Results show almonds treated with Acadian biostimulants with improved Stem Water Potential in both stressed and non-stressed situations. (Image source: Acadian Plant Health)

Acadian Plan Health through its multi-year California almond water study, today, released expanded results demonstrating how biostimulant technologies can help growers reduce water use while maintaining yield

As chronic water shortages loom over the world, water reduction programmes are working to lower the local almond industry's water use by 20% from 2020-2025. Starting in 2026, California is looking to significantly reduce its water use, thus making biostimulant technologies all the more relevant for almond growers.

Starting from 2021, chosen almond trees were subjected to Acadian Organic treatments, following which weekly assessments of midday stem water potential were performed. Results from these assessments showed a consistent improvement in stem water potential and kernal weight in regular and deficit irrigation situations. 

According to director of Research and Development at Acadian Plant Health, Holly Little, the results were found to be promising. She highlighted that besides lowering stem water potential, these biostimulants can also lower the frequency or volume of irrigation required for the growth of healthy almond trees, while at the same time protecting yields. 

"As environmental and regulatory water restrictions challenge global agriculture, adopting multidisciplinary and holistic water management will be key to sustaining future orchard systems," said UC Davis Cooperative Extension Orchard Systems specialist Dr Guilia Marino. "These preliminary results suggest Acadian Plant Health's biostimulant technology has a positive effect on almond tree water status under experimental conditions and may reduce tree stress. Additional research will help determine the product's impact on orchard productivity, as well as tree physiology and productivity."

Hydro-Mix XI provides instantaneous feedback to the control system to reach the correct moisture targets. (Image source: Hydronix)

Noodles are made from wheat flour which are then dried, shaped and packaged, for example, as instant noodles

In the beginning steps, water is present and could lead to problems such as dough clogging the machines, quality issues, or even worse, downtime for the plant. Controlling the moisture becomes vital, and the Hydro-Mix XT is installed inline in the process (an explosive atmosphere version is also available). It provides instantaneous feedback to the control system to reach the correct moisture targets. 

Benefits of measuring moisture in the noodle processing:

• Ensure the dough is the correct moisture to be worked with. Too wet and it becomes sticky; too dry and it crumbles.
• Calculate the correct amount of water to add to the flour.
• Mix the dough homogenously.
• Check dough is at a suitable moisture to be used by the rolling machine.
• Provides a final QA check that the dough sheet is at optimum moisture content.

Where do you need to measure moisture?

There are three places to install a moisture sensor:
1. In the flour hopper prior to the mixer.
2. In the mixer.
3. After the first set of rollers.

Expected Accuracy

A Hydro-Mix XT is installed in the end wall of the mixer. It is expected the accuracy will be better than:
• Hoppers ±0.5%
• Mixer ±0.2%
• After Rollers ±0.5%

Conclusion

During noodle processing, it is crucial to control the moisture in order to obtain a homogenous, high-quality dough that will not crumble or be too sticky. By adding moisture measurement in three critical areas, it is possible to cover the entire process and provide complete end-to-end moisture control.

Hydronix has a range of moisture sensors with high precision and accuracy, which can be used in the process. The Hydro-Mix XT-EX will specifically help with the installation into an explosive dust environment, whereas the Hydro-Mix XT can be used in ordinary locations.

Read the entire story: https://hubs.li/Q02CgmYZ0

The partnership was officially launched at a dialogue hosted by the SIF, the World Economic Forum and the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW). (Image source: SIF)

The Singapore International Foundation (SIF), in collaboration with the World Economic Forum on 21 June, launched the first ever multi-stakeholder platform to address the critical challenges of climate change

The Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water (SEAPAW), which primarily focuses on strengthening water resilience as an approach to climate change adaptation, is the first such platform in the region. The partnership focuses on galvanising action among stakeholders in support of a shared vision, fostering cross-border projects, and accelerating adaptation financing through public-private-philanthropic models. 

Besides growing the community and identifying projects in key areas of interest, SEAPAW will also report on the region’s progress in water-related resilience goals and climate adaptation, which will help identify areas of need for further action.

The partnership was officially launched at a dialogue hosted by the SIF, the World Economic Forum and the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) and was held alongside the Singapore Water Week 2024. The President of the Republic of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was the Guest of Honour at the event. He highlighted the region’s growing vulnerability to water scarcity and the impacts of climate change, while also emphasising on the need to manage demand for more efficient and sustainable water use in every sector in Southeast Asia. 

Moreover, professor Khoo Teng Chye, who is currently the director of NUS Cities and a practice professor with the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore was announced as the chairperson of SEAPAW during the launch. 

“The water crisis is deeply intertwined with climate change; and countries need to work together to resolve it. SEAPAW serves as a crucial foundation to mobilise stakeholders and leverage innovative policies to scale up water investments, access, resilience, and sustainability," Teng Chye said. "As Chairperson of this pioneer platform in the region, I am committed to steer the discourse, and foster collaborations for a fair, inclusive, and climate resilient future.”

New Holland aims to bring autonomous solutions across all segments it serves, particularly in the speciality crop market. (Image source: CNH)

New Holland recently announced its multi-phase partnership with leading autonomous technology company, Bluewhite to enable the collaboration on distribution, manufacturing and integration of Bluewhite's autonomous solutions for New Holland tractors, thus enabling them to operate fully autonomously in orchards and vineyards among other specialty crop operations

Formerly known as Blue White Robotics, Bluewhite brings sustainable autonomous innovation to permanent crop growers worldwide, thus driving the growth of resilient farms. Using its AI-driven autonomous farm solution, the company leverages AI, sensor fusion, advanced vehicle integration and precision implements control to help growers manage their fleets and data.

New Holland aims to bring autonomous solutions across all segments it serves, particularly in the speciality crop market. Bluewhite's unique technology and proven capabilities in orchards and vineyards helps New Holland customers address immediate challenges, such as labor shortages and rising operational costs in the specialty crop market. Through a combination of savings in inputs, labour and maintenance costs, the technology has been successful in reducing operational costs by up to 85% depending on the specific use case.

“We’re incredibly excited about collaborating with CNH and New Holland to accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in the field that not only improve productivity and profitability for growers but also promote safe and sustainable methods of producing food,” said CEO of Bluewhite, Ben Alfi. “Our long-term partnership with CNH and New Holland combining leading autonomous technology with the best tractors and harvesters in the orchards and vineyards sector is a milestone in achieving our mission of making cutting-edge innovation accessible to the agriculture sector."