trailer world issue Three 2009

The agricultural fair Agritechnica uses state-of-the-art technology to set a sign against the crisis.

28 Issue Three 2009 Optimism at the agricultural technology show in spite of a decline in sales. The industry is facing the crisis with modern technology. Combine harvesters with GPS navigation, turbo forage harvest- ers, sensor-controlled fertiliser spreading and intelligent assist- ance systems – agricultural technology has long since ceased to be just solid or even cumbersome, but now includes top-class high-tech components. About 2300 exhibitors from 46 countries were at the Agritechnica, the world’s largest agricultural technology trade fair, to show what equipment like this looks like. Gigantic machinery tuned for high- performance is a feature of everyday work in fields and pastures, and often features more technology than many a luxury car. “The require- ments on the equipment are increasing steadily,” says Stefan Oelhafen, the Agriculture Sales Director at BPW. German manufacturers are ex- cellently positioned. The trend is heading towards bigger and bigger machinery and tractors with ever-more efficient technology. “The agricultural profession is all about high-tech equipment with good traction,” says Klaus Pöttinger, CEO of the Austrian company, Pöttinger. According to calculations by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), there will be nine billion mouths to feed on the Earth in 2050. This amounts to 1800 square metres of arable land per capita. In 1950, the equivalent figure was 5100 square metres. “The nec- essary productivity boosts will be inconceivable without new devel- opments in agricultural technology,” says Bernard Krone, Managing Partner of the Bernard Krone Holding. However, innovations can be used for more than meeting the explosion in demand for food, they can also combat stagnating prices. “Greater efficiency means higher margins for the farmer,” continues Bernard Krone, and he went on to point out that it is essential to have modern technology in the fields, especially in times of crisis. High-tech for agriculture En route

trailer world issue Three 2009

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