In The Spotlight
This year's Macfrut will include a special Berry Area dedicated to these soft fruits, with an event area, an exhibition area and special visit routes for companies. (Image source: Macfrut)
Macfrut 2025: 42nd edition to be held in May next year
The 42nd edition of the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable supply chain will be held from 6-8 May at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy
Berries have been the main focus of Macfrut for quite some time, with blueberries being the star of the show at the 2023 trade fair. The Macfrut Academy has also recently produced a video lesson on blueberries, with a special focus on the Mediterranean supply chain.
The global berry market is worth more than US$40bn and is growing across all categories. Global strawberry production in particular has increased by 28% over the last decade and now accounts for more than half of all berries. Moreover, annual consumption of blackberries has increased by 6.2%, with a potential for raspberry production, which has reached 150,000 tonnes and is expected to quadruple over the next decade.
This year's Macfrut will include a special Berry Area dedicated to these soft fruits, with an event area, an exhibition area and special visit routes for companies. The Berry Area will be divided into two parts: an event area called the Berry Show, where experts will give speeches, along with an exhibition area, and the Berry Route, which will allow visitors to visit berry companies at various locations throughout the trade fair.
"In keeping with the nature of a trade fair such as Macfrut, the berry supply chain will be showcased through an exhibitor area and a schedule of meetings and events focused on these soft fruits," explained president of Ncx, Thomas Drhorad. "The Berry Area is launching in just a few days and a number of leading companies from across the supply chain have already confirmed their intention to participate."
Qi Biodesign's plant breeding innovations advance the application of gene editing in agriculture, contributing to food security and sustainable developments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Qi Biodesign completes Series A funding round
Biotechnology company, Qi Biodesign recently announced the completion of its million dollar Series A funding round to pioneer next-gen genome editing technologies
The company has raised a total of US$75mn across its Seed, Series Pre-A, and Series A stages. Qi Biodesign has already achieved significant milestones in product development, including receiving two biosafety certificates for gene-edited plants (high oleic acid soybean and powdery mildew disease-resistant wheat) by the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and securing an exemption for a gene-edited product (high oleic acid soybean) from the US Department of Agriculture.
More gene-edited traits including yield enhancements, herbicide tolerance and quality improvements are advancing through regulatory pipelines. Qi Biodesign's plant breeding innovations advance the application of gene editing in agriculture, contributing to food security and sustainable developments.
The newly secured funding will be used to enhance Qi Biodesign's R&D capabilities, advance its proprietary SEEDIT platform, support its product development and build commercialisation platforms to streamline and speed up the transition from research to market.
This range allows IMEX to support the agricultural community, ensuring their machinery continues to perform in the most demanding conditions. (Image source: Imexpart)
IMEX to exhibit latest Agri parts range at LAMMA Show next year
Imexpart (IMEX) will be exhibiting at the upcoming LAMMA Show which is due to take place from 15-16 January at NEC, Birmingham next year
The leading parts distributor will be exhibiting its latest Agri products, designed to meet the evolving needs of modern farming. Visitors can get up close with the new IMEX Agri parts range including Universal Joints, Yokes, PTO Shafts and Adapters, Torque Limiters and Clutches, Wide Angle Joints and Profile Tubes, all designed to withstand the rigors of daily farming operations.
These products are engineered to ensure reliability, durability, and optimal performance, helping farmers maintain and operate their equipment efficiently. This range allows IMEX to support the agricultural community, ensuring their machinery continues to perform in the most demanding conditions.
"Exhibiting at the LAMMA Show is an exciting opportunity for us to connect directly with the agricultural industry and s howcase our leading Agri parts range," said IMEX managing director, Martin Butterworth. "Our focus is on delivering high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help farmers optimise their operations, and the LAMMA Show provides an ideal platform to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the sector."
The company will also be showcasing its latest range of Agri parts at the West County Farming & Machinery Show on 19th February 2025.
The HCS ProLife is a smart solution leading fresh drinking water through the hatching crates. (Image source: Giordano)
Giordano presents HCS ProLife at Eurotier 2024
Giordano unveiled the HatchCargoSystem – ProLife (HCS ProLife) — a gamechanger in the early feeding phase of day-old-chicken — at last month's Eurotier Exhibition that took place in Hannover, Germany
The HCS ProLife is a unique sy stem that provides day-old chicken with fresh drinking water and feed inside the hatchery and during road transport. In addition to these internal drinking gutters, the trays are also equipped with feeding gutters, with both drinking and eating being positioned on either sides of the tray, providing maximum access to chicks.
Customers who wish to hatch the day-old-chicken will be provided with a smart tray that can be placed alternately between the crates and offers enough space for 74 hatching eggs. Having a unique framework, these trays allow the day-old-chicks to easily find their way onto the underlying crate immediately after hatching, where they have direct access to fresh drinking water and feed. The tray design allows the fresh drinking water to overflow from the above crate to the one below the tray, all the while ensuring a calm flow down and zero splashing.
Extensive testing which has been carried out on the system has shown that the water quality remains within all current standards, right down up to and including the last crate. The system can be used in all existing incubators with very minor adjustments, allowing customer expectations to be met, while also keeping law and legistlations costs low.
Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Japan extends million-dollar aid to Zimbabwe's farmers
The Japanese government has contributed US$5.1mn toward the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), supporting nearly 37,000 smallholder farmers across five districts in Zimbabwe
The ongoing climate challenges in Zimbabwe caused by El Niño has resulted in widespread food insecurity, making this three-year project crucial for solving food security issues and enhancing resilience for smallholder farmers. The WFP will make this possible by establishing water-based infrastructure, developing value chains and strengthening agricultural extension service capacity.
Moreover, the project aims to address sustainability issues by combining food assistance with climate-adaptive practices, thereby helping smallholder farmers to cultivate more sustainable crops, particularly sesame, which has a high market potential. Production of this crop will be one of the central value chains, enhancing export opportunities for Zimbabwean smallholder farmers.
“Under this project, small-scale farmers will be supported in growing sesame seeds to practice market-oriented agriculture and a Japanese trading company called ITOCHU Corporation is expected to play an important role in completing the value-chain of the project,” said Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shinichi Yamanaka.
He highlighted that the Japanese government would be providing financial assistance of around US$72,000 to ‘the project for the construction of storages for sesame farmers in Mwenezi District’ implemented by Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), which is expected to support sesame production and its procurement including value addition for the local and export market.
With a contribution of more than US$28mn toward food assistance and resilience-building initiatives supported by the WFP, Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019.
“This invaluable contribution from the Gomore than vernment of Japan allows us to make food more available, easier to access, and more reliable for Zimbabwean families,” said Barbara Clemens, country representative and director for WFP in Zimbabwe. “By supporting farmers to grow food in a sustainable way and connect them to markets, we can address immediate food needs and empower communities to build a food secure future.”
IAT Inks MoU with Aspekpir Indonesia to Enhance Quality Analysis for the Local Palm Oil Industry. (Image source: IAT)
Boosting quality analysis for local palm oil industry
Leading provider of professional Near-Infrared (NIR) analysis products and services, IAT (Singapore) Technology Pte. Ltd. (IAT) recently signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aspekpir Indonesia, aiming to revolutionise quality analysis in the palm oil industry
With its flagship product, the IAS-6100, IAT introduces advanced technology capable of delivering real-time data in less than two minutes, offering highly accurate assessments of oil palm fruit and its by-products. IAT offers palm oil quality detection tools to analyse various materials such as palm fruit, FFB, EFB, CPO/PKO, palm kernels, pressed fiber, and production waste.
The IAS-6100 is compact and portable, making it ideal for diverse settings, including offices, production sites, laboratories, and plantations. IAT's entry into the palm oil industry this year represents a strategic move to enhance quality testing methods, replacing traditional processes with faster and more efficient alternatives.
It employs cutting-edge technology, including a spectral engine, DMD digital micromirror scanning, and next-generation circuit boards. Features include compact design for flexibility, fast and non-destructive testing for precise data, wide applicability across multiple industries, user-friendly operation with minimal manual intervention, and environmentally friendly testing processes that eliminate the need for chemical pre-treatment.
Traditional quality analysis in laboratories can be time-consuming, with oil content testing alone requiring 15 to 16 hours. The IAS-6100 reduces this time dramatically, delivering results in just two minutes per sample. Its multi-parameter analysis capability allows a single device to perform multiple tests without compromising sample integrity. By removing the need for chemical reagents, the device also supports green production practices and aligns with sustainability goals.
"Before entering the oil palm sector, we conducted extensive research to determine precise testing parameters," said Edi Hariyanto, Indonesia sales manager at IAT. "With advanced research capabilities and experienced personnel, the IAS-6100 achieves an accuracy rate exceeding 95%. Regular calibration can further enhance this accuracy to 100%. The tool enables quick decision-making at the management level by delivering results in a matter of minutes."
SPACE team is already working actively to promote the 2025 edition in France and around the world. (Image source: SPACE)
SPACE unveils new design for its 39th edition
SPACE 2025 has announced the launch of its all-new design for its 39th edition that is due to take place from 16-18 September at the Parc-Expo in Rennes, France next year
The event represents 120 countries, attracting more than 1,200 exhibitors and 100,000 global visitors. The event's previous success continues to strengthen its position as a world leading event for all animal farming. Besides providing high-quality content throughout the year, the event also represents all animal farming sectors including, dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats and aquaculture, among others.
With three days of animal farming, visitors can discover all the latest innovations, discuss the challenges facing the sector and make connections at a fun and exciting event. The SPACE team is actively working to promote the 2025 edition in France and around the world.
“SPACE is an event for professionals that provides farmers with perspectives and ideas for the future. Its international dimension has been confirmed over the years," said the show chairman, Marcel Denieul. "The whole event takes place in a spirit of conviviality that is expressed through all the exchanges.“
Pune, India
Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Japan extends million-dollar aid to Zimbabwe's farmers
The Japanese government has contributed US$5.1mn toward the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), supporting nearly 37,000 smallholder farmers across five districts in Zimbabwe
The ongoing climate challenges in Zimbabwe caused by El Niño has resulted in widespread food insecurity, making this three-year project crucial for solving food security issues and enhancing resilience for smallholder farmers. The WFP will make this possible by establishing water-based infrastructure, developing value chains and strengthening agricultural extension service capacity.
Moreover, the project aims to address sustainability issues by combining food assistance with climate-adaptive practices, thereby helping smallholder farmers to cultivate more sustainable crops, particularly sesame, which has a high market potential. Production of this crop will be one of the central value chains, enhancing export opportunities for Zimbabwean smallholder farmers.
“Under this project, small-scale farmers will be supported in growing sesame seeds to practice market-oriented agriculture and a Japanese trading company called ITOCHU Corporation is expected to play an important role in completing the value-chain of the project,” said Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shinichi Yamanaka.
He highlighted that the Japanese government would be providing financial assistance of around US$72,000 to ‘the project for the construction of storages for sesame farmers in Mwenezi District’ implemented by Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), which is expected to support sesame production and its procurement including value addition for the local and export market.
With a contribution of more than US$28mn toward food assistance and resilience-building initiatives supported by the WFP, Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019.
“This invaluable contribution from the Gomore than vernment of Japan allows us to make food more available, easier to access, and more reliable for Zimbabwean families,” said Barbara Clemens, country representative and director for WFP in Zimbabwe. “By supporting farmers to grow food in a sustainable way and connect them to markets, we can address immediate food needs and empower communities to build a food secure future.”
This initiative eliminates the need for individual plastic PLU stickers. (Image source: Westfalia Fruit)
Group photo following the Launch of the GSRD on 4 December 2024. (Image source: ICRISAT)
The HCS ProLife is a smart solution leading fresh drinking water through the hatching crates. (Image source: Giordano)
Giordano presents HCS ProLife at Eurotier 2024
Giordano unveiled the HatchCargoSystem – ProLife (HCS ProLife) — a gamechanger in the early feeding phase of day-old-chicken — at last month's Eurotier Exhibition that took place in Hannover, Germany
The HCS ProLife is a unique sy stem that provides day-old chicken with fresh drinking water and feed inside the hatchery and during road transport. In addition to these internal drinking gutters, the trays are also equipped with feeding gutters, with both drinking and eating being positioned on either sides of the tray, providing maximum access to chicks.
Customers who wish to hatch the day-old-chicken will be provided with a smart tray that can be placed alternately between the crates and offers enough space for 74 hatching eggs. Having a unique framework, these trays allow the day-old-chicks to easily find their way onto the underlying crate immediately after hatching, where they have direct access to fresh drinking water and feed. The tray design allows the fresh drinking water to overflow from the above crate to the one below the tray, all the while ensuring a calm flow down and zero splashing.
Extensive testing which has been carried out on the system has shown that the water quality remains within all current standards, right down up to and including the last crate. The system can be used in all existing incubators with very minor adjustments, allowing customer expectations to be met, while also keeping law and legistlations costs low.
Henri Hekman, CEO of AgroCares (left) and Casper Niesink, Director Global Solutions and Services at Trouw Nutrition. (Image source: AgroCares)
Global president of Brenntag Specialties Pharma, Torsten Walz said that adding K+S' pharmaceutical salts would help strengthen their role as a key supplier to the global healthcare industry. (Image source: Brenntag)
Monarch MK-V tractor demonstrating V2G through Borg Warner DCFC and Gridtractor CMS. (Image source: Gridtractor)
Monarch Tractor leads V2G revolution in agriculture
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)
The platform is slated for launch later this year and focuses on both domestic and international markets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The LightWeeder is an agri-robot that can kill weeds using a unique concentrated light method. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Qi Biodesign's plant breeding innovations advance the application of gene editing in agriculture, contributing to food security and sustainable developments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Qi Biodesign completes Series A funding round
Biotechnology company, Qi Biodesign recently announced the completion of its million dollar Series A funding round to pioneer next-gen genome editing technologies
The company has raised a total of US$75mn across its Seed, Series Pre-A, and Series A stages. Qi Biodesign has already achieved significant milestones in product development, including receiving two biosafety certificates for gene-edited plants (high oleic acid soybean and powdery mildew disease-resistant wheat) by the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and securing an exemption for a gene-edited product (high oleic acid soybean) from the US Department of Agriculture.
More gene-edited traits including yield enhancements, herbicide tolerance and quality improvements are advancing through regulatory pipelines. Qi Biodesign's plant breeding innovations advance the application of gene editing in agriculture, contributing to food security and sustainable developments.
The newly secured funding will be used to enhance Qi Biodesign's R&D capabilities, advance its proprietary SEEDIT platform, support its product development and build commercialisation platforms to streamline and speed up the transition from research to market.
IAT Inks MoU with Aspekpir Indonesia to Enhance Quality Analysis for the Local Palm Oil Industry. (Image source: IAT)
The software ensures precise dosing and transparently documents all steps, from small batches to complex multi-comp onent recipes. (Image source: Minebea Inc)
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The platform is slated for launch later this year and focuses on both domestic and international markets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Monarch MK-V tractor demonstrating V2G through Borg Warner DCFC and Gridtractor CMS. (Image source: Gridtractor)
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Qi Biodesign's plant breeding innovations advance the application of gene editing in agriculture, contributing to food security and sustainable developments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The HCS ProLife is a smart solution leading fresh drinking water through the hatching crates. (Image source: Giordano)
Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
IAT Inks MoU with Aspekpir Indonesia to Enhance Quality Analysis for the Local Palm Oil Industry. (Image source: IAT)
The software ensures precise dosing and transparently documents all steps, from small batches to complex multi-comp onent recipes. (Image source: Minebea Inc)
Water hyacinth infestations in rural ponds disrupt ecosystems, harm fisheries, and block canals. (Image source: ICRISAT)
Henri Hekman, CEO of AgroCares (left) and Casper Niesink, Director Global Solutions and Services at Trouw Nutrition. (Image source: AgroCares)
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Qi Biodesign's plant breeding innovations advance the application of gene editing in agriculture, contributing to food security and sustainable developments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Qi Biodesign completes Series A funding round
IAT Inks MoU with Aspekpir Indonesia to Enhance Quality Analysis for the Local Palm Oil Industry. (Image source: IAT)
Boosting quality analysis for local palm oil industry
The software ensures precise dosing and transparently documents all steps, from small batches to complex multi-comp onent recipes. (Image source: Minebea Inc)
Minebea launches new recipe software for food industry
Water hyacinth infestations in rural ponds disrupt ecosystems, harm fisheries, and block canals. (Image source: ICRISAT)
ICRISAT's solar-powered water hyacinth harvester receives first grant
Josef Fliegl und Bernd Stapel. (Image source: Fliegl)
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Boosting productivity through digital integration
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With the KDS 255 Muck Control, Fliegl offers a versatile solution that meets the needs of modern farms and sets new standards in terms of performance and efficiency. (Image source: Fliegl)
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Advanced Navigation and MBDA to co-develop an inertial navigation system. (Image source: Advanced Naviagtion)
Advanced Navigation and MBDA ink MoU to develop navigation technology
The new solutions aim to help growers maximise crop production and optimize their use of resources, thus minimising the impact on the environment. (Image source: Bayer)