In The Spotlight
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."
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.
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.
Asian Agri’s smallholder partners in Jambi Province received recognition, with premium payments being distributed from the sale of certified sustainable palm oil for 2023
Forty cooperatives (KUDs) comprising around 12,500 smallholder members received a total amount of more than US$147.24 on 20 December at EV Garden in Jambi, Indonesia. The aim of the programme is to reward oil palm smallholders who adhere to internationally recognised sustainability standards, such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. Among those who were recognised were scheme smallholders who consistently adopted sustainable plantation practices in compliance with certification standards.
“With RSPO certification, we can support the sustainable palm oil industry in international markets, particularly in Europe, where only sustainably sourced palm oil is accepted,” noted Ramli Simarmata, regional head of Asian Agri for Jambi region, adding that the premium payments are expected to benefit over 12,500 smallholders, aligning with Asian Agri’s 5C philosophy. This emphasises that the company’s presence should bring value to the Community, the Country, the Climate, the Customer, and ultimately the Company.
Rudy Rismanto, head of Partnership at Asian Agri, highlighted the role of partnerships in the company’s sustainability strategy. Rahadi, chairman of KUD Sawit Mulia, also noted the many advantages of the partnership model and encouraged smallholders with unproductive plantations to proceed with replanting. Furthermore, Basuki, supervisor of KUD Makmur Rezeki, emphasised the importance of using high-quality seeds as a key factor for successful replanting.
The State Grid Ningxia Electric Power Co., Ltd. Guyuan Branch recently visited the Chaona egg sorting and marketing centre in Pengyang County Industrial Park to investigate potential safety hazards in electrical equipment
Given their unique advantages of low fat, low cholesterol, large egg yolk and thick egg white, Chaona eggs have become a popular choice for numerous consumers. Since the traditional egg sorting method relies on manual operation, which is inefficient and labour-intensive, the egg sorting marketing centre project came into being, injecting new vitality into the development of the industry.
Chaona eggs are currently being sold to Beijing, Xiamen, Xi'an, Yinchuan, Guyuan and other cities, and the market share continues to expand.
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)
Harnessing the power of the world's largest green magnesium reserves, Albanian Minerals is unlocking a mineral blend capable of transforming billions of tons of CO2 into vital nutrients for biodiversity
By reducing land and ocean acidity, this innovation paves the way for a healthier planet, fostering fertile soil, vibrant ecosystems, and improved human health. Green magnesium promises enhanced plant growth, superior soil quality, and a boost to global food security. Furthermore, including it in health supplements also offers numerous benefits.
“Our approach to solving the planet's greatest challenges is centred around eco-friendly green magnesium, which has already demonstrated remarkable results in restoring both land and water,” said Albanian Minerals’ CEO, Sahit Muja while summing up the company’s mission. “As we face the ongoing crises of climate change and environmental degradation, green magnesium's role in carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem stability is more critical than ever.”
Beyond being a mere product, green magnesium represents a catalyst for a sustainable future.