The 24 operators from 23 countries that participated between April 10 and 12 in the XII International Meeting of the Agricultural Auxiliary Industry held in Almería and organized by Extenda-Andalusian Agency for Foreign Promotion, an entity dependent on the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge , have shown a high interest in the high level of technical skills of the 45 participating Andalusian companies -32 of them from Almería-, proof of their commitment to R + D + i.
Among the issues that have most stood out are the high efficiency in the use of water, the logistics and traceability of the products, the variety and development of the fertilizer and vegetable nutrient sector or climate control in the greenhouses. Some operators have also indicated their interest in the control of pests by insects, techniques to increase the life of agricultural products, packaging and personalization of orders or the use of renewable energies in greenhouses.
In addition to the more than 700 B2B meetings scheduled in the framework of the international meeting, several Andalusian companies and operators have held new meetings and have had new visits, individual, to the Andalusian firms to learn more about their products and services. Some companies in Andalusia have arranged visits to other countries to continue advancing in the commercial contacts initiated in the meeting.
The exports of the Andalusian auxiliary industry grew by 4% in 2017 and now reach 624 million euros, with Almería being the leading province with a quarter of the export bill with up to 150 million, a historical record. It is followed by Seville, with 130 million (20.8% of the total), which increases by 20.8%; and Córdoba, with 112 million (18% of the total). Fourth, there is Malaga (66 million) with an increase of 28.5%, the largest increase of the year; followed by Jaén (58 million) that goes up 10%; Granada (46 million) and an increase of 17%; Huelva (46 million), which stands at 8.6%; and Cádiz (16.2 million).
The international meeting started on Tuesday April 10 with B2B meetings at the headquarters of the Technical Office of Extenda in Almeria and the visit to the Technological Center and Experimental Center of Tecnova, which has the latest developments in agriculture under plastic and includes laboratories, plants pilot, farm and tasting rooms on a farm of twelve hectares.
On Wednesday, April 11, the international delegation continued with the meetings and met the Kimitec Group of Almeria, a manufacturer of biopesticides, probiotics, biostimulants and vegetable nutrition. The day of yesterday was dedicated to meet in Pulpí the companies New Growing System, a company specializing in hydroponic systems; Gogarsa, firm specializing in greenhouses, climate control, irrigation systems and machinery; and Primaflor, company dedicated to the cultivation, production, commercialization and distribution of horticultural products ready to consume.
Strategic markets
The 23 international operators participating in the meeting have been selected by the External Network of Extenda and ICEX commercial offices for their relevance among the main importers, distributors, prescribers and farms of 22 of the markets of greatest interest for this sector in the world. Thus, two operators from the United Arab Emirates and one from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria, Senegal, USA, Canada, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, have participated. Uzbekistan, Panama, Russia, Turkey, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Of the 45 participating Andalusian companies, 32 are from Almería: IDM; Biorizon; Criado and López; Kimitec Group; T.P .; Sotrafa; Vellsam; J.Ronco y Cía; Ritecc-Hydro; Ispemar-Natural Agricultural Solutions; Maher Applied Electronics; N.G.S .; Bio Crisara; Amate Forklift Trucks; Hefona Group; Novasys Pharma; Agri Nova Science; Automatic Agricultural; Ecoculture Biosciences; Plastimer-MacresurTorres Film; Horticultural Systems Almería; GYM; Agricultural News; BNV; Hispatec; Tecnova; AGC; Cebe; Induser, Inagro Gestión Agrícola, Naturplas Plásticos Agrícola and Deretil Agronutritional).
Igualmente, han participado cuatro de Sevilla (Irconfort, Fertiplast, Trichodex y AGQ Labs), tres Málaga (Agrolaboratorios Nutricionales, Fercampo y Supercoco Trading); dos de Córdoba (T.L.G. y Trefilados Urbano), tres de Granada (JFJ Maquinaria y Montajes, Ilurco y Plásticos Alber) y una de Jaén (Cotexa Alcalaina).
Extend with the sector
The Andalusian companies of agricultural auxiliary industry participating in the shares of Extenda in 2017 were 202, 12.8% in 2016 and an increase of 46% compared to 2009. In 2017, for the first time since 2009, the 200 participating companies were exceeded. In terms of the number of Andalusian companies in the agricultural auxiliary industry participating in Extenda’s shares in 2017, the province of Seville stands out in first place with 63 companies (31% of the total in 2017), followed by Almería with 47 (23, two%).
Among the main countries of interest for Andalusian companies, among which the Latin American market stands out, are in this order: Morocco, Peru, United States, Ecuador, Mexico, Chile, Kazakhstan, Iran and Brazil.
In addition, by 2018 Extenda has scheduled other actions, such as those already carried out at the beginning of the year with direct missions to Algeria, Peru and Ecuador, ranging from attendance to fairs such as Siam Meknes, Expoagro Guanajuato, IRAN Agrofood or IFT Agro Chile, to new meetings such as the XII International Meeting of the Auxiliary Industry of Olivar in Montoro or the direct commercial mission Colombia y Panamá.
On the other hand, the online strategy is supported by the web portal ‘Agritech Andalucía’ of Extenda Plus (https://extendaplus.es/agritechandalucia/), in which more than fifty companies already participate.
The organization of the XII International Encounter of the Auxiliary Industry of Agriculture by Extenda will be co-financed with funds from the European Union through the Operational Program FEDER de Andalucía 2014-2020, endowed with a community contribution of 80%.