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Bayer Unveils the Preceon™ Smart Corn System


Bayer is changing the future of agriculture by introducing the Preceon Smart Corn System, marking a new era in corn production.

The system will help farmers protect their crop and optimize decision-making throughout the season for sustained success.

The Preceon Smart Corn System is beginning with three complementary components that, when applied together, help farmers better manage risk and increase opportunities to help protect their yield and profitability potential:

  • Short stature corn hybrids are the foundation of the Preceon Smart Corn System. This transforming innovation is designed to P.A.Y. farmers back by delivering:
    • Protection from crop yield loss due to increased lodging and greensap tolerance in high winds and challenging weather conditions.
    • Access all season long for timely, precise application of crop protection and other inputs with standard ground equipment.
    • Yield potential through increased opportunity to optimize crop inputs, planting seeding rates and field placement.
  • FieldView™ digital insights help farmers maximize outcomes with custom field placement and seeding rate recommendations. Farmers can receive advanced, variable seeding rate prescriptions by sharing their field boundaries, target yields by field and two years of historical yield data within the FieldView platform.
  • Tailored support from Bayer and participating Dealers/Seedsmen will bring farmers reliable support to help maximize the Preceon Smart Corn System. The exclusive group of farmers in the 2023 Ground Breakers® Field Trial program will receive personalized, hands-on service as well as regional agronomic recommendations and best practices.

Bayer is committed to helping farmers gain the most value from the system as possible, from access to Bayer research data to prescriptive agronomic recommendations and FieldView digital services tailored to their farms.

The Preceon Smart Corn System, which will be launched globally and commercialized in the coming years, will continue to develop in the future, offering significant benefits to farmers for years to come.

Moving forward, this system will be an important part of how Bayer helps farmers navigate increasingly difficult obstacles, including the ongoing effects of climate change, to help feed the world.

“This is one of the most important and exciting launches we have ever had at Bayer,” said Dr. Jacqueline Applegate, president of Bayer Crop Science North America.

“Farmers continue to face new and strenuous challenges every season, including pressure from weeds, insects, diseases, and unpredictable weather conditions that have increased in frequency and severity.

The Preceon Smart Corn System is one of the most innovative solutions we have developed in this space. We anticipate the system will evolve and continue to provide significant value to farmers in the future.”

Bayer is expanding the Preceon Smart Corn System testing in 2023 through the Ground Breakers® Field Trials to more than 30,000 acres. The feedback from more than 280 participating farmers will be essential for enhancing the system in the future. Bayer expects to have a targeted commercial introduction in the U.S. in 2024.

“We could not be more excited to participate in this trial,” said Brant Voss, Iowa farmer and 2023 Ground Breakers Field Trial participant.

“We are always looking to adopt the best and newest technologies, and Bayer is leading the way in agricultural innovation. There is no other system like it, and we cannot wait to see the advantages come this fall.”

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Tackling waste tyres and unfair trade are top priorities for South Africa

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Reducing the negative environmental impacts of waste tyres is high on the agenda in 2023 for the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC), the representative body of the four global tyre manufacturers with manufacturing facilities in South Africa.

Newly appointed Chairperson, Lubin Ozoux, said members are committed to finalising the Industry Waste Management Plan for Tyres this year and having a clear roadmap in place to reduce carbon emissions in the sector.

Ozoux, CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Pty) Ltd., began his two-year term as SATMC Chairperson on 1 November 2022 and will serve in the role until late 2024. He has hit the ground running alongside SATMC Managing Executive, Nduduzo Chala, to ensure progress on topics critical to the industry, country and manufacturing sector.

SATMC priorities in 2023 broadly centre around industry evolution, skills development for the future, localisation and supplier development efforts, as well as infrastructure maintenance.

However, Ozoux views waste management as a critical focus area. “We are collaborating with the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), the Tyre Equipment Parts Association (TEPA) and the government to ensure that steps are taken to drive improvements and sustainability in both collection and processing of tyre waste,” he said.

This includes working closely with tyre dealers to encourage correct storage of waste tyres, and exploring the commercial prospects for waste tyres, with the aim of supporting enterprise development and job creation in a circular economy.

Consultation is underway on the draft section 29 Integrated Industry Waste Management Plan for Tyres (IndWTMP), developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the notice of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy.

In terms of section 29(1) of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008, the Plan provides requirements for the implementation of effective and efficient waste tyre management in South Africa and sets out guidelines and requirements for all tyre industry role-players. Failure to manage waste tyres as prescribed in the IndWTMP is a criminal offence.

Chala said the industry has long been advocating for a process that will cater for the processing of end-of-life tyres. The SATMC is also lobbying in relation to second-hand tyres or part-worn tyres, which remain unregulated in the country, posing a serious safety risk for road commuters.

“As such, among our priority areas is to ensure that there is a part-worn standard developed through the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and to challenge the importation of second-hand passenger casings into the country as these end up on our roads, becoming not only an environmental hurdle, but more importantly, a safety risk,” says Chala.

He said maintaining South Africa’s position as the key automotive hub in Africa would require close collaboration with government, automotive sector players and other industry associations, as well as a policy environment conducive to the competitiveness and sustainability of manufacturing.

Tackling dumping and illicit trade

Among efforts to safeguard competitiveness and sustainability for local tyre manufacturing is the campaign to stem the proliferation of ‘unfairly traded tyres from China.

“We want to partner with government and other stakeholders in the industry to ensure that dumping and illicit trade is stopped to ensure sustainability in the local tyre manufacturing sector. If South Africa is used for dumping activities from other parts of the world, we will soon see remaining factories shutting down, causing further loss of employment,” says Ozoux.

Goodyear South Africa MD, Richard Fourie, agreed. “Fair competition in the market helps to ensure that we, as manufacturers remain competitive, and that end-consumers get the best options. Tyre dumping into our country does not promote fair competition, neither does it promote the sustainable development of the local tyre industry, economy and communities. The anti-dumping duties that have been imposed by government based on ITAC’s preliminary investigation following an independent audit, serve to level the playing field for all players in the market.”.

Ozoux said the SATMC and its members would respect the final findings of the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), which is currently investigating the issue of tyre dumping from China into South Africa. Following a preliminary investigation, ITAC imposed a provisional antidumping duty of 38.33% on car, passenger, truck and bus tyres dumped into the local market from China, applicable between September 9 2022 to March 8 2023.

Continental Tyre South Africa MD, Matthew Livigni, said, “We believe that these provisional payments will address the problem of unfairly traded tyres from China, which have over a long period of time placed strain on the local market.”

Bridgestone South Africa MD Jacques Rikhotso, added, “From the onset tariffs will reduce the burden on the fiscus. However, on a broader scale tyre dumping also has a negative impact on road safety. With the reduction of lower quality product on South African roads we anticipate improvements. The local manufacturing industry would have a fair basis from which to continue to support local economic growth and sustain thousands of livelihoods.”

Ozoux said all four SATMC members would continue to drive road safety, while striving for the sustainability of the local tyre manufacturing sector in 2023 and beyond.

“I look forward to creating positive opportunities within our environment, helping to ensure the country’s future prosperity. For me, it is critical to work with all four tyre manufacturers, government and the private sector to contribute to the sustainability of the local industry, create employment opportunities, accelerate economic reforms, address unfair international trade practices, reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and improve infrastructure,” he said.

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Curtailing Illicit Tyre trade will help improve SA’s road safety


The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) is actively working to address the issue of illicit trade of tyres in South Africa.

This includes, amongst others, the rising incidents of misdeclaration of tyre consignments and rerouting of imports through neighbouring countries in order to avoid tyre duties, environment levies and permits.

The SATMC is the representative body of the four leading global tyre manufacturers with manufacturing facilities established in the country, namely Bridgestone Southern Africa, Continental Tyre South Africa, Goodyear South Africa and Sumitomo Rubber South Africa.

Chairperson, Lubin Ozoux, said illicit tyre trade is a growing concern and has far-reaching impacts on the industry, as well as the safety of drivers and passengers on the road.

“The production, import, export, purchase, sale or possession of tyres that fail to comply with the domestic legislation of South Africa must be taken seriously and stamped out. We as the SATMC, representing local tyre manufacturers, are particularly concerned about the entry of substandard and counterfeit tyres into the South African market. These tyres often do not meet the required safety standards, are made with inferior materials and are prone to failure, placing millions of lives at risk on our roads,” he said.

Tyres which are illegally brought into the country pose a serious threat to the safety of South African consumers. While this issue has been a persistent problem for several years, the recent increase could be attributed to the rise in illegal trade activities globally as globalisation and e-commerce continue to expand.

SATMC Managing Executive, Ndu Chala, said the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), in collaboration with the SATMC, has been working closely with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to root out illicit trade in the industry.

“There are currently just over 60 open cases of illicit trading related to the tyre industry that are being investigated by SARS. There is no outcome yet and we await SARS processes to finalise these,” he said.

“This influx is concerning, and we have endeavoured to collaborate with the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), the Tyre Equipment Parts Association (TEPA) and the government through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to detect non-compliant behaviour, and ensure consequences for those found to have resorted to this illegal and criminal behaviour,” added Chala.

Ozoux said all role players in the tyre industry including manufacturers, importers, dealers and distributors are aligned and collaborating to tackle the scourge of illicit tyre trade. The SATMC has also introduced a number of solutions, including increased collaboration with law enforcement agencies to enforce regulations, and increased public awareness through targeted campaigns.

“Illicit trade must be stopped, as this will create a safe and fair market for South Africa, helping to keep millions of lives safer on the roads, and protecting local jobs. If reducing the unacceptably high number and cost of road deaths in South Africa is a priority for us all, then we simply cannot continue to allow illegal and often inferior tyres to keep proliferating the local market. Only legitimate and safe tyres should be available to South African consumers,” said Ozoux.

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Goodyear South Africa Tyres Certified Proudly South African


Tyres produced locally by Goodyear South Africa have been certified ‘Proudly South African’ by the country’s official buy local advocacy campaign, Proudly South African.

The certification means Goodyear’s tyres that are pressed out of the company’s manufacturing plant in Kariega, which include consumer and Off-The-Road (OTR) Bias tyres, are deemed as meeting local content thresholds and, more importantly, quality standards.

It serves to note that Goodyear is currently the only tyre manufacturer that produces Off-The-Road Bias (OTR) tyres in South Africa. OTR tyres are fitted on heavy-duty vehicles, such as mining vehicles, which are vital to the daily operations in the mines of South Africa and elsewhere on the continent.

“At Goodyear, we understand that local production is an important driver of our country’s economy and job creation for our people. Having Goodyear tyres, which are manufactured in the Kariega plant, certified Proudly South African is a huge milestone in our 75-year-old presence in the country and is another demonstration of our commitment to the economic development of South Africa” says Richard Fourie, Managing Director, Goodyear South Africa.

Goodyear takes great pride in its role as a key contributor to the South African automotive industry and economy for 75 years and counting. The first Goodyear tyre produced in South Africa rolled off the press in 1948. Today, Goodyear has grown to over 1000-persons strong in South Africa and produces over 2 million tyres annually in the country.

“As an organization created to promote local industries and products, we are pleased to see that one more multinational is committed to the sustainable development of South Africa’s manufacturing industry. Goodyear has more than 1000 employees locally, emphasizing the importance of the buy local to create jobs mandate, and further highlighting the critical role localisation plays in our country ” says Eustace Mashimbye, Chief Executive Officer, Proudly South African.

“We welcome Goodyear to the Buy Local movement and look forward to a fruitful association as we continue with our localisation efforts as the country’s buy local campaign, adds Mashimbye.

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Samson launches section control on slurry tanker implements


SAMSON AGRO A/S, based in Viborg in Denmark, is launching a new section control module for implements (drip hose booms, incorporators and injectors), SAMSON GSC (Generic Section Control).

SAMSON GSC is a universal system that works with both SAMSON and non-SAMSON implements provided they are mounted on a SAMSON PG II Genesis slurry tanker with the SlurryMaster 8000 terminal.

SAMSON GSC makes it possible to customise 12 sections on any implement. These sections can be controlled manually via the joystick on the SlurryMaster 8000 or automatically when combined with an ISOBUS compatible GPS system with Section Control (TC-SC) also offered by SAMSON AGRO A/S.

SAMSON GSC improves application accuracy, user comfort and crop yield potential, because working with multiple individual sections secures that overlapping and overdosing of slurry is avoided in i.e wedges or close to field boundaries. Thus, plants benefit fully of the nutrients in the slurry via the precise application and leads to savings on the purchase of mineral fertiliser.

Avoid under- or overdosing plants and lower emissions

SAMSON GSC is easy to install with a one plug connection to the SAMSON PG II Genesis slurry tanker and SlurryMaster8000. The size of each individual section is customized, adjusted and set up in the SlurryMaster 8000 together with hardware installed on the specific implement.

“We have developed a system that heightens the efficiency of organic fertiliser application and reduce environmental impact. We wanted a system that allows users of our slurry tankers SAMSON PG II Genesis series to do precise application from the tractor seat via SlurryMaster 8000 no matter what implement they choose for the application.

SAMSON GSC is very easy to install on both our own SAMSON implements as well as non-SAMSON implements“, explains Niels Hagemann Haubjerg, Product Manager for Slurry Technology at SAMSON AGRO.

Specific features of SAMSON GSC are tramline shut off control, precise start/stop situations in field and high precision application in hedges as well as sloping headlands. Together with TC-SC the section control can be carried out automatically based on GPS position.

The SAMSON GSC section control on implements will be launched for the 2022/23 season with sales for next season and will be available at all SAMSON dealers. The solution is nominated for a SIMA Innovations Award. It will have its official world premiere at the SIMA exhibition in France in November 2022.

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Terra Dos 5: The new Holmer sugar beet harvester


With its self-propelled beet harvesters, HOLMER upgraded an agricultural process from 1974 onwards. Numerous patents and inventions from Eggmühl – such as the EasyLift automatic single-row depth control – have left their mark on sugar beet harvesting.

Now HOLMER is presenting its latest sugar beet harvester, the Terra Dos 5.

The vehicle is available as a two and three-axle version, as Terra Dos 5-30 and Terra Dos 5-40. Several proven components from the predecessor model Terra Dos T4 have been adopted or improved. The MTU engine with 652 hp / 480 kW complies with the Stage V exhaust emission standard.

The Terra Dos 5 offers a solution to the five biggest challenges of the future: driver shortage, rising costs, difficult harvesting conditions, sustainability and digitalisation.

HOLMER addresses the problem of driver shortage by consistently placing the driver at the centre of developments, especially in the design of the cab.

The lighting with LED strips has a total of 22,785 lm and was developed specifically for beet harvesting. The special optics with asymmetrical radiation angles enable homogeneous illumination in the near and far range. During night shifts, the driver is less blinded, which guarantees fatigue-free and relaxed work.

Scientific studies into different driver proportions, seating and operating positions determine the design of the workplace. The cab has been extended by 18 cm, the controls reduced to the essentials and ergonomically arranged. This creates a feeling of personal freedom on the beet harvester and additional driver comfort.

The focus of the new development is the user interface on the main display as the driver’s control centre. Here, the information has been deliberately reduced in order to provide the driver with the most important machine parameters quickly and easily. The display is based on familiar formats from the automotive and smartphone sectors in order to create a quick recognition effect and intuitive operability. In addition, machine settings are interpreted by colour-coded information bars. In this way, the driver immediately recognises whether everything is “in the green zone” and operational controls are permanently learned from instinct. New drivers can be trained more quickly with this functional assistance. The layout also means it is easier to get back on the machine at the beginning of the harvesting season and experienced drivers gain time to monitor harvesting quality. For experienced drivers, the familiar fine adjustment options are of course still available.
Underfloor heating for cold working days, an integrated hoover and a redesigned cab platform with a new ladder for more space create a pleasant and futuristic working environment. The operator is offered a comfortable workplace where the machine provides him with optimum support and he can concentrate fully on the harvesting quality.

As costs for beet growers have risen sharply, the harvesting process is also being critically examined for potential savings. HOLMER is making its contribution to this by further optimising the service life of various components, similar to the introduction of the more durable HOLMER DuraShare in 2019.

This reduces the costs for wear parts during harvesting and makes the machine even more operationally reliable.

The cleaning has forged turbine tines that can be replaced individually, which reduces spare parts costs in this area by 15 %. The elevator drive wheels have been fitted with low-wear Hardox® fingers. The scraper floor plates and the wear plates in the chain track of the bunker are now also made of Hardox®.

Throughout the vehicle, components have also been reinforced for even greater durability, such as the chain strand, which has a breaking load of 125 kN, an increase of 25 %. Other components have been constructively modified, for example, the support rollers in the elevator channel have been replaced by sliding strips.

In addition to reducing wear, this ensures smoother running of the elevator and prevents the belt from being subjected to maximum stress at certain points, especially in high yield situations.
Also contributing to the goal of reduced maintenance costs is the filter change according to load condition and the increase of the maintenance interval of the diesel engine from 500 h to 750 h.
The Terra Dos 5 is more durable and robust, reducing wear and maintenance work. In conjunction with the HOLMER maintenance contracts, the harvesting costs can thus be reliably calculated.

Changing climatic conditions mean that increasingly extreme harvesting conditions, from drought to wetness, from dry leaves to heavily weeded fields, are becoming the norm. The Terra Dos 5 is optimally equipped for these exceptional situations and provides maximum flexibility to the operator.

The new, weight-optimised HS topper has a modified bonnet geometry to produce better suction in dry leaves. The HR lifting unit has a longitudinally adjustable forced intake to improve beet flow in high weeded conditions and a parallel adjustable roller table, which allows optimal adjustment especially in difficult harvesting conditions.

The larger 850 mm feeler wheels guarantee better depth control in wet conditions. The cleaning area of the turbines has been increased by 7.5% to accommodate higher capacities, allow a wider range of cleaning settings and improve beet flow. This is also ensured by the optimised transfer points and improved tine geometry.

Pressure and speed-controlled adaptive cleaning ensures smooth running and prevents clogging even at very low speeds, helping to protect the beet while easing the strain on the driver. For higher yields, difficult harvesting conditions and the use of eight, nine and twelve-row harvesting units, the hydraulic performance in the Terra Dos 5 has also been optimised.

Many of these innovations also have a direct impact on the sustainability of the Terra Dos 5. For example, sensor-based maintenance of the hydraulic filters according to load condition reduces oil consumption and unnecessarily frequent replacement of filter elements.

The Terra Dos 5 is the first beet harvester that can be filled with PANOLIN® bio-hydraulic oil. The use was successfully tested in 2021 and 2022.

Fewer oil changes, faster biodegradability to protect the environment and the reduction of the CO2 footprint by 8,100 kg CO2e in 10,000 engine hours are within the successful findings. HOLMER is positioning itself strongly for the future in this area and has therefore, among other things, applied for membership of the Fraunhofer Institute’s To-Syn-Fuel advisory board.

Here, work is being done in Sulzbach-Rosenberg (Germany) on generating fuel from waste water and sewage sludge. In Terra Dos 5, sustainable fuels for reducing CO2 emissions could be tested in the field under real operating conditions.

The Terra Dos 5 is digitally connected to the myHOLMER online platform. Here, machine owners can keep track of all information about their machine – from operating manuals, spare parts orders, live data on machine parameters, statistical data on individual days and a navigation function directly to the machine’s location.

The platform also has remote maintenance access for customer service, allowing faster, remote and more targeted service. All data is stored on a cloud in Germany and is secured from third-party access. Via the data hub agrirouter, the live telemetry data collected can be passed on to various farm management systems and processed there. Through this networked digitalisation, the Terra Dos 5 makes it easier for operators to manage their machinery.

The Terra Dos 5 thus offers solutions for the five biggest challenges of the future:
The feel-good workplace wins drivers, longer maintenance intervals and less wear and tear reduce maintenance costs, adaptation to extreme harvesting conditions secures the harvest, green ideas ensure sustainability and digital networking facilitates daily work.

In 2021, a pre-series of the Terra Dos 5 was built and field-tested. In 2022, a small series of two and three-axle models was built. The Terra Dos 5 can be ordered as of now for the 2023 harvesting season.

Terra – Latin for earth, known by the Terra tyre – stands for the protection of the arable soil. Dos – Spanish for two – stands for the second lane made possible by driving in crab steering. 5 stands as a consecutive number for the Terra Dos generation, which has been shaping the sugar beet harvest since 1996. Terra Dos 5 thus stands for soil protection and a consistent focus on the future.

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Africa’s agribusiness sector should drive the continent’s economic development: Five reasons why

Lilac Nachum, City University of New York


Africa’s agriculture sector accounts for about 35% of the continent’s gross domestic product, and provides the livelihood of more than 50% of the continent’s population.

These shares are more than double those of the world average and much higher than those of any other emerging region.

Dependence on agriculture has declined in other emerging regions. For example in Southeast Asia, agriculture’s share of GDP dropped from 30-35% in 1970 to 10-15% in 2019. In Africa it has remained unchanged for decades, according to World Bank data.
At the same time, Africa’s agriculture sector is the world’s least developed, with the lowest levels of labour and land productivity. Value added per worker in agriculture is about a quarter of the world’s average and less than a fifth of China’s.

The sector is dominated by smallholders, producing mainly for their own consumption. They operate well below minimum efficient scale and scope. Average farm size in Sub-Saharan Africa is 1.3 hectares, compared with 22 hectares in Central America, 51 hectares in South America and 186 hectares in North America, according to International Fund for Agricultural Development data.

Average farm machinery use in Africa is the lowest in the world and has increased only very slightly since the 1960s.

Against this backdrop, the development of the agribusiness sector holds enormous potential to foster Africa’s economic development. For this to happen, the productivity of Africa’s agribusiness must rise.

My research on Africa’s economic prospects has led me to believe that agribusiness offers African countries the most promising path for development and a shift towards higher value-added activities. This is the first step towards economic development.

There are five reasons why agribusiness should drive Africa’s economic development.

Why agriculture should be the focus

Firstly, Africa has abundant land. Agribusiness might be its foremost source of comparative advantage. Africa’s land size is larger than China, India, the US and most of Europe combined. More than half is arable land, suitable for crop growing. The weather in different parts of Africa provides perfect conditions for the growth of various crops.

Secondly, agriculture has huge potential for adding value, and Africa has comparative advantages in this sector. Also, most African countries export commodities and raw materials and import finished goods.

Ghana, for example, exports cocoa and imports high value-added chocolate; Kenya exports tea leaves and imports expensive branded tea. Nigeria and Angola have some of the world’s largest oil resources, but lack refining capacity and depend on imports for their energy consumption.

Africa’s dependence on imports for its consumption is the highest in the world as a share of its GDP. The development of agribusiness is fundamental for Africa’s ability to ensure food security.

Upgrading to activities that add more value in agriculture often requires less advanced technology than in manufacturing industries. Compare the technology of producing spare parts for the automobile industry with that needed to produce tea bags.

Thirdly, agribusiness is attractive because there are ready markets for its output. Africa has vast local markets for food. Agribusiness producers can sell much of their output in local markets. This enables local farming operations to grow and become more sophisticated in a less competitive environment before expanding internationally. Regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Agreement greatly increases these opportunities.

In export markets, Africa’s agribusiness products are likely to benefit from the continent’s reputation for high-quality natural resources. Ghana’s cocoa is considered as some of the world’s best, as are Kenya’s tea and coffee.

Fourth, African countries need to develop their agricultural sector also because they are unlikely to follow the traditional development paths. Many other emerging markets developed through industrialisation and export-driven manufacturing. Growth led by manufacturing needs infrastructure; Africa’s infrastructure is poor. This growth model is also threatened by automation and robotics that replace labour, and by growing protectionism in the world’s major markets.

With a few exceptions, such as Ethiopia and Morocco, most African countries have failed to establish a significant manufacturing sector, despite political efforts. A study showed that most African people who leave agriculture turn to low-skill, low-productivity services rather than to manufacturing.

In 2022, manufacturing employment accounted for slightly over 10% of sub-Saharan Africa employment, the smallest share of any emerging region according to World Bank data. Nor did the flow of low-wage manufacturing jobs out of China trigger the development of Africa’s manufacturing sector.

Yet another reason to pay more attention to Africa’s agribusiness is that it is at the forefront of environmental challenges and global warming. Drastic changes in rainfall and weather patterns change what can grow where, and increase the importance of efficiency of land use. It is important to understand the consequences of these changes so that they can be managed effectively.

Africa’s agribusiness must develop in order for the continent to develop economically. Its strengths and weaknesses make agribusiness the most significant sector to drive its overall economic development. Policy makers, educators and researchers should take note. Done right, the economic gains of developing Africa’s agribusiness will be enormous.The Conversation

Lilac Nachum, Visiting Professor at Strathmore Business School ;Professor of International Business, City University New York, City University of New York

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Agrotech México 2023: 17 – 19 May,  2023

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Agrotech México 2023
17 – 19 May,  2023
Expo Guadalajara, Jalisco


AgroTech is the first B2B fair in Mexico and Latin America specializing in innovative agricultural, cattle-farming and fishing technologies.

The event is designed to promote the specialization and competitiveness of Mexico’s agroindustrial sector, encourage the adoption of new technologies and foster international business.

Mexico is currently a leading player in the industry, which encompasses the entire value chain, from the production to the processing and marketing of agricultural products. We are the world’s 12th-largest producer and 7th-largest exporter of food products, and boast the 3rd-largest food industry on the American continent.

Our agricultural and seafood products, the most popular of which include avocado, tomatoes, berries, green chili peppers, broccoli, lime and garlic, are consumed in 164 countries and have a potential market of 1.35 billion people.

The sector’s high productivity can largely be attributed to Mexico’s immense biodiversity, while our network of 13 trade agreements provides preferential access to over 50 countries, reason why our agricultural exports increase with each passing year.

Mexico’s agroindustry has a promising future, but to remain competitive and become global leaders, we need to take our sector into the digital era, as this will enable us to improve the efficiency of productive processes across the entire industry, join global productive chains, boost our competitiveness and produce a wide range of products more sustainably.

Welcome to the Leading Agroindustrial Trade Show in Mexico and Latin America

AgroTech will take place at the same time as World Seafood Industry, so as to showcase all the latest agroindustrial and marine technologies, equipment, suppliers, products and services under one roof.

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BKT launches an exciting new season of Global Trends, completely dedicated to the OTR world

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BKT Network, BKT’s own Digital Platform, is proud to present the upcoming new season of its Global Trends format – this time, completely immersing viewers in the OTR world.

Global Trends OTR has been designed to be more than merely a source of information. It is an innovative and engaging experience that combines the latest technologies with the real-life experiences of industry experts. The season aims to provide a more comprehensive view of the OTR industry, offering an in-depth analysis of the most important topics in the sector and providing insights into the latest trends and developments.

Global Trends OTR is committed to using innovative technology to create a new, more engaging format that elevates users as ‘protagonists’ of the industry. The immersive nature of this format will place the user front and center of the episodes, aligning with BKT’s people-centric approach to business. As a brand, BKT embraces their global community, and Global Trends provides a valuable platform to inform and inspire their worldwide audience.

Subsequently, the latest season aims to make a ground-breaking impact on a global scale, with new initiatives that increase engagement, interactions, and strengthen the BKT community. Global Trends OTR strives to provide a captivating and informative experience for industry professionals, distributors, media & press, end users, and future generations alike.

The new season of Global Trends will be released monthly, from March 2023 to June 2023, and will consist of four episodes on some of the most pressing topics in the industry today: Sustainability and ESG, Technology, Automation and Robotics, Alternative Energies, and Net Zero and Low Carbon Emissions.

Each episode will feature two highly regarded industry experts, carefully selected for their experience, who will offer a detailed view of the OTR sector. Alongside them, every episode will welcome the participation of a BKT Expert, who will give insights on the episodes’ topics from the company’s point of view.

The first episode, dedicated to Sustainability and ESG, will feature Craig Guthrie, Editor-in-Chief of Mining Magazine, a publication which provides industry news, analysis, and insights for the global mining community. He will be joined by Robert Pell, Founder and CEO of Minviro, a company that provides sustainability and environmental services to the mining industry with the aim to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability practices.

The second episode, which will cover Technology, Automation and Robotics, will feature the participation of Frik Els, Executive Editor of Mining.com, an online news and analysis platform that provides up-to-date information and insights on the global mining industry. Users will also hear insights from Andrew Petruska, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, widely recognized as one of the top engineering schools in the United States: a leading institution in the fields of geology, mining, and energy.

The third episode, dedicated to Alternative Energies, will feature the participation of Paul Muller, Technical Sales Manager at Perkins Engines, a company that designs and manufactures engines for a variety of applications, including agricultural, construction, and industrial machinery.

BKT’s second guest for this episode is Jonathan Cohen, Director of Products Commercialization at AutoStem Technology, a company that develops and manufactures non-detonating rock-breaking explosives for the mining, quarrying, and civil engineering industries.

Finally, the fourth episode, focused on the topic of Net Zero and Low Carbon Emissions, will feature Thomas Koch Blank, Senior Principal of the Climate Aligned Industries programme at Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a program that focuses on identifying, developing, and scaling up innovative technologies that can help accelerate the transition to a clean energy future.

He will be joined by Alexander Allen, Director of Mining at Nth Cycle, an American technology company that is developing a sustainable solution for recycling metals from electronic waste (e-waste).

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to gain valuable insights and keep ahead of the curve in the OTR world. Join BKT for the upcoming season of Global Trends on BKT Network. Engage with industry experts and gain a more comprehensive view of the OTR industry, including the latest, most exciting trends.

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Firestone Ag announces distribution deal with Shark Wheel for SWIFT Air-Free Irrigation tire


Firestone Agriculture, a business of Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone),  has announced an official distribution agreement with Shark Wheel, a manufacturer of non-pneumatic (or air-free) tire technology.

The agreement allows Firestone Ag to sell Shark Wheel’s non-pneumatic irrigation tire, known as SWIFT, through Firestone Ag’s nationwide certified dealer network.

SWIFT, which stands for “Sine Wave Innovative Flotation and Traction,” is an air-free tire for application on irrigation pivots. The air-free design prevents the downtime and costly repairs of flat tires in the field. The paddles of the tread design are comprised of spring steel with overmolded rubber. The modular design enables repairs and customizations to its high-traction paddles in less than 60 seconds.

The Shark Wheel SWIFT features a unique sinusoidal tread design that generates a helical, DNA-shaped travel path between the two out-of-phase wheels on the irrigation tower. This minimizes rutting by enabling the trailing wheel to fill in the ruts created by the leading wheel. The bi-directional tread pattern allows the wheel to work equally well in both directions, and Shark Wheel test data showed a reduction in rutting from 14 inches with a pneumatic tire to one inch with SWIFT.

“As Firestone Ag continues to explore growth opportunities in the irrigation segment, we are excited to partner with Shark Wheel to offer the innovative SWIFT product to our loyal customers,” said Tony Orlando, President, Bridgestone Integrated Agricultural Tire Business, Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone Europe-Middle East-India-Africa (BSEMIA).

“Firestone Ag is committed to delivering best-in-class performance to farmers, and rutting is a major pain point for farmers with irrigation systems. The Shark Wheel SWIFT provides an inventive, proven solution that can deliver results.”

“Shark Wheel is honored to partner with Firestone, an iconic brand associated with quality, dependability, and value,” said Zack Fleishman, CEO, Shark Wheel. “This partnership with Firestone Ag will strengthen our ability to reach farmers and match the power of air-free technology with Firestone’s world-class service and quality control.”

Firestone Ag is committed to delivering best-in-class performance to farmers, and rutting is a major pain point for farmers with irrigation systems. The Shark Wheel SWIFT provides an inventive, proven solution that can deliver results.

-Tony Orlando-

Firestone Ag customers will be able to purchase the Shark Wheel SWIFT irrigation wheel in the same manner as any Firestone Ag product, through our nationwide certified dealer network. Firestone Ag will share more information about its partnership with Shark Wheel at Commodity Classic, March 9-11 in the Orange County Convention Center West Concourse in Orlando, Florida.

Firestone Ag’s partnership with Shark Wheel aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which serves as an axis to drive management while earning the trust of future generations. Firestone Ag’s partnership with Shark Wheel aligns with the “Economy” and “Efficiency” value.

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