The focus is on special achievements for the development of local, national and international agriculture. (Image source: DLG)

Chosen from 107 candidates from 34 countries, the DLG (German Agricultural Society) and Women in Ag Magazine recently announced the winners of this year's 'Women in Ag Award'

The award honors candidates in four categories namely, 'Agriculture', 'Agribusiness', 'Education' and 'Technology and Research' each with first, second and third place. Focussed on recognising the work of women in the agricultural sector, the award ceremony will be held on 13 November at EuroTier 2024.  

The award winners were selected from 107 candidates from 34 countries by an international jury of representatives from agricultural practice, science, organisations and the media. The focus is on special achievements for the development of local, national and international agriculture.  

The award winners by category include:

Category: Agribusiness

• 1st Place: Doreen Jean Nsasiirwe - An experienced agriculture professional dedicated to improving health and conserving the environment by offering natural, nutritious, and sustainable health products.
• 2nd Place: Susan Waithira Kuria - Seasoned entrepreneur who is also the co-founder and managing director of Essential Drugs Ltd, who has a great passion for advancing the livestock sector through innovation and modern technology.
• 3rd Place:  Neamat ElTazi - Co-founder and COO of PoultrySync, Egypt, along with her co-founders developed a technical solution for the poultry industry that enhances flock performance and efficiency, resulting in notable improvements in operations and profitability. 

Category: Agriculture

• 1st Place: Jana Gäbert - A farmer and scientist in leadership roles who promotes unconventional conventional agriculture, bridging science and practice to address climate change while focusing on biodiversity, sustainability, and innovation.
• 2nd Place: Caroline Jaspart - Owner of a farm in Belgium who was appointed president of the Union des Agricultrices Wallonnes. She represent the voice of women farmers in various places and carries out projects on the status of women and well-being in the workplace. Her quest is to show that the female farmer is an entrepreneur just like any other. 
• 3rd Place: Judith Bakirya - Managing director of Busaino Herbs and Fruits (BusHFruit), Busoga, an AgroEcology farm who works with small garden owners who are the neighbours, and are both in-growers of nuts, beans, soya and vegetables in the fruit farm and out-growers of avocado and jackfruit. 

Category: Education

• 1st Place: Rosinah Mbenya - A professional environmentalist who serves as the country coordinator for PELUM Kenya. She has accumulated expertise in development projects, particularly in agroecology, climate change, market development, advocacy, capacity building, and networking.
• 2nd Place: Christine Jodloman - A dedicated agriculture advocate from a family of farmers in the Philippines who has co-created and reached more than 40,000 farmers in the Philippines and in ASEAN region.
• 3rd Place: Helen Louton - A leading academic in animal welfare with a particular focus on poultry husbandry and management who is also a professor of Animal Health and Welfare at the University of Rostock, Germany. She has positively contributed to the training of individuals in agriculture, scientific research and agricultural practice in addition to setting new standards in poultry welfare.

Category: Technology and Research

• 1st Place: Annika Behler - An agricultural scientist at the Institute of Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects (IASP), Germany, who aims to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact in farming.
• 1st Place: Katharina Berse - A project manager for strategic agricultural research at Evonik Creavis, Germany with she and her team developing a solution to stabilise Gram-negative bacteria in liquid formulations, promoting more sustainable agriculture. In addition to her work, Katharina Berse also runs a farm with her husband, focusing on both crops and livestock.
• 2nd Place: Lisbeth Henricksen - As a visionary thinker and the director of Innovation at SEGES Innovation, she is responsible for developing and innovating new knowledge, tools, and products for farmers across all primary production sectors, including dairy, pigs, arable farming, climate and sustainability, economics, and management. 
• 3rd Place: LaKisha Odom - She works at the intersection of sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in agriculture, focusing on innovative solutions for sustainable food production and economic viability for producers. At the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), she leads DEI efforts and research programmes that support regenerative farming, healthier food access, and diverse farmer adoption of sustainable practices.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and COP28 co-hosted an event entitled ‘Advancing Climate Action through Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems’ during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 22 September 2024. (Image source: MOCCAE))

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and COP28 co-hosted an event entitled ‘Advancing Climate Action through Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems’ during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 22 September 2024

During the opening of the event, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak began with a keynote speech highlighting the importance of sustainable food systems in the global climate agenda and how the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, which was launched last year at COP28, has raised global ambition on this.

This event provided a platform for United Nations Member States and other stakeholders to share actions they have taken in their own national contexts to enhance their agriculture and food systems in light of climate change. It also offered an opportunity to share their perspectives on potential deliverables at COP29 and related fora. Stakeholders highlighted key agriculture, food, and climate milestones that are crucial for maintaining momentum from COP28 to COP29 and COP30. 

Moreover, the event placed special emphasis on Member States’ thinking around the role of agriculture and food systems in the next round of NDCs, NAPs, and NBSAPs, and how to accelerate all forms of finance to support this critical part of our climate transition. 

“The UAE is committed to championing food systems innovations that are good for both people and planet, and the partnership on agricultural innovation that we co-launched with the Gates Foundation at COP28 is focused precisely on this objective," said Head of International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court, CEO of 2PointZero, Mariam Almheiri. "We are proud to be the first donor country from the MENA region to join the CGIAR's System Council, and in the coming years, we plan to work closely with the CGIAR and all of our global partners to develop and scale promising innovations that can help smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods in the face of climate change."

These exhibitors reflect the diverse and innovative product offerings that will be on display at the show. (Image source: J-AGRI Show Management)

Leading global trade show organiser, RX Japan is preparing for the highly anticipated return of its flagship agriculture trade shows: J-AGRI Tokyo, GARDEX, and TOOL JAPAN

Scheduled to take place from 9-11 October at Makuhari Messe, these events are set to attract significant international participation. With an anticipated 900 exhibitors and over 36,000 visitors from more than 60 countries, the trio of trade shows will once again cement their status as premier events in their respective sectors.

J-AGRI, GARDEX, and TOOL JAPAN are established as must-attend events in agriculture, garden, outdoor, and tool-related industries. The 2024 edition will see exhibitors and visitors from key global markets, including China, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, India, the USA, Germany and Poland, among others. This global representation underlines the trade shows' significance infacilitating international business collaborations and industry advancements.

- J-AGRI Tokyo: Among the prominent exhibitors are RubberFlex from Thailand, a leading producer of livestock rubber mats designed to enhance the comfort and health of livestock, and Blasen from South Korea, known for their advanced air and water heat pumps for agricultural use. CH Biotech, a Taiwan-based leader in agricultural biotechnology, will also be exhibiting, showcasing their innovative plant growth regulators and biostimulants aimed at improving crop productivity.

- GARDEX: Attendees can expect to see products from top international companies like Adhi Annam Coir Comforts from India, offering a wide range of eco-friendly gardening products such as pots, planters, and grow pads. BARNEL USA, a well-known name in the garden tools sector, will also present their extensive line of tools that cater to arborists, horticulturists, and serious hobbyists alike. 

- TOOL JAPAN: This event is set to feature exhibitors such as Ankllefrom China, a producer of safety shoes for a variety of industries, and EXPERT Marking Tools from Germany, showcasing their range of professional marking tools suitable for various surfaces and conditions. These exhibitors reflect the diverse and innovative product offerings that will be on display at the show.

In addition to the expansive exhibition areas, all three shows will offer opportunities for on-the-spot business meetings, providing exhibitors and visitors alike with the chance to connect, network, and explore new business ventures. Moreover, these shows also promise to deliver three days of industry-leading exhibitions, newly launching innovations, and vital networking opportunities. Visitors alike are encouraged to register early to ensure they don't miss out on this key international business event.

"We believe that bringing these three flagship trade shows together at one venue creates a synergistic platform for exhibitors and visitors from interconnected industries," stated RX Japan. "This decision not only enhances the networking and business development opportunities but also strengthens Japan’s position as a global hub for agriculture, garden, and tool-related industries."

Currently at 60% self-sufficiency in home-produced foodstuffs, the aim is to become 100% self-sufficient. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The ongoing SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE (LIVESTOCK SUMMIT) is taking place from 1-4 October in Clermont-Ferrand, France

Hosting 2,000 animals representing 70 different breeds of livestock, 1,700 exhibitors from 35 countries will be attending the event which will also host a packed programme for the expected 120,000 visitors. 

As an international business forum, the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE is also more than 5,000 foreign visitors from over 90 countries, who come to discover French cattle and sheep breeds, and meet suppliers of farm equipment, animal feed and health products, and not forgetting new technologies and the latest industry innovations. As every year, they can expect a VIP welcome with a specific programme of events and activities to include access to the International Lounge, farm visits and the international gala evening, among others.

Known for its long tradition of nomadic livestock farming, Kazakhstan possesses 32 million hectares of croppable land, that’s more than that of France and Germany combined. Known as the number one sheep meat producer in central Asia, Kazakhstan is also the sixth world producer of wheat.

"At a time when agriculture is facing major challenges, our event throws light on the many issues facing livestock farmers, such as replacing the current generation of farmers, young people setting up in business, farmers’ quality of life, improving incomes, climate change, animal welfare, etc," said the show's general manager, Fabrice Berthon. "They come to us to learn more about the challenges they ultimately face. The SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE gives them solutions, ideas and perspectives that they may not find elsewhere. All in the festive, friendly atmosphere for which our event is world renowned. Because that too is all part of the SOMMET, four days of sharing, chatting and laughing, it’s some valuable down time for everyone!"

Dr Jacqueline Hughes being presented the 2024 PGPR Lifetime Achievement Award in Global Agriculture. (Image source: ICRISAT)

Director general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Dr Jacqueline Hughes was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Global Agriculture Award at the eighth Asian PGPR International Conference for Sustainable Agriculture in Taiwan

Dr Hughes' lifelong dedication to agricultural research fetched her the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in Global Agriculture Award, highlighting her pioneering work in plant virology, sustainable agriculture, and food security in regions challenged by climate change and agricultural strain.

Working extensively in both Africa and Asia, Dr Hughes has led research and development programmes that have significantly improved the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Her leadership has driven programmes focused on strategic innovation, sustainable agricultural practices, and cross-cutting research that have had far-reaching impacts across multiple continents. Through her work, Dr Hughes has promoted food and nutrition security, strengthened plant disease management, and pioneered the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to reduce chemical inputs in farming.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award from the Asian PGPR Society. I share this achievement with the many dedicated colleagues and partners who have been integral to finding sustainable solutions for agriculture," remarked Dr Hughes at her acceptance speech at the World Vegetable Centre in Shanhua, Taiwan. "The challenges we face due to the warming climate are substantial, especially in the semi-arid tropics, but so too are the opportunities to make a lasting impact on food security and environmental sustainability."