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Monarch MK-V tractor demonstrating V2G through Borg Warner DCFC and Gridtractor CMS. (Image source: Gridtractor)

Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner have achieved a significant milestone by successfully demonstrating Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities utilising a Monarch MK-V tractor, a Borg Warner 60 kW DC fast charger, and Gridtractor’s cloud-based charge management system employing the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 

Krone and Lemken, through a joint project, have launched a design concept – Combined Powers – which is an autonomous ‘process unit’ consisting of a drive unit and various implements


After passing trials in cultivating, ploughing, sowing, mowing, tedding and raking last year, the concept will be integrated in the well-proven forage harvesting and tillage systems of the two companies.

Using a diesel-electric drive that generates up to 170kW (230hp), the drive unit is designed to meet the power input requirements of the implements used in the processes above. The drive power is transferred electrically to the wheels and the pto and from there to the implement which couples to a three-point linkage. The drive unit boasts multiple and extensive sensor systems which monitor the immediate surroundings and the implement attached, ensuring safe operation and optimum results as the primary objectives. Operators control and monitor the combination from a mobile device, transmitting jobs and job reports via a communication module and the agrirouter, the established data exchange hub.

The specialty of the process unit is that it is controlled by the implement and not vice versa. This detail was considered imperative for achieving optimum results. The implement and the drive unit act as one integrated smart system. Based on the long experience in the application of ISOBUS and TIM on Krone and Lemken machines, the drive unit and implement communicate and interact, sharing literally all types of data.

The Combined Powers design concept also brings further benefits, because it was also developed to counter the increasing shortage of skilled labour in agriculture. Also, it will free farmers from spending those long days in the field. Instead, they will become system operators who merely monitor the process unit which delivers a consistently accurate quality of work. Thanks to its enormous versatility, the unit is designed for year-round work and a long service life. Intensive trialling in all types of conditions and seeking feedback from farmers and contractors will continue this year. 

Further information is available at www.combined-powers.com

 

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Sudan, the Philippines and Malawi made notable contributions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Processing & Storage

More than 14,000 seed samples from 21 genebanks were deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault last month

These samples included essential varieties of sorghum and pearl millet from Sudan’s crop genebank; a collection of velvet beans from Malawi; and critical food crops from a Philippine gene bank that is being destroyed by typhoons and fires. Brazil, the host of this year’s global climate negotiations, also deposited a major collection of more than 3,000 varieties of rice, beans and maize.

Following the deposit ceremony, the first-ever Svalbard International Dialogue brought together high-level government officials, crop experts and global thought leaders to discuss the challenge of safeguarding crop diversity amid increasing environmental pressures and escalating global conflicts.

Sudan’s contribution 

Sudan made its sixth deposit of seed samples of 15 species, including many varieties of sorghum, a crop that is deeply tied to Sudanese cultural heritage, and is also a lifeline for food security in the country. With the help of the Emergency Reserve for Genebanks, hundreds of seed samples that were impacted during the civil war, were transported to NordGen to be sorted catalogued, packed and documented as part of the Sudanese deposit. These were then transported to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. 

The Philippines’ contribution 

After several seed stocks were destroyed by natural extreme events like typhoons and fires, partners from the Philippines with support from the BOLD Project, visited Svalbard to deposit seeds of eggplant, rice bean, lima bean and sorghum.

Malawi’s contribution 

Being another BOLD partner, Malawi deposited velvet beans, a crop that enables farmers to boost production and keep their soils healthy, while also offering important medicinal benefits. Velvet beans are a nitrogen-fixing legume that when used as a fertiliser can more than double maize yields. The species, which is also used in traditional medicine, boasts high levels of levodopa, a compound used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. 

“This moment is a powerful reminder that securing our food future requires collective action,” said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust. “Through our partnerships, including the BOLD project, we’ve worked with institutions around the world to safeguard vital crop diversity.”  He further highlighted how the deposited seeds represented not only biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture and resilience of the communities that steward them. “We must find a way to protect this crop diversity for generations to come,” Schmitz added. 

BetaTrace has been built by combing betaine and organic trace minerals. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Livestock

BetaTrace is a notable source of organic zinc, copper, manganese and iron designed for every animal species

It was introduced in early November last year and is pending a patent. Being a supporter of animal well being and performance, BetaTrace aims to identify and address the issues concerning modern livestock farming. It performs a variety of useful functions which includes boosting gut integrity, improving immunity, reducing oxidative stress and enhancing energy metabolism. Moreover, being water soluble, it finds ideal usage in vitamin-mineral premixes, compound feeds, or feed supplements. 

BetaTrace has been built by combing betaine and organic trace minerals, in turn providing improved absorption compared to conventional inorganic trace mineral sources such as sulfates. While trace minerals serve as essential components or cofactors of numerous enzymes, vitamins, and hormones, betaine on the other hand, provides excellent methyl group donor capability that is particularly needed in protein and lipid metabolism.

“We worked hard to bring this next generation of trace minerals to life,” said Dr Susanne Rothstein, product manager Organic Minerals at Biochem. “We believe the two-in-one BetaTrace will greatly benefit high yielding and young animals, which often have higher metabolic requirements. The perfect match of binding partner and trace mineral in BetaTrace intensively supports performance and health.”

Monarch MK-V tractor demonstrating V2G through Borg Warner DCFC and Gridtractor CMS. (Image source: Gridtractor)

Equipment

Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner have achieved a significant milestone by successfully demonstrating Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities utilising a Monarch MK-V tractor, a Borg Warner 60 kW DC fast charger, and Gridtractor’s cloud-based charge management system employing the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 

Perstorp has long been dedicated to driving the transformation of the chemical industry with a clear ambition to become Finite Material Neutral. (Image source: Perstorp)

Infrastructure

Leading global specialty chemicals innovator Perstorp, recently announced that the Animal Nutrition focused plant in Waspik, has officially reduced its direct emissions (Scope 1 & 2) to report zero over 2024

In an attempt to bring down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Perstorp Waspik has taken several steps including replacing all fossil fuel forklift trucks with electric ones and all lighting by LED. In addition to this, all natural gas has been replaced by biogas and total electricity used is renewable. The company is on a lookout to further reduce its environmental footprint. 

Perstorp has long been dedicated to driving the transformation of the chemical industry with a clear ambition to become Finite Material Neutral. It has science based reduction targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3. For scope 1 & 2 emissions, the target is a reduction of 46.2% in 2030 compared to a 2019 base year. This is consistent with the reductions required to keep global warming limited to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement.

To reach these targets, each site has its own roadmap of identified activities to reach the site’s sustainability targets. Site Waspik has managed to execute all its activities in the scope 1 & 2 roadmap, and in 2024 has reduced their greenhouse gas emissions from operations to zero. 

“Perstorp is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities. I am proud that in Perstorp Animal Nutrition, we continue to accelerate the delivery of our sustainability improvement targets, and we are showing real, meaningful results," said Ian Atterbury, senior vice president of Perstorp Animal Nutrition. "Our production site in Waspik achieving zero scope 1 & 2 emissions, is a major step forward in this journey. It is our ambition to be a partner in sustainable animal production for our customers. We aim to show that we can help not only through supporting performance and health, but also by reducing the environmental footprint of our products, to bring down the total impact of animal production.” 

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