Engineering healthier, more plentiful crops to aid developing countries

New Food magazine | March 02, 2020

Despite advancements in agricultural practices and technologies, global hunger is still an issue that we face today. The World Food Programme notes that there are about 795 million people in the world who do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life and the vast majority of the world’s hungry people live in developing countries where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished. World leaders, policy makers and the agriculture industry all need to come together to find a solution to this humanitarian crisis and better address the global hunger issue which may only grow as our population expands to almost 10 billion by 2050. Gene and genome editing for crops has been presented as a reasonable solution to create healthier, more plentiful food but it has faced tremendous opposition in developed and developing countries alike. This is due to fear-driven anti GMO/genetically engineered food marketing campaigns that position these crops as dangerous or unhealthy to both consumers and policymakers, despite multiple studies proving otherwise. Inevitably and sadly, the non-GMO labelling of foods has become part of a fear-based marketing for products that otherwise may have nothing to offer the consumer in terms of benefits.

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ENGINEERING TECH

KP Engineering Announces Its Acquisition by The Shaw Group

KP Engineering | February 01, 2023

On January 31, 2023, KP Engineering (KPE), a pioneer in the design and implementation of customized EPC solutions for the refining, hydrogen, syngas, and renewable fuels sectors, announced that The Shaw Group (Shaw), a leading pipe and module fabricator, has finalized the acquisition of its assets. In the future, the company will be known as KP Shaw, LLC. Shaw has established itself as a leading fabrication firm in the United States and the Middle East, employing 1500 people across six high-end facilities. This strategic acquisition will allow Shaw to provide comprehensive engineering, procurement, and fabrication (EPF) project solutions to a broad range of industries worldwide. Shaw will now offer exceptional modular and EPF solutions to the hydrogen and chemical, oil and gas, and renewable fuels and energy industries, thanks to KPE's 19-year record of outstanding engineering, procurement, and project management. Shaw acquired all KP Engineering's assets and ongoing activities, including facility leases. The Shaw Group will run KP Shaw, LLC as a subsidiary. The new entity's branding will be established over the following months. William E. Preston, who will continue as the President and CEO of KP Shaw, LLC, commented, "This acquisition serves to fulfill an urgent requirement for bankable EPF service capacity in the growing North American market. KPE enhances the services in Shaw's already strong portfolio of offerings, which includes pipe, module, and structural steel fabrication, induction bending and specialty coating services. The integration of Shaw's high-quality services will enable us to better meet the needs of our well-established customer base and will also provide us with fresh opportunities to engage with new customers on a global scale." (Source – PR Newswire) About KP Engineering Founded in 2004, KPE is a leading, process-driven EPC solutions provider to the energy industry. The company has developed a distinct culture, structure, and strategy that uses deep engineering knowledge and a distinctive project management methodology to provide excellent EPC services. It strives to deliver value-based engineering, procurement, and project management solutions to the specialty chemical, refining, and renewable sectors at a cost that allows clients to meet their safety, economic, environmental, and performance goals.

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ENGINEERING TECH,CONSTRUCTION

Hensel Phelps’s Introduces Diverge for Construction Technology Investments

HENSEL PHELPS | January 11, 2023

Hensel Phelps recently launched, Diverge, an investment firm focusing on construction technology and innovation. Diverge will directly source, evaluate, invest and deploy new construction innovations in collaboration with technology startups and innovation partners. The advancements in ConTech, construction building methods and technologies can potentially transform the building process. Small startups are constantly driving innovation, simplifying complex processes by building systems that improve communication and efficiency in construction. Hensel Phelps will interact with these technology companies and help develop new solutions through the Diverge platform. "Over the past decade, we have seen continual advancement in prefabrication, robotics, drones, and many other technology platforms that are having a profound impact on how we deliver projects. Diverge provides Hensel Phelps a structured approach to evaluate and implement innovation in our business," commented Brad Jeanneret, Executive Vice President. "We are investing in the future of our industry," he further added. (Source: PR Newswire) Hensel Phelps aims to positively influence construction technology by assisting startups in their early stages of product development. In addition, technology firms collaborating with Hensel Phelps will also benefit by utilizing the breadth of Hensel Phelps' business, having their products tested in real-world scenarios and assessed by their target audience—the construction professionals. The construction industry is experiencing significant digital disruption with prefabricated solutions, robotics integration, and numerous other innovative solutions, however, the $1.6 trillion construction industry in the United States is the second least digitized of all. Diverge's team and partners are dedicated to discovering and evaluating solutions that will upgrade how the industry plans and manages construction. Diverge is accepting new evaluation submissions and encourages construction innovators to pitch their industry-changing ideas. About Hensel Phelps With headquarters in Greeley (Colorado), Hensel Phelps provides construction, development, and facility services. Founded in 1937, Hensel Phelps plans, builds and manages a wide range of domestic and international project types, including aviation and transportation, government, healthcare, lab and research, multi-residence, commercial office, and more.

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PERSPECTIVES, ENGINEERING TECH

Jensen Hughes Announces Acquisition of BRANDGRUPPEN

Jensen Hughes | February 27, 2023

Jensen Hughes, a worldwide expert in engineering and consulting services for life safety, security, and risk management, has announced its acquisition of BRANDGRUPPEN, a Denmark-based consultancy specializing in fire engineering. Jensen Hughes' acquisition of BRANDGRUPPEN signifies the company's initial venture into the Danish market, which is expected to grow in the fire engineering sector due to recent certification modifications. BRANDGRUPPEN, founded in Copenhagen in 2021 by Thomas Schleidt, Allan Hansen, and Nicholas Brogaard, comprises highly skilled directors. Thomas Schleidt said, "Every BRANDGRUPPEN team member is essential to the success of our engineering consultancy. Becoming part of the Jensen Hughes team allows our employees to work on complex projects to enhance their experience and fire engineering qualifications. We will continue normal operations as a co-branded entity during the integration process." (Source – PR Newswire) SVP of Corporate Development at Jensen Hughes, Maurice Conroy, stated, "The BRANDGRUPPEN focus on people, culture, performance and commitment to technical excellence and exceptional client service made this acquisition an easy decision. We are delighted to welcome this dynamic, specialist company to our team and we are excited to tap into Denmark's high growth fire engineering market." (Source – PR Newswire) About Jensen Hughes Jensen Hughes is an engineering consulting firm that provides safety, security, and risk management solutions to clients worldwide. The company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Jensen Hughes offers various services, including fire protection engineering, code consulting, security consulting, risk assessments, forensic engineering, and more. Their clients include government agencies, healthcare organizations, universities, airports, and commercial buildings. The company is known for its fire protection and life safety engineering expertise. It has been involved in numerous high-profile projects, including the renovation of the Pentagon after the September 11 attacks.

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