Aspermont, Astarta, Deere & Co - Elementary basic supply through innovative technologies

Aspermont - Government supports independent agricultural information service

It was the night of July 14-15, 2021, when the people of Ahrweiler in the Rhineland were struck by a flood disaster. What was missing was serious information in advance to enable them to make a life-saving escape in the first place. Natural disasters can be predicted in good time by independent sources. Civilians and companies can then take precautionary measures to safeguard their livelihoods. After all, clearly researched facts are needed to position one's company for the future and to be best prepared for - and ward off - any events that could damage business. This niche is filled by the Australian company Aspermont as a leading media service provider to the global commodities industry. The Company offers what it calls an Anything as a Service (XaaS) economic model for the B2B media sector, distributing high-quality content to a growing global clientele.

In addition to commodities, Aspermont also serves the agriculture industry through its network of subsidiaries. **The Kondinin Group, for example, is Aspermont's agricultural media division and the leading information distributor for Australia's farmers. Australia has declared the area a national emergency because of this. However, the country is mainly made up of arid regions and it is precisely long periods of drought that pose a challenge to farmers' economic livelihoods.

**The Aspermont Group is now receiving a government grant of AUD 2.3 million (approx. EUR 1.5 million). Ben White, general manager of the Kondinin Group, says: "The Kondinin Group has been providing Australian farmers with independent and reliable information for almost 60 years and this government grant recognizes our important role in producing practical information that helps farmers prepare for drought."

The grant funds will be used to implement the Kondinin Group's Drought Resilience Program for Agriculture Research, which will provide Australian farmers with comprehensive information and guidance on strategies and technologies to better manage drought. It demonstrates once again how valuable independent and reliable information is for the entire economy and the public.

Astarta Holding - Banks open credit lines for Ukrainian wheat and sugar producers

Ukraine is considered the breadbasket of Europe. But few know: the buyers of the valuable wheat are all located in North Africa and Asia. The most important target country is Egypt. In 2020, around 3.1 million tons were exported to the North African country. Indonesia and Bangladesh are also among the biggest buyers. In addition to wheat, Astarta grows sugar beets for sugar production.

The fragility of the agricultural economy is becoming increasingly apparent in view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. There is a threat of undersupply for entire nations with staples such as grains. With Russian attacks continuing, it is even more valuable to maintain food security in Ukraine by preparing for spring planting.

Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine, a Ukrainian subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG Group (Austria) and JSC OTP Bank, a Ukrainian subsidiary of OTP Bank Plc. (Hungary), are therefore the first banks to provide Astarta Holding with credit lines totaling EUR 5.7 million to finance seasonal activities.

Despite the current crisis, Astarta Holding continues to grow. The Company plans to build a sugar warehouse in Ukraine in the Khmelnytsky region. The region is about 360km from Kyiv. The investment in the warehouse is worth about EUR 13.2 million. Astarta emphasizes that the technological solutions used in the project will create optimal conditions for the long-term storage of sugar and preserve its quality. The warehouse is scheduled to be put into operation in July 2023. Let's hope for the best.

Deere & Co - Tilling the field with robotics

In the US, it is impossible to imagine agriculture without one brand. John Deere is the brand of Deere & Company. It manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry equipment, diesel engines, drive trains for heavy machinery and lawn care equipment. The Company's products are available through a robust dealer network that includes more than 1,900 locations in North America and approximately 3,700 locations worldwide. Further, John Deere Capital offers wholesale dealer financing as well as retail equipment financing to its customers, increasing the likelihood of Deere product sales.

The Company is venturing into the area of automated agricultural technology and is already testing smart, connected machinery in the agricultural industry. Earlier this year, Deere introduced the autonomous tractor. To use the autonomous tractor, farmers simply need to transport the machine to a field and configure it for autonomous operation. With the appropriate software, farmers can start the machine. While the machine is working, farmers can leave the field and attend to other tasks while monitoring the machine's status from their mobile device. This is what the future of agriculture looks like for growing needs, as the world's population continues to rise and with it the demand for food commodities.

The situation in Ukraine is not leaving Deere & Co unscathed either. Two weeks ago, they suspended the delivery of machinery to Russia and later also to Belarus. The John Deere Foundation is also working directly with a number of organizations, including several UN agencies, to mobilize resources to support the Ukrainian population affected by the crisis.

2.3 million in funding from the Australian government to a subsidiary of Aspermont to make information on weather-related impacts and other hazards available to farmers. The importance of smooth agriculture to the fragile international fabric is illustrated by the Ukrainian company Astarta Holding. The agribusiness is a leader in supplying staple crops such as wheat to North Africa and Asia. To ensure this, they are provided with loans. Meanwhile, in the US, John Deere is testing the first autonomous farming machines. Innovation is here to stay, especially in the staple food sector. And thanks to Aspermont, such farms are well-positioned to make early provision for weather-related sales losses.