Video: Muddy Waters - what's the matter with the mill?

Hello Millers,

Over the following weeks, as part of a new Friday feature, The Global Miller would like to take you on a musical journey that will provide a soundtrack to the wonderful world of milling.

Today's video offers a slice of blues Americana in the form of Muddy Waters. 

Enjoy!

Consergra

Consergra, S.L.,  established in 1969,  is the construction of special refrigeration and air conditioning units, mainly used for the preservation of grains, oilseeds and perishable granulated products. Other refrigerating and air conditioning units for different purposes are also produced according to customer needs. Click on the image to visit the Consergra website.

Event: IGC: Assessing prospects, addressing challenges

World grain and oilseed prices have retreated from their highs, but supplies remain tight following last year’s poor harvests in key exporting countries. While South American crops look set to break new records this season, drought conditions in the US remain a concern, and a recovery in demand will keep supplies under pressure.

With renewed price volatility,  biofuel mandates have come under intense scrutiny, and the potential for policy-driven restrictions to  trade, particularly should harvests disappoint again, are an enduring market concern.   

The IGC Grains Conference brings together key decision makers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in the grain and oilseed markets together with the policy challenges they present. 

The grain industry's premier event - combining trade with policy will take place June, 11, 2013 in London.

More information...

Westeel acquires European grain handling systems manufacturer

Westeel has announced that it has gained important new capabilities to serve its global agricultural customers through the strategic acquisition of PTM Technology of Este, Italy. A proven private company founded in 1994, PTM Technology engineers, designs and manufactures a broad range of automated grain handling systems including chain, bucket and belt conveyors, grain sampling and dust collection equipment.

PTM’s highly engineered, value-added products complement Westeel’s market-leading family of grain storage systems and enable Westeel to deliver a more comprehensive offering to its global customer base in over 30 countries. PTM has 30 skilled employees, including extensive engineering capability, and operates a 41,000 square foot flexible manufacturing facility with a high degree of plant automation, and integrated information and proprietary on-line quoting systems. Its current configuration provides a meaningful opportunity for volume expansion without significant capital investment.

“Combining our grain storage systems with PTM’s grain handling systems provides our customers in North America and globally with an unparalleled post-harvest solution,” said André Granger, president of Westeel.

 “We have worked closely in the past with PTM on turn-key international projects and we know from those experiences that their technology, manufacturing quality and customer support are second to none in the industry. We are particularly pleased to welcome Antonio Marchetti and Gigliola Zizioli and the entire PTM team to Westeel.”

With its sales and engineering capability in Madrid, newly opened office in Mumbai, and now PTM, Westeel continues to build critical mass in key overseas markets, and position itself as one of a handful of companies that will benefit from the secular trend for continued investment in post-harvest infrastructure on a global basis.

“We share Westeel’s core philosophy when it comes to delivering ever increasing customer value through product innovation and responsive manufacturing,” said Mr. Marchetti, PTM Technology’s general manager. “Now as one of just a handful of integrated agricultural infrastructure companies worldwide, we have a wonderful opportunity to grow by equipping our joint sales and engineering teams with a more powerful value proposition for our markets.”

Cereal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

17/05/2013: Syrian grain imports pick up despite war; marijuana fed pigs; new feed mill planned for Lhokseumawe

Syria has managed to increase its grain imports in recent months after a period when it was less active on international markets, traders say, a development that suggests president Bashar al-Assad has found a way to feed his people despite war.

Traders say Syria appeared to have had difficulty securing international supplies of grain last year, but the trouble has abated this year as middle men have been able to set up deals, reports Reuters.

Foodstuffs are not covered by international sanctions, but banking sanctions and war had created a climate that had made it difficult for some trading houses to do business with Damascus.

Now, with foreign brokers setting up deals, Damascus is able to buy wheat while paying a small premium of about 3 percent to 5 percent of the global price.

Read more...

William von Schneidau’s BB Ranch butcher shop, located in Seattle’s pike place market, is selling meat from marijuana-fed pigs. 

Von Schneidau has teamed with nearby Bucking Boar Farms for the pigs, who are given marijuana as part of their regular diet. The stems and leaves from marijuana plants add fiber to the pigs’ diets. 

Not all mammals can process THC, but most have cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids are the other chemicals in marijuana, often linked to the medicinal properties, which help with pain and discomfort. Pigs have these receptors, and the four that ate this enhanced feed gained more weight and likely felt way more mellow than their non-marijuana feeding friends.

Read more...

Pemko Lhokseumawe will build a poultry feed mill in 2014 with an investment of more than Rp7 billion (USD$720,000).

The feed mill will be built in the village of Jeulikat, located near Lhokseumawe, in the north of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Read more...

Location of city of Lhokseumawe in Aceh Province, Indonesia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bastak

Bastak provides clients in the following subjects at the top level - flour additives, flour and feed quality control devices, laboratory chemical, glass and consumable material. Click on the image to visit the Bastak website.

Integrated food supply chain to get integrated support

With ever-closer integration of farming and food manufacturing, world renowned science-based organisations Campden BRI and CABI have developed a strategic alliance to provide technical support from ‘seed to shelf’. The alliance will benefit small, medium and larger companies as well as initiatives from government and NGOs aimed at supporting food production.

The food supply chain faces enormous challenges in meeting the needs of a growing and more affluent population – all within the constraints imposed by sustainable production of safe and wholesome food. Science, technology, knowledge and their practical application will be absolutely crucial in meeting these challenges.

The alliance between CABI and Campden BRI will combine the power of over 600 experts in key areas such as sustainable agronomy, post-harvest technology, food processing and preservation, packaging, and hygiene and safety assurance. It will also draw on their extensive and long-established skills in information, publishing, knowledge management and training to ensure that the latest research and innovation is identified and practically applied.

Prof. Steven Walker, director general of Campden BRI commented, “The days when agriculture and food processing are seen as separate activities are fast disappearing. If we are to meet the challenges of tomorrow, we need to take an integrated approach to the supply chain. Combining our facilities, skills and expertise in processing technology, preservation, packaging and safety assurance with CABI’s in areas such as agronomy, biodiversity, and food security, makes us ideal partners to support the integrated food supply chain.”

Dr Trevor Nicholls, chief executive officer of CABI, added, “CABI’s involvement with industrial and governmental organisations, focussing on improving the incomes of smallholders in developed and emerging markets, allied to Campden BRI’s close linkages to the food industry - from small producers through to global corporates - means that together we have unrivalled coverage of the complete supply chain and the ability to deliver the knowledge, experience and partnerships that will provide practical solutions to challenging problems”.
 

The collaboration will be rolled out from late 2013 through specific initiatives and support packages. 

English: Oilseed Rape near East Martin Oilseed rape is the third important crop in the UK after wheat and barley. It can be either winter and spring sown. Winter sown oilseed rape is primarily grown for its oil, which is used in cooking and food processing. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)