr.Rao. “With the recent purchaseof five H8040 windrowers, thecompany has further expandedits fleet which already includesmore than sixty rakes, twentywindrowers and a selection ofsmall and large square balers,all marked with the blue andyellow colors of NewHolland,” says Mr. Rao.

With almost 120 years ofexperience, New Holland

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FROM SMALL UPTO LARGECORPORATEFARMS, NEWHOLLANDEQUIPMENT IS THEPREFERRED CHOICEOF OURCUSTOMERS AS ITSUITS WELL THETHE SPECIFICFARMING NEEDSOF OUR REGION

Gummuluri Rao

‘‘


Agriculture is a global leader inthe agriculture equipmentsector and a top-player in theMiddle East markets. Thecompany offers the widestchoice of innovative yet easy-to-operate agriculturalequipment, including tractors,combine harvesters, balers, andhay tools. With a long historyof industry firsts, New Hollandhas set the standard forhaymaking with a completeoffering of hay tools and strong

market positions in thewindrower and bale wagonsegments.

H8040 Speedrower®Windrowers: A Truly HardWorkerNo matter what the crop, NewHolland H8040 Speedrower®self-propelled windrowersdeliver unmatched power andoperational capacity. Drawingfrom over 50 years ofwindrower expertise, the H8040

models get the job done withease and speed thanks to apowerful four-cylinder,turbocharged engine thatdelivers up to 126 hp (94 kW).This highly-responsive, fuel-efficient engine is matched witha capacious 454-litre fuel tank,allowing the H8040 windrowersto stay in the field long hourswithout refueling. The air-conditioned deluxe cab providesbest-in-class comfort andcontrol, with outstanding




overall visibility on themachine and the header. Thecab suspension and theindependent rear axlesuspension give extra smoothride and speed in all terrains.Productivity is taken to the nextlevel with the independenthydraulic header flotationsystem and the windrow shieldadjustment that give superiorheader in-cab control to theoperator. Uptime is furthermaximized by quick access to

daily maintenance points androutine service performed atground level.

New Holland offers a largeselection of draper andsicklebar headers, ranging from3.73 to 11 m, including the 4.95m 16HS sicklebar header whichis very suitable for cutting andwindrowing alfalfa crops.Combined with a H8040windrower, the reliableHaybine® HS Series isrecognised for smooth, cleanand time-proven alfalfa cuttingwhich ensures up to 9 cuts peryear.

High-Quality Bailing ThatSaves You Valuable Crop Nobody understands balinglike New Holland Agriculture.The company has led the art ofbaling, ever since it introducedthe world’s first successfulautomatic hay baler in 1937.More than 900,000 balers later,New Holland has a well-earned reputation for reliabilityand baler excellence.

The hard-working BC5060small square balers produceconsistent bales that meet thedemands of most farmoperations and are particularlysuitable for bailing alfalfa hay.The Super Sweep pick-up witha wide pick-up area of 1.65 m,or 1.8 m with the flare, ensuresextra crop that is missed byconventional pick-ups. Theheavy-duty rotary feedingsystem is mechanically simpleand designed for durability,ease-of-service and fordelivering uniform, high-quality bales. The compact36x46 cm bales are very easyto handle and keep their shapeover a longer period. Light-in-weight, they ensure hassle-freetransport.

New Holland Agricultureproduct offering also

encompasses dedicated high-capacity solutions for largerbailing operations up tothousands alfalfa bales peryear.

Fast Field Clearance withNew Holland Bale WagonsFor about 50 years, since theintroduction of its firstautomatic baler wagon, NewHolland has transformed theback-breaking labor of movingand stacking bales into a jobthat is almost effortless.Offered in self-propelled ortrailed versions, New Hollandwagons are designed to quicklycollect bales from the field andautomatically stack them fortransport. The pull-type NewHolland 1037 model is veryeasy to use: it just needs to behooked up to the tractor's PTO,allowing the operator to pickup, load and stack baleswithout leaving the seat. The1037 bale wagon can handlethree-bale-wide loads, up tofour tons per load.

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AVR's aim is producingrobust, secure high-capacity harvesters that

are able to deliver potatoes ofexcellent quality, the High-Endmachines. The 'total cost ofownership' has to be as low aspossible. Quality, capacity andservice are the key words here.AVR's specializations consist ofharvesting potatoes on the onehand and soil cultivation beforeand after the planting ofpotatoes on the other hand.

The basis of the whole AVRselection lies in the division of

Research and Development. Alldevelopments are carried out in-house, whether it is a newprototype or a small adaptationto an existing machine. Theknowledge about potatoharvesters is essential here. Ourresearchers have a yearlongexperience in this sector andoften have an agriculturalbackground.

The machines are designedin a modern way, with the helpof 3D computer systems. Newmachines are fullydeveloped on ourcomputerscreens andthe assemblyis optimized.The modularityof the harvesters

is a guide line here. As such,machines can be finishedtaking into account thespecific conditions and needsof the client.

The machine's constructionspells out AVR. The well-knownAVR digging unit takes care ofthe potato influx. The potatoesare then transported to a diggingweb and a 1st sieving web (withagitator), after which a haulmweb (with underneath a 2nd and3rd sieving web and an in-linepintlebelt) ensures an efficient

haulm separation. Afterthat, a final soil andclump separation isconducted on thetransversal pintle belt(above which either a3-row rotary comb, a


HIGH-CAPACITYHARVESTERS


MAY JUNE 2014

retaining roller set or a 2x2-rowrotary comb is mounted). Thepotatoes pass via the picking-offtable with room for about 6workers to finally end up in the8+ ton bunker.

All sieving webs, pintlebelts,retaining rollers etc. arehydraulically driven, whichmakes this machine extremelymaintenance- and user-friendly.For instance, the web speeds canbe configured in relation to thedriving speed, which ensures anadequate anticipation of allharvesting conditions.

It is also possible to install across roller set before thepintlebelt module. This set

excels in flexibility. Numerousconfiguration possibilitiesensure that the harvester can beused under nearly all harvestingconditions, from soft soil in dryconditions to dense soil afterseveral weeks of rain. As thecross roller set immediatelysieves out a large amount of soiland clumps, the capacity of thepintlebelts and therefore themachine augments considerably.The cross roller set consists ofturbine rollers and smoothrollers that are mountedtransversally to the product flow.When all rollers are spinning inthe same direction, the potatoesare quickly transported to theensuing pintlebelt. When anintensive soil and clumpseparation is called for, thedistance between the spiral andplain rollers can be increasedand the plain rollers can bemade to spin in the opposite

direction. This causes themachine's capacity toincrease dramatically.


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TURKEY UPDATE

MAY JUNE 2014 3 1GULF AGRICULTURE


The activity of thecompany started in 80 esand was realized in the

direction of bringing continueinnovation, new solutions tofacilitate and improve theconditions of working in thenurseries.

The company is based on theforce of the Urbinati familyaround the figure of NinoUrbinati, founder of thecompany and spirit of thetechnical Dpt in a continuoussearch of innovative technicalsolutions that are the real life ofthe company.

Besides Nino, RominaUrbinati with all thecollaborators that makes thecompany so strong and wellbalanced among every unit,

from that administrative to thecommercial one, the productiveare divided into units whereevery unit is independent and ina position of guaranteeing themaximum productive abilityduring the arch of all thevarious productive seasons.

And every unit meansseeding dpt, irrigation boomsarea, wireless transplanter dpt,fillers and compost mixers,tapes for transporting, newprototypes.

And this is the real force ofthe company, the being acompany complete where themachines are developed insidefrom the beginning, from theproject of the technicaldepartment managed frominternal engineers then

production, welding, assemblyand final inspection, all strictlyby Urbinati people.

The innovations space in allthe fields, from the newsolutions for the seeding to newprograms for the completeautomatic management ofirrigation in greenhouse untilthe filling for new materials ascoco fiber and to the transplantof thousand plants per hour.

All what the market demandsUrbinati transforms intomachines, what customers needwe put into production.

The demand for mixedseeding is growing from themain world-wide supermarketchains so growers are going toproduce it from beginning soUrbinati developed new


NURSERY EQUIPMENT

URBINATI: TOP OF TECHNOLOGICALINNOVATION IN HORTICULTURE

Mohamed Adel ZaraaArea Manager

for Arab countries


software able to manage itsaving time and costs ofproduction for growers.

So as the increment of theproductive capacity oftransplanted vegs, nownecessary seen the alwayshigher competition amongworldwide growers on themarket.

And so as the cost reductionof labor employed in themanagement of the irrigationphases inside the greenhouse, ithas carried to find new solutionfor the complete automatic

control of “robot systems” fromevery place, far from thenursery, dislocating thetraditional way of irrigatingwithin the greenhouse.

Urbinati believes lively inthe internationalization of themarkets therefore theexperience on all markets -often so different among them -brought the company to reach ahigh experience in the processof growing that the company isnowadays able to offer thisexperience through machinesthat score the real aim andprimary necessities of allgrowers and farmers.

The future in thehorticultural sector will be fullof innovation - as an alwaysmore international marketdemands - so Urbinati isrunning the challenge ofoffering solutions to growersthat will need to guarantee thequality of the products“watching” their costs ofproducing.

For any contacts please contactthe email addresses belowalessandro.mazzacano@urbinator [email protected]

MAY JUNE 2014

NURSERY EQUIPMENT

3 3GULF AGRICULTURE


i.com


Agriculturaladvancements takingplace in Egypt's desert

could pave the way for a wholenew approach to cultivatingfresh vegetables and fish in theGCC that's four times moreefficient than regular farms, andrequires no fertile land.

The Bustan Aquaponics farmis a 1,000 square metreoperation located on theoutskirts of Cairo, and is thefirst and only commercialaquaponics farm in Egypt,producing pesticide-free tilapiafish, four varieties of lettuce,baby spinach, purple kale, swisschard, celery, pakchoi, wildrocket, gargeer, thyme and sage.

The system combinesconventional aquaculture withhydroponics, where water andgasses from the fish are recycledand utilised by the plants asnutrients. The water is then re-circulated back to theaquaculture system. Launched18 months ago, it has deliveredan internal rate of return ofbetween 20-30 per cent, and hasthe potential to break evenwithin the next six to 18 months.

The farm's owner andmanager, Faris Farrag, says thesystem is ideally suited towater-starved countries in theGulf and wider region.

“There are many benefits ofaquaponic systems, primaryamong them is the ability toproduce significant amounts oforganic fish and vegetablesfrom an extremely smallamount of water and energy,without the need of agriculturalland,” said Farrag.

“As the knowledge base

AQUAPONIC FARMING

PAVING THE WAY FOR FISH AND VEGETABLEPRODUCTION IN WATER-SCARCE GCC


MAY JUNE 2014

grows there is excellentpotential for large expansion ofaquaponics as a system capableof fulfilling a part of the globalfood requirement while askingvery little in return from theenvironment.”

He added that the speed andefficiency of the system keepsprices down for consumers,while its output equals that of atraditional farm more than fourtimes its size. Unlike traditionalfarms, however, aquaponicfarms can grow anywhere.

“Aquaponics are waterefficient enough to work inextreme water deficient areas,and the economics do work,”he added. “The key is creatingenough scale, which is whyBustan is expanding to two orthree more units of its size toget to a medium sizedcommercial scale. At that pointit will become very profitable.

Even now I am cash flowpositive.”

Farrag said that thechallenges facing aquaponics inthe Gulf are in the areas ofinstitutional knowledge andcapacity building. As moreprojects start up, however, andtheir benefits are understood, themomentum will start to build.

“The Bustan Aquaponicsproject started with the beliefthat arid desert regions like oursmust begin to think far morewidely and creatively about foodsecurity and water conservation,”said Farrag. “These two issuesare inextricably intertwined andcrucially important in many partsof the world such as the Gulfregion. As the issues of waterconservation and food securitygain momentum, so will theneed to develop agriculturalsystems that are better suited forthe region.”

AQUAPONIC FARMING

3 5GULF AGRICULTURE

THE BUSTAN AQUAPONICSFARM IS A 1,000 SQUAREMETREOPERATION LOCATEDON THE OUTSKIRTS OFCAIRO, AND IS THE FIRSTAND ONLY COMMERCIALAQUAPONICS FARM INEGYPT, PRODUCINGPESTICIDE-FREE TILAPIAFISH, FOUR VARIETIES OFLETTUCE, BABY SPINACH,PURPLE KALE, SWISSCHARD, CELERY, PAKCHOI,WILD ROCKET, GARGEER,THYME AND SAGE



CASE STUDY

HUMICOOL: Case study,Glasshouse for tomatoproduct ion, South Austral ia .

d’VineRipe SuperGlasshouse,South AustraliaMore than doubling the capacity of the d’VineRipe tomato glasshouse com-plex in Two Wells, South Australia from 8 hectares to 17 hectares broughtchallenges as well as opportunities. Achieving the massive increase in tomatooutput along with the welcome local employment opportunities also en-tailed solving issues of water usage and energy efficiency in a climate wheretemperatures fluctuate from -2 °C to +47 °C. Munters Euroemme® fansand CELdek® pads play a central role in making it all possible.

The Munters contributionMunters state-of-the-art pad and fan technology was already at the heart ofthe d’VineRipe first phase 8 Ha glass house complex. Here the technologyhas already proved its ability to consistently maintain temperatures insidethe glasshouse complex at a permanent 24–28 °C and humidity between65% and 75% regardless of the outside temperature. Hence it was not diffi-cult for them to adopt the same technology for the second stage of 9 Ha.Also, the water used for cooling and humidifying the growing environmentis all obtained from sustainable sources. The general Manager, Leon Maree,notes that “no other type of system could provide the same benefits as a padand fan system and that achieving a higher than average percentage of firstgrade fruits in production is due to the excellent climate control qualities ofthe system”. This is a powerful endorsement from the General Manager ofone of the largest tomato glasshouses in the southern hemisphere.

CELdek wallsA total of 6,010 Munters CELdek pads each measuring 1.53 m height, 0.6m wide and 0.15 m thick manufactured from the highest quality materialsresistant to algae and mould. Total area of pad used amounted to 5,517 m2

Exterior of a $65 million glasshouse operation spanning 17 Ha with a capacity to produce up to10,000 tonnes of tomatos per year.

FACTSBy installing Munters Euroemme® fans andCELdek® pads d’VineRipe has:

• Consistent temperature and humiditycontrol

• Higher than average percentage of firstgrade tomatoes

• Predictable and higher ROI than withfield-grown crops

• Reduced risk of disease

• Reduced use of herbicide/pesticide

• Reduces water and power consumption

HUMICOOL: Case study,Glasshouse for tomatoproduct ion, South Austral ia .

d’VineRipe SuperGlasshouse,South AustraliaMore than doubling the capacity of the d’VineRipe tomato glasshouse com-plex in Two Wells, South Australia from 8 hectares to 17 hectares broughtchallenges as well as opportunities. Achieving the massive increase in tomatooutput along with the welcome local employment opportunities also en-tailed solving issues of water usage and energy efficiency in a climate wheretemperatures fluctuate from -2 °C to +47 °C. Munters Euroemme® fansand CELdek® pads play a central role in making it all possible.

The Munters contributionMunters state-of-the-art pad and fan technology was already at the heart ofthe d’VineRipe first phase 8 Ha glass house complex. Here the technologyhas already proved its ability to consistently maintain temperatures insidethe glasshouse complex at a permanent 24–28 °C and humidity between65% and 75% regardless of the outside temperature. Hence it was not diffi-cult for them to adopt the same technology for the second stage of 9 Ha.Also, the water used for cooling and humidifying the growing environmentis all obtained from sustainable sources. The general Manager, Leon Maree,notes that “no other type of system could provide the same benefits as a padand fan system and that achieving a higher than average percentage of firstgrade fruits in production is due to the excellent climate control qualities ofthe system”. This is a powerful endorsement from the General Manager ofone of the largest tomato glasshouses in the southern hemisphere.

CELdek wallsA total of 6,010 Munters CELdek pads each measuring 1.53 m height, 0.6m wide and 0.15 m thick manufactured from the highest quality materialsresistant to algae and mould. Total area of pad used amounted to 5,517 m2

Exterior of a $65 million glasshouse operation spanning 17 Ha with a capacity to produce up to10,000 tonnes of tomatos per year.

FACTSBy installing Munters Euroemme® fans andCELdek® pads d’VineRipe has:

• Consistent temperature and humiditycontrol

• Higher than average percentage of firstgrade tomatoes

• Predictable and higher ROI than withfield-grown crops

• Reduced risk of disease

• Reduced use of herbicide/pesticide

• Reduces water and power consumption


Total Climate controlCombination of Munters evaporativecooling pads, Euroemme exhaust fansand WDP stainless steel wet wall systemhelps to maintain the temperature be-tween +24 °C and +28 °C and humiditybetween 65% and 75% RH, irrespectiveof out side climate conditions.

RoofingThe glasshouse roof is routinely spraypainted by helicopter with white paintfor the hottest summer months, thenwashed clean to benefit from the sun-shine during the winter.

Rainwater recyclingRainwater is recycled, processed andused to wet the CELdek® pads.

Water usageAll water used to irrigate and cool thed’VineRipe glasshouse comes either fromrecycled rainwater or is taken and puri-fied from the nearby Bolivar wastewatertreatment plant.

Climate Control System from MuntersThe CELdek evaporative cooling pads are usedin systems where high efficiency cooling is re-quired. It can be used in many different coolingapplications and is particularly suitable for thecooling of glasshouses.

Market leading Euroemme exhaust fans arefamous for their high energy efficiency; out-standing production quality; tight sealing shut-ter design and the centrifugal shutter openingsystem allowing an un-obstructed air passage.Munters climate control systems include a largevariety of equipment to provide the best grow-ing environment from the Poles to the Equator.Air heaters for cold regions or cold spells duringthe year. A full range is offered with a variety ofdesigns and fuel types.

Air inlets or shutters to facilitate even airdistribution during low ventilation rates, suit-able for all construction styles. Light filters forall ventilation openings, reducing the light in-tensity inside the house sufficiently to be able toutilize artificial daylight programs to full effect.

Air blowers/circulators to optimize airhomogeneity. Heated air can be distributedevenly to reduce heating bills.

Controllers to orchestrate activity of all theequipment to create a harmonious functioninghouse and the best conditions for growth.

that assist in maintaining the humidityand temperature inside the glasshouse.

WDP stainless steel wet wallsystemThe evaporative cooling pads are heldsecurely by the Munters wet wall systemwhich is manufactured from corrosionresistant stainless steel material for along, trouble-free service life. The modu-lar system also allows for easy installa-tion, simple routine inspection and peri-odic maintenance. Water is recycledfrom the wet wall system for re-use.

Air extractionA total of 724 Euroemme® 1.5 HP 3-phase exhaust fans are precisely locatedto optimize air flow, temperature andhumidity control while eliminating hotspots, drafts and chill that can damagetender plants. Noise levels are also keptto a minimum, averaging less than 40dB for the comfort of employees insidethe glasshouse.

Munters Euroemme EM50 exhaust fans. Munters WDP stainless steel wet wall system and CELdek cooling pads.

HC/MMA/CsGB

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Munters AB, Isafjordsgatan 1, P.O. Box 1188, SE-164 26 Kista, Sweden. Phone +46 8 626 63 00.www.munters.com

Australia Munters Pty Limited, Phone +61 2 884 315 94, Brazil Munters Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda, Phone +55 41 3317 5050, Belgium Munters BelgiumNV, Phone +32 15 20 55 75, Canada Munters Incorporated, Phone +1 905 858 5894, China Munters Air Treatment Equipment (Beijing) Co. Ltd.,Phone +86 10 80 418 000, Denmark Munters A/S, Phone +45 9862 3311, Finland Munters Finland Oy, Phone +358 207 768 230, France Munters France S.A.,Phone +33 1 34 11 57 50, Germany Munters Euroform GmbH, Phone +49 241 89 00 0, India Munters India, Phone +91 20 3052 2520, Indonesia Munters,Phone +62 818 739 235, Italy Munters Italy S.p.A., Chiusavecchia Phone +39 0183-52 11, Munters Italy S.p.A., Mondovì Phone +39 0174 560 600, JapanMunters K.K., Phone +81 3 5970 0021, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Middle East Hawa Munters, Phone +966 1 241 8808, Korea Munters Korea Co. Ltd.,Phone +82 2 761 8701,Mexico Munters Mexico, Phone +52 818 262 54 00, Russia Munters Europe AB, Phone +7 812 448 5740, Singapore Munters Pte Ltd.,Phone +65 744 6828, South Africa and Sub-Sahara Countries Munters (Pty) Ltd., Phone +27 11 997 2000, Spain Munters Spain S.A.,Phone +34 91 640 09 02, Sweden Munters Europe AB, Phone +46 8 626 63 00, Thailand Munters Co. Ltd., Phone +66 2 642 2670, United Kingdom MuntersLtd., Phone +44 845 644 3980, Turkey Munters Form Endüstri Sistemleri A. , Phone +90 216 548 14 44, USA Munters Corporation Fort MyersPhone +1 239 936 1555, Munters Corporation Mason Phone +1 517 676 7070, Vietnam Munters Vietnam, Phone +84 8 3825 6838,Export & Other countries Munters Europe AB, Phone +46 8 626 63 00.

Munters reserves the right to make alterations to specifications, quantities, etc., for production or other reasons, subsequent to publication.

© Munters AB, 2011

Your closest distributor

MAY JUNE 2014

CASE STUDY

3 7GULF AGRICULTURE



W. R. Grace & Co.(NYSE: GRA), withJoint Venture partner,

Abu Dhabi-based Al DahraAgriculture, officially brokeground on phase one, theinfrastructure to support thefirst Fluid Catalytic Cracking(FCC) catalyst manufacturingoperation in the Middle East.

The investment makes theJoint Venture the latest tenant tobuild in Khalifa Industrial ZoneAbu Dhabi (Kizad) and movesthe operation a step closer tobecoming an ongoing customerof services at the Khalifa Portin the Taweelah area, with thesite located only 70km from thecity of Abu Dhabi in the UnitedArab Emirates.

In addressing a gathering ofregional business leaders, GraceChairman and Chief ExecutiveOfficer Fred Festa was joinedby H. E. Khadim Al Darei, AlDahra's Vice Chairman,Mohamed Al Shamisi, Chief

Executive Officer, Abu DhabiPorts Company (ADPC) andEngineer Khaled Salmeen AlKawari, Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Kizad. Thegroundbreaking ceremonyfollowed the announcementalmost exactly one year ago ofthe Joint Venture agreement.

“We're excited to put ashovel in the ground and moveforward with our commitmentto serve the leading refiners inthe region,” said Festa. “We'repleased to play a part in thedevelopment of Kizad andKhalifa Port and to take ourplace within Abu Dhabi'svibrant business community.”

“This is the first step in theproject that utilizes importantforeign investment to create alocal source of FCC catalysts.This will bring new jobs andtechnology to the UAE,” saidH.E. KhadimAl Darei.

For decades, Grace hasserved the world's leading

petrochemical companies andits catalysts are used to processnearly 40 percent oftransportation fuels worldwide.Grace is the global leader forFCC catalysts and additives.Grace's research leadership andflexible manufacturing systemsupport catalysts technologiestailored to the individual needsof its customers.

Commenting on the latesthigh profile ground breaking atKizad, Engineer KhaledSalmeen said, “The Grace JointVenture with Abu Dhabi's AlDahra Agriculture is a strongand important partnershipeconomically, industrially andcommercially. It is one that willserve the refining industry inthe UAE and beyond. It willallow for knowledge transferand bring leading catalystprocessing technology vital forthe transport as well aspetrochemical industries in the UAE.”

UAE UPDATE

GRACE AND AL DAHRA BREAK GROUND ON FIRSTPHASE OF FCC CATALYST FACILITY AT KIZAD





Mulch mats for weed protection Packing and transportation Arrangement and transportation Arrangement and transportation

Small mulch mats Packing and transportation Metal trunk shaping rings ARBO®-STRONG

Elastic mulch mat 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 RECULTIVATIONProducts commonly applied at nurseries, both in temperate and hot climateUsed 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 ofgeneral cleaning works, composting, and in any similar applications…….

MARTEX® PLANTING BAGS AND CONTAINERS Parking and transportation of planting bags, other types of containers, mulch mats and rings

THE COMPANY FROM POLAND OFFERING PRODUCTS FOR NURSERY SECTOR, AND FOR ORNAMENTAL, FRUIT, FOREST PLANT RAISING OR RECULTIVATION

Our representatives: D-Hermann Meyer KG: e-mail: [email protected]; 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: [email protected]; Bulgaria-Romania: Hermann-Meyer, www.meyer-shop.com,

Abu Dhabi: Arid Land Co., LLC., www.aridland-dev.com,

e-mail: [email protected]


Gulf agriculture may june 2014

Documents

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uae page

amsterdam page

kizad page

cnhnews update page

desert crops page

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waterscarce gcc page