MagrowTec News
Lawrence Kirton joins MagrowTec as a Business Development Manager in Australia
We are excited to announce that Lawrence Kirton has joined the team in the role of Business Development Manager in Australia.
Lawrence will be focused on developing sales in the key agricultural markets of South Australia and Western Australia. He will work closely with MagrowTec’s Australian distribution partners to drive awareness and sales through the sprayer equipment sales channel. Lawrence will also work closely with our emerging regional cropping services and agronomist network to provide growers and distributors the opportunity to engage with the MagrowTec system and review product performance data that will further reinforce the value proposition of MagrowTec.
He will be based in Perth and will report directly to Anthony Williams – General Manager Australia & New Zealand.
With over 30 years’ experience in AgriTech, agribusiness, and renewables sector, Lawrence has strong technical skills in soil science and plant nutrition across broadacre and irrigated agriculture in various Australian states and Africa.
Throughout his career, he worked for several multinational entities and as an independent business owner has collaborated and consulted countrywide for the likes of Elders, Landmark, Dairy Australia, WA Water Corp, DPIRD (WA Dept of Agriculture) David Grays Aglink, Kilter Rural, BHP and Consolidated Minerals. Lawrence also has various applied research initiatives undertaken with UWA, Waite Institute, University of Adelaide QUT, and Griffith.
Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Majors:- Soil Science, Plant Physiology, Horticultural Crops).
“Having someone of Lawrence’s over 30 years of experience across broadacre and horticulture cropping, with his deep knowledge of crop protection and farming systems, join our business to drive awareness, engagement, and traction in these key markets is a major step forward for MagrowTec in Australia. He brings a proven track record and a strong network of growers, agronomists, and distributors to our endeavors to provide growers the significant productivity and sustainability benefits the MagrowTec precision spraying technology system offers,” said Anthony Williams, MagrowTec’s General Manager – Australia & New Zealand.
Commenting on his appointment, Lawrence said “ I am excited to becoming part of the MagrowTec team to help deliver such a powerful science-based, field-tested and proven elegant technology. The increased efficacy of applied crop protection products along with reduction of water volumes across large Wheatbelt farms in WA for example, will demonstrate very substantial $ savings each and every season”.
Please join us in welcoming Lawrence to the MagrowTec team.
Gary Wickham presents at the Food and Beverage Finance Summit 2024
We are delighted to have our CEO, Gary Wickham, presenting at the third annual Food and Beverage Finance Summit 2024 that will take place in Co. Cork, Ireland on 22nd and 23rd of May, 2024.
The theme this year is “Smart Investing – Sustainability, Health and Wellness”.
Gary will present MagrowTec at the pitch sessions, alongside many other companies such as Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen, Cork Rooftop Farms, Enterprise Ireland and others.
The pitch sessions will last 15 minutes each and will be focused on business model, strategy and ambition.
For more information, click here https://we.tl/t-6ppUVN7G3F
New customer testimonial – Eastbrook Farms Australia
Scott Samwell from Eastbrook Farms in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia recently hosted some of MagrowTec’s technical team who were in Australia to undertake Technical and Installation training with a number of MagrowTec’s distribution partners.
Scott and other members of the Samwell family, grow around 100Ha of Brussell Sprouts and Kalette’s for the domestic market. With a number of varieties spanning a production window of 10 months, Eastbrook farms is applying crop protection products every week of the year.
As any horticultural producer would know, coverage is everything and with a standard application rate of 1000L/Ha, the Samwell’s were looking for options that could deliver them productivity gains without sacrificing agronomic (yield and quality) outcomes.
Scott had read an article about MagrowTec’s patented Magnetic Assisted Spray Technology and contacted one of their local reps. As a result, a number of crop science trials were undertaken to identify the optimum application rate for their operations.
The result, a 25% water saving and subsequently, a 25% productivity increase. This ultimately meant that the sprayer could cover more crop, more effectively and in conditions that would have required them to stop with their conventional sprayer.
Scott maintains that this has changed their approach to scheduling work and their confidence in getting an efficacious result in deteriorating conditions. “We are able to make the most of our spray window using MagrowTec and that’s a game changer for us.” he said.
Whilst he is comfortable with the results that the reduced application rate is delivering for him, Scott is cautious in pushing the limits too quickly.
Trial work to further reduce the application rate is on the cards for Eastbrook Farms but this will be carefully monitored against yield and quality to ensure that production is not impacted.
MagrowTec and Certis Belchim form a strategic partnership
MagrowTec and Certis Belchim form a strategic partnership to enhance plant protection product performance and drive the adoption of sustainable solutions
MagrowTec and Certis Belchim, a leading global provider of crop protection solutions are pleased to announce their strategic collaboration.
MagrowTec’s innovative technology delivers proven precision spraying solutions that offer the best compromise between minimizing spray drift and achieving optimal coverage. This enhances farm productivity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship and ensures that vital crop protection products are effectively applied on targeted crops or weeds, whilst limiting their impact on the environment.
This collaboration aims to combine the strength of Certis Belchim’s conventional and biological products with MagrowTec’s ground-breaking spray technology to provide efficient and sustainable plant protection solutions to growers across a broad range of crops.
Both companies are committed to drive positive change in agriculture by fostering innovation in the development and use of plant protection solutions that deliver more efficient spraying, enhance performance, particularly of biological products, and enable good stewardship practice.
The agreement will be focused on bringing to the market combined solutions featuring MagrowTec’s patented and proprietary technology together with Certis Belchim’s crop protection products, both conventional and biorationals
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Certis Belchim in this transformative initiative,” said Gary Wickham, CEO of MagrowTec. “This partnership represents a convergence of expertise and vision, as we work together to shape the future of farming. Together, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation and delivering solutions that benefit farmers and the environment.”
“This collaboration shows our commitment to responsible practices,” said Jacques Haverlant, Head of R&D at Certis Belchim. “We seek not only to improve the efficiency of our products, but also to drive the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes and enable the adoption of good stewardship practice. We believe this approach, while directly benefitting customers and farmers, will also contribute to making sustainability in agriculture a practical reality.”
For more information about Certis Belchim please visit www.certisbelchim.com
The MagrowTec story
Between 60-90% of agricultural spray is wasted. Until Now.
According to the UN, the world needs to grow the same amount of food in the next 40 or 50 years 2 as in the last 10,000 years combined. That equates to 70% more food worldwide.
For farmers to meet that challenge they need to grow more food using less scarce resources, including chemicals and water and reduce the environmental impacts during crop spray activities. The only way to do that is through innovation and sustainability.
This is where MagrowTec steps in.
In conventional spraying, a considerable proportion of the expensive chemicals and water sprayed are lost through lack of adherence to the crop, and between 60-90% of chemical protectant products applied are wasted, drifting away in the air or bouncing off and entering the soil.
MagrowTec has developed a proprietary and patented technology that solves the compromise between drift and coverage, helping farmers meet this need for increased food demand, reducing the environmental impacts during crop spray activities, and also improving the quality of the food that they grow.
Based on a complex and proven science, lies a 2-part system, brand/product/crop/sprayer agnostic, which can be moved from sprayer to sprayer. There’s little or no maintenance required when using MagrowTec technology.
By passing the fluid through manifolds containing permanent rare earth magnets, the droplets’ features and behavior are changed and the final result, what we call the MagrowTec effect, is more of the droplets that stick onto the intended target weed or crop.
MagrowTec customers are seeing multiple benefits such as 20% + increased coverage & up to 70% drift reduction, besides additional benefits such as water and chemical savings, extended spray windows, and decreased labor requirements.
MagrowTec supports farmers to meet their profitability, crop yield, and sustainability goals, creating a win-win for the farmers, dealers, consumers, and of course, the planet.
With MagrowTec farmers no longer need to compromise between drift and coverage. Through MagrowTec technology, farmers have only started pushing the boundaries of doing more, with less. Feeding their families to feed the world. There is a third way.
Join us on this inspiring journey!
For the full video, visit www.magrowtec.com/story
MagrowTec is exhibiting at the Future Ag Expo in Melbourne
MagrowTec is excited to be exhibiting at the Future Ag Expo in Melbourne, AU.
FutureAg Expo 2024 Powered by Agritechnica is an exciting exhibition, sales and networking opportunity for suppliers of agricultural and agro-industrial products, services and technology serving the markets of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific.
On Thursday, the 18th, MagrowTec will join a panel discussion at the Expert Stage at 3:50 pm (local time)
Future Ag Expo – stand 233
17-19 April 2024
Victor Fernet joins MagrowTec as a Sales Engineer in France
MagrowTec is excited to announce that Victor Fernet has joined the team in the role of Sales Engineer in France.
In 2012, Victor joined Araymond as a Sales Engineer for Europe & Asia, leading and delivering strong growth of their distributors’ sales and network over its 10-year tenure.
Victor joined Artifil as a Sales Manager in 2022, shaping their sales strategy with a focus on the agricultural market, driving the sales process, and managing the team. In 2023, he moved to Degrav’Agri to take up a Sales Executive role for the North and East of France and Belgium, providing technical and agronomic advice to soft fruit growers.
Victor holds a Diploma in Agricultural Engineering from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and a Master in Management and Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration.
Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, Mauro Cerati, Victor will be responsible for developing the sales of MagrowTec solutions to multiple customer segments in France and Wallonia, driving the sales process and partnership with distributors, dealers, and growers.
“We are excited to have Victor joining our team. With very good knowledge of the agricultural industry, and a solid understanding of both technical solutions and customer needs, he brings valuable expertise to our go-to-market organization” said Mauro Cerati, Chief Commercial Officer of MagrowTec.
Commenting on his appointment, Victor says: “ I am passionate about Agriculture and committed to my way to promote profitable and positive solutions for the environment and farmers. Contributing to making change, producing more, and wasting less resources and time, is ambitious and motivating. That is why I am very happy to join this innovative company.”
Please join us in welcoming Victor to the MagrowTec team.
MagrowTec announces latest additions to their US Sales & Operations teams
Ben McKay joins MagrowTec as a Technical Specialist in the US
With over 15 years of experience, Ben is adept at integrating cutting-edge technology into agricultural practices including coordinating partner testing, validating software designs by demonstrating functionalities, and providing data-driven feedback.
Throughout his career, Ben worked 13 years at John Deere (2007-2020), where he started as a Product Engineer, being promoted to System Validator Engineer and lastly, Senior System Validator Engineer. Ben field-tested products with partners in Texas and other states, coordinated worldwide partner testing for Gen4 display software teams, and validated software design by demonstrating new functionality to partners.
In 2021, Ben joined Blue River Technology, as an Agricultural Data Collection Field Supervisor, providing direction and support in data collection methodologies and procedures, establishing and maintaining productive partnerships with field teams, dealers, and customer contributors, besides offering mentorship to younger Field Application Engineers (FAEs) to enhance skills and efficiency.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Agriculture (MAGR), both from Texas A&M University.
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, Fred Dupont, Ben will lead the training and installation support for our dealer partners, managing the installation process from beginning to end while conducting proper pre and post-tests as well as collecting and documenting details about the spraying operation.
“We are delighted to welcome Ben to the MagrowTec family. He brings with him considerable expertise from his past employment at John Deere and will be a great addition to the technical team already filled with experienced people who also worked with John Deere and other OEM’s. He is also of course a great addition to our ever-growing team in the USA and will help support our growth in this key market for us” said Fred Dupont, Chief Operating Officer of MagrowTec.
Commenting on his appointment, Ben says: “ I am very excited to join MagrowTec as the company expands its operations team into the USA. I am looking forward to being part of the team that leverages this technology to make agricultural applicators more efficient and effective.”
Chris Reeves joins MagrowTec as a Sr. Agronomic Advisor
With more than 25 years immersed in agronomy, sales, management, and grower leadership, Chris boasts a robust expertise in seed, crop protection, and nutrient sectors.
Over the course of his professional journey, Chris worked for prominent companies such as Cargill Inc. and CHS.
At Cargill, he started as a Farm Service Center Operations Lead in Oxford, NE, being responsible for the daily operations of a crop input location with 14 full-time employees, six application machines, and an operating budget of 2.9 million. After his promotion to Farmer Marketer, Chris assumed responsibility for sales of crop protection products, seeds, crop nutrients, and application services. He successfully expanded his sales territory, surpassing $5 million in annual sales and contributing over 20% to the gross margin.
In 2009, Chris joined CHS as a Technical Specialist being promoted to Sales Manager. He implemented Research Protocols for product evaluation, participated in and led retail, grower, and staff informational/training meetings, and provided sales support for account managers in several locations.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agribusiness from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and participated in the Master of Agribusiness Program from Kansas State University.
Reporting directly to the US Sales Director, Amy Krauth, Chris will play a key part in providing expert agronomic support to our existing sales team and our current and future customers.
“I am excited to have Chris join the team as a Sr. Agronomic Advisor. This is a critical role for the continuous expansion of the US Sales Strategy. Chris comes to us with an extensive background and will support our customers and prospects with his Agronomic insights” said Amy Krauth, US Sales Director of MagrowTec.
Commenting on his appointment, Chris said “I eagerly anticipate partnering with our customer base to implement the most effective management practices to work in tandem with the technology developed by MagrowTec. Using this technology and best practices, the applicator will be able to improve efficiency, increase coverage and reduce drift. Our goal is for this effort to lead to superior applications and customer satisfaction.”
Please join us in welcoming Ben and Chris to the MagrowTec team.
MagrowTec’s recent collaboration with AGCO, AAMS, and Oxford Laser
We are pleased to share insights from a recent collaboration involving teams from AGCO, AAMS, and Oxford Laser, aimed at enhancing our understanding of spray drift potential through a novel assessment methodology.
Located at the AGCO facility in the Netherlands, this joint effort focused on evaluating the use of the Oxford Laser P15+ Droplet Sizer in conjunction with a Fendt self-propelled sprayer. Notably, two sprayers were employed, one of which included an installation of the MagrowTec technology.
Preliminary observations indicate a reduction in the elapsed time for droplet detection following the passage of the MagrowTec-equipped sprayer’s boom, suggesting a potential decrease in airborne droplets and thus, drift potential. This aligns with MagrowTec’s own evaluations of their TCT-accredited technology.
The accompanying video provides a taste of the collaborative process, including methodological approaches and resultant data analysis.
Moving forward, the team at the MagrowTec Agricultural Research Centre (MARC), situated near Cirencester in the UK, looks forward to ongoing collaboration with Oxford Lasers and AAMS. Together, we aspire to refine this methodology utilizing the P15+ VisiSize and MagrowTec’s 10m track sprayer and static spray system.
Crop Spraying Specialists MagrowTec and Croplands form National Distribution Agreement
We are thrilled to announce a National Distribution Agreement with Croplands, a prominent spray equipment manufacturer boasting a network of more than 170 dealerships across the Australian and New Zealand territories.
Over the last three years of its decade-long global journey, MagrowTec has been introducing its magnetically assisted spray technology to the Australian and New Zealand markets. This strategic partnership with Croplands aims to extend the reach of MagrowTec benefits to a wider array of growers in these territories.
During this period, MagrowTec, in collaboration with leading growers, conducted rigorous in-field crop science studies, consistently showcasing the substantial agronomic advantages of the ‘MagrowTec Effect.’ This effect involves the production of a higher quantity of appropriately sized droplets that adhere effectively, resulting in enhanced foliage coverage, superior canopy penetration, improved water management, and reduced drift.
With a legacy spanning over 50 years, Croplands has been a trusted partner for growers, offering high-quality spray equipment, products, exceptional service, and knowledgeable personnel. The integration of MagrowTec’s patented technology into Croplands’ extensive range of specialized spraying solutions provides growers with a cutting-edge opportunity to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their current farming systems in a straightforward manner.
The simplicity lies not only in the benefits imparted by the magnetic fields into the fluid but also in the fact that the system can be easily installed on any boom sprayer, requires no power, contains no electronics, can be transferred to new boom sprayers, and is virtually maintenance-free.
MagrowTec’s revolutionary spray technology is designed to optimize the application of agricultural inputs, reducing waste and environmental impact while delivering better agronomic outcomes. This breakthrough solution addresses critical challenges faced by the agricultural industry, including the conservation of scarce resources, mitigation of climate change, biodiversity preservation, and the imperative to sustainably feed a growing global population. With MagrowTec, growers no longer need to compromise between profitability and sustainability.
James Turtle, MagrowTec BDM for Southern Australia says, “Current users of the technology are not only seeing the benefits of improved crop protection but are also realising that their spraying program is becoming more efficient by either reducing the number of sprays required or by not having to increase their water rate to do a better job”.
“The proven performance of this technology will help optimise a grower’s chemical application and deliver an excellent return on investment. Every time you spray, you’ll be landing more droplets and therefore chemical on the target, which results in improved crop health and better agronomic outcomes, putting more dollars back into your pocket whilst also benefitting the environment,” says James.
Sean Mulvaney, General Manager, Croplands, says, “We are proudly partnering with MagrowTec to bring their magnetic spray technology solution to both Australian and New Zealand growers. Equally exciting is that the solution can be retrofitted to existing boom sprayers or onto new builds.”
MagrowTec, in collaboration with Croplands, looks forward to engaging with farmers and agronomists across Australia and New Zealand to delve into the potential advantages this technology can bring to their agricultural enterprises.
