Nanotechnology changing the face of Chilean horticulture

Around the world nanotechnology is taking off across a broad spectrum of industries and is changing the way we bring food from the farm to table. For horticultural products, the practice of manipulating material at an atomic level can replace chemical usage in cleaning. Agronomist Alberto Popper tells www.freshfruitportal.com about what makes nanotechnology tick and how it is implemented.

Popper, an agronomist with vast experience in the produce industry in Chile and abroad, has formed a portfolio of technological solutions for agribusiness under the umbrella of company Bello Sur S.A.

Popper has partnered up with C-TEC Ltd, which is the first Chilean company dedicated to developing nanotechnology products and solutions, formed by Fabián and Marcos Orellana in 2007. The pair had previously worked for American and Japanese companies involved in the platform, while their creation C-TEC is also engaged in consultancy based on good manufacturing practices for nanotechnology.

The joint partnership between C-TEC and Bello Sur offers the product TI-CLEAN, which provides an unseen nanocoating made up of active polymers that cover the surfaces of any product that needs cleaning, but doesn’t change its physical properties.

Read full article at FreshFruitPortal.com

Crop of certified chickpea agronomists grows

http://theland.farmonline.com.au

More than 70 agronomists have recently completed Chickpea Certified Agronomist courses across Queensland and New South Wales to meet the growing demand for expert knowledge in the management of the popular crop.

Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) has teamed up with Pulse Australia and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to deliver the chickpea training courses at venues in Emerald, Goondiwindi, Dalby and Narrabri.

QPIF industry development officer for pulses and grain legumes Jayne Gentry said the specialist training was developed eight years ago to ensure agronomists were aware of best management practices.

"Chickpeas have rapidly gained in popularity over the past years, due to their rotational benefits and strong gross margin," she said.

"It is recognised by the industry that, like all pulses, growing chickpeas successfully requires a higher level of management, compared to bulk grains.

"The price received by growers for chickpeas is strongly linked to the planning before planting the crop and its subsequent management and harvest, and this course better equips them for maximum results at harvest."

Ms Gentry said interest in becoming a certified chickpea agronomist was still very strong as there was a continual stream of young agronomists entering the industry, as well as demand from experienced agronomists undertaking the course to further hone their skills.

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