Crops

The demonstration area is a key project for the development of new agricultural productivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Following their safe electricity inspection at the Fish and Grass Co-production Demonstration Zone in Turfan City's Shuguang Village, the staff of the State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company relied on the 'village network co-construction' work system to efficiently complete the planning and approval of the electricity plan

The demonstration area covers an area of 40 acres and includes 23 standardised fish ponds, three sets of forage planting equipment with a daily output of 10 tons. The grass yield is equivalent to that of 30,000 acres using the traditional 'land planting method'. It is part of Turfan City's 'national green food high-quality and efficient pilot area' and a key project for the development of new agricultural productivity.

According to the development model of 'fish fertiliser water, grass purification, fish farming with water, grass-feeding cattle, the water serving rate of the project has reached 60%, with the output value of the entire fish-grass symbiosis project being nearly US$1.3mn. This not only plays a key role in driving animal husbandry development, but also promotes employment opportunities for farmers in nearby areas. 

In order to ensure smooth production in the early stages of the project, the State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company put their trust in the 'village network co-construction' work system to efficiently complete the planning and approval of the electricity plan. Special personnel were also organised to carry out door-to-door telegraph installation services.They also invested in the construction of 2 km of distribution lines and installed 2,250 kVA transformers, in turn solving the power demand for project construction and operation.

Hydronix makes a comparative analysis of NIR and microwave systems. (Image source: Hydronix)

There is a common misconception that, where moisture measurement is required, there is a choice between NIR and microwave sensors

Both technologies can measure moisture, but each has its advantages and disadvantages in different applications that must be considered.

This article compares both NIR and microwave systems and explains that, when it comes to measuring and controlling moisture, these technologies do not compete against each other but are complementary solutions. Each system should be selected based on what they do best.

Comparison: NIR and Microwave

NIR sensors can, in addition to moisture, measure other constituents like fat and protein content. They do not require contact with the actual substance being measured; and as they measure only the surface layer are able to measure small amounts and static material.

Digital microwave sensors, use a penetrative measurement technique to measure deeper into the material. they are not affected by changes in dust, light and material colouration. They can use a highly wear resistant ceramic that is designed to withstand material contact rather than delicate lenses. This enables microwave sensors to withstand high wear, dusty industrial environments.

Complementary: NIR and Microwave

Because of the huge range of potential applications, and the wide range of requirements within each of those applications, NIR and digital microwave sensors each have their place. The key is to understand what type of sensor to choose for each application, how many to install, where to place them and where they would benefit from being paired with a counterpart, whether NIR or digital microwave. They are not mutually exclusive.

One common example is drying applications where controlling the moisture will affect the amount of protein denaturisation and degradation that occurs. Digital microwave sensors can be used before and after the process to measure the moisture content of the material and determine control variables for the dryer.

Conclusion

Sensors should be used for their relevant strengths and specific purpose, for example, NIR to measure fat and protein measurement and/or where small amounts or static material must be measured. Digital microwave sensors where only moisture measurement in online dynamic processes is required.
This can result in a comprehensive, cost-effective solution for a much wider range of process steps, and better overall process control.

Read the entire story: https://hubs.li/Q02V74kM0

The agricultural machinery market is growing in Southeast Asia and Africa, driven by population growth and demand for advanced farming technology. (Image source: EIMA)

The agricultural machinery market is shifting towards emerging regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, driven by population growth and increasing demand for advanced farming technologies in countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia

In the coming years, while Europe and North America will remain dominant in the agricultural machinery sector, emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa are expected to play an increasingly important role. Countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are already witnessing growth in machinery imports, driven by population expansion, which is also a key factor fueling demand in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Although Europe and North America will continue to see significant investments to maintain high standards, the focus of growth will shift to Southeast Asia and Africa. While India and China will maintain their mechanisation levels, having achieved significant progress in recent years, it is the emerging markets that will drive growth. This forecast was shared during the EIMA International conference in Bologna, where industry experts discussed the evolving agricultural machinery market, which will run from November 6 to 10.

According to Mariateresa Maschio, president of FederUnacoma, the demand for agricultural machinery will grow substantially in regions with strong agricultural development, spurred by population growth and the need for more advanced equipment. A prominent example is Indonesia, which, with nearly 300 million people, is one of the most populous nations globally. Over the last 15 years, Indonesia's agricultural machinery imports have steadily increased from EUR 140 million (approx. US$160mn) in 2009 to nearly EUR 700 million (approx. US$770mn) in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 8.6%. This upward trend is expected to persist, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.7% from 2024 to 2027.

Other Southeast Asian countries are also experiencing rising machinery imports. In Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, imports are expected to grow by 6.2% annually over the next four years. The Philippines, with 110 million people, anticipates a 7.8% annual increase in imports, while Thailand, after a slow growth period of just 1% annually over the last 15 years, is forecasted to see a significant rise of 6.8% annually from 2024 to 2027.

In Africa, population growth is even more pronounced. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is projected to account for 50% of the world’s population increase by 2050. Nigeria, with 230 million people, is expected to become the third most populous country globally by mid-century, surpassing 400 million. Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both with populations over 100 million, are also poised to experience rapid growth and join the ranks of the world’s top 10 most populous nations in the next two decades.

Currently, only 46% of Nigeria’s arable land is used for agriculture, while in the Democratic Republic of Congo, just 10% is utilised. Expanding agricultural land is a key priority for these countries, and as more land is cultivated, the demand for advanced agricultural technologies is expected to rise. In fact, machinery imports in Ethiopia are projected to grow by 7% annually until 2027, while Congo is forecasted to see an even higher increase of 12% per year, with continued growth over the next two decades.

With the introduction of MycoPrime, NoMy aims to differentiate itself from other mycoprotein producers by offering a scalable, licensable end-to-end upcycling service. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Oslo-based fermentation technology firm Norwegian Mycelium (NoMy) is expanding into Japan with the establishment of its subsidiary, NoMy Japan KK

Based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, NoMy Japan was founded in January 2024 and has already formed strategic alliances to enhance its fermentation technology operations, which focus on upcycling food industry side streams. Notable collaborations include a strategic alliance with Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing Co. Ltd, one of Japan’s leading beet sugar producers, and a feasibility study with Hokuren, a major farmer cooperative in Hokkaido known for its extensive agricultural activities. Further collaborations are still under wraps and will be disclosed at a later date, as indicated by NoMy.

The company is also launching its MycoPrime service, a upcycling solution that integrates data science, fermentation technology, and artificial intelligence. MycoPrime is designed to assist food industry partners in optimising the use of side streams, reducing waste and CO2 emissions, maximising water recycling, and developing co-located production facilities for high-value, sustainable, fungi-based products. With the introduction of MycoPrime, NoMy aims to differentiate itself from other mycoprotein producers by offering a scalable, licensable end-to-end upcycling service, leveraging its proprietary technology to deliver global solutions.

David Andrew Quist, co-founder and chief explorer at NoMy, expressed, “We are thrilled to announce NoMy Japan KK and introduce our MycoPrime upcycling concept to the world. There is a massive need and opportunity to de-risk the development of sustainable upcycling solutions and bring them to life. With NoMy’s technology and MycoPrime, the food industry now has a reliable, end-to-end partner to create value instead of waste, and become a pioneer in food system transformation.”

Dr Shu Ishikuri, President of Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing Co. Ltd, shared, “Our goal is to create a new industry utilising sugar beets, which have high carbon dioxide absorption capacity. NoMy’s technology, which utilises the byproduct of the sugar manufacturing process to produce filamentous fungal protein as a food resource, has great potential to produce feed and food substitutes for animal protein. We believe that this technology will help to promote agriculture and solve food problems.”

Norwegian Mycelium’s CEO, Ingrid Dynna, emphasised, “Through the launch of MycoPrime and partnerships with Japanese companies, we foresee strong growth and impact for our solutions in Japan, and become the premier service provider for upcycling food industry sidestreams in this important market.”