This is the first of our 2024 summer editions of Milling and Grain, and it’s a bumper issue with a special cover! What makes this issue so special is the follow-up report in our Events Section that once again focuses on Turkey.
Roger Gilbert
In fact, we have used the headline ‘Titans of Turkey’ to highlight and emphasis what I believe was unique at the recent IDMA Expo held in that country between 2-4 May, 2024.
If you had the opportunity to read my editorial in the June edition and seen our show report on IDMA, then you will remember the promise I made - to present a photo-montage of the 25-plus rollermills that were on display at the show. In addition, we feature the pellet presses that were also on display along with supporting equipment such as optical sorters and analytical equipment - all made by Turkish companies.
This year’s IDMA 2024 was an international milling sector show that predominantly displayed Turkish company equipment. While there were two manufacturers of rolls for the milling industry - one Turkish and one Spanish which has established a Turkish manufacturing facility - there were no Turkish pellet die producers at the event, only one from China.
Not every country produces milling equipment.
In my view Turkey is unique within the milling equipment family of countries in that it is doing much more than any other in terms of the number of companies manufacturing equipment that not only supports but innovates and develops a cross-section of milling machines.
As a result, Turkey is having a significant impact on the construction of factories for both flour and feed milling globally and is competing strongly against more traditional suppliers and those that have emerged more recently.
Despite the disruption to grain supplies in recent years, there is much to play for as wheat flour, in particular, is experiencing a resurgence in demand among more traditional cultures where rice and other grains have been dominant in the past.
Eggs in one basket
But having ‘all your eggs in one basket,’ is not ideal, but we have reached a stage where wheat and soybeans are providing much of the protein our planet has come to depend upon in feeding a growing world population.
We might not eat wheat or soybeans directly, but these two together - a grain and an oilseed - form the basic building blocks of
human nutrition as we know it today, and this is unlikely to change for the foreseeable future. Therefore, protecting the varieties that make up these two essential raw materials is paramount and plant breeding and genetic engineering used to eliminate anti-nutritional factors, reduce mycotoxin contamination and enhance nutritional values - in terms of amino acids profiles for example - is what we will come to depend upon as the world’s population increases steadily beyond 2050 and in the run-up to the turn of the next century.
We should all understand and acknowledge the dependence we now have on these two plants supplying the proteins and associated nutrients for both ourselves and to feed our land-based and aquatic food animals.
I would add a further essential ingredient - water. Without these three factors being in plentiful supply supporting our current population - that is wheat, soybeans and water - we are likely to see food shortages on a global scale in the future.
Of course, there are and will be other considerations such a soil fertility, atmospheric conditions and seasonal changes that are likely to impact our food systems, given climatic change that is now being documented.
As a result we are likely to see significant shifts in our food production systems, however, wheat and soybeans have distinct advantages that will prove hard for other crops to replace despite there being a range of other lesser protein sources in the plant world and especially now that our farmed fish diets are becoming more vegetarian and using grains and soy in the manufacture of their feeds.
Recognising the drivers that lie behind the large number of milling machinery manufacturers in a country such as Turkey should be seen as a clear indicator of the direction we are headed.
Milling will continue to be the way we process and provide sustainable foodstuffs for both the human and animal populations that the planet is supporting in the most sustainable way.
It’s nature we depend upon. Looking after our planet so that it can continue to support the production of wheat and soybeans will be critical as we adopt to a rolling period of climate change before coming to terms with its subsequent consequences.
Our summer issue this month reflects the ‘titan task’ ahead for us. And thanks to Turkey, our industry is better positioned to meet those challenges.
*Place your order for an NHP200 Series 2 Pellet Durability Tester between 15th May 2024 and August 31st 2024 and receive the optional Thermal Ticket Printer for £1.00!^
^Offer is valid for all customers on presentation of this voucher at the time of order only. No monetary equivalent value offered.
A single thermal printer and lead will be included in the packing case with each Holmen NHP200 Ordered.
Order and deposit must both be received by TekPro before 31st August 2024 to qualify
Not valid for use with any other offers or promotions.
TekPro reserves the right to withdraw or limit this offer
Talk with Tobias Diener, from Agromatic at VICTAM & Health and Nutrition Asia 2024
Tobias Diener walks us through the products displayed on Agromatic’s stand during the VICTAM Asia and Health & Nutrition Asia 2024 Conference, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand this March.
Among the products displayed on the Agromatic stand are temperature monitoring cables for the grain silo. Mr Diener explains how important is to see what’s going on in the silo, and how this equipment will ultimately save grains and therefore money - immediately paying off your investment.
Watch the interview at mymag.info/jUTd
Welcome readers to the hot, sunny, summer month of July and to our July edition of Milling and Grain, which subsequently, is our seventh edition of Global Miller for the year. You can expect to see children out playing, enjoying their time off from school for the next few weeks. Make sure to keep them covered in sunscreen though as the sun can be quite harsh and we don’t want anyone becoming sunburnt or unwell.
If you have been dutifully reading the Global Miller over the last year, you may remember me mentioning how July can sometimes be known as ‘Hay Month’ as this is the month for hay making and silage collection. Well, during the Saxon or Anglo-Saxon period, July was known as either ‘Heymonath’ or ‘Maed monath’, which roughly and respectively translates into ‘haymaking’ and the ‘flowering of meadows’. This signified the importance hay held to the country and community overall as they named that specific month after hay and silage.
Mention country and community, if you have been keeping up with British politics, you’ll know that the General Election is this month, specifically on July 4. In the last few years, England has been a Conservative country with various Prime Ministers in this one four-year term alone with Boris Johnson to Elizabeth Truss and then finally Rishi Sunak. It has been a tough time over the past four years, but this election has turned the tides where the country changed from a Conservative ruling to a Labour ruling. Time will only tell after the election though where the country will go and what will change for certain, so we’ll all have to wait and see.
For some interesting bits of information from around the world, the Turkish Flour Industrialists Federation are expecting their export volume to reach the huge total of 4 million tonnes. The National Farmers Union also called for greater support from the Government who have finally listened, offering the support that was long called for while USPoultry are providing courses on how to safely respond to pathogenic avian influenza events.
Regarding events, you can read about our trip to an event a little closer to home this time, as usually we travel around the world to various countries like Thailand, Brazil and Germany. This time however, our very own editorial manager Joy Nelloolichalil went to London to attend the 2024 IGC Conference. Look to see what she experienced at the show and how it went.
Turkey’s milling sector plans expansion for future growth
Zeki Demirtaşoğlu, President of DESMÜD, made a press statement at the meeting organised by the Association of Milling and Sector Machinery Manufacturers (DESMÜD) at Konya Grand Millennium Hotel last week, emphasising the importance of the sector and its plans for the future. Demirtaşoğlu’s statements once again revealed the critical role of the milling sector in terms of Turkey’s food security and sustainability. Turkey ranks second in the world in pasta exports with an annual volume of approximately US$1.2 billion. Demirtaşoğlu stated that Turkey produces a wide range of products starting from basic foodstuffs such as flour and bread to other basic needs such as milk and dairy products, meat and cheese. He stated that milling machines play a critical role at every stage of this production process. Emphasising that food safety, food assurance and sustainability issues have become more important after the pandemic, Demirtaşoğlu said that the milling sector is the main actor in these areas.
Stating that Turkey’s current storage capacity was two million tonnes four years ago, Demirtaşoğlu noted that the state has taken important steps to overcome the insufficiency of this capacity through the Turkish Grain Board. He stated that seven million tonnes of new warehouses have been built in the last four and a half years with the licensed warehousing system and 1.5 billion dollars has been spent on these projects.
Stating that they attach great importance to education,
Demirtaşoğlu said that they opened high schools related to milling in three cities within the framework of the protocol signed with the Ministry of National Education in 2017. As a result of their negotiations with the Higher Education Institution, they are planning to open a fouryear department under the title of “Milling Science and Technology” at an English-medium university. He emphasised that there are only three schools in the world in this field, and they want to open the fourth one in Turkey.
Demirtaşoğlu stated that they will establish the world’s largest private sector, association-owned training centre in Ankara. He stated that with the support of Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, a land worth 3.5 million dollars was allocated and they will build a training centre with a closed area of 5 thousand square metres on this land. He said that theoretical and practical trainings for mill technologists and operators will be given in this centre. In addition to the trainings, various production lines such as laboratory, biscuit line, pasta line, bakery line and pastry line will be established.
Referring to the importance of producing and exporting high value-added products, Demirtaşoğlu stated that the products produced in Turkey’s milling sector have an important place in exports. He emphasised that flour exports bring 1.1 – 1.2 billion dollars to Turkey, but 500 – 600 million dollars more income is obtained by exporting high value-added products.
COMPLETE PLANT SOLUTIONS
UNDERSTANDING YOU. STANDING BY YOU. NEVER STANDING STILL.
We provide complete plant solutions for the animal feed industry to your exact specifications and with industry-leading cost efficiency by leveraging our extensive processing expertise and experience.
By harnessing the power of automation and digitalization, we ensure continuous innovation to keep you at the forefront. AND with the industry’s most trusted services, we are always there for you.
Eurofins Agro Testing and trinamiX collaborate to optimise feed efficiency
Eurofins Agro Testing Wageningen, a renowned laboratory specialising in forage, feed, soil, water, manure and compost analysis has announced an international collaboration with trinamiX to optimise forage analyses without the need to send samples to a laboratory.
The partnership brings together Eurofins Agro Testing’s expertise in state-of-the-art analysis, their global network of laboratories and extensive knowledge of the agri-food industry with trinamiX’s technology to offer on-the-spot analytics in a fraction of the time it takes for a traditional sample to be analysed.
Hans Martin, Managing Director Eurofins Agro Testing Wageningen, emphasises that its customers rely on best-in-class laboratory services to run their businesses profitably and sustainably. Combining this analytical data with trinamiX’s technology is the best
way for the industry to improve livestock health and productivity. The collaboration is set to revolutionise the way feed suppliers, nutritionists and farmers capture feed data to enable more accurate nutrition management. Bringing trinamiX’s technology and Eurofins Agro Testing’s analysis together in this partnership is set to provide high quality analysis with the flexibility to provide data and insight anywhere in the world.
Nils Mohmeyer, Director Mobile Spectroscopy at trinamiX GmbH, believes that through the collaboration with Eurofins Agro Testing Wageningen, trinamiX can fully leverage the potential of its technology to make forage and feed analyses more convenient and efficient.
Full details of the technology being offered by the partnership will be revealed at EuroTier 2024 in Hannover.
YEMMAK_ MAG_ePDA_Dergi-EN.pdf 1 26.06.2024 12:37
Scan the QR code below to join our weekly news update from the global milling industry
USPOULTRY provides course on safely responding to highly pathogenic avian influenza events
USPoultry is offering a new training course entitled, ‘The Safe Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza’. The course provides educational instruction to industry workers on what avian influenza is; safe response methods; safe usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); depopulation, decontamination and disposal methods; and general safety precautions. This training is intended to be a resource for workers and supervisors on safely responding to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) events.
The hazards and issues covered in this training are dynamic and require vigilance and flexibility. Users must understand applicable rules and regulations.
The new course is available free of charge to USPOULTRY members through USPOULTRY’s Learning Management System.
For more information and to gain access to the Learning Management System, contact Matt Spencer at mspencer@ uspoultry.org.
Get insights in the quality of the steam process
Anticipating data facilitates predictive maintenance
Recommendations for optimisation
Increases user expertise of steam dosing
NFU secures greater support for farm businesses
The government has listened to the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) call for greater government support to help more farm businesses recover after relentless heavy rain and devastating flooding across the country.
It comes after the wettest 18 months since 1836 which have left vast swathes of agricultural land saturated and, in many cases, still under water. Many arable farmers have been unable to plant crops and have lost those that were in the ground, while livestock farmers have endured an incredibly difficult lambing season. With farm business planning needing long-term stability, many farms will be dealing with the impacts for months and even years to come.
A recent NFU survey highlighted the toll this has taken on farm business confidence, which has hit an all-time low across England and Wales.
The government has now taken on board more of the NFU’s asks which will help more farmers and growers get the support they need to recover and rebuild. These include: Measures to improve on farm cash flow, with the second instalment (50%) of delinked payments moving forward to September rather than December, and reaffirmation that members will receive the first instalment (50%) in August. Widening the scope of the Farm Recovery Fund to offer
support to farms which have been damaged due to extreme rainfall as well as river breaches.
In a post on X, Defra Secretary of State Steve Barclay has also said the NFU’s proposals for government-backed loans merit detailed consideration.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “After months of discussions, it’s really good news that the government has listened to our calls for additional financial support for farm businesses.
“These measures will provide some critical relief to many member businesses which have been facing a very uncertain future because of exceptional cashflow pressures.
“I’m particularly pleased that the Secretary of State is supporting serious consideration of our proposed loans. We will continue to work with the future government on this proposal as we know how beneficial it would be in stabilising cashflow, building resilience and enabling investment, all of which are crucial to our national food security.
“The measures announced today will not solve all the issues we’re facing on farm, but I am confident they will go some way to lifting some of the immediate strain on family farms and help farmers and growers to get back to doing what they do best – producing high quality, sustainable food for the British people.”
to
ensures your operations are seamless,
and high-quality. Our dies are
for top-notch performance in feed, biomass, or any material pelleting.
Study reveals rising costs for UK farmers
Frugal UK farmers are facing rising costs – resulting in them taking on more debt as well as ensuring they are making the most of grants and subsidies available to them, according to new research from wealth manager Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), with 100 freehold farmers across the UK.
Two out of three (66 percent) farmers surveyed have experienced rising costs over the past two years, with 10 percent saying costs have risen dramatically. A further one in five (21 percent) say that their costs have stayed the same, with just over one in 10 (13 percent) saying their costs have fallen.
Of those who have experienced a rise in costs, these have increased by an average of 12.92 percent in the past two years. However, over a quarter (27 percent) say they’ve gone up by more than 15 percent in this time frame. Half say they’ve gone up by between 10 and 15 percent and almost one in five (18 percent) say they’ve gone up by between five and 10 percent. Just one in 20 (5 percent) say their costs have increased by up to five percent in the past two years. This is despite the vast majority of farmers (73 percent) describing their farm as ‘frugal’ when it comes to keeping costs under control.
The research by Investec Wealth & Investment (UK),
gate life’s journey through financial planning and investment management services, also reveals that one in three (33 percent) describe the current level of debt n their farm as high or very high. A further 40 percent say they currently have moderate levels of debt, and only 24 percent say it’s low. Just 3 percent describe their debt level as very low.
Farmers are focused on securing government grants and subsidies, and positively more than a quarter (28 percent) surveyed think that they’re excellent at making the most incentive programmes designed to support farmers. Just under two thirds (59 percent) think they are good at doing this and more than one in 10 (13 percent) say they’re average. This is certainly helping their outlook, with more than one in 10 (11 percent) describing the financial health of their farm as excellent and seven in 10 (69 percent) describing it as good. One in five (19 percent) say its average and just 1 percent say it’s very poor.
To make the most of the grants and subsidies available, almost all (97 percent) of the farmers surveyed get some form of help when applying. The most popular option is to employ a consultant or adviser (71 percent), but more than half (53 percent) say they get help from a family member or employee. A quarter (25 percent) opt
The Moulins de Cherisy, Dreux, France
Milling journals of the past at The Mills Archive
by Mildred Cookson, Mills Archive Trust, UK
The journal, Milling (December 19, 1936), reported that, following on from the successful reconstruction of several mills in Belgium, and the re-equipping of the Grands Moulins de Corbeil, Henry Simon had decided in 1927 to turn his attention to the medium sized mills in France.
One of the first orders received was from the proprietors of the Moulins de Cherisy, situated thirty miles from Versailles on the outskirts of Paris, on the river Eure. The Eure is a tributary of the Seine, and its steady current provided the motive power for the numerous mills along its course. The property around was laid in the form of pleasant gardens, in which stood a picturesque stone mill, the fore runner of the later imposing structure; it was well preserved, and the old water wheel still turned as it had a century ago.
The Moulins de Cherisy were in a district where the intensive cultivation of wheat ensured a cheap and steady supply. As a primarily agricultural area there was a ready sale for bran and offals in the immediate locality.
Initially, Simon carried out a complete reconstruction of both the wheat cleaning and milling plant, at the same time increasing its capacity from 150 quintals of wheat to 200 per 24 hours (equal to five sacks each of 280lbs). Several new machines were introduced, including a Mumford washer, Simon conditioner, Carter separators, a Germinal brush and a number of roller mills, purifiers etc. The mill gained well deserved local popularity, but the increased capacity was insufficient to cope with the demand. Therefore in 1935 Edmund Lethuillier, the owner, decided to erect an entirely new and larger mill. An order was placed once
The new mill with the gantry to the warehouse framing the old mill in the distance
Scalping and dressing machines on the fourth floor.
The picturesque old mill with the new mill on the right
again with Henry Simon who drew up a diagram on a basis of 250 quintals per 24 hours. The existing mill continued in production while the new mill was being built and then it was to be turned into a warehouse.
The new building was 24 metres long, 8 metres wide and 21 metres high. It had five floors including the ground and a sixth storey covering half the floor space, reserved for the elevator heads and detachers. The roof had a water reservoir with a capacity of 15,000 litres for firefighting purposes.
All the floors were of African oak although the ground floor was concrete. The ground floor was five metres high to provide room for a tunnel giving access to the courtyard for motor vehicles. Connection between floors was by staircases in the small tower adjoining the main building. A large
The main roller floor The screenroom
The new mill (1936)
Carter separators and a Germinal brush in the screenroom
Line of fanless purifiers
electric clock surmounted this modernistic tower.
A reinforced gantry 27 metres in length supported on two parabolic arches and containing worms and conveyors, connected the new mill to the warehouse. The wheat was brought from the warehouse bins by a Redler conveyor situated in the gantry.
There was a King magnetic separator, a Mumford washer, a Simon waterwheel damper, a damping worm and a Simon conditioner-dryer. After conditioning the wheat was delivered to six conditioning bins, below which three Exact measurers were installed for distribution and mixing. Secondary cleaning was on standard Simon lines, with Carter disc separators for barley and cockle along with a scourer. A final cleaning on a Germinal brush preceded the first break.
The mill was arranged in two lines of roller mills with automatic feed gates on the first floor. The second floor had the spouting and
worms, with two exhaust fans driven by individual electric motors. The third floor had a line of Simon double purifiers, with interchangeable sieves as was customary on the continent. The fourth floor was for scalping and dressing machines. It had two plansifters and an imposing battery of Simon three sheet single feed centrifugal dressing machines arranged two high.
The floors were all welllit and all the machines easy to access. Well-spaced plansifters permitted easy dismantling of the sieves. The spouting and trunking were finished in best quality kiln dried pitch pine.
Power came from two hydraulic horizontal turbines with oil type speed regulators, operated by the river Eure. They drove a three-phase alternator capable of producing approximately 40hp. There was also a stand-by horizontal diesel engine capable of transmitting 90hp. A well-equipped laboratory for checking the wheat had a small test mill with rolls and plansifter and the necessary material for testing.
The success of the mill confirmed the value of the Simon system where a baker needed flour of unvarying quality. This was made all the more difficult as wheat such as Manitoba was practically impossible to obtain and the use of any chemical improvers or bleachers was strictly forbidden.
Edmund Lethuillier
The old mill today
Gems from the Mills Archive Women, milling and war
by Jake Banyard, on behalf of Mills Archive Trust, UK
Shown here are a National War Savings Committee stamp and a Black Cat Cigarette card, both dating from the First World War and showing women at work in the flour mills. As the British population participated in the war effort, both the flour milling industry and women’s lives were affected. Women were seen as a largely untapped source of labour and were used to fill the gaps that had emerged as men were sent to fight. Some evidence of women’s roles in flour milling can be found in the Milling magazine (precursor to Milling and Grain), of which the Mills Archive holds a significant collection. An article in the November 1943 edition discusses the work of women as truckers in the flour milling industry. Trucking made up an important aspect of the transport systems and food distribution during the wars. The article voices anxieties about the potential injury that women could suffer in the job role where they would be expected to lift heavy sacks and bags, saying that ‘a woman trucker may be asked to do work which is normally done by a man occupied in trucking, but which is unsuitable for a woman.’ Specific legislation had been put into place in 1942, limiting the weight that women were allowed to lift to 65lb (roughly 30kg).
Evidence of women’s increased involvement in industrial work can also be found in documentation about wages and rations. An article released in the February 1943 edition contains information about bread rations in 1917, during the First World War. The section on women’s rations distinguishes between women doing ‘Heavy industrial
If you can think it, we can pack it!
With over 150 years of combined experience, we help you find your individual packaging solution. Over the years, we have developed machines that cover a range of weights from 50 grams to 25 kg for flour based products. In addition, we help you meet global environmental challenges without compromising on performance.
Let’s create your perfect flour packaging solution!
Preparing for a more sustainable future demands a proactive partner with insights, innovative solutions, and precision services. One who can help you save costs and get the most value from locally sourced raw materials while reducing environmental emissions — all without ever compromising on performance. Our specialists on the ground work closely together with you to help shape a strong future for you and your business. Reduce waste, optimize pig performance, and step up to the circular economy — because sustainable farms are more efficient farms.
work or agricultural work’, ‘Women on industrial work or in domestic service’, and ‘Women unoccupied or on sedentary work.’
After the First World War, many were hopeful about the change it would bring to women in the UK. One trade unionist, Mary Macarthur said, ‘Of all the changes worked by the war none has yet been greater than the change in the status and position of women: and yet it is not so much that woman herself has changed, as that man’s conception of her has changed.’
Despite her hope, real change does not seem to have materialised. The wartime governments were underprepared for the post-war rearranging of society and did not present an adequate solution to the problems faced. When victory was declared in both 1918 and 1945, soldiers returning from the front lines expected their jobs back. Torn away from their civilian lives, either by choice or through conscription, soldiers sought to claim back their professions and livelihoods. Women were forced out of their jobs in factories across the country, offered only the fare of their train ticket home, two weeks of pay and the promise of an ‘out-of-work donation’ that they would be expected to live off. Placed into an impossible situation, women were expected to give up their jobs for men but also were criticised for not finding work and contributing to the rebuilding of British society, the very same society that they had worked relentlessly to prop up during the war. In the face of this double-edged sword, many women were forced to return to jobs in the domestic sectors as servants and maids.
by Dr Mahmoud Riyad, Secretary-General, Egyptian Milling Association, Egypt
Egypt raised subsidised bread prices by 300%
Eggypt, often the world’s biggest wheat importer, raised the price of heavily subsidised bread for the first time in decades, a politically sensitive decision that has been delayed for years.
The price of subsidised bread will jump 300 percent to 20 piasters (US$0.0042) from five piasters starting in June, Prime Minster Mostafa Madbouly said at a press conference.
About two-thirds of Egypt’s population benefit from a program that gives 5 loaves of round bread daily for 5 piasters a loaf. An attempt to change the subsidy system led to riots in 1977.
Bread is a staple of the national diet in Egypt, with a population of 106 million, about 60 percent of whom are estimated to live under or close to the poverty line. Many rely on bread for nourishment.
Subsidised bread is supplied under a decades-old program that combines food subsidies and bread allowances. Subsidy cardholders receive an allowance of five flat, round ‘Baladi’ bread loaves per day per family member per loaf. The price was increased from 0.05 Egyptian pounds (US$0.0011) to 0.20 pounds (US$0.0042) per loaf on June 1. (US$1 = 48.00 Egyptian pounds).
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that a subsidised bread loaf will be sold at 20 piasters, up from five piasters starting in June, marking the first increase in the price of the staple in three decades.
Subsidy card holders also receive 50 pounds (US$1.004) per family member per month to buy other food items at subsidised prices including vegetable oils, sugar, and flour.
Those who do not hold subsidy cards buy commercially sold unsubsidised bread from private bakeries. The price has risen in the last two years.
The supply ministry says that Egypt’s government produces about 100 billion loaves of bread annually under the subsidy program -- around 250 million a day. This requires about 8.5 million metric tons of wheat a year. The government imports between 5 and 5.5 million metric tons a year via competitive tenders by the state buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC).
The private sector imports five million tonnes annually. The government also procures about 3.5 million metric tonnes of wheat from local farmers during Egypt’s harvest.
Supply Minister Ali Moselhy said GASC would import the same quantities of wheat after the subsidised bread price increase.
GASC traders said they did not expect wheat imports to be affected unless the government moves to conditional cash subsidies for bread. Used with other subsidised products, these are cash payments for spending on specific goods.
If this happened, Egypt could still import the same quantities but shift more to reliance on the private sector instead of GASC.
What’s
the cost?
Egypt’s food subsidy bill has increased with time because of rising global wheat prices and successive currency devaluations.
“The price of subsidised bread has not been raised for over 30 years,” even though its cost to the state has multiplied many times during that period, Madbouly highlighted in a press conference.
He explained that the state incurs 125 piasters per loaf while selling it for only five piasters, resulting in an annual expenditure of around EGP 120 billion in bread subsidies to produce around 100 billion loaves.
Madbouly added that this decision would reduce the state’s subsidies to EGP 105 billion.
“We are striving to rationalise a portion of the subsidies placed on the public treasury’s shoulders to ensure the sustainability of this service,” he noted.
The state produced over 88 billion bread loaves in May and expects this number to exceed 100.7 billion by the end of June, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi revealed at the press conference.
He also stated that Egyptians consume around 8.5 million tonnes of wheat annually. Last year, the state procured 3.4 million tonnes of wheat from local farmers, while the rest was imported, Moselhi clarified.
Citizens, with the new subsidised bread price, will only bear 16 percent of the actual cost, he added.
According to a 2023 report by the World Bank, the bread subsidy program serves 72 million citizens across Egypt. The handout is a lifeline to the poor but is often criticized as wasteful and a strain on the budget.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbuly reiterated Sisi’s statements, stating that the government bears a LE100-110 billion subsidy bill to provide affordable bread. “During the unprecedented crisis of the recent period, we wanted to spare the citizens from this burden, leading the state to bear it on their behalf for as long as it was feasible. But can we sustain this forever? No, it’s impossible,” Madbuly said.
A financial analyst at a national investment bank said that the government’s efforts to reduce its subsidy bill align with the International Monetary Fund’s guidelines at the cost of overlooking potential repercussions on citizens.
“The entire bread system does not cost LE100 billion. The Finance Ministry borrows more than this figure weekly from treasury bills and bonds. On the other hand, in a country where at least 32 million out of 70 million citizens fall below the poverty line, bread serves as a vital component of their daily meals to stave off hunger, especially as citizens’ reliance on bread has surged due to rising inflation,” the analyst said.
The first increase in the price of subsidised bread in Egypt for 30 years will not be the last, said two sources in the Supply Ministry
The sources added that the government intends to review and adjust the price per loaf periodically in the future — as is the case with the prices of fuel and electricity — although the ministry has yet to devise a strategy for implementing this approach.
The price hike is set to erode the value of the subsidy cards distributed to eligible households to support the purchase of price-regulated goods, the sources said.
Since 2014, members of the public have had the option to forgo some of the bread the card entitles them to and to receive instead a cash balance of LE0.1 for each loaf of bread not collected. The additional credit can be used to buy other goods available at subsidised prices with the card.
As the cost of subsidised goods has increased, the purchasing power of the points has decreased, eroding the quantity of goods subsidy card holders can buy.
“If I give a pound to a mendicant, they throw it in my face. Now, citizens will receive five loaves for a pound,” Nasr Naamani, advisor to the supply minister, told Mada Masr.
“Citizens must bear the burdens alongside the state, rather than persisting in the senseless worship of the subsidy idol,” he said. “We’d fast for our country to remain on its feet.”
APPROX 40 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN IS SAFELY STORED IN MYSiLO SILOS.
CONTINENTS more COUNTRIES than 5 80’
TUSAF to increase their export amount to 4 million tonnes
“We aim to push our export amount to 4 million tonnes,” said Haluk Tezcan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Flour Industrialists Federation (TUSAF), stating that for 10 years they have been the export leader in the world. Wheat harvest in 2024 started 15 days earlier than normal (due to changing climatic conditions) and is expected to approach last year’s record production amount. Initial yield figures point to a good wheat yield this year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s first estimate of crop production, 21 million tonnes of production is expected. With the start of the harvest, eyes turned to the Turkish Grain Board (TMO).
TMO has various criteria in determining the wheat purchase price such as the amount of domestic production, production cost, prices in domestic and foreign markets, world production, last year’s purchase prices, the support premium to be given, the financial resources required for the state to buy products, the situation in other products that may be alternative, and the sustainability of production.
TMO purchased nearly 11.3 million tonnes of wheat and barley in the 2023 season. It was also stated that all the products that the producer, who had a productive season, wanted to sell were purchased. TMO, which managed a risky stock in previous years due to the prominence of supply security in food with the pandemic crisis and then the Ukraine-Russia war, focuses on managing abundance in 2023 and then this season.
Referring to the factors that are effective in their success in exports, Tezcan said, “The fact that the sector closely follows the developing technology has a great relationship with the fact that we are at the top of the world flour exports. Within the scope of the Green Covenant, in the coming seasons, we will accelerate our efforts to maintain quality, increase efficiency and reset the carbon footprint. With this transformation, the number and variety of our value-added products will also increase. In addition, encouraging and economically incentivising small producers with our new contracted production model will illuminate our path in creating a sustainable agricultural model that cares for the planet.”
Pointing out that the information that the Ministry of Trade will limit the Inward Processing Regime (DIR) worries exporters, Tezcan said: “It is also rumoured in business circles that the exemptions brought within the scope of DIR to measures such as antidumping, surveillance and quotas may be removed. Before implementing such regulations, all sectors should be consulted with all sectors.”
IAOM-KSU Introduction to Flour Milling
Taking place at the IGP Institute in Kansas State University, The Introduction to Flour Milling course is taking place August 5 to August 9, 2024.
The objectives of this course are to gain a general understanding of the principles of the milling process from wheat receiving to finished product distribution, understanding the relationship between wheat quality and the effect of the milling process, gain knowledge of different wheat types and what products each can produce, gain knowledge of flour functionality and baking performance of different flours, and learn the role each department plays in the success of the milling industry. Participants will discuss all aspects of the flour milling process from wheat selection to milling to flour blending and baking functionality.
Topics for the course include an overview of the U.S. milling industry; wheat production, supply and demand; wheat classes, uses, and basic wheat chemistry; wheat cleaning and conditioning; gradual reduction process overview; milling
Grain Procurement Management for Importers Mill TRAINING
This eight-day course focuses on the mechanics of grain merchandising, and is designed to educate individuals who are responsible for purchasing grain.
Academic and commodity trade authorities lecture on cash and futures markets, and grain merchandisers guide you through the full complexity of the international grain markets. The course provides an overview of the U.S. grain handling and marketing system and the risk management tools available to assists buyers in purchasing U.S. grain that meets their quality needs at the best value. This course is led by William Wilson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, AES Agribusiness and Applied Economics and an expert in commodity futures trading and consultant to the international grain and food processing industries.
Daily lectures and exercises will be held both at NCI and in the NDSU Commodity Trading Room, a world-class training facility of the Agribusiness and Applied Economics Department at North Dakota State University (NDSU). The high-tech room has 32 seats, each with a computer that receives live information feeds for financial information including equities and credit, plus commodity market information such as agriculture, energy and biofuels.
The group travels to Duluth, Minnesota to meet with the
math (extraction, tempering and blending); principles of mill flow sheets; overview of the general milling process and major milling equipment; flour and dough testing practices and methods; flour functionality; wheat and flour blending; grade, quality, and mill performance on flour extraction; and practical hands-on experience in the Hal Ross flour mill and KSU benchtop milling and baking laboratories (see commercial mill in action and understand what equipment does and simple adjustments, breaks, purifiers, sizings, reduction rolls, sifting, flour stream analysis, sample board analysis, benchtop wheat milling exercise, baking with different flours exercise).
Who Should Attend: New mill employees, mill HR staff and managers, grain and ingredient procurement managers, feed and flour sales representatives, production schedulers, warehousing and QA personnel, R&D staff, wheat breeders, grain inspection personnel, food program administrators, international wheat/grain traders, journalists, extension agents, wheat commission staff/ board members, and agricultural and business economic analysts. No milling experience or theory required.
Duluth Seaway Port Authority and tour the CHS Export Grain Terminal, and then to Minneapolis to meet with experts in the grain trade, and tour the CHS barge loading facility.
Learn from experts from both academic and commodity industry professionals on cash and futures markets.
Meet with grain merchandisers and hear of their experiences in dealing with the complexity of the international grain markets.
Share day-to-day experiences with colleagues from other countries and U.S. grain merchants.
Experience the U.S. grain handling system through tours of a farm, a country elevator, and export grain terminal.
Participate in trading exercises in the world-class, NDSU Commodity Trading Room.
Topics include: U.S. grain export handling and logistics, Commodity analysis, implications for grain importing decisions, Grain hedging principles, U.S. grain grading standards, International grain contracts, World and U.S. grain market outlook, Developing purchasing strategies, Supplier-customer relationships, Purchase quality specifications for importers, Risk management strategies, and managing ocean freight risk.
Aimed at International grain buyers associated with private trading companies, milling, feed manufacturing and food processing. Anyone with interest in importing grain from the United States.
Introduction to Grain Operations
GEAPS Online Learning courses are available anytime on-demand. Each course takes approximately 10 hours to complete and can be completed at any pace over five weeks. Courses must be completed within a five-week period that begins the day you register. After registering, learners will be sent a confirmation email, then you’re ready to start learning! GEAPS Introduction to Grain Operations is a new and interactive course.
This revamped, interactive course provides basic, yet comprehensive, information about operations and handling procedures at grain facilities. It serves as an introduction to new hires, students and others needing beginner-level training. Stressing safety, the course focuses on how grain moves through a facility. It covers main elevator types;
components and equipment; grain receiving procedures; sampling, testing, and grading; binning; housekeeping and maintenance; fumigation; outbound procedures; and other fundamental grain facility functions.
Introduction to Grain Operations is intended to introduce the key purposes, equipment and processes of grain handling facilities. The course aims to provide basic and practical information about the most common grain facility operations, serving as a primer for those who could benefit from an introductory look at the grain handling and operations profession. The course also is intended to cover the most common hazards at grain facilities and to emphasize safety at all facility levels and operations.
This course is for new hires or recently employed operations staff, non-operations staffers who need to learn more about storage and handling procedures, frontline supervisors with responsibilities for training, students, interns and other people considering jobs or careers in grain operations.
FOCUS Product July 2024
In every edition of Milling and Grain magazine, we dedicate this page to taking a look at the products that will save you both time and money in the food and feed milling process.
Should you have a new product or service that you would like to feature on this page in a future edition of our magazine, be sure to contact us at editorial@ perendale.co.uk
STORM PRO by AGI
The speed, accuracy and flexibility of the STORM PRO seed treater provides the ultimate seed treating solution for your operation. Industry leading speed and capacity propels your business to the next level, allowing true just-in-time treating. The STORM PRO is a completely selfcontained, turn-key seed treater that uses an auto-calibration system and is safe enough to use on all seed types, including soybean, pulse and cereals. The STORM PRO offers the versatility of treating seed when you need it, where you need and can be controlled by the easy-touse touchscreen controls or by phone or tablet. It also meets the new industry requirements for commercial application.
Standardfrigor Air purifier deviro™ by FrigorTec
The deviro™ cleans room air of fine dust, viruses and other elements that are harmful to health using a three-phase filtration system. The downstream HEPA H14 filter removes 99.995 percent of impurities from the air. Despite its powerful fan, the deviro™ is one of the quietest filtration devices in its class and can therefore also be used in work rooms.
• Three filter stages remove 99.995 percent of air impurities
• Sound insulation enables use in noise sensitive surroundings
• Simplified transport with handles and fixed castors
• Every deviro™ is produced at our German plant and undergoes a factory test run before delivery
• Easy operation, timer can be selected with app
• Optional UVC technology for additional safety
www.frigortec.com
Yestimun® by Leiber
Yestimun® is a natural 1,3/1,6-beta-glucan extracted from the brewers’ yeast cell wall. It is made from high-quality Brewers’ Yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with the natural component like barley, hops and water. Yestimun® is a light beige-coloured, fine, spray-dried, powder with no taste or odour of its own. For that reason, the dispersible ingredient can easily be used in a wide range of dry or even liquid product formulations. Because of this, the dispersible ingredient can be easily used in diverse dry or even liquid product formulations. Leiber Brewers´ Yeast beta-glucan is characterised by a very high level of purity and a unique molecular structure. Its highly immune-supporting effect has been proven on the basis of human studies.
Benefits include:
• Can be taken daily
• Free of side effects
• Efficacy proved by studies
• Kosher and halal-certified, nonallergenic and GMO-free
• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
• Already used in hundreds of products worldwide
https://yestimun.de
mymag.info/FHPV
Maize Grinder by Pingle
The maize grinder is developed on the basis of a hammer mill. For the integral maize kernels that have been moisture conditioned, this machine is able to finish dehulling, degerming and grinding operations in one step, and the processing efficiency is improved. Technically speaking, the power consumption for producing one tonnage of maize grit is reduced by 20-30 percent when compared with traditional machines, thereby significantly enhancing the economic returns. With the help of this machine, a complete granule of maize is shattered into 4-6 fragments with a tidy appearance. The embryo breakage rate is less than 10 percent, and the hull is kept whole. This brings great convenience for the following separation of embryo, hull and grit. So, this maize grinder is highly recommended.
www.plflourmill.com mymag.info/LZWV
Oryem Coating System
The coating system in feed mills is an equipment that provides the desired coating with oil (fat), an enzyme or liquid methionine for granulated products that undergo pre-cooling and sieving. Feeding and dosing of oils, enzymes, etc is carried out in automatic mode. With regard to capacity, it is designed with a single-shaft or two-shaft mixing screw, which undergoes special heat treatment and is covered with a special insulation material. This process of coating gives a noticeable result of adding oil, enzymes, etc., makes the granules harder, and smoothes the shell. It features automatic weighing, spray nozzles, a mixing screw from chrome material, and is covered with a special insulation material with easy maintenance and cleaning.
www.oryem.com.tr mymag.info/astl
FOCUS Special
Martin SQC2S Orion
Martin Engineering unveils new secondary conveyor belt cleaner
Martin Engineering has announced the next generation of secondary conveyor belt cleaners engineered to reduce dusty carryback and lower maintenance time. Designed to withstand the stress of heavier loads carried on wider, thicker belts at higher speeds, the Martin SQC2S Orion Secondary Cleaner features individually cushioned tungsten carbide blade cartridges for effective cleaning without risk of the belt or splices.
The two-tiered tensioning system means minimal adjustments and monitoring throughout the life of the blade. The heavy-duty blades are mounted on a slide-in/slide-out assembly for faster and safer one-worker external servicing. The result is improved belt cleaning with less dust and maintenance for greater workplace safety at a lower cost of operation.
“We field tested the Orion over several months side-by-side with competitor designs in punishing mining environments and found that the new design significantly outperformed the competition,” said Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager for Martin Engineering. “At the end of the testing period, customer participants started the process of replacing all their heavy-duty secondary cleaners with the Orion. We now view this design as the future of our secondary cleaner line moving forward.”
Secondary cleaners play an essential role in the belt cleaning process by significantly reducing the volume of dust and fines dropped and carryback on the belt return. Primary cleaners release most of the abrasive material remaining on the belt after discharge.
The Martin SQC2S Orion Secondary Cleaner is appropriate for all bulk handling material applications. The unit is made up of individual six inches (152.5mm) blades mounted on a square steel tube assembly. Not designed for reversing belts, it is suitable for 18-96 inches (457-2438.5mm) belt widths, belt speeds up to 1200fpm (6mps), and temperatures up to 250º F (121º C).
“What sets this unit apart from others on the market is the innovative, dual tensioning system with independent heavy-duty tungsten blades which are game-changing design features,” Mueller explained. “The first level of tensioning is supplied to the entire assembly using the heavy-duty SQC2S Tensioner which applies light upward torque evenly across the belt profile for less friction and no wear on splices.”
The second level of tensioning is on the individual blade assembly. Each Orion blade assembly is attached to a steel square tube assembly which is secured a mounting plate. The square tube houses a rubber tensioner with a torsion arm bolted to each side. A specialised tungsten blade is attached
to the arm. The whole system is mounted at a 90-degree angle then tensioned so each blade is vertical and perpendicular to the belt. As the belt runs, each blade assembly adjusts independently to precisely match the belt’s profile, permitting them to compensate for camber, flaws/blemishes and stubborn material stuck to the belt’s face. To accommodate belt cupping and other uneven surfaces, the blade assemblies can be individually adjusted to match the belt profile.
The blades are specially designed for heavy-duty abrasive applications in both dry and wet environments. Tested on hard rock and slurry belts, the Orion blades offered superior cleaning results with a longer equipment life. This is due to the rugged tungsten carbide core surrounded by mild steel. Blades are also available in stainless-steel for specific corrosive materials.
The blade design features an attached deflector shield made for polypropene or rugged nylon for high temperature applications. Mounted directly to the blade in an outward scoop design, the shield users loosened material away from the mainframe and toward the discharge chute. This mitigates buildup on the assembly, extending the blade’s effectiveness and reducing the amount of maintenance.
Safety and ease of maintenance is a key feature and a core priority for all Martin Engineering designs. The slide-in/slide-out design allows a single worker to perform maintenance with easy access outside of the conveyor structure, eliminating the need to crawl underneath or awkwardly reach inside. This greatly improves workplace safety and reduces the amount of time and labour required for maintenance, significantly lowering the cost of operation.
“Every bulk handling operation is unique and requires equipment that is versatile and adaptable, and I think we’ve achieved that with the Orion,” said Mueller. “Martin Engineering products are developed to improve efficiency and safety, without compromising belt health. This design gives customers more options and superior results, regardless of the material or the process.”
The Legacy of British Milling
A Journey Through Time with Marriage’s Millers
by Jyothsna Nelloolichalil, Editorial Manager, Milling and Grain, UK
To the uninitiated, milling might seem like a mundane process, merely a means to an end and it is often hard to get any one excited about the history of it.
Contrary to what many might think, the history of milling is a fascinating journey of innovation, tradition, and societal impact. In February, I was fortunate to attend the London and South East Millers Society (LSEMS) meeting where George Marriage, the current Chairman of Marriage’s Millers, captivated the audience with tales of Marriage’s Millers’ rich history and the broader narrative of milling in the UK. With a legacy spanning century, Marriage’s Millers has witnessed the transformation of milling from ancient hand-powered tools to sophisticated, automated systems - a reflection on how innovation and tradition coexist in an industry crucial to our daily bread.
The Foundations of Marriage’s Millers
To understand the significance of Marriage’s Millers, one must first appreciate the ancient history of milling in the UK. George Marriage opens his talk with a nod to the Romans, who pioneered the use of water mills, a revolutionary technology for that era. The Domesday Book, an extensive survey from 1086, lists 203 water mills in Essex alone, underscoring the early prominence of milling
in the region. By the 18th century, the number of water and wind mills had burgeoned, with Essex boasting 280 mills at its peak around 1830-1840.
Marriage’s Millers, a family business established in the early 19th century, has been a cornerstone of the local community and the broader milling industry in the UK. George painted a vivid picture of the mill’s early days. In those times, milling was a labour-intensive process, reliant on muscle power and rudimentary tools. The millstones, which were the heart of the operation, had to be meticulously maintained and dressed to ensure the finest flour.
“We had 30 pairs of stones back then,” George reminisced, “each one carefully tended to by skilled millers.” The importance of these stones was paramount, as they ground the grain into flour, feeding local families and contributing to the community’s well-being.
Marriage’s Millers was founded in this fertile landscape of milling innovation. The mill’s legacy goes back before 1824, when twin brothers William and Henry Marriage took on Broomfield Mill from their father, at the age of 17. In 1835, the business made a significant leap by installing a steam engine at Broomfield Mill, a move that provided a crucial commercial advantage. This allowed flour production to continue even when water or wind power was unavailable, setting the stage for the mill’s expansion.
George Marriage illustrates this period with a map of Chelmsford, showing the strategic acquisition of multiple mills along the River Chelmer. This network included Croxton’s Mill, Dixby’s Mill, and the rented Bishop’s Hall Mill. Each of these mills played a pivotal role in establishing Marriage’s Millers as a dominant force in the region.
The Industrial Revolution marked a turning point not only for Marriage’s Millers but for the milling industry as a whole. The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 facilitated the import of wheat, which was crucial in preventing famine and boosting flour production. The advent of roller mills from Hungary in the late 19th century began to replace traditional stone mills, leading to significant changes in milling technology.
By the 20th century, steam engines and later electric motors had replaced the old water and wind power mechanisms. This period also saw the transition from stone milling to more efficient roller milling, significantly increasing production capacity.
As the 20th century progressed, Marriage’s Millers continued to adapt and innovate.
The Moulsham Mill, a prominent landmark in Chelmsford, serves as a testament to this era of change. Originally depicted
• GRAIN DRYING FACILITIES
• INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES
• DESIGN
Agribusiness facilities
Silos Córdoba provides engineering services for product quality control, storage and handling equipment, ensuring convenience, reliability, efficiency and profitability in plant management.
Turn-key projects
Silos Cordoba mainly operates in the post-harvest sector where it offers comprehensive solutions for your grain storage, handling and conditioning needs. • GRAIN STORAGE INSTALLATIONS •
in an 18th-century painting with a windmill on stilts, the mill underwent numerous modifications. By the 1920s, it featured a steam engine and a burgeoning workforce, although it faced challenges such as flooding, leading to significant infrastructural adjustments.
The mid-20th century brought its own set of challenges. The mill endured economic difficulties during the 1930s and 40s, yet it managed to persevere. Aerial photographs from the 1920s show the mill surrounded by industrial development, indicating its strategic importance. The purchase of the Chelmer Mills site in 1898, which was built to be powered by coal and so was by the railway so that coal could be bought in by train waggon, marked another milestone.
The Modernisation of Marriage’s Millers
George’s talk delved into the modernisation of Marriage’s
Millers, focusing on the implementation of new machinery and automation. “You don’t have much wet chemistry in modern labs these days,” he remarked, indicating how contemporary milling relies heavily on machines and automated processes. This shift has not only streamlined operations but also improved the quality and safety of the products.
Despite the modernisation, George expressed a deep respect for traditional milling techniques. He spoke about the importance of maintaining and preserving historical equipment and methods. “You have to look after these things,” he said, pointing to the wooden structures and old millstones that still occupy parts of the mill.
The conversation turned to the intricate mechanisms of the old mills, such as the chutes that transported grain to the stones and the damsel, a component named for its chattering noise. George described how these elements, though seemingly antiquated,
Solutions for Feed Mills and Milling Companies
It All Depends on the Grinding
` Hammer mills
` Feeding devices
` Grinding systems
` Dust explosion protection
played crucial roles in the milling process.
The Impact of Electricity and IT
The advent of electricity marked another significant milestone in the history of milling. George recounted how early millers relied on natural forces like wind and water to power their mills. The introduction of electric motors brought a new level of reliability and efficiency. “A squirrel cage motor connected to a 50 hertz electric grid is much more stable than gusty wind,” he explained, highlighting the benefits of electrical power. Moreover, the integration of IT systems has transformed the industry. “It’s all about IT now, and traceability and everything else,” George said, acknowledging the role of technology in ensuring product quality and safety. These systems not only improve efficiency but also provide valuable data for monitoring and optimising the milling process.
Environmental and Economic Challenges
George did not shy away from discussing the challenges facing the milling industry today. One of the most pressing issues is the increased energy consumption required for modern milling operations. “We use far more energy than we used to,” he admitted, pointing to both grinding and distribution processes. Climate change is another significant concern. The unpredictable weather patterns have a direct impact on grain production and quality. George emphasised the need for sustainable practices to mitigate these effects. “We’re painfully aware of the deficit impression that arises,” he said, referring to the challenges of milling organic wheat and maintaining high protein levels in the flour.
A highlight of George’s talk was the acknowledgment of his family’s enduring legacy in the milling industry. The Marriages have been involved in milling for generations, passing down knowledge and expertise. George introduced his successors, James Marriage and Hannah Marriage, who represent the next generation of millers. “It’s all about looking to the future,” he said proudly, confident that the family business will continue to thrive.
The Human Element in Milling
Throughout his talk, George repeatedly underscored the importance of the human element in milling. Despite the advances in technology, the knowledge and skill of the millers remain invaluable. He shared anecdotes of his experiences and those of his ancestors, illustrating the passion and dedication that have
driven Marriage’s Millers for centuries.
He paid respect to one of their former employees, Jesse Whiteman, who he described as a ‘legend’ who knew more than anybody in the world of stone milling windmills. One particularly memorable moment was his recounting of a conversation Jesse had with George’s father - “I think the electricity was here to stay,” Jesse had said, a sentiment that proved prophetic.
Health and safety have always been critical concerns in the milling industry. George reflected on the evolution of safety practices, from the early days of rudimentary protections to the comprehensive systems in place today. “We’ve gone health and safety mad,” he joked, but quickly added that ensuring the safety of workers is a top priority. The modernisation of the mill has brought about improved safety measures, reducing the risks associated with moving machinery and other hazards.
Embracing Change and Looking Ahead
In concluding his talk, George Marriage emphasised the importance of embracing change and continuously seeking to innovate. The milling industry, much like any other, must adapt to new technologies and changing market demands. “We’ve embraced change over the years and sought to constantly adapt and modernise,” he said.
The talk ended on an optimistic note, with George expressing confidence in the future of Marriage’s Millers and the broader milling industry. George Marriage’s talk was a journey through time, offering a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of milling. The mill celebrates it’s 200th anniversary this year and this family business will continue to be a pillar of the community and the industry for generations to come.
Maintenance and servicing essential for a successful mill operation
by Olga Korzyuk, Business Development Manager, Milling Solutions, Bühler AG, Switzerland
Modern flour mills are complex plants that operate with great efficiency at a very high technical level –ideally around the clock. If even only one part of the production chain breaks down unexpectedly, the entire production process will be interrupted, which quickly manifests itself in unnecessary costs. Unexpected interruptions can be avoided with planned and professional maintenance. And various services are available for economic optimization of the mill. Bühler is at your side with the range of services it provides.
Whereas back in the Middle Ages two simple millstones were used for grinding grain, nowadays ultra-modern mill systems are in use. With the change in technology, however, not only have the yield and quality of the flours improved enormously, but the demands on the operators have also increased. In addition, the economic framework conditions require the plants to operate as uninterruptedly and trouble-free as possible. Every unexpected downtime and any even slight reduction in yield costs money.
Comprehensive portfolio of services
This makes it clear that timely maintenance and careful servicing are the cornerstone of stable, reliable, and therefore cost-optimised production. But are the necessary specialists available? Can the miller even afford an unexpected downtime of his mill? How can production costs be optimised? The service specialists at Bühler have the right answer to all these questions. Together with the miller, they put together a customized service package from Bühler’s comprehensive portfolio of services. When you think of “maintenance”, the first things that come to mind are roller overhauls, sieve tensioning or bearing lubrication – but there is considerably more involved! And why wait so long until there is
a real “logjam” somewhere? Maintenance that is only reactive, results in longer downtimes, puts the whole team under pressure and costs a lot of money. How can that be avoided?
Maximise yield with RollDetect
Timely roller overhauls can reduce energy costs, reliably maintain product quality, and prevent mechanical damage. But what does “timely” mean here? Each miller will answer this question differently, depending on individual experience and upon how finely that person’s fingers are “tared.” Management, however, expects an objective answer based on facts. This is where RollDetect comes in: The corrugation profile is detected by a small tactile sensor and recorded graphically; the roller wear is then evaluated, and the miller receives a recommendation on the optimum time for roller overhaul. A constantly high yield is thus achieved, while operating costs are reduced. Thanks to this service, the yield can be increased by an average of 0.8 to 1.2 percent.
Product quality begins with the correct sieve tensioning
As every experienced miller knows, the quality of the sieves has a direct influence on the quality of the product. It is often, however, forgotten that the correct tension is an important success factor. A sieve tension that is too low can lead to a reduction in throughput of up to 20 percent and a loss in yield of up to four percent. It is therefore worthwhile in any case to invest in a regular and quality sieve tensioning service.
Cost reduction thanks to efficient energy optimisation
The subject of energy costs is increasingly important nowadays. Every mill operation tries to monitor and reduce its energy consumption. Assistance in optimizing energy consumption is one of the most frequently used services from Bühler. Bühler’s experts understand “efficient energy optimization” to mean not only the replacement of old motors with more energy-efficient ones, but
also the optimization of technological processes, the adaptation of automation and much more. The specialists from Bühler have already previously succeeded in reducing the energy consumption of a mill by up to 20 percent in several cases!
Customised solutions for modern challenges
The “mill doctor”, an experienced head miller who checks the system and helps to get it back into shape, is very well-known in the industry. But nowadays, the “doctor” faces much more complex challenges than he was confronted with just a few years ago. It is not only necessary to check the technical state of the mill. It is also about possible ways to improve performance, or new nutritional trends that represent a new market for innovative milling products. The industry must also deal with increasingly demanding standards regarding personnel, machine, and food safety, in addition to ever stricter laws on sustainability (CO2 emissions) and requires support in doing so. Bühler provides in this situation a customized service package tailored to individual challenges. The mill doctor arrives with a team of experienced and skilled personnel to do a mill assessment.
The environmental evaluation service from Bühler
Bühler supports its customers on the path to greater sustainability with its “Environmental Impact Service.”
This service not only records the current state in terms of environmental compatibility (company footprint according to the GHG protocol, product footprint according to ISO 14067), but also develops strategies for reducing emissions on this basis. Matthias Karrenbauer, Business Manager for Production/ Technology at Roland Mills United GmbH & Co KG, says:
World Leaders in Microwave Moisture Measurement
Global network of Bühler: 700 service engineers at around 105 service stations on six continents
Product quality begins with the correct sieve tensioning
“Only if we know our own status quo can we exploit our potential, compare ourselves with suppliers and customers in the value chain and continue to improve.”
ProPlant – all around the maintenance
One hour of unexpected downtime can result in costs of up to CHF 10,000 for a modern flour mill. With planned and timely maintenance, these kinds of unexpected breakdowns can be avoided. But how do we schedule “timely” maintenance? Instead of huge Excel spreadsheets with countless individual tasks, complicated overviews, etc., Bühler’s ProPlant application offers a maintenance and management tool for everyone who performs maintenance work: Before and after photos, description, localisation, automatic debiting of used spare parts from stock, reporting of faults, etc. ProPlant is a program for PC and smartphone that supports all those who plan maintenance work, manage the spare parts warehouse or are responsible for quality. ProPlant stores and processes all documents (contracts, invoices, certificates, drawings, instructions, etc.) and enables smooth audits to be carried out. This is comparable with the driving assistant in a car: ProPlant alerts the plant operator in time of all pending maintenance tasks so that nothing is forgotten, and the plant is always in its optimum condition. ProPlant also allows maintenance to be tracked precisely. ProPlant comes pre-installed with the delivery of the plant and relates to all maintenance checklists. This means that maintenance can begin right away. And if desired, a lot more can be integrated into the system in addition to the actual system, such as forklifts, fire extinguishers or laboratory equipment. One milling company in Mexico was able to reduce unexpected downtimes by 0.3 percent – with new personnel and directly with the right maintenance at the right time – and thus save over CHF one million per year.
From traditional to digital: Smart solutions from Bühler
Our everyday lives have become unthinkable without our smartphones. There are applications that support us in numerous life situations: Stop smoking, eat healthier, exercise more, etc. What applies to the body also applies to milling plants. Bühler provides digital solutions for the monitoring of machinery status and energy consumption, a system for quality management, a program for error and downtime analysis and much more. An outstanding example is the “Temperature and Vibration
ProPlant: organize your plant maintenance online to boost productivity
Management” (TVM) service for milling rollers. Experienced head millers can tell by the sound that something is not right, and which machine requires particular attention. Their hands are “tared” to recognize temperature deviations. But even the best head miller cannot permanently monitor every single roller mill. Special temperature and vibration sensors can take over this function. The operating state is continuously analyzed, and before a mechanical problem or deviations with respect to product quality or yield can arise, a warning signal is issued as needed. The dashboards with warning functions play a central role here. They visualize the development of the important parameters and warn the miller as soon as the actual value deviates from the setpoint – and does so 24/7/365! This enables the miller to prioritize his tasks, concentrate on what is most important and thus work more efficiently.
Global
“All-round service”
Successful milling production is closely connected with regular maintenance and servicing measures. Modern flour mills work efficiently at a technically high level, but failures can result in considerable costs. Planned maintenance makes it possible to avoid these, and economic efficiency can be improved. With around 700 service engineers at around 105 service stations worldwide on six continents, Bühler provides a comprehensive service offering. Overall, maintenance and servicing are critical for successful mill operation, and Bühler provides solutions for meeting these requirements and increasing productivity.
App based All-In-One Grain Monitoring
Monitor the true grain condition with the iGRAIN Smart App. The AIO Sensor Cable monitors grain quality, safe storage time, and infestation.
When you have many silos and different commodities to keep track of, you should choose a monitoring system capable of monitoring the quality, calculate risk factor, and maximum safe storage time for each silo. iGRAIN delivers just that - and you can monitor it from anywhere on your smart phone!
All-In-One Sensor Cables
The iGRAIN AIO Sensor Cable combines several different digital sensor technologies into one sensor cable. Ensuring a cost efficient total monitoring system, the AIO Sensor Cable can be used as the only monitoring solution in a single silo. It can be supplemented with additional iGRAIN Temperature Sensor Cables.
Cloud Based Real Time Data
The iGRAIN Smart App enables remote access to sensor data and AI based calculations of true grain quality, risk factor for infestation, and the maximum safe storage time.
iGRAIN Smart App
Sensor data:
• CO2 - infestation level
• Grain moisture
• Grain temperature
• Inventory status
• Aeration progress
• Weather data
AI based data:
• True grain quality
• Infestation Risk Factor
• Max. safe storage time
‘Well
on Wheat?’ Project:
Fewer abdominal complaints due to ancient grains?
by Fred Brouns, Peter Shewry, and Daisy Jonkers
Wheat is by far the most consumed grain in Western countries. About 95 percent of world wheat production consists of ‘modern’ bread wheat. This species (Triticum aestivum) is estimated to have evolved about 10,000 years ago and been selected by farmers because of better properties (notably yielding the best harvest) than emmer which was the currently cultivated form of wheat. The majority of the remaining five percent production consists mainly of durum (pasta) wheat (Triticum turgidum L.subsp. durum). Spelt, emmer and einkorn which are often labeled as ‘ancient grains’ together form only a tiny part of the total harvest.
Although wheat products are widely consumed, ingestion may result in adverse reactions in some individuals, with three types being recognised: celiac disease, gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCGS/NCWS) in the absence of celiac disease, and wheat allergy.
Various wheat components play a role in triggering these disorders, including specific proteins and FODMAPs. In order to trigger adverse reactions, the proteins, or protein fragments, need to be resistant to the conditions during food processing (notably cooking) and to digestion in the intestines, the major components being undigested gluten peptides and amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs).
The intact gluten peptides contain amino acid sequences (epitopes) that can be recognised by the immune system upon passage through the intestinal wall, potentially resulting in immune activation and inflammation in genetically susceptible individuals. In certain circumstances, the permeability of the intestine can then increase, allowing substances from the
intestine to pass through the intestinal wall into the blood (fi g 2).
Gluten consists of two protein fractions, glutenin and gliadin. Gliadin is the major source of the indigestible gluten peptides causing celiac disease, in particular a ‘33-mer gliadin peptide’ which can induce a strong immune response. This peptide is present in all types of wheat having the DD genome (bread wheat and spelt- AABBDD), but not in emmer, durum (AABB) and einkorn (AA) See Figure 1.
Social media and marketing often suggest that grains not containing the DD genome are better tolerated and relatively safe in terms of disease risks. However, this assumption is incorrect because all of these grains, including einkorn, contain gliadins and
Figure 2: Opening of the intestinal barrier makes the intestine permeable to substances that should not enter the blood under normal circumstances (figure after BallenaBlanca, 2016 Wikimedia Commons).
glutenins which have other celiac epitopes. In addition to their reputation as allergens (especially in bakers’ asthma), ATIs may also be involved in the development of celiac disease and wheat/gluten sensitivity. However, the exact trigger, or triggers, of non-celiac wheat/gluten sensitivity remain unknown and may vary between individuals.
FODMAPs
Figure 1: Overview of ‘modern’ and ‘ancient’ types of wheat with their corresponding genomes (The genome is the entire set of genetic instructions found in a cell). Spelt and bread wheat (both hexaploidy (6 sets of chromosomes -AABBDD) are forms of the same species as are emmer and durum (pasta) wheats (both tetraploid (4 sets of chromosomes -AABB). Spelt and emmer are often labeled as ‘ancient’ wheats, but are likely to have been selected over the past thousands of years. As a diploid (2 sets of chromosomes (AA) grain, einkorn is probably closest to the type grown in antiquity, characterized by a thin ear and small grains. Because the yield of einkorn is only about a third of that of bread wheat and its baking properties are unfavorable (very compact, small bread), einkorn is unattractive for farmers and processors and little grown commercially. Figure from P.R Shewry.
FODMAPs are carbohydrates that are either not digested and/or absorbed (in the case of simple sugars) in the small intestine. When they subsequently enter the large intestine, they are rapidly fermented by the intestinal flora (microbiota). Recent studies have shown that FODMAPs are in fact responsible for gas formation and accumulation, which causes most of the intestinal symptoms (bloating, laxation complaints) that consumers unjustly self-report as ‘gluten sensitivity symptoms’. FODMAPs are also known to trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel (IBS), which are very similar to those reported in NCWS. Wheat products contain several types of FODMAP, the most abundant being inulin type fructans, which include fructo-oligosaccharides.
For more detail see https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12551
In addition, smaller amounts of raffinose (a trisaccharide sugar), mannitol (mannitol) are present. Dietary fibres are also contained in wheat bread (the polysaccharides arabinoxylan and betaglucan) and resistant starch, which are fermented in the colon.
In our daily diet, grain products (bread, breakfast cereals/muesli, pasta, etc.) can contribute a significant share of the daily intake of FODMAPs and dietary fibres (Table 1). Other foods that contain relatively high levels of FODMAPs are fruit, vegetables, onions, legumes and apple juice.
Figure 3: Ancient wheat varieties contain more gluten and gliadin, compared to bread wheat. The suggestion that ‘ancient wheat’ in the diet gives less risk of developing celiac disease, gluten allergy and gluten sensitivity is not justified. Source: Brouns et al, https://doi.org/10.1111/ nbu.12551
Whether or not FODMAP intake will lead to abdominal/ intestinal complaints ultimately depends on the amount ingested and a person’s intestinal sensitivity. Gas formation in the intestine is not a disease, but it can be a very unpleasant symptom. Most individuals tolerate the intake and fermentation of FODMAPs (and fibre) without disturbing symptoms. It is also important to note that the fermentation of dietary fibre and FODMAPs positively influence the composition and metabolism of intestinal microbiota, support the intestinal wall barrier function and leads to a reduction of a number of metabolites that are known to compromise gut health.
Following a low FODMAP diet can therefore lead to a sharp decrease in the intake of indigestible and fermentable carbohydrate/fibres intake, which is unfavourable for intestinal health and may increase the risk of inflammation and cancer. For this reason, a low FODMAP diet is primarily recommended for people with irritable bowel syndrome, but for a limited period and under the guidance of health professionals.
Effect of dough fermentation on the FODMAP content
During the fermentation taking place in the dough, fructans present in the flour are degraded by the microbiota. The fructan content in final dough and bread may therefore be as little as 10-20 percent of the starting values in the flour. It is often assumed that long-term sourdough fermentation leads to a significantly greater reduction in fructan content than yeast fermentation, but this was not confirmed in a recent controlled comparative study.
Do ancient wheat varieties lead to fewer intestinal complaints than bread wheat?
Modern bread wheats have been selected to have good breadmaking quality, as well as high grain yields, and it is often assumed that this has resulted in higher contents of proteins, including the gluten proteins that determine quality and ATIs, than in ancient or older types of wheat, resulting in greater risk of provoking reactions. However, recent research shows that these assumptions are incorrect. The major impact of wheat breeding
Table 1: Fibre content of whole grain flour expressed in % dry weight: AXarabinoxylan.
Figure 4: Concentration of ATIs in bread wheat, spelt, durum, emmer and einkorn. With the exception of the content in einkorn, there is little difference between all other types of wheat. The lower content in einkorn should not be seen as ‘less risk of intestinal adverse reactions, because the immune stimulating potential of all 5 wheat varieties does not differ.
Source Geisslitz et al 2022. Source Geisslitz 2022 et al, https://doi. org/10.1007/s00394-022-02841-y
has been to increase yield and this results in lower contents of protein, and gluten proteins, in modern bread wheats when grown under the same conditions as emmer, spelt (fig 3).
These results debunk common suggestions that ‘ancient grains’ contain less gluten and less gliadin in favour of better intestinal tolerance. Recent research also confirmed that the contents of ATIs in bread wheat are not greater in bread wheats than in emmer, durum and spelt wheats although the contents are much lower in einkorn (fig 4). These assumptions have nevertheless led to marketing on the basis that ‘ancient grains are healthier’ and a corresponding increase in consumer demand.
Do the potential health benefits of wheat differ between countries?
In order to correctly compare the composition of different wheat varieties, it is very important to take environmental factors (where was the grain grown and harvested) into account. The composition of wheat grains is largely determined by the properties of the specific type of wheat (the genotype), the growing environment (climate, fertilisation, pesticides, etc.) and the interaction between these.
Source: Brouns F et al , https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/318218116_The_dietary_fibers-FODMAPs_controversy
A sample of wheat that grows in a hot dry climate, such as Sicily, will therefore differ composition from exactly the same type of wheat grown in a cool wet climate such as England. These differences may include effects on potential heathbenefitting components such as fibre and phenolics. Consequently, comparison of the compositions and healthy benefits of types of wheat must take the growth conditions into account and it is not a valid approach to compare samples grown in different environments. The same applies to spontaneous sourdough cultures, which are known to contain a broad spectrum of lactobacilli in the microbiota but can otherwise differ considerably in composition. For this reason, the composition of a sourdough bread baked in one country, such as France, cannot be compared with a sourdough bread from another, such as England. Related to the points discussed above work was carried out in the ‘Well on Wheat?’ project to determine whether the assumption that bread made from ancient grains processed by sourdough fermentation is healthier and leads to less gastrointestinal symptoms, than bread made from modern bread wheat and processed with yeast fermentation. We will discuss the results of these studies in the forthcoming articles.
Advances in Fattening Pig Performance
The Need for Adaptive Nutrition in a Dynamic Environment
by Laurent Roger, Global Marketing Manager Swine Health, dsm-firmenich, France
In recent years, there has been spectacular evolution in fattening pig performance levels with feed conversion ratio getting as low 2.2-2.3 and daily gain rising to close to 1000 g/day.
These developments have been made possible thanks to effective genetic selection programs targeting increasingly lean and muscular pigs, which in turn considerably modifies the nature of body tissue deposition shifting more towards an increase in muscle accretion and nitrogen retention.
New challenges
This shift towards higher protein deposition potential and average daily gain can trigger challenges in bone structure development. This new phenomenon arises due to muscle and bone deposition essentially competing for the allocation of the same nutrients. An example of the nutrients affected by this phenomenon is the competition for certain sulphur amino acids, phosphorus, and certain micronutrients such as vitamin D and certain trace elements.
In parallel with these changes, management practices have also shifted towards more sustainable production, and the curative use of certain antibiotics has given way to preventative health strategies involving more routine & extensive use of vaccines. Immune function is in turn
challenged more frequently and the immune competence of pigs can be compromised.
Furthermore, pigs are exposed to numerous environmental situations such as heat and cold stress which modify and modulate their nutritional and physiological requirements and
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 5, no. 1 (2014): 1-11.
Figure 1: Different challenges are changing nutrient partitioning by the pig and consequently impacting feed efficiency | Goodband, Bob, Mike Tokach, Steve Dritz, Joel DeRouchey, and Jason Woodworth. “Practical starter pig amino acid requirements in relation to immunity, gut health and growth performance.”
55 million m3 built
Projects in 150 countries Top Project worldwide Flexibility and adaptability
New pendular and rotative sensors
ATEX 20 certified, the zone with the highest risk
· SY-DP1 Pendular . Robust and simple. It does not require power and maintenance.
· SY-DR1 Rotative . Sensitive. It has 2 operating modes depending on the density of storage material.
alter the expression of their growth potential.
Pastorelli et al. (2012) quantified the metabolic disturbances linked to different challenges which can induce a reduction in voluntary feed intake, but also alter metabolic efficiency. These impacts are difficult to quantify and model as there can be a cumulative effect and/or any physiological function rarely responds linearly to an environmental disturbance (Figure 1).
Evolving for integrated and adaptive nutrition for fattening pigs
The traditional factorial approach to fattening swine nutrition is therefore no longer sufficient to optimize the health and performance of pigs. The notion of adaptive nutrition becomes necessary, faced with a fluctuating environment whose impact on performance, health and physiology is difficult to quantify and predict.
This new area of adaptive nutrition is all the more relevant as the environment of the pig, in other words the exposome, affects their phenotype by altering the expression of genes involved in metabolic and physiological pathways.
Exploring the exposome
The exposome is a concept used to describe the environmental exposure that a pig faces during its life, and how this exposure impacts performance, metabolic pathways, physiology and health.
Interestingly, Payling et al. (2023) was able to demonstrate
SETS THE STANDARD IN SQUARE SILOS
Bauck Mühle, Germany
“The biggest challenge during installation was working simultaneously with the concrete builder. This required good cooperation and planning. The installation went smoothly, with a great result. And so we contributed to one of the most modern bio-mills in Europe.”
Dennis
Haman, Project leader
Location: Application: Rosche, Germany Bio grainhandling and flour
www.tsc-silos.com
Scan for references!
Figure 2: The intra-uterine exposome affected the immune functionality of finisher pigs. A SAVVY™ plot showing activated (green) or purple (inhibited) pathways in the liver of IUGR finisher pigs compared to control finisher pigs.
via in depth evaluation of metabolic pathway changes in pigs exposed to nutritional restriction in utero and born with intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) presented with altered immune function in adulthood (Figure 2).
Immune function, development of bone structure and muscle deposition are therefore three major pillars which compete for the quantitative and qualitative allocation of nutrients, at the pre- and post-absorptive level.
Optimising nutrient supply at the pre-absorptive level
Through the characterization of the nutrient composition of raw materials, nutritionists can optimize nutritional intake of pigs at the pre-absorptive level, by maximizing the digestibility of the nutrients, in order to reduce as much as possible the non-digestible fraction of the raw materials.
The characterization of non-digestible fractions such as phytate and fiber, in real time with tools such as NIRS, allow rational, flexible and optimal use of digestive feed enzymes, such as phytase and carbohydrase from the Ronozyme® range.
Assess vitamin D for fattening swine health and nutrition
Immune function, muscle deposition and bone health are governed by different metabolites at the post-absorptive level. Muscle, immune and of course bone cells have been shown to have receptors for vitamin D. Vitamin D is involved in the modulation of immune function, regulates bone deposition and influences metabolic pathways linked to muscle accretion.
The effects of vitamin D on physiological functions depends on the circulating plasma concentrations achieved in fattening swine. However, vitamin D3 status of fatteners is rarely evaluated and therefore risks can go unseen.
Vitamin D3 status determination made easy
To quickly assess the circulating levels of vitamin D in pigs, dsm-firmenich offers Verax™ DBS Analytics, a quick and simple diagnostic tool whose benefit is to objectively assess vitamin D3 status of pigs on-farm and to implement rapid corrective nutritional measures that increases circulating vitamin D at optimal levels to support muscle deposition, immune function and bone retention.
Fattening swine are exposed to numerous challenges (exposome) that affect post-absorptive metabolism, nutrient partitioning and immune competency. This resulting adaptation in metabolism may affect protein balance (proteolysis vs proteosynthesis), amino-acids requirements (quantitatively and qualitatively), and micronutrient requirements such as vitamin D, which can compromise muscle deposition, bone mineralization and immune competency.
Macro and micro nutrition must be reviewed and adapted with the support of new robust and practical tools like Verax™ DBS Analytics that helps nutritionists, vets and farmers to identify the best approach and solutions to manage optimal muscle deposition, immune competency and bone health.
KSE Group specializes in dosing & weighing systems and smart automation software for the nutrition and solids industry.
Adding Further Health Bene ts to Flour –With Tailor-Made Micronutrient Premixes.
More than 2 billion people are a ected by vitamin and mineral de ciencies. Millers around the world are addressing this problem of hidden hunger by fortifying wheat and maize our, two of the world‘s most consumed staple foods, with essential vitamins and minerals. Supporters and partners in our forti cation: The Flourists, a team of experienced technologists who develop customized and highly stable vitamin-mineral premixes. They help the world’s millers to ensure a secure supply of essential micronutrients with consistent sensory and application-speci c our properties. The result: Flour of the highest quality that plays an essential role in supplying the world’s population with vital micronutrients.
A HIDDEN THREAT IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION
OXIDATIVE STRESS
by Jade Wouters & Kurt Van de Mierop, Nutrex, Belgium
Intensive production systems expose animals to a variety of stressors, including heat stress, weaning stress, pathogens, toxins and unbalanced diets. These stressors contribute to an important - and often underestimated - problem in the industry, being oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between antioxidants and harmful molecules known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). This condition damages cells and tissues, subsequently triggering inflammation reactions that require a lot of energy. Therefore, animals may face ‘energy loss’ when dealing with oxidative stress, energy which otherwise could have been used for growth and production. Reducing oxidative stress in animal production is therefore crucial for maintaining animal welfare and performance, as well as ensuring the quality of livestock products and profitability of livestock operations.
Oxidative stress, a hidden threat
During routine metabolic processes such as cellular respirationa vital process for generating energy - animals inevitably produce byproducts, called reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals. These molecules are derived from oxygen and are highly reactive, which means they can be destructive to other molecules. However, when present in low concentrations, ROS have beneficial functions as well, as they serve as mediators in cellular metabolism, trigger apoptosis, activate genes and participate in signaling pathways. In addition, ROS are an essential part of the innate immune system, preventing infections.
When present in high concentrations, ROS pose a significant threat to the animal. To combat these compounds, animals rely on a natural defense system consisting of antioxidants, which are the body’s defenders that intercept and neutralize harmful ROS molecules. In healthy animals, this defense system sustains a
balance between ROS and antioxidants (Figure 1). However, when ROS production exceeds the capacity of the antioxidant defense system, animals experience oxidative stress. The imbalance between ROS and antioxidants causes oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules, including lipids, proteins and DNA. Lipid oxidation in cell membranes affects cell integrity, protein oxidation leads to malfunctioning enzymes, and DNA oxidation leads to strand breaks and mutations. Ultimately, this oxidative damage impairs cell function, leading to cell death and structural tissue damage. This damage initiates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in an inflammation reaction and the production of even more ROS.
Triggers of oxidative stress
Today’s intensive production systems put enormous pressure on the natural antioxidant defense system. Unfortunately, this presents a multifactorial challenge, as various stress factors can induce ROS overproduction, causing imbalance with antioxidants (Figure 2). For instance, animals that are kept as high productive livestock are more susceptible to pathogens such as coccidiosis, influenza, and infections from E. coli or Salmonella. Environmental factors such as high temperatures and high stocking densities further challenge the balance, potentially resulting in heat stress. Moreover, increased feed intake can elevate metabolic rates, leading to an excessive generation of ROS molecules, which is especially pronounced in unbalanced diets or poor-quality diets, such as feed containing partially oxidized fats or oils. Lastly, animals in intensive production settings are more exposed to endo- and mycotoxins, which further aggravate oxidative stress.
Consequences of oxidative stress
Oxidative stress influences animal performance significantly. The induced inflammation, together with the repair of damaged tissues
Figure 1: The natural defense system contains antioxidants that neutralize harmful ROS molecules, maintaining the internal balance.
Figure 2: Stress factors in intensive production that cause overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in an imbalance with antioxidants and oxidative stress.
requires energy and redirects nutrients away from production processes, resulting in economic losses for the farmer. Oxidative damage in the tissues of essential organs such as the liver, kidneys and heart, can greatly affect their functionality and cause problems in their metabolic processes such as the detoxification process of the liver. In addition, the reproductive organs may also be damaged by oxidative stress, negatively affecting fertility.
Another major problem related to the overproduction of ROS is decreased meat quality. Oxidative damage to muscle tissue compromises the integrity of meat, which can lead to drip loss due to a reduced ability to retain moisture. In addition, oxidative stress also causes discoloration, making meat less appealing to consumers. In poultry, specific conditions such as wooden breast, spaghetti meat and white striping have also been associated with oxidative stress.
As a reaction to cell and tissue damage, oxidative stress triggers inflammation reactions in the body that require a lot of energy that would normally be used for growth and the immune system. This redirection of energy and the related immunosuppression makes animals more susceptible to pathogens, increasing the risk of infections such as necrotic enteritis. Furthermore, oxidative stress impairs gut health and digestion by damaging the intestinal barrier, further hindering their growth and productivity. Due to increased intestinal permeability, oxidative stress will also indirectly aggravate the problems associated with endo- and mycotoxins.
The potential of natural products
Phytogenic products - derived from plants - have already demonstrated their potential in the medicinal field. Recently, several studies have revealed their effectiveness in counteracting oxidative stress in production animals as well, and ascribe it to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, incorporating phytogenic products into animal feed has been shown to enhance digestion by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes and strengthening intestinal tissue morphology, thereby optimising nutrient absorption and utilization. Thanks to the combination of these properties, phytogenic products are found to improve growth and animal health and are considered a strategic component in antibiotic-free production.
PhytoStar Extra benefits
Recognizing the benefits of natural ingredients in reducing
oxidative stress, Nutrex developed its own phytogenic non-antibiotic growth promoter, called PhytoStar Extra. It is a blend of carefully selected bioactive compounds found in plants including thyme, oregano, dandelion and star anise. What makes PhytoStar so unique is that it works in three different ways to combat oxidative stress. First of all, it reduces the number of harmful ROS molecules by scavenging and neutralizing them in a direct way. Secondly, PhytoStar Extra stimulates the endogenous antioxidant pathway to produce extra antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase that convert ROS into harmless molecules. The final mode of action is alleviating the inflammatory response by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Importantly, PhytoStar Extra combines these three different ways, whereas conventional antioxidants such as vitamin E only work as free radical scavengers.
Conclusion
Oxidative stress poses a hidden threat in animal production because it can be triggered by multiple factors while often remaining undetected in animals for extended periods. This can lead to a decline in production efficiency before the problem is even recognized. However, thanks to the synergistic effects of the bioactive compounds in PhytoStar Extra, oxidative stress can be effectively mitigated. This allows animals to utilize their available energy more efficiently for growth and production, rather than redirecting it towards repairing tissue damage and combating inflammation caused by oxidative stress. By incorporating PhytoStar Extra into feed, farmers can enhance animal health and performance, ultimately maintaining production efficiency and ensuring the profitability and sustainability of livestock operations.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PHYTOSTAR EXTRA
• Reduces oxidative stress and alleviates inflammation
• Improves feed efficiency and stimulates growth
• Protects essential organs from oxidative damage
• Enhances pathogen and toxin resistance
• Promotes a healthy gut and digestion
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OXIDATIVE STRESS
• Reduced growth and production efficiency
• Loss of liver and kidney functionality
• Reduced fertility
• Meat quality issues such as drip loss and discoloration
• Immunosuppression
• Increased susceptibility to pathogens and toxins
• Impaired gut health and digestion
What’s in a name? THE TITANS OF TURKEY
by Roger Gilbert, Publisher, Milling and Grain
Milling and Grain reported this event in its June 2024 edition which can be viewed here! The report was compiled by our Turkish staff-member Mehmet Ugur Gurkaynak.
While he focused on who and what the Milling and Grain team saw over the three days and throughout the three halls, this follow-up photo compilation focuses on the heavy machinery our industry uses globally.
COMMERCIAL GRAIN BINS
Rollermills
01 Look how far we have come! - The Ceres II by Aybakar from the 1970s
02 Future rollermill by Milltech used in flour and cereal mills is used for grinding grain such as: wheat & corn to get flour.
03 The Gmach Treximat by Gence Degirmen - A pneumatic system is used for the automatic engagement/ disengagement of the milling rolls and for adjusting milling distance, using a graduated hand-operated Wheel. The fine-tuning Wheel can be reproduced using an electric system with a stepper motor or servo motor. With the specialized air channel system, provides uniform flow of grain between the rolls.
04 The Milleral from Viteral
05 By Millma Milling Machines. The company has been producing machinery and equipment needed in cleaning, milling, handling and packaging processes for 20 years.
06 Ceres II Roller Mill by Aybakar is the response of Aybakar to developing technology and increasing hygene standards.
07 By Aybakar. Established in 1932, Aybakar is one of the major machinery and equipment manufacturing company in the field of grain processing industry; deals with the realization of turnkey mill projects and modernisation of wheat flour, semolina and maize mills.
08 The Eagle from CIFT Kartal
09 By Ugur Promilling. Ugur Promilling started to produce in 1955 at the 600m² manufacturing area in Corum. They build turnkey plants with developing technology and our experiences around the world.
10 Fortis by Ortas - Featuring next-generation smart technology, FORTIS offers high efficiency and capacity performance. With its closed compact shape, zoned colour areas and dynamic lines, it not only looks very futuristic, but radiates a high degree oif quality.
The Optimus by Degirmen. With the PLCcontrolled supply unit, it offers easy calibration, hygienic working ambiance, and sensitive level control with Loadcells. 13 Pingle Group, established in 1991, is a supplier of Grain Machinery Engineering Equipment/Flour Mill Plant integrating R&D, design, production, installation, and commissioning.
Novitious by Selis - Smart designs such as Central Panel, Parallel Covers, Indented Front Body, Inlet Globe Ring etc brings out the difference of Novitious.
Foftimus and Novitious by Selis
The B2 with the Intelligent Alapros Link by Alapros
The Intelligent by GSP-Ascom
Azunmak by Emeginizin Karsiligi 20 ANA by ANA Milling
21 Thor by Tanis - Tanis Milling Technologies has developed a Wheat and Maize Roller mill for better milling efficacy and long life span, also the new mill reduces electricity conception to cutting edge bearings and pullys systems.
22 Similago II by Alapala. The Similago II is designed for high, continuous and consistent grinding of cereals such as wheat, maize (corn), rye, spelt, barley and sorghum. A uniform feed rate across the grinding rolls ensures a consistent grind.
23 The Smartmill Roller by MillTech
24 The Aquila by Unormak
25 Yenar machine showing the roll
Pellet presses
Unique
Turkey is a unique country that has recognised the importance of milling wheat and cereals into much needed flour, not just for its own population of 86 million but for countries within its region of influence.
Many of those countries are replacing flour imports with their own flour milling capacity, which this country has capitalised on given its unique location for the supply of manufacturing equipment.
Providing for both a national, regional and worldwide market in supplying individual components through to complete turnkey
projects, Turkey is a quintessential milling industry supplier.
Milling is its ‘bread and butter’ - to quote an English adage - and offers a remarkable number and range of components supporting the global industry.
Here, we publish the full range of roller mills, pellet presses, optical sorters and analytical and quality control services provided by the country’s milling industry – a true global titan in milling terms.
This is a most impressive line-up of Turkish manufactured equipment, and while some may well be provided by partner companies outside Turkey, the vast majority of the
and
equipment
Burhan Shin poses in front of the Platinum Series PT900 by Yenmak Özgür Oz (right) and Ismail Kurtoğlu specialists in promotion and spare part respectively at Yemtar
The impressive Storm pellet press with sales director Bagdar Oner of Starmax Tarim Makinaalari
The DP1000S with gearbox by Yemsa
With an impressive double conditioner with Ismail Erdogan from Metcelik
Marketing manager Under Seker proudly shows off Viteral’s pellet press offering and IDMA 2024
Doubling up on pellet presses from Oryem with export manager Gulay Dumanlidag Aktas and project manager Ahmet Faith Oral
EXTRUDER AND EXPANDER TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN TRUST
Which improves the quality of finished feed as well as a more efficient process. The Almex expanders have a reliably and sturdy design and are equipped by an unique Active Disk system (AD-system) in order to control exact product input and assure the quality of the product.
Why install an expander?
• Better feed conversion
• Hygenisation (salmonella)
• Eliminating anti-nutritional factors (ANF)
• Gelatinization
• Better pellet quality
• Higher output of pelletmill
The Expander AL300
the companies featured at this year’s event and included in our photo montage are exclusive to Turkey.
There’s no way of getting around it - Turkey is a colossus when it comes to milling machinery.
Some countries have the grain, some countries have the steel and some countries have the knowledge - but where would you look to bring them all together and in a country that amplifies the industry - none other than Turkey.
Our congratulations go to the revitalised IDMA 2024 Exposition organisers but more so to the companies that exhibited their range
and
of 20-plus impressive roller mills, seven pellet presses, six optical sorters, 12 analytical equipment companies and more from 171 exhibitors in total, all under one roof.
This is a must attend event in any miller’s calendar.
The next IDMA show, the 11th International Flour, Feed, Corn, Semolina, Rice, Bulghur Milling Machinery and Pulses, Pasta, Biscuit Technologies Exhibition takes place from May 07-09, 2026 at the same Istanbul Expo Centre in Halls 1, 2 and 3. In the meantime IDMA is offering a Russian version of its event at the Crocus Expo Centre in Moscow from April 10-12, 2025.
Erkaya Instruments were also present displaying a range of modern equipment
Brabender of Anton Paar was on the expo with its sophisticate offering of analytical equipment
Makswell Innovations had its full range of laboratory equipment displayed for national
international visitors
Here Biotronlab staff pause for a photograph - from left are Erhan Karamlh, and Lolkan Sariarslan, two colleagues and Ibrahim Ulas Altikulac and Ozgur Cevik
Father and son; Eden Yuccas (left) and Ercan Kadir Yucebas on their Yuccas Machinery stand at IDMS 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey
A complete range of equipment including test mills were available for examination on the Yuccas Machinery stand
Yuccas Machinery stand Davide Fracasso and Murat Aksoy were attending the Perten equipment stand at the event
At the Ekin stand - There was a comprehensive display of analytical equipment for visitors to consider at IDMA 2024 in Istanbul
Bastak Instruments’ general manager Zeki Demirtasoglu is happy to welcome visitor to his stand and its range of analytical equipment
Testing and running NIR online demonstrations was a key feature of the Buchi and Pars Analitic stand
Precision in grain drying transforms the industry INTELLIGENT DRYER CONTROL SYSTEM
Drying grain to the perfect moisture content is a delicate and essential task for farmers and grain processors. Achieving the best possible quality at the most economical price requires precision and consistency. Traditional manual methods, while common, pose significant risks, including failure to reach desired moisture levels and the costly mistake of overdrying. Fortunately, Tornum’s Intelligent Dryer Control (IDC) offers a sophisticated solution, ensuring optimal moisture content and enhancing efficiency throughout the drying process.
The Complexity of Grain Drying and a smart solution
Grain drying is not simply about removing moisture; it involves achieving the exact moisture level required for safe storage and optimal quality. Manual drying methods are prone to errors. Moisture content that’s too high can lead to spoilage, while too low a moisture level can mean unnecessary weight loss and increased energy costs. Overdrying by even a single percentage point can drastically impact the bottom line. For instance, drying to 13 percent moisture instead of 14 percent can add up to 20 percent to energy costs and reduce dryer capacity by up to 16 percent.
Tornum IDC revolutionizes the grain drying process with its software-based control system, which meticulously monitors and controls the outgoing moisture content in continuous dryers. The system comprises moisture sensors and a control unit, all accessible via a user-friendly interface on a PC or tablet. This setup allows operators to manage the drying process efficiently and remotely.
How Tornum IDC Works
Tornum IDC employs two
moisture sensors strategically placed within the dryer. One sensor is located in an upper drying section to measure incoming moisture, while the bottom drying sensor is placed in the last drying section. The control unit uses this data to adjust the speed of the dryer discharge, ensuring the grain reaches the precise desired moisture content, regardless of external conditions.
Benefits of Precise Moisture Control
1. Cost Reduction: By eliminating guesswork, Tornum IDC minimizes the risk of overdrying, thus saving significant energy costs. Overdrying, an expensive safety measure in manual processes, can now be effectively avoided.
2. Enhanced Dryer Capacity: Precise control over the drying process means the dryer operates more efficiently, maintaining higher throughput without compromising on quality.
3. Optimized Grain Quality: Consistently reaching the ideal moisture levels maximizes grain quality, weight, and market value, ensuring that farmers and processors get the best return on their investment.
4. User-Friendly Interface: The IDC system provides detailed statistics and real-time data on moisture content and drying times, enabling operators to make informed decisions. The advanced statistics function allows for in-depth analysis of the drying process, further enhancing control and efficiency.
5. Remote Accessibility: With the ability to monitor and control the drying process remotely, operators can manage their operations from anywhere, increasing flexibility and convenience.
The Financial Implications of Overdrying
Overdrying grain is not just a matter of reducing saleable weight; it has significant financial repercussions. For example, drying 1,000 tonnes of wheat from 20 to 14 percent moisture, based on wheat at 0.20euros/kg and energy at 0.22Euros/kwh, costs approximately EU€25,400, but reducing the moisture further to 13 percent would increase the cost by €6,000 due to additional energy consumption and weight loss. This unnecessary expenditure can be avoided with
SHIPLOADER SPECIALIST
NEUERO produces the most reliable and high-quality bulk ship loaders worldwide | neuero.de/en
precise control provided by Tornum IDC.
Tornum IDC is available in various kits to suit different drying requirements. These kits come with either two or four moisture sensors and two or four temperature sensors, ensuring a fit for any scale of operation. This flexibility makes the system accessible and beneficial to a wide range of users, from small farms to large industrial processors.
Tornum has an extensive portfolio of satisfied customers for their technology, one among them is Laurence Kirkby Farms. George Strawson, manages the farm, says “Drying grain is now a very easy process that no longer needs a member of staff permanently watching what’s going on. While I can’t see the conveyors remotely, if there is a breakdown or a problem, I do get an alarm notification immediately on my phone.
“I’m still learning, but there’s no doubt that the software works well. And if I want to over-ride the dryer, I can do it through my smartphone, tablet, or on a web browser from the farm office.”
Remote data includes the number of discharges per hour, chosen moisture content, drying air temperature, and a moisture tolerance – the latter is a reaction to fluctuations with incoming moisture content, and is a reference to the intelligent control. This lets the IDC counter any effect of over-drying grain caused by sudden moisture content fluctuations, and is achieved by automatically releasing grain with a slightly higher moisture content, to average out in-store variations.
The Future of Grain Drying
The future of grain drying lies in precision and automation.
Tornum IDC exemplifies this future by offering a solution that enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and improves grain quality. By leveraging intelligent software and real-time data, grain processors can achieve optimal results consistently.
In conclusion, Tornum’s Intelligent Dryer Control system represents a significant advancement in grain drying technology. It provides a comprehensive, user-friendly solution that addresses the complexities and challenges of achieving the perfect moisture content. With its ability to minimize costs, optimize quality, and offer total control, IDC is an invaluable tool for anyone involved in grain processing. Investing in such technology not only ensures the best possible product but also guarantees a more profitable and sustainable operation.
Insect factory Agroloop builds insect factory with Weda
The German feeding technology specialist
Weda Dammann & Westerkamp is supplying the Hungarian insect producer Agroloop with feeding technologies for its new black soldier fly larvae rearing facility.
The plant for the industrial production of the feed insect is currently being built near Budapest Airport and will go into operation in autumn 2024.
Agroloop Hungary is significantly increasing its existing larvae breeding capacities for the European market with the plant investment of more than EU€20 million. By the conclusion of this year, the agrotech company is expected to receive 120 tonnes of raw material per day, of which 6000 tonnes of feed fat will be produced annually – producing around 10,000 tonnes of end product in their 13,000 square metre plant. High-quality insect-based feed proteins are increasingly being used as a health-promoting source of protein for the petfood and livestock feed segment. In view of a rapidly growing world population, the global demand for animal proteins is expected to increase by around 100 percent by 2050. It is estimated that the insect feed market will reach a total annual turnover of EU€2 billion by the end of the decade, producing one million tonnes of insect meal per year.
Over 20,000 tonnes of substrates per year
Weda’s scope of delivery includes the complete feed kitchen, in which liquid and dry by-products from the food industry are processed into a viscous feed mash. Three mixing tanks are installed in parallel in the plant for this purpose. The mash is mixed and dosed according to fixed recipes. The larvae of the soldier fly develop into full-grown larvae in a short time on the food mash created in this way. “After the last contraction phase, Agroloop can convert more than 40,000 tonnes of substrates per year – with the system producing in a two-shift process,” reports Gerrit Niehues, the Weda Product Manager responsible. Sufficiently large storage containers for the feed ingredients are also part of the WEDA equipment, so that there is always sufficient buffer available. All this contributes significantly to the circular operation that Agroloop represents they use feed grade by-products with valuable nutritional continent to feed the larvae, which convert low-value biomass into high-quality feed protein and fat. This process has a much lower ecological footprint compared to other conventional animal feedstock
production, requiring 30 times less land and 40 times less water per equivalent weight, while producing 40 times less carbon emissions than the average livestock production.
CIP principle cleans automatically
Feed production is subject to strict hygiene and safety requirements. In order to guarantee consistently hygienic conditions in the pipework, mixing tanks and storage tanks, the Weda feeding system is equipped with a clean-in-place cleaning system. The CIP principle ensures that soiling and production-related deposits in the production system are cleaned automatically without having to switch it off or dismantle it. “With the cleaning concept, we prevent contamination and germ loads and guarantee that the quality of the feed is harmless to health,” says Gerrit Niehues, summarising the benefits.
Low energy consumption
To ensure reliable transport of the substrates, Weda relies on its proven conveyor technology from the agricultural sector. With the help of a special control system, the feed components can be combined from a variety of storage containers. “This enables Agroloop to produce the most cost-effective recipes depending on requirements and stock levels. The Weda tanks specially developed for mixing viscous materials are then used for the mixtures,” explains Yannik Weinreis from the WEDA sales segment ‘Insects’. According to Yannik Weinreis, these tanks have two decisive advantages: firstly, they give insect producers a particularly high degree of flexibility in terms of the feed components that can be used, and secondly, they enable the use of drier-thanaverage feed mixtures, which means that less water has to be evaporated than in conventional systems in the downstream insect fattening process and valuable energy can be saved.
Modular design
The feed kitchen is also characterised by its modular design, meaning that additional tanks can be easily integrated into the existing system. The modular system simplifies future expansions and thus offers great added value. With this technology and its functions, Weda responds to the special needs of insect producers and also makes an important contribution to the economic operation of industrial breeding systems.
More environmentally friendly animal feed production
“This significant investment promotes the expansion of the company’s production capacities and technological development. This will enable us to contribute even more intensively to the development of the domestic circular economy based on biomass,” says Rajmond Percze, CEO and co-founder of Agroloop, praising the technical design of the insect factory. According to Rajmond Percze, the breeding of the black soldier fly makes an important contribution to reducing the environmental impact of animal feed production. With the help of such innovative technologies and the circular economy approach, Agroloop is ready to become a leading player in Central Europe in sustainable feed production, helping to utilise agricultural by-products and create a more sustainable value chain. The company’s long-term goal is to drive positive changes in agricultural practices also beyond the region and to create a more efficient and environmentally friendly feed production system than ever before.
Grain Market Report
Eroding crop forecasts lift wheat price World Markets
An old adage, “there is never a year in which every crop succeeds or fails” refers to weather upsets that might favour, say, spring-sown corn while damaging winter wheat – or vice versa. However, the maxim might well be adapted this year to suit the current global picture for wheat crops. Amid some very mixed weather, some are doing better than expected while others suffer under stressful conditions.
In the latter camp, the main issue since our last review has been the drought affecting Russia and parts of Ukraine. Weeks with very little rain – and some very hard frosts too in parts of Russia – have seen the latter’s crop forecast slide continually from 91/94 million(m) tonnes to the mid-eighties and latterly (analysts Sovecon and Rusgrain Union) to as little as 80.7m and 79.5m tonnes respectively. Last year Russia produced 91.5m and the previous year 92m tonnes, enabling it to lead world exports, shipping out 48m tonnes in 2023/4 and an expected 54m tonnes in the just ended 2023/24 season.
The crop setback is likely to take a big slice out of Russia’s forecast 2024/25 exports, which the US Agriculture Department had recently expected to reach another near record 52m tonnes. That’s now down to 48m – a figure that could drop further as it now seems late for rain to reverse the ailing crop’s fortunes. Neighbouring Ukraine’s crop is also seen declining from last year’s 23m to just 21m tonnes or less compared with 33m before Russia invaded. Ukraine’s exports are expected to drop from over 18m to just 13m tonnes.
The Russian crop figure (if it doesn’t keep falling) is not small by historical comparison but it has come as a shock to the market which last month leapt to its highest prices in ten months on the bellwether Chicago and Paris wheat futures.
Some other bullish news fed into the mix at the same time. In Europe, constant and excessive rains in France and Germany have lowered estimates for wheat planted area and probably yields too so output may be down by 2m to 3m tonnes to around 130.5m (soft and durum wheat combined). Similar conditions have plagued UK farmers leading to forecasts that the crop here could decline by as much as 3m to 4m tonnes from last year’s 14m.
Then there is India, initially expected to raise its crop from 110.6m to 114m tonnes but thought by some local analysts to be closer to 105m, having been consistently over-rated in recent years. Backing that view, India’s strategic reserves are down to a 16-year low of 7.5m tonnes and the government is expected to lift an import tax to allow in as much as 3m to 5m tonnes to keep domestic markets under control.
But it isn’t all bad news on the global wheat crop front. Working down the list of significant supplying countries, Canada is expected to expand its crop from around 32m to at least 34m
by John Buckley
tonnes. Australia is forecasting 29m versus last year’s 26m tonnes. While USDA expects Argentina’s harvest to go up from 15.85m to 17.5m tonnes, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange thinks that could get as high as 21m tonnes – so more exports likely from that source. Kazakhstan is also expected to add 2.4m to its crop at 14.5m tonnes and Brazil 1.4m at 9.5m. Pakistan could also emerge as an influential exporter with almost 4m tonnes of surplus wheat ready to be shipped according to local sources. Even the USA, once the world’s largest single country wheat exporter but taking a back seat in recent years, is doing well with its wheat crop, which the USDA thinks will exceed 51m versus last year’s 49m and the previous year’s 45m tonnes – so more exports from this supplier too, if the market wants them. Finally China – the often overlooked largest wheat producer of all – is expected to produce a record crop of 140m tonnes, 3.4m more than last year. Along with forecast lower consumption (down 3m) that could reduce its import needs (last season it took 11.5m tonnes), making it the
world’s third largest customer).
So, what’s the bottom line? For world production, the Russian and other problems suggest the last global forecast from the USDA of 790m tonnes is still too high; probably it should be close to last year’s 788m. Consumption, meanwhile, is still seen declining by about 4m to 798m tonnes. Apart from China, there are no major movers on the consumption side, despite this year’s cheaper cost of wheat. However, the global stock carryover into 2025/26 is still likely to drop - USDA recently saw a drop of 7.3m to 252m tonnes. Stocks have been shrinking steadily in recent years and were closer to 300m just five years ago.
Should this be a bullish flag for the world wheat price? It’s interesting to note that since the Chicago market hit US$7.20 a bushel a few weeks ago, mainly on Russia’s problems, it has trundled back towards US$6.00. Paris milling wheat futures, after flirting with EU€270/tonne in May, have since come back to under €240. However, while distant futures positions for Paris are not much different from the spot price, the forward Chicago market has a much firmer profile going into 2025 when a smaller than expected 2024 crop is seen hoisting the market back to the US$7.20’s again.
Futures are only an indicator of what might happen and further out, their predictions become hostage to unpredictable weather patterns (not least the foibles of the fabled El Nina and La Nina climatic phenomena). However, along with the Russian/Ukrainian war, the current global balances do perhaps demand some caution from wheat sellers – so maybe no surprise that the speculators who were heavily ‘shorting’ the US grain markets have frequently trimmed these positions recently, even as prices retreated.
Good US crop to hold maize costs down?
Rain delayed planting had the US market on tenterhooks for a few weeks over the late spring but with conditions since drying and warming, the crop is now in the ground and appears to be benefiting from all the extra moisture. While farmers are thought to have sown almost five percent less than last year, yields are expected to increase, resulting in a current forecast for about 377.5m tonnes, about 12m less than last year but still a respectable volume compared with recent years. If the weather stays good, it could be bigger – a possibility already weighing on the bellwether Chicago futures market where nearby corn prices prices have recently dropped by about six percent. That’s despite some less welcome supply news from some of the other major maize producers. In recent weeks, most the attention has focused on Brazil where flooding has recently resulted in a series of cuts in crop estimates from local analysts. The USDA had recently been forecasting 127m tonnes versus last year’s 122m and the previous year’s 137m tonnes. Some observers, including the
Feeding the world is a daily commitment in which technical and practical knowledge must be precise, synchronized, and balanced. It’s a microbiome that requires the right nutrients, information, advise, and high performing solution that are simple for you and your animals.
At Jefo, it’s more than a gut feeling; it’s science, it’s partnership.
We know you . You aim for the You follow the
Commodities - July 2024
official body Conab (usually among the most conservative) have been punting a crop as low as 110/115m tonnes. At the same time the Brazilian government indicated it would restrict use of some tax credits for exports, a move that flagged dearer Brazilian prices and encouraged some shippers to pull back export offers. Brazil is a key driver of global maize value, in recent years emerging as a rival to the USA for the place of world’s top exporter (shipping 51/53m tonnes over the past two seasons versus the latter’s 43/54m). Argentina has also encountered some crop problems in recent weeks, not least disease that could halve yields in some areas and rob the country of an earlier forecast 51m tonne harvest. Worries about that becoming a longer-term problem, along with relatively better returns from soya crops – have some analysts talking of farmers reducing corn sowings for the next crop.
Argentina is the world’s third largest maize exporter, shipping up top 40m tonnes in recent good years.
The corn market is also keeping a watchful eye on European corn crops. In fourth biggest exporter Ukraine, crop estimates are down to 25.5/27.7m tonnes from last year’s 31m, thanks to lack of rain, lower planted area and ongoing logistical problems caused by the Russian invasion. Ukraine’s exports could drop from the current season’s expected 26m to 24.5m, some say as little as 20.5m tonnes compared with almost 29m five years back.
In the EU, analysts had been expecting a further recovery in the maize crop from the 52m tonne low of the 2022 drought year, possibly a 3m to 4m tonne advance on last year’s 61m tonnes. Much depends on the weather drying out and warming up in Western Europe in the next few weeks to get slow crops into shape. If the crop comes through, it could reduce EU imports by a significant 3m to 5m tonnes to around 18m. Among the other big importers, China expects to hoist its maize crop by some 3m tonnes but its consumption is thought to be still growing fast enough to outweigh that, keeping its place as top customer taking some 23m tonnes off the world market. Second largest importer Mexico’s crop, initially expected to edge higher for the current season, has meanwhile run into some weather issues that could push its imports up to rival China’s.
On balance, global maize output is expected by the USDA and the International Grains Council to reach about 1.22bn tonnes, a bit less than last season but still one of the better results of recent years. However, with consumption edging higher too, carryover stocks into the subsequent season could tighten. The distant futures markets appear to underline this less loose supply situation ahead, Chicago showing prices about four percent higher into late 2024 and almost ten percent dearer into mid-2025.
Brazilian floods underpin oilmeal price gains
Soya meal costs, after falling streadily for the past year, performed an abrupt about turn in May as floods hit the Brazilian soybean crop coming into mid-harvest. Earlier predictions of 163m tonnes (versus the last year’s 162m and the previous 130.5m tonne crop) have recently been slashed by most analysts closer to 152/153m. Quality of later wet-harvested beans could be affected too. Like its maize exports, Brazil’s soybeans could also be affected by planned tax changes, raising the export price. From April to May alone, export prices of soya meal from the three main sources, Brazil, Argentina and the USA jumped by between 15 percent and 17 percent per tonne, bolstering value across the oilmeal sector (which soya dominates with its approximate 70% share).
Argentine soya crop forecasts have also been trimmed recently but if they reach the expected 50m tonnes will remain close to last year’s relatively high level. Currently analysts are forecasting a higher Argentine crush that should allow it to increase soya
meal exports by about 3m tonnes to a four-year high of 27.3m, helping to offset the impact of a lower than expected Brazilian crop. So should the currently stellar start for the 2024 US soybean crop, timely sowing and adequate – but not too much - moisture on a 3.5% increase in sown area. It points to a possible rise in production to over 121m tonnes from last year’s somewhat disappointing 113.3m. If the crop stays on course, the US should not only crush a lot more beans but export significantly more beans and meal. The USDA is expecting its domestic price for meal to average about $330 per short ton (2,000 lbs) in the 2024/25 season ahead versus the past season’s $380 and almost $452 in 2022/23.
A quick glance at the other main oilmeal sources suggests rapeseed canola output could be down a little from last season’s, around 87m tonnes as gains in Canada, Australia and Russia are offset by probable smaller crops in Europe and Ukraine. Sunflower production could edge ahead of last year’s (just under 55m tonnes) if expected EU gains result from expanded planting on land given up by winter wheat – though the weather will have to behave much better from now on for this sunshine-dependent crop.
Overall, the uncertainty over the final size of the Brazilian soya crop keeps a question mark over earlier hopes of 3.5 percent increase (13m tonnes) in world total oilmeal production for 2024/25 season (starts October).
The Petfood and Aquafeed Extrusion Conference Taipei, Taiwan www.taiwanagriweek.com
The Petfood and Aquafeed Extrusion Conference will make its debut at the International Aquaculture and Fisheries Expo Taiwan 2024 on September 12th, 2024.
Expo visitors and attendees can join this conference to gain insights into the latest innovations and advancements in petfood and aqua feed extrusion technology.
The Petfood and Aquafeed Extrusion Conference is an invaluable event for professionals, researchers, business owners, and investors in the aquaculture or pet food industries. It is an opportunity to stay informed, connect with key players, and drive innovation in the field.
16-17
Dutch Pork and Poultry Expo Hardenburg, Netherlands www.porkpoultryexpo.nl 20-22 IAOM
- Union Special Industry Sewing Heads & Equipment, Bagging and Packaging System.
- 4B Electronic Components & Monitoring Systems Elevator & Conveyor Components and Electronic Safety Components & Elevator Buckets.
Nanjing International Expo Center (Jianye District)
INTERNATIONAL GRAINS COUNCIL 2024
60th IGC Council Session London, UK
Members of the International Grains Council (IGC) convened for the 60th IGC Council Session on June 10, 2024. The meeting was chaired by Ms Anita Katial, Agricultural Counsellor for the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Foreign Agricultural Service, US Embassy London.
World grains production was predicted to expand by a further one percent y/y, in 2024/25, to 2312 metric tonnes, as large wheat, barley and sorghum outturns potentially contrast with a reduced maize crop. With consumption seen edging up, end-season stocks were projected to tighten, to a decade low, including a reduction in major exporters. Traded volumes in 2024/25 (Jul/Jun) were predicted to contract by four percent y/y, to 416 metric tonnes.
Global soybean output was anticipated to reach a high of 414 metric tonnes in
2024/25, including heavy outruns in the US, Brazil and Argentina, while an uplift in demand for soya products was set to underpin record processing. Carryovers were seen as accumulating further, with much of the increase due to the three majors. Trade (Oct/Sep) was projected to resume an uptrend, expanding by two percent y/y, to a new high. With regard to other oilseeds, another sizeable world rapeseed/canola outturn was expected, with sunflower seed output potentially little-changed y/y.
World rice production was projected at an all-time peak in 2024/25 (+2%), with increases anticipated in leading exporters, notably in South Asia. Consumption was predicted to advance on population gains, while inventories could rise on accumulation in India. Trade was likely to edge higher in 2025 (Jan/Dec) on bigger shipments to Africa, more than compensating for a pullback in demand from Asian importers, including Indonesia.
Reflecting softer demand for lentils and broad beans, the Council saw global pulses trade in 2024 (Jan/Dec) falling by five percent y/y, to 21.2 metric tonnes.
Taking account of the current market situation, members reviewed and discussed the latest trade-related policy developments. A particular focus was placed on the temporary removal of tariffs applied to imports of paddy, brown and white rice in Brazil until the end of 2024, in efforts to mitigate the impact of recent heavy rains and flooding in southern Brazil. Furthermore, members were also appraised of recent changes to pulses import policy in India. Members reviewed the Programme of Work in 2023/24. Markets for grains, oilseeds, rice and pulses faced several challenges, particularly in relation to geopolitics and weather events. In addition, a paucity of data and information on policy for some countries underscored the need for the Secretariat to continue to add value to its monitoring and
Ted Swinkels, President of Coceral speaking in the session Trade finance and economic outlook
Yasuko Nishimura, Director of the Resource Security Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
Ahmet Bağci, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey
Vidya ShankarNarayan, Assistant Deputy Minister & CIO, Information Systems Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The FAIRR Initiative team. FAIRR was established to fill this gap to ensure investors are better equipped to understand the ESG risks and opportunities in the food sector, with a strong focus on the most interconnected issues associated with intensive animal production.
analytical activities, thereby ensuring members have access to the most up-to-date picture to support policy decisions. The IGC’s core publications comprise the Daily Monitor, the weekly Grain Market Indicators (GMI), the monthly Grain Market Report (GMR) and, more recently (February 2024), the IGC Grains and Oilseeds Maritime Shipping Dashboard.
To complement its regular market intelligence activities, the Council agreed new multi-year projects as part of the 2024/25 work programme including:
Mapping port connectivity and monitoring port congestion: This project will seek to augment and complement the IGC’s Grains and Oilseeds Maritime Shipments Dashboard;
Rice market transparency: The Secretariat will explore ways of potentially enhancing transparency in world markets;
Market volatility: Building on existing in-house calculations of historic volatility, work will be undertaken to develop broader, all-encompassing measures of day-to-day price swings in markets covered by the IGC. This is expected to be done in collaboration with external agencies and academic institutions;
Trade and food security: it is proposed that exploratory analysis will be undertaken to assess the importance of trade in achieving a resilient global food system in import dependent nations. The Secretariat will look at the viability of developing a suite of traderelated indicators.
The Council appointed Mr Hamed Oussama Salhi, First Secretary (Agriculture), Embassy of Algeria in London as Chairperson for 2024/25 and Erin Tomkinson, Counsellor, Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Australian Mission to the EU, Australian High Commission to the UK was appointed ViceChairperson for 2024/25.
The Council welcomed the participation of observers from
China, Georgia, Taipei (Chinese) Separate Customers Territory, as well as representatives from FAO-AMIS, Eurasian Economic Commission, OECD, MED-Amin, WTO, IGTC and the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture.
At the Council session members agreed to the IGC signing Memorandum of Understandings with the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC) and Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture to exchange information.
The 33rd IGC Grains Conference, titled ‘Reshaping the conversation on global trade and food security’, held in London on June 11-12, 2024, hosted the ‘Second high-level dialogue between producing and importing countries’ which discussed the role of global trade in the global food system and measures, policies and initiatives that could be implemented to enhance the role of trade in food security. Two major topics were addressed as opportunities for the global trade to respond to the global food system: The digitisation of the grains value chain as well as the productivity/sustainability nexus.
The IGC Grains Conference is an integral part of London Grains Week, a week-long series of events, centred around the vital role of international trade. It provides a unique opportunity for key operators across the entire grains value chain to discuss the latest trade challenges and opportunities.
THE WORLD‘S LEADING TRADE FAIR FOR ANIMAL FARMING
SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN ANIMAL NUTRITION insights Insights from Feed Ingredients Latin America 2025
Feed Ingredients Latin America 2025, a niche event dedicated to innovation in animal nutrition, brings together industry leaders and key players in feed technology, nutrition, and additives to explore sustainable practices. By focusing on eco-friendly solutions, the industry aims to enhance efficiency, profitability, and environmental stewardship. Let’s delve into the current key trends and ground-breaking advancements shaping the future of sustainable feed ingredients.
The four key trends in sustainable feed ingredients
1. Plant-based alternatives
The shift from traditional animal-based proteins to plantbased alternatives like soy and pea protein is revolutionizing the industry. These sustainable alternatives require less land, water, and energy, significantly reducing environmental impact while maintaining high nutritional value.
2. Waste to wealth
Transforming by-products from the food and beverage industry into high-quality feed ingredients is promoting a circular economy. This innovative approach not only reduces waste but also lowers the demand for new resources, making sustainability a practical reality.
3. Insect innovation
Insect protein is emerging as a game-changer in sustainable feed. Insects can be efficiently reared on organic waste, converting it into nutrient-rich protein with a minimal environmental footprint. This novel solution addresses both waste management and protein supply challenges.
4. Precision nutrition
Advances in precision nutrition are redefining efficiency in animal feed. By precisely matching the nutritional needs of animals with optimized feed formulations, farmers can minimize waste, enhance animal health, and boost economic sustainability.
The future of sustainable feed ingredients
As the demand for sustainable food production grows, the role of innovative feed ingredients becomes increasingly critical. Events like Feed Ingredients Latin America 2025, hosted as part of Victam LatAm 2025, are dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge solutions in animal nutrition and feed technology. These platforms play a vital role in setting new standards for eco-friendly and profitable agriculture in Latin America. By fostering continuous advancements and widespread adoption of sustainable practices, these events are shaping the future of agriculture across the region. This progress not only benefits the environment by reducing the industry’s carbon footprint but also enhances economic sustainability for farmers and stakeholders alike.
What to expect at Feed Ingredients Latin America 2025
Attendees can expect to explore a wide range of exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in feed ingredients, networking opportunities with industry experts, and insightful conferences addressing key challenges and opportunities in sustainable animal nutrition and feed technology. Feed Ingredients Latin America 2025 provides a unique platform to discover cuttingedge solutions that promote both environmental responsibility and economic growth in the region’s agricultural sector.
PAVILION
DAIRY PAVILION
Amino acids
Evonik Operations GmbH
+49 6181 59 12437
www.evonik.com/animal-nutrition
PROFILE: mymag.info/GJqQ
Bagging systems
Behn + Bates
+49 251 9796 252
www.behnbates.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/PaXw
BM Baker Magnetics
+90 312 4416801
www.bakermagnetics.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/PRBMBAKER
BM Baker Magnetics founded in 1964, is one of the world’s largest distributors of sewing machines. Since its founding, Baker Group has expanded from a limited line of sewing machines and spare parts to one of the most comprehensive lines of sewing machine parts, cutting machine parts and related supplies. We work closely with our factories to create and supply products to meet the demands of industry.
Using spare part as the core of our business, we draw upon our national and worldwide resources to manufacture, procure and contract the production of quality replacement parts and supplies for all types of equipment used in sewing maschines trades.
In 1973, Adriaan Smulders founded Kempen Service Elektrotechniek, originally a small company that focused on electrical installations in the agriculture branch. A few years later, KSE landed its first major customer in the Dutch feed industry: Coppens Diervoeding (nowadays De Heus), hereby setting its first steps toward becoming market leader in the Benelux for industrial automation in the animal nutrition industry. Our PROMAS Automation Software was first developed in 1988 and in 1997 ALFRA Doseer- en Weegsystemen (est. 1933) was acquired by and therefore becoming a brand of KSE. In the late 90’s Adriaan’s sons Erik and René joined the family business.
Over the years, KSE has specialized in dosing and weighing systems and smart automation software for the animal feed industry. We are clearly focused on continuous innovation, which is passed from generation to generation. The animal feed industry is our focus market. Personal contact, excellent service and a passion for the powder and granulate processing industry are key. This has helped us grow from a small company to an international business with activities worldwide. In 2023, KSE celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Van Aarsen International
+31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/JUgk
Conveyor Chains
CESCO
+49 7531 122860
https://cesco-group.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/VkQk
VAV Conveyor Components & Solutions
+31 7140 23701 www.vav-nl.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/aPKR
Coolers & driers
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11 www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
Consergra s.l +34 938 772207 www.consergra.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/GPtm
FrigorTec GmbH
+49 7520 91482-0
www.frigortec.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/fRiz
FAMSUN
+86 85828888 www.famsungroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/opGO
iGrain
+45 31633900
https://crop-protector.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/FxFP
Van Aarsen International
+31 475 579 444
www.aarsen.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/JUgk
Yemmak
+90 266 7338363
www.yemmak.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/QBbm
Yemtar Feed Mill Machines +90 266 733 8550
www.yemtar.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/aPXh
Dosing
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11
www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
Friedrich Electronic
+49 6406 923350
www.friedrich-electronic.de
PROFILE: mymag.info/gbBd
KSE
+31 497 383818
www.ksegroup.com
PROFILE: https://mymag.info/fhSV
PLP
+39 05 23 89 16 29
www.plp-systems.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/PGWg
Tietjen Verfahrenstechnik GmbH
+49 4106 6333 0
www.tietjen-original.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/uyGD
Van Aarsen International
+31 475 579 444
www.aarsen.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/JUgk
Elevator buckets
4B Braime
+44 113 246 1800
www.go4b.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/HiwC
CESCO +49 7531 122860
https://cesco-group.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/VkQk
Tapco Inc
+1 314 739 9191
www.tapcoinc.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/ogOz
VAV Conveyor Components & Solutions
+31 7140 23701
www.vav-nl.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/aPKR
Yemtar Feed Mill Machines
+90 266 733 8550
www.yemtar.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/aPXh
Elevator & conveyor components
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11
www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
CESCO +49 7531 122860
https://cesco-group.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/VkQk
Henry Simon +44 161 804 2800
www.henrysimonmilling.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/tYpO
Tapco Inc +1 314 739 9191
www.tapcoinc.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/ogOz
Yemtar Feed Mill Machines +90 266 733 8550
www.yemtar.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/aPXh
Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com
Founded in 1949, we are a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of high-quality machines, process lines, and complete solutions for feed production, worldwide. By innovating in not only technology but also in our overall communication and your experience with Van Aarsen, we aim to find the perfect fit solution for any project, challenge, or request you may have related to feed production machinery. We strive to do this by communicating with – and advising you throughout your entire journey with us as your manufacturer. But most importantly, we strive to be your long-term partner in optimizing your feed production.
At Van Aarsen International, we believe in co-creating the perfect fit for your feed milling needs. With a legacy of innovation, we collaborate closely with you to understand your unique challenges and goals. Our team combines expertise with your insights to tailor solutions that seamlessly align with your operations. From custom machinery design to efficient processes, we’re dedicated to shaping the future of feed production together. With a proven track record and satisfied customers, experience the power of co-creation with Van Aarsen International. Elevate your feed milling efficiency, quality, and sustainability – let’s co-create your success story today.
Since 1964, Selis has been one of the most dynamic and innovative companies in the industry of manufacturing machines and equipment for the flour and semolina industry. As well as manufacturing equipment, the undertake turnkey plants in every capacity as well as modernisation of the existing plants. High quality equipment is manufactured under the assurance of ISO 9001/2000 quality system, experienced technical and management staff and the equipment pool which is endowed with the latest technology CNC machines.
In terms of equipment sold or plants realised, customer satisfaction is always paramount, by acting as a solution partner for their customers. High quality after sales service is given with experienced technical personnel.
Yemtar Feed Mill Machines
+90 266 733 8550
www.yemtar.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/aPXh
Roll fluting
Golden Grain Group
+86 371 68631308
www.g-grain.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/eCyP
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11
www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
Fundiciones Balaguer, S.A. +34 965564075
www.balaguer-rolls.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/osew
Yenar +90 332 2391073
www.yenar.com.tr
PROFILE: mymag.info/MwJo
Reclaim system
Vibrafloor +33 3 85 44 06 78 www.vibrafloor.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/cgrU
Scalling
Sifters
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11 www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
Alapros +39 049 099 0 383 www.alapros.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/vOLu
Brock +1 866 658 4191 www.brockgrain.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/GGYu
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11 www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
Dinnissen BV +31 77 467 3555 www.dinnissen.nl
PROFILE: mymag.info/pUDK
Filip GmbH +49 5241 29330 www.filip-gmbh.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/eKdq
Gazel +90 364 2549630 www.gazelmakina.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/XPuP
Henry Simon +44 161 804 2800 www.henrysimonmilling.com
Golden Grain Group +86 371 68631308 www.g-grain.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/eCyP
AGI www.aggrowth.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/PRagi
Altinbiliek +90 222 236 13 99 www.abms.com.tr
PROFILE: mymag.info/Kcbx
Behlen
+1 402 564 3111 www.behlengrainsystems.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/hncS
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11 www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
CESCO +49 7531 122860 https://cesco-group.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/VkQk
A/S Cimbria +45 9617 9000 www.cimbria.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/XYRL
CSI +90 322 394 54 60 www.cukurovasilo.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/IdLT
The Essmueller +1 800 325 7175 www.essmueller.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/MdZl
iGrain
+45 31633900 https://crop-protector.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/FxFP
MySilo +90 382 266 22 45 www.mysilo.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/Hmwu
Obial +90 382 2662120 www.obial.com.tr
PROFILE: mymag.info/qYti
Silo Construction & Engineering +32 51723128 www.sce.be
PROFILE: mymag.info/UOay
Symaga +34 91 726 43 04 www.symaga.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/vxbf
Top Silo Constructions (TSC) +31 543 473 979 www.tsc-silos.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/HTSY
Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/JUgk
Temperature monitoring
Bühler AG +41 71 955 11 11 www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
iGrain
+45 31633900 https://crop-protector.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/FxFP
Inteqnion
+31 543 49 44 66 www.inteqnion.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/ZyIm
Training
vibronet-Gräf GmbH & Co.KG
+49 6441 62031
www.vibronet.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/icHn
Bühler AG
+41 71 955 11 11
www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
IAOM
+1 913 338 3377
www.iaom.info
PROFILE: mymag.info/pZZa
IFF
+495307 92220
www.iff-braunschweig.de
PROFILE: mymag.info/XbmE
Kansas State University +1 785 532 6161
www.grains.k-state.edu
PROFILE: mymag.info/xsza
OMS
+441242 267700
www.onlinemillingschool.com
PROFILE: https://millingandgrain. com/oDQm
Ocrim
+39 0372 4011
www.ocrim.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/ckSh
UK Flour Millers
+44 2074 932521
www.ukflourmillers.org
PROFILE: mymag.info/xWwB
Vibrators
Vibrafloor
+33 3 85 44 06 78
www.vibrafloor.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/cgrU
Weighing equipment
Bühler AG
+41 71 955 11 11
www.buhlergroup.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/dZxH
Friedrich Electronic
+49 6406 923350
www.friedrich-electronic.de
PROFILE: mymag.info/gbBd
KSE
+31 497 383818
www.ksegroup.com
PROFILE: https://mymag.info/fhSV
PLP
+39 05 23 89 16 29
www.plp-systems.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/PGWg
Van Aarsen International
+31 475 579 444
www.aarsen.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/JUgk
Vibrafloor
+33 3 85 44 06 78
www.vibrafloor.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/cgrU
vibronet-Gräf GmbH & Co.KG
+49 6441 62031
www.vibronet.com
PROFILE: mymag.info/icHn
Yeast products
Leiber GmbH
+49 5461 93030
www.leibergmbh.de
PROFILE: mymag.info/wpdz
Industry Profile
AGI EMEA
Over 30 years of experience in grain storage
With over 30 years of experience in grain storage and handling, AGI EMEA is one of Europe’s largest and most respected manufactures of all types of corrugated steel silos for commercial and agricultural applications. Their complete catalog includes, catwalks, ladders, platforms, as well bucket elevators, chain conveyors, temperature sensing, sweeps, weighing, bagging and dryers. From the first design, to manufacturing and installation, customers trust AGI EMEA to partner with on their projects around the world.
With three modern and highly efficient, state of the art facilities in Italy, AGI EMEA is home to some of the most recognised brands, AGI FRAME, AGI PTM, AGI Tramco, and AGI Hi Roller. AGI EMEA’s experience and skilled team of in-house engineers make for the right partner, from the first design, to manufacturing and the final installation. AGI delivers custom systems and solutions across a range of applications and industries, from small farms to industry grain traders, millers, feed mills and large port facilities. AGI EMEA has installations in over 34 countries with various climate conditions from Africa to Ukraine.
AGI EMEA’s standard engineering services include configuration drawings of every piece of equipment in both cad and pdf to demonstrate the arrangement of a single machine together with a clear comprehensive list of all main dimensions, connection interfaces and features. They provide all necessary documentation of drawings and manuals for assembly, operation and maintenance, all coded and labelled to smoothly guide your assembly through the installation process. Additional engineering services are available to suit the costumers project needs. These include process flow diagrams, complete with all equipment, sensors, power and compressed air requirements, layouts and general arrangement drawings of the plant. Architectural civil works and reservation drawings are also included to guide the design and calculation of the local civil engineering team.
AGI FRAME
FRAME is one of Europe’s leading designers and manufacturers of agricultural steel silos including round and rectangular hoppers, sweep and discharge augers, mechanical handling equipment ranging from chain and flight conveyors to bucket elevators, cleaning, drying and other equipment associated with both commercial and cereal storage systems.
AGI TRAMCO
Founded in 1967, TRAMCO manufactures premier bulk material handling equipment primarily for the grain and oilseed processing industry. For over 50 years, TRAMCO has held a reputation for designing and producing reliable heavy-duty equipment that can withstand severe processing applications at competitive industry prices in both the United States and the United Kingdom. TRAMCO has developed a complete line of products including the Model RB, Model G, Bulk-Flo, Bucket Elevator, and Tramroll has recently expanded their focus into the biomass sector.
TRAMCO conveyors meet the criteria for delivering product for various industries such as chemical, coal, food and grain, mining, plastic, pulp, rubber and paper, or solid waste and recycling.
AGI Hi Roller
Hi Roller,® manufactures a line of premier commercial enclosed, dusttight and self-reloading conveyors, designed for installation in grain handling facilities, soy and corn processing operations and industrial operations.
They specialize exclusively in the design and application of conveyors which will not only contain dust and spilled materials but will also automatically reload that material back on the carrying surface of the belt.
In the late 1970’s, the need for a conveyor which would eliminate the emission of explosive grain dust and greatly reduce housekeeping and maintenance costs was recognized. Also, the dust reduction would decrease the need for costly dust collection systems and costs associated with the operation and upkeep of these systems. As a result, Hi Roller® was founded in 1982.
AGI PTM
Based in Italy, PTM Technology is a leader in design and manufacturing of grain handling equipment, including chain or belt conveyors, bucket elevators and filters for intake pits. Its engineered designs can be customized to specific projects and PTM’s highly qualified engineers have the ability to incorporate its systems into existing project layouts.
PTM strives for excellence in its products, services and project solutions. Our success in the global market is due to a commitment to quality, efficiency, and competence in the face of customer globalization and competition, which act as an incentive to continuous improvements in our operations.
Bulk storage | Silos
Feeding the world requires a global network of infrastructure and technology to store, blend, mix, convey, condition, process, and protect hundreds of millions of tons of agriculture inputs and crops flowing around the world daily. AGI products, equipment, and technology facilitates this global movement, from growing crops and moving them to market, to processing crops into feed for animals and food for people. mymag.info/PRagi
CHARITIES DIRECTORY
Milling and Grain is hosting a directory of milling industry charities and charitable organisations working in the milling sector under its UK Milling 4 Life CIO Charity. The aim of the directory is to build greater awareness of the work these charities do and how you might be able to donate funds to their specific projects and activities. Milling 4 life is not affiliated with these charities, but lists those working in the milling sector here along with their contact details for information and direct donations. Milling and Grain will feature each charity in turn in this section of the magazine in order to provide
Flour to the People by Scotland the bread
Scotland The Bread is a collaborative project to establish a Scottish flour and bread
Our idea is simple: grow nutritious wheat and bake it properly close to home. Donations to support our work are urgently needed and very welcome. Thank you for
Our goal is to help relieve malnutrition and poverty through the development and uptake of food and feed milling technology and processes; by encouraging agricultural improvements in the first instance followed by encouraging the adoption of the proper handling and storage of raw material and the uptake of milling processes to provide safe and affordable food products for both people and livestock (including fish) in
The George Family Foundation was established in 2020 as a registered charity independent of the Whitworths Holdings Group. It is run by three trustees, two of which are members of the George family and one who is independent. Currently the Foundation plans to donate a minimum of £100,000 per year to individuals and organisations whose purposes align with the values of the George Family.
The Green's Windmill Trust UK REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1163116 www.greensmill.org.uk
Green’s Windmill Trust started over 13 years ago as a small group of people who wished to help preserve the milling heritage of the windmill, promote George Green’s reputation as one of the greatest scientists of his age and further the educational and public activities of the Science Centre.
In 2012 we became a registered charity and began taking over day-to-day operations at the Mill and Science Centre from Nottingham City Council.
The Mills Archive is a permanent repository for the documentary and photographic records of traditional and contemporary mills and milling, as well as similar structures dependent on traditional power sources. It makes that material freely available for public inspection and use in research and learning.
The Mills Archive is one of the world’s great mill collections. It has rescued over the million documents and images that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill site. It is an Aladdin’s cave filled with memories and free to users. The collections show the rich and diverse crafts, buildings, machinery, equipment and people involved with mills in the UK and around the world.
The FlourWorld Museum in Wittenburg is an invitation to millers and friends of flour and bread from all over the world to rediscover this vital basic food with all their senses. The FlourWorld Museum in Wittenburg is also a tribute to the millers of the world and a gesture of thanks for our close partnership with the international Milling Family, whose inspiration and active support enabled us to transform an eccentric idea into a museum that is unique in the world.
THE JORDAN TRUST UK https://jordansmill.com
The Jordan Trust, run in association with Jordans Mill is registered as a charity, limited by guarantee and is based on the River Ivel at Holme Mills, Biggleswade.
The objectives of the Trust are to protect and preserve the character of the River Ivel site where flour milling was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Central to Holme Mills is the unique water driven Mill building which was last rebuilt following a fire in 1899. Visitors to the mill are able to gain an understanding from staff and volunteers about the process involved to produce a variety of flour products from wheat varieties grown in the Ivel Valley over the last 1000 years. In its day, this mill was a technologically advanced example of a milling system based on steel rolls rather than the millstones which had been powered for centuries by the power created by a six foot drop in water level on the Ivel river.
If you would like to list you charity under this directory, please email us at editorial@ perendale.co.uk
… because that’s what we do, too. On every single FILIP cleaner, we monitor every detail throughout the entire manufacturing process. We know that our proven quality will guarantee effective sieve cleaning within your plansifters. And that, in turn, will ensure a high yield from your passages. Efficient. Quality. Cleaning.
Tornsten Wywiol is the driving force behind the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, a global powerhouse in the food ingredients industry. Celebrating over a century of innovation with Mühlenchemie, Tornsten Wywiol continues to propel the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe forward, maintaining its reputation for excellence and driving its dynamic growth on the global stage.
You have a rich career in the industry. What initially lead you to this field?
In 1988, my father wanted to make his young company SternEnzym, which specialised in enzyme compounds, independent of contract manufacturers and was looking for suitable mixing facilities. He came across Mühlenchemie, which had the necessary capacities, bought the company in 1990, and integrated it into the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe. The success and growth of both companies are directly linked. The young SternEnzym significantly benefited from the enzyme know-how and the application possibilities offered by the older Mühlenchemie. Since then, the SternWywiol Group, with its companies for food ingredients, has developed from a start-up to a global player in the world of ingredients.
Reflecting on 100 years of Mühlenchemie, what do you consider the most significant milestone in the company’s history? How has Mühlenchemie’s mission and vision evolved over the past century?
There are many reasons for corporate success. For MC, I see two that are deeply rooted in the company’s DNA: One is the entrepreneurial spirit. It’s about creativity, decisiveness, and pioneering spirit. All of this we brought with us as a research company from the beginning. The integration into the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe was a milestone for this. It was the prerequisite for our success today. The connection with the other units of the group has given new impulses to the spirit of research and the joy of innovation. Our family business promoted people and teams, brought new know-how into the company. We received the resources for the expansion of research and development and for international growth. Another success factor is the broad application knowhow and the consistent customer orientation. None of our answers to the challenges of milling arise without our customers. Every solution is developed in partnership, and even afterwards, we are on-site and remain in close exchange.
On the product side, the takeover of MC in 1990 made flour treatment globally available for the first time. The first gamechanger in the industry was the introduction of Alphamalt BX in 1995 as a replacement for the then-common but subsequently banned bromate. And then it continued with many innovations because MC, with its pioneering spirit, has always oriented itself forward to develop new applicationtechnically tasteful, health-valuable, and economically sensible solutions for our customers.
Mühlenchemie prides itself on having hundreds of experts. With over 2000 customer-specific products, how does Mühlenchemie manage to cater to such a diverse range of needs in the flour industry?
Instead of a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s about very specific, individual strategies and products – always with the goal of improving the value creation of the mills. Those who want to solve the problems of customers in partnership must be onsite, advise, develop, source, and also produce. For this, we build the corresponding capacities under the most varied
framework conditions of the individual locations. On the other hand, this also offers great opportunities and added value for our customers, because through global presence – we are on-site in two locations in Africa, as well as in Latin America and Asia – we have a deep understanding of the most varied local requirements and trends and can share this accordingly in other regions.
How does the company adapt its products and services to meet the unique needs of different regions and markets around the world?
Our self-conception is based on the roots of Mühlenchemie, which have made the company what it is today and how it will act in the future: as a global market leader, driver of innovation, and link in the milling industry, as well as a flour treatment expert who is always on-site with the customer and shaping things.
The triad of local market and product expertise and our modern application technology is the basis for our market leadership. ‘Understanding Flour’ means always keeping an eye on the world’s markets. We will continue our path of being present worldwide with local experts, facing local challenges with curiosity and enthusiasm, and consistently applying this knowledge for our customers.
The core of this is our comprehensively established application technology and an enzyme laboratory in the Stern-Technology Center ‘Futuremaker’ in Ahrensburg. Together with the experts from SternEnzym and partners and customers from all over the world, newly developed active complexes are researched and analysed there, as well as the processing and baking properties of the flours treated with them. We have multiplied this concept of the Stern-Technology Center in central regions. In this way, we respond to regional needs on-site, are directly at the markets, customers, and trends, and translate insights into new and optimised concepts. We thus respond more quickly to local conditions and also take over raw material procurement, management, and supply chain issues for our customers.
What are some key trends or innovations in the flour industry that the company is excited about? What strategic goals does Mühlenchemie have for the next decade in regard to them?
Millers have always had to produce high-quality flours and earn money with them. What is new is the speed at which markets and framework conditions are changing. The most important trend in flour processing is to meet this dynamic. This involves topics such as digitalisation and data analysis. As a service provider, we need to be aware of developments in raw materials, product quality and consumer behaviour, ideally before the millers do, and offer them appropriate solutions. MC offers comprehensive services ranging from wheat and flour analyses and rheology to customised solutions and their technical application testing. And we do this worldwide. That is why, in addition to product innovations, we are making great efforts to ensure that millers can react more quickly to changing requirements. In our pilot mill in Ahrensburg, we
analyse grain samples while the raw material itself is still on its way to the mill. The miller receives information about the composition and processing properties of the flour before the grain arrives at the mill. He then already knows how to optimise the wheat mix. Another example is our MC Connect Glasses. These allow our customers to participate in tests in our laboratories in real time, regardless of their location, as if they were on site. Decisions can be made together with everyone involved. In this way, we offer efficient, immediate and location-independent technical support.
How is Mühlenchemie addressing the growing demand for sustainable and affordable flour production?
Fluctuating availabilities and sharply rising raw material costs are making food security increasingly uncertain for many people. To ensure that the staple food flour remains available in good quality and at a price that everyone can afford in the future, we must achieve more independence from wheat and the world markets. Alternatives to wheat flours are one way.
Our answer here is Composite Flour. Hybrid flours made from wheat and local field crops such as cassava, maize, sorghum, or soy reduce dependence on volatile world markets. With the Compozym Toolbox, the use of wheat can be reduced by up to 20 percent without loss of quality by substituting alternative raw materials. By using regionally grown grains or other harvest goods, raw material fluctuations can be efficiently managed and supply chains shortened. Relying on local suppliers not only helps to supplement wheat imports but also opens up the possibility of marketing innovative and more sustainable products made from Composite Flour.
PEOPLE THE INDUSTRY FACES
Kari O’Neill Potts appointed Scoular’s next Chief Legal Officer
Scoular announced today that Kari O’Neill Potts has been appointed as Scoular ’s next Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary. She also will join Scoular’s Senior Leadership Team. O’Neill Potts, who previously served as Scoular’s Senior Associate General Counsel – International Commercial Transactions, brings 15-plus years of diverse legal experience and expertise in global commercial markets, the agriculture industry, and manufacturing and sales to the role. O’Neill Potts has led in various in-house legal and operations leadership roles, starting her career at an Omaha-based corporate law firm.
In her new role, O’Neill Potts will lead Scoular’s legal team and serve as principal advisor on legal, risk, compliance, governance and other matters to Scoular ’s Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors.
“Kari is not only a knowledgeable and trusted legal and business advisor but also an exceptional all-around leader who will help Scoular to achieve its strategy for growth,” said Scoular CEO Paul Maass.
O’Neill Potts’ promotion is effective July 13. She fills the role previously held by Megan Belcher, who is leaving Scoular for a Chief Legal Officer role at another company.
Novus hire Dr Jose Sorbara as Feed Enzymes Portfolio Global Leader
José Otávio B Sorbara, PhD, was named the intelligent nutrition company’s Feed Enzymes Global Leader following the company’s acquisition of BioResource International Inc (BRI), earlier this year.
In this new role, Sorbara owns developing the strategy and managing the innovation pipeline for Novus’s enzyme products while supporting the commercial team as it works to grow the feed enzyme business around the world.
“Enzymes are more important than ever for the animal agriculture industry,” Sorbara says. “They play a crucial role in optimising feed formulations, making them more cost-effective for feed millers and farmers. By enhancing the digestibility of nutrients in the feed, our enzymes improve the overall nutritional value of the diet for animals. This not only boosts animal performance but also reduces waste. and environmental impact by minimising nutrient excretion.”
He says coupling BRI’s products and expertise in fermentation with Novus’s own CIBENZA Enzyme Feed Additive not only provides more options to customers it also allows the company to innovate solutions for tomorrow’s nutrition and performance challenges.
Laura Munoz, Senior Director of Global Strategic Marketing & Business Development says Sorbara’s expertise with enzymes as well as in managing and fostering collaboration of global and regional teams will be an asset to grow the company’s market share in the enzyme sector.
Protix appoints Piotr Postepski as new CCO
Protix, a leading company in insect-based ingredients for feed and food, has appointed Piotr Postepski as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) as of August 2024. Piotr Postepski will further drive the company’s ambitious international expansion path.
Piotr Postepski brings almost two decades of international experience at global companies to the Protix team. His career spans various leadership roles in the pharmaceutical sector, across different geographies where he has consistently driven growth and innovation. Piotr is a seasoned professional with an impressive track record in developing new business. Before joining Protix, Piotr was instrumental in the development and scaling of a global innovative animal health business. Trained as a veterinarian, he holds a master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Agricultural University of Lublin, Poland. He has further honed his management, leadership and financial skills at Warsaw School of Economics and London Business School.
As CCO of Protix, Piotr will help drive international expansion and, taking a measured approach to growth, will steer Protix towards profitable expansion in the next stage of our journey. He will be responsible for the overall commercial strategy, leading the sales team, marketing and business development activities as well as product development. Piotr will work with Protix teams to accelerate growth based on collaboration, innovation, a customer centric culture and a clear sense of purpose.
There is a strong momentum for insect ingredients. Amid global pressures on raw material availability and the urgent need for sustainable production, Protix’s local sourcing and inhouse circular production, enhance feed and food chains. Protix has transitioned to the leading commercial scale insect solutions company with international expansion. They are now in a unique position to take a big leap forward and say they look forward to the contribution of Piotr to the next milestones on their journey to bring the food system back into balance with nature.
Downtime happens.
We train daily to minimize it.
Let’s talk. Together we can discuss the possibilities around downtime reduction
For more information on our downtime saving portfolio Please scan the QR code
