23/01/14: China committed to grain independence; KSU's grain training workshop; new feed enzyme factory opens

Following a growth in domestic grain output, China has vowed to become more self-sufficient in its production of cereal foods, including wheat and rice, a senior agricultural official said yesterday.

Currently, more than 97 percent of the country's grain supplies come from domestic crops, said Chen Xiwen, deputy director of the central agricultural work leading team, a top decision-making body for agriculture-related work.

Full news available here.

Kansas State University, USA has announced its combustible grain dust prevention workshop.

Set to take place on 28 February in Omaha, USA - in a follow up to the 2014 Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) - the three-hour advanced training will focus on housekeeping practices, proper grain unloading and grain handling, and controls, with a demonstration of sensors and other engineering controls.

Full schedule available here.

Ian Walker, minister for the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Australia officially opened a new agri-technology export factory and laboratory in Acacia Ridge, a suburd of Brisbane, last week.

The AUD$4.5 million state-of-the-art facility belongs to feed enzyme manufacturer Bioproton and it is hoped this venture will transform Queensland's biotechnology industry. 

Visit Bioproton's website here.

Wheat in a field (Photo credit: Wikipedia)