DURAVANT ACQUIRES VOTECH, EUROPEAN-BASED BAGGING AUTOMATION


EQUIPMENT


PROVIDER. Duravant LLC (“Duravant”) announced the acquisition of Votech GS B.V. (“Votech”), a leading manufacturer of bag filling machines, palletizer machines, stretch hood machines and pallet transport systems headquartered in Reusel, The Netherlands. Votech will join forces with Fischbein International, a Duravant Operating Company, to serve their global customer base. The combination of Votech’s expertise in bag management and palletizing and Fischbein’s portfolio of bag sealing and sewing equipment creates a complementary fit between the two companies. “There is a very complementary


relationship between our two organizations,” said Olivier Hancotte, VP and General Manager of Fischbein. “We’re thrilled to work closely with the Votech team to create a broader product offering for both companies’ customers. Fischbein and Votech equipment will both be available through the Fischbein global sales team.” This partnership brings together two global engineered equipment leaders and extends Duravant’s ability to serve customers and partners in over 190 countries worldwide across multiple sectors including agriculture, industrials, fruit and vegetables, ingredients, pet food and more. The Votech brand of packaging


machinery has played a part in filling and bag management for over a decade. Votech’s engineering and development capabilities allow for the custom design of complete automated solutions from the filling of a bag, to the internal pallet transport to the warehouse.


FARMING INVESTMENT FUND OFFERS ROUTE TO FUTURE


FARMING SUCCESS The added clarity provided with the signing of the Brexit trade deal agreement, alongside the opportunities announced by the Government with the launch of its Farming Investment Fund, should provide the motivation for British farming to embrace data and technology advances to drive competitiveness, at a critical juncture for UK agriculture, farmers are being urged. Defra and UK Research and Innovation


(UKRI) have also announced a new £12m funding opportunity, Farming Innovation Pathways, aimed at developing new and existing farm-focused innovations, a further commitment to the practical translation of research in agriculture. “As we dissect the detail from the Government’s Path to Sustainable Farming


document, launched at the end of November, there is a clear incentive for the entire farming sector to embrace change and adopt new ways of thinking and working,” explains Danny Johnson, commercial director at ABN.


“This is not just about technical


advancements in machinery and equipment, but more about taking a new, science-led approach, embracing how we use data and technology to improve efficiencies and ultimately productivity and competitiveness,” he adds. The trade deal agreement between the


UK and the European Union only increases these opportunities, and Mr Johnson believes this all very much aligns with the findings of the report Rising to the Challenges: A Food Policy for ‘Global Britain’, commissioned by ABN, KW Alternative Feeds and Trident, launched in October 2020. The report, prepared by independent


economist Sean Rickard, looks at a sustainable farming future based around science, and the advances in agri- biotechnology and precision farming. It introduces the process of ‘sustainable intensification’, simultaneously raising both agricultural productivity and environmental services, as a way forward to embed UK agriculture within a modern, international competitive agri-food industry. “Sustainable intensification should not


be seen as a threat, rather an opportunity for farmers to compete on a more level-playing field, by adopting new technologies. It offers the prospect of improving productivity while also optimising efficiency in the use of inputs and resources and reducing their environmental impact” continues Mr Johnson. ABN’s sister company, feed additive


business AB Vista has embraced this approach with the introduction of an emissions reporting service, to support its customers’ sustainability programmes. Using independent reporting, and


employing recognised methodologies, the service detects areas within the feed production process with a high emissions rate, and provides tailored strategies to reduce this environmental impact. Depending on the species, 40-80% of


livestock carbon emissions are associated with the production of feed. By helping to reduce these emissions, the service can ultimately influence the environmental impact of animal production. “By harnessing and better understanding


detailed and accurate data through smart technology, and by simplifying and improving data exchange, we can make real-time decisions to improve processes and to provide site-specific management, including in feed and ration management,” adds Mr Johnson. The Government’s Farming Investment


Fund should incentivise farmers to invest in new technologies, taking away some of the perceived risk that may often be seen as


a barrier to adopting and embracing new opportunities. “By efficiently using data and technology


to inform business activities, across the entire agricultural sector, we can accelerate our need to achieve higher levels of output per unit of input, if we are to sustainably meet the increasing global demand for food,” says Mr Johnson. “This is an opportunity to drive an


exciting new future for the UK’s dynamic food and farming businesses, building on our global reputation for high standards and ethics, while improving performance and competitiveness through enhanced efficiencies,” he concludes.


THE SFT RUMINANT VIRTUAL


CONFERENCE The SFT ruminant virtual and live Q&A conference will be held this April. On 15th April 2021 a link will be sent to all registered delegates giving immediate access to the presentations on the SFT website and to the live Q & A Video Conference which will take place 3.30pm on Thursday 22nd April 2021. This year’s programme of speakers and papers includes:


Dairy Diets in Post Soya era: Nutritional, Economic and Environmental Aspects: Dr. Michael Marsden, Head of Technical, AB Agri.


Sustainable C Footprints on Farm – with emphasis on Ruminant Farms: Julian Bell, Principal Consultant and Team Leader, SRUC Consulting Solutions.


The Amino Acid Requirements of Young Ruminant: Professor James Drackley, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign.


The True Costs and Lifetime Implications of Rearing Dairy Herd Replacements: Dr Jean Margerison, University of Nottingham.


Lifetime Effects of Overfeeding Cu on Performance, Health and Fertility of Dairy Cattle: Professor Liam Sinclair, Harper Adams University.


The Great Fat Debate: Optimum Ratios of Fatty Acids: Professor Adam Lock, Michigan University.


Chairman: David Wilde, Global Innovation Manager, Anpario. Please register for the conference through the SFT website: https://sft.uk.com. There is a conference fee of £40 to fully paid up SFT members. New members are welcome.


FEED COMPOUNDER MARCH/APRIL 2021 PAGE 55


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