Qatar is investing in quality agriculture and exploring opportunities for co-operation with the Italian agro-mechanical industry, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) announced Wednesday at the 2023 Expo Doha.
The most advanced machines and equipment to cultivate arid soils and to create highly automated farming models are on show at the 2023 Expo Doha, stated the ITA during a press conference to present the 2024 edition of the EIMA International, the world’s largest exhibition of agricultural mechanics to be held in Bologna from November 6 to 10.
The presentation of the EIMA International was one of the highlights of ‘Italian Day’, which was organised by the ITA, in co-operation with FederUnacoma – the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation.
In his remarks during the presentation of EIMA International, Italian ambassador Paolo Toschi said: “Italy’s official participation in 2023 Expo Doha is enriched by the presentation of the 46th edition of EIMA International.
“The trade fair and the calendar of workshops and conferences that will take place will showcase the most advanced technologies and cutting-edge solutions for modern agriculture, respecting the environment and ensuring sustainability. This technology is showing us the future of agriculture and we are proud to enhance it in Doha.”
Ricci said the upcoming EIMA International is divided into 14 product category sectors and five thematic showcases, making it one of the largest sectorial exhibitions in the world with several exhibiting companies that should largely exceed 1,530 of the previous edition and an audience of 327,000 attendees.
He said, “EIMA 2024 will show all the world innovations in terms of tractors, implements, equipment, components, but also advanced electronic systems, drones, and agricultural robots to cultivate every type of territory.”
Another highlight of Wednesday’s event was the discussion of the ‘Marginal Areas and Extreme Territories: The New Challenges of Agricultural Mechanisation’, which featured FederUnacoma deputy general manager Fabio Ricci, Lorenzo Iuliano of the Technical Office of FederUnacoma, and Lorenzo Marconi of the University of Bologna.
The discussion was moderated by ITA commissioner in Doha, Paola Lisi, who said: “The quality of ‘Made in Italy’ products are not only referred to fashion and agri-food sectors but also highly technological sectors, such as the agricultural mechanics, which represents the excellence of the Italian industry, which is systematically promoted by the ITA through specific events addressed to selected journalists and businesspeople.”
The discussion focused on the new frontiers of agricultural mechanics, which explored and promoted the technologies produced by Italian industries that best suit Qatari agriculture, as well as new prospects of mechanisation for agriculture in Arab countries.
Ricci explained a report that offers technologies that can reconcile the increase in agricultural yields with the conservation of natural resources.
Iuliano, on the other hand, focused on the vast product categories made by the Italian industries, including those for minimum tillage, speciality crops in open fields and within greenhouses, and irrigation, which have developed to reduce the impact on the soil, the use of pesticides, and water consumption. These are increasingly sophisticated machines, governed by precision electronic devices, he said.
Marconi said agriculture is strongly projected towards full automation of functions and the use of fully autonomous robots. He said one of the departments at the University of Bologna has been designing and testing agricultural robots capable of carrying out automated complex activities in the vineyard and other crops.
“The department’s task is to bring these prototypes to the level of industrial production to reach those markets that focus on the quality of production and self-governing farming models,” Marconi added.