SABIC Introduces ‘Smart’ Techniques to Increase Farmer Productivity

SABIC Introduces ‘Smart’ Techniques to Increase Farmer Productivity
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SABIC Introduces ‘Smart’ Techniques to Increase Farmer Productivity

SABIC Introduces ‘Smart’ Techniques to Increase Farmer Productivity

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has introduced a series of smart techniques and practices that help farmers enhance efficiency, production and profits.

This presentation was made during the company's participation in the 25th Arab Fertilizer Forum and Exhibition that concluded in Cairo on Thursday.

SABIC showcased the pioneering researches at its subsidy Estidamah Agricultural Research Center in Riyadh, established in 2008. Raddy Alfaridi, Director of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs at the center, presented a lecture on Estidamah researches regarding the efficiency of water usage in modern agricultural greenhouses.

This falls in line with the center’s efforts in increasing production to promote food security in the Kingdom through its research on conditions most suitable for crops.

The company also shed light on its guiding agricultural convoy in which more than 7,000 farmers from around 120 sites in the MENA region took part last year.

This event was launched end of 2018 in cooperation with the Arab Fertilizer Association, the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and relevant departments to enrich the technical knowledge of farmers.

Engineer Samir Al-Abdrabbuh, Agri-Nutrients Executive Vice President, affirmed that SABIC has been working for the past 25 years with the Arab Fertilizer Association and its farmer members to face modern agricultural challenges and to enhance the food supplies in MENA and the world.

Abdrabbuh noted that the company’s scientists continue to develop innovative solutions to increase crops.

He added that SABIC’s contributions are not restricted to lab experiments but extend to the exchange of expertise.

SABIC dedicates time and efforts for visiting fields, communicating with farmers and helping them acquire the required skills and benefit from the company’s solutions, said Abdrabbuh.

The 25th Arab Fertilizer Forum and Exhibition saw the attendance of more than 500 officials from 130 organizations from 30 states.



China Increases Scrutiny of Rare Earth Magnets with New Tracking System

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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China Increases Scrutiny of Rare Earth Magnets with New Tracking System

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

China has introduced a tracking system for its rare earth magnet sector, three sources said, as its export restrictions on them begin to cut off customers around the world.

The national tracking system, which went into effect last week, requires producers to submit extra information online including trading volumes and client names, said two sources familiar with the matter and another briefed by those involved.

The world's largest rare earth magnet supplier and exporter, China in early April imposed export restrictions on seven medium to heavy rare earth elements and several magnets, requiring exporters to obtain licenses, Reuters said.

Delays getting approvals have upended supply chains for automakers, semiconductor companies and others, with global automakers already beginning to stop some production lines as reserves run out.

Beijing unveiled high-level plans to establish an information tracing system for rare earth products last June, but there had been no implementation until last week, according to the source briefed on the matter.

The added level of scrutiny suggests that China's export controls on rare earths and the associated magnets - where it has a near-monopoly on production - could become a permanent feature for the products.

There have been hopes in the US and elsewhere that this would be removed as part of a trade truce agreed in Geneva last month.

In previous cases where China has imposed export curbs on metals, exports have tended to slowly rebound after the imposition of restrictions as exporters apply and receive licenses.

"Our current hypothesis is that China would continue its export control mechanism on rare earths, as its an ace card for China to hold," said Tim Zhang, founder of Singapore-based Edge Research.

Beijing's long-term target is to track the whole rare earth production chain, not just magnets, strengthen its control over the sector, and crackdown on smuggling, illegal mining and tax evasion, according to a fourth source who was also briefed on the matter.