Food Security Program

Australian Agricultural Resources Group Pty Ltd has partnered with a number of interested parties throughout the Middle East and Russia to develop an overall management program for food security and supply.

There are three key ways in which food security has been impacted in some of our partner countries:

• Local supply chains have been affected mainly through disruptions to transport and the operation of markets.
• Local food production systems, some of which were under strain before COVID-19, are facing additional pressure arising from population movements and climate extremes.
• Reduced incomes are also leading to increased food insecurity, particularly for those who have lost jobs and incomes as a result of COVID-19.  

Agriculture will play an important role in the recovery and in building resilience. Agriculture is a major source of pro-poor growth in developing countries with large rural populations. Meeting future food demand in a sustainable way will require major advances in productivity, market systems, natural resource management and governance. As the world's population grows, demand for food and agricultural products will continue to rise. These pressures compounded by COVID-19 economic disruptions and climate change, will strain the world's resources in a way that could limit future prosperity and contribute to conflict and population displacement.

Australian Agricultural Resources Group Pty Ltd is a trusted leader in agricultural and fisheries innovation. Through our development program we are harnessing our expertise to help communities to achieve greater productivity, sustainability, climate-resilience and food security.

Australian Agricultural Resources Group Pty Ltd supports a range of agricultural initiatives across its bilateral, regional and global programs. Australia also has highly valued technical and managerial capabilities in agriculture which are being harnessed to improve agricultural productivity in developing countries.

Middle East & Russian Federation Agency Agreements

The Middle East and the Russian Federation market is a rapidly expanding competitive market for cosmetics and skin care products Australian Agricultural Resources Group Pty Ltd is partnering with specialized industry-specific suppliers who can provide the expertise to successfully channel products through our established retailers/dealer networks.  

The following sub-sectors represent the best sales potential for Australian products:

• Perfumes and toilet waters
• Make-up products
• Cosmetics or skin care treatments 
• Body/hands skin care products
• Skin care soaps
• Hair care products: shampoos, conditioners, lotions, hair oils, treatments, straightening, waving, colouring, and creams
• Beauty treatments, facial creams
• Organic preparations
• Manicure and pedicure treatments
• Sun care (sunscreen and suntan lotions)
• Personal care products
• Commodities

The broad market segments considered in this program include:

• toiletries

• skin care

• decorative cosmetics

• fragrance perfumes

• hair care

Among the Middle East and Russian Federation countries, skin care, hair care, and toiletries each occupy a market share of roughly 35%, while fragrance perfumes account for 28%, and decorative cosmetics cover the remaining market share. Skin care having a decidedly more dominant market share.

International Horse Industry Development Program

The Project identifies four priority areas of interest:

• Education & Training

• Establishing the national economic benefit of the various countries involved to assist in the development of national and international marketing strategies.

• Co-ordinate racing and events management to maximize exposure of the horse industry as a whole and promote the advantages throughout the region.

• Create an environment where changes to legislation and law can be progressively adapted to permit the horse industry to develop and grow.

The horse industry faces challenges in a number of countries with regard to the treatment of horses, the safety of riders and the impact on the environment. The use of therapeutic and prohibited substances in the performance horse sectors is a major issue. Furthermore transport practices, equipment, and the management and feeding of horses at pasture and in the stable as well as in work and training all impact on the welfare of the horse. Injuries and deaths of competitive and recreational riders as well as injuries to workers continue to be of concern to the industry.

Strategies Maintain a watching brief on trends in the welfare and safety requirements to assess the potential impact on the industry of any changes in trends. Raise the awareness of industry organisations about emerging risks in these areas and encourage them to develop management strategies. Provide the R&D support where appropriate for initiatives that develop and implement effective risk management strategies for improving animal and/or human safety. Build knowledge on both therapeutic and prohibited substances to assist in control and ensure compliance with horse regulatory bodies. Build knowledge on the impact of horses on fragile and/or sensitive environments

Targets and indicators

• Assist equine industry organisations to provide information to support the development or implementation of strategies to improve horse or human safety in their industry segment.

• Contribute to the development of international cooperative research on detection of therapeutic and prohibited substances.

• Support drug administration trials to produce a knowledge base for use by both regulators and industry participants.

• Ensure industry engagement in the development of management strategies introduced by government agencies, for reducing the environmental impact of horses is backed by sound and accepted research on impact.

International Commodity Trading & Long Term Agreements

AARG is a leading Australian owned grain and hay commodity trader offering alternative marketing platforms for both consumers and producers in both the domestic and international markets. The company offers growers and users an innovative alternative when selling or buying grain and hay, including long term contracts and finance in an ever challenging market.

Kurdish Horse Program DNA  Testing & International Registration

We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Kurdish Horse and the program of DNA Testing and international registration that has been conducted to date and will continue in Iran. The Kurdish Horse has known history stretching back almost five thousand years to another time. Its ancestors contributed to the creation of one of the largest empires in ancient history. The breed itself is one of the oldest pure breeds of horse still in existence today. Providing owner's and riders with a unique combination of strength and endurance and giving  them the opportunity to experience and enjoy a truly magnificent animal, adaptable to a wide range of disciplines and conditions.

The Board of Directors of the International Kurdish Horse Company of Iran would like to acknowledge the efforts of:

• Dr A.E Maghsodi Fard General Manager Veterinary Generals Office of Kermanshah

• Dr Varedi Deputy President Equestrian Federation of Iran

• M/s Ann E.O. Trezise, Ph.D Director Australian Equine Genetic Research Centre

• Mr. Michael Ford Australian Stud Book

• Mr. Samaedi Deputy Director of the Technical Department Equestrian Federation of Iran

• Mr. Tabesh President of the Equestrian Federation of Iran

• Mr. Terrence Johnston Director Australian Agricultural Resources Group Pty Ltd

The program of DNA Testing and Micro-Chipping of Kurdish Horses in the Kermanshah Province in Iran was been conducted as a Joint Venture between:

• Australian Agricultural Resources Group Pty Ltd
• Australian Equine Genetic Research Centre
• Australian Stud Book
• Equestrian Federation of Iran
• Government of the Province of Kermanshah Iran

All Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Forms and Rules & Regulations displayed and available on this website have been be compiled and prepared in accordance with Legislation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and International Standards, International Standards Accreditation (I.S.O) is pending and will be displayed on this website when available.

International & Domestic Cattle IVF Programs

Many breeders have elite females from which they can market valuable genetics and offspring. With the use of advanced reproductive technologies, more offspring can be propagated to help multiply the success of breeding and marketing programs. While many breeders are familiar with embryo transfer (ET), an increasing number of breeders are implementing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) into their reproductive programs.

Embryo Transfer

Conventional (in vivo) ET involves specific hormonal treatment (with follicle stimulating hormone) of donor cows and heifers to cause multiple follicles to ovulate. The donors are bred using artificial insemination (AI) following super ovulation after estrus (standing heat). Approximately seven days after insemination, embryos are non-surgically collected or "flushed" from the donor's uterus and transferred fresh into synchronous recipients who will serve as surrogate mothers, or frozen to be implanted at a later date.

Embryo transfer is one option that can increase a cow's reproductive efficiency, allowing her to have numerous calves per year. While the average cow produces six to seven calves in her lifetime, ET can increase her reproductive efficiency to numerous calves per year – allowing breeders to multiply the success of their superior pedigrees.

Embryo transfer is a very accessible technology and produces the option to have embryos transferred fresh into synchronized recipients, or to have the embryos safely frozen to be transferred at a later date. By creating more offspring that are valuable to a herd, breeders can advance their marketing opportunities, improve the reproductive performance, and enhance the rate of genetic gain.

In Vitro Fertilization An IVF collection, called an Aspiration or Ovum Pick Up (OPU), is the process of harvesting unfertilized oocytes, (unfertile eggs) directly from the ovaries of a donor cow or heifer. Recovered oocytes are fertilized one day after aspiration, and transferred seven days after fertilization. During this eight-day time period, they are cultured and grown in an incubator with controlled media, temperature and environment to mirror the cow's uterus. They are then transferred into recipient cows seven days after the recipient's standing heat or estrus, which is similar to the transfer process for embryos produced by embryo transfer. Breeders who choose to use IVF technology have the opportunity to obtain more offspring from valuable females in their herd, similar to the benefit of embryo transfer. Many breeders do not realize however, the additional benefits when using IVF. IVF is a technology that allows breeders to collect offspring from open cows, pregnant cows, virgin heifers, as well as problematic females that have had difficulty in conventional breeding attempts. It is also possible to retrieve oocytes (unfertilized eggs) from donors shortly after a death event to produce one final genetic collection. The applications of this technology allow breeders who would like to get a jump on the next generation to do so without altering other vital aspects of their breeding program. Historically, breeders were forced to decide whether to risk future productivity of young donors by flushing them as virgin heifers or just postponing embryo production until after their first calf. Using IVF technology to create pregnancies from a donor gestating her natural calf allows breeders to generate offspring from elite heifers and keeps them on an annual production cycle to calve on schedule with the rest of the herd.

When compared to embryo transfer, IVF may further maximize the potential of an elite female in a shorter time period, as the interval between IVF aspirations is shorter than the interval between traditional embryo transfer sessions. It is possible to obtain IVF cycles every week or every other week, whereas most embryo transfer programs will collect donors every 60 days.

While conventional embryo transfer generally requires the use of two to three units of semen per donor, IVF can be used to maximize the value of rare, sexed, or expensive semen. One unit of semen can be applied to acolytes from multiple donors, or semen from several different bulls may be used to fertilize a group of oocytes collected from an elite female.

There is a perception in the industry that IVF is a more costly option. However, it actually becomes more cost effective than traditional embryo transfer on donors that produce limited numbers of embryos. This fact – coupled with the opportunity to increase the number of calves, the sex ratio of the calves and the ability to increase the opportunities for collection, makes IVF a leading choice for the progressive producer looking to increase the number of offspring that create the most value in their program.

What's the best option for me?

Embryo transfer is likely the best choice for prolific embryo producing donors that can meet the owner's embryo production needs. In this scenario, embryo cost is economical and in vivo embryos hold a slight pregnancy rate advantage for both fresh and frozen embryos when compared to IVF.

In many instances, IVF provides more value. It is more cost effective to use IVF on low embryo production donors or females you would like to keep in the production cycle. Additionally, IVF can reduce donor boarding costs and semen costs by utilizing a single straw of semen to fertilize multiple embryos, with the opportunity to use more than one sire on a single donor aspiration. IVF is also a more economical choice if offspring of one gender are strongly desired from bulls that do not have frozen sexed semen available. Even if the initial cost of the procedure is higher, the actual cost per embryo will often be lower.

Conclusion

Depending on the specific needs of a breeder's program, various approaches can be taken. It is important for producers to understand how each and every reproductive technology can be used to benefit your operation. While IVF may not be the answer for every donor program, many have realized it is a tool that offers unique opportunities to extend elite genetics provided by both proven donors and rare or expensive sires. To effectively and economically integrate IVF technology into a breeding program, breeders are encouraged to carefully review their goals, understand the opportunities and limitations of both options, and work with the experienced, professional teams to determine the best advanced reproductive technology programs to meet their goals.

Please Contact Us for further information