The Global Miller: August 2015

August 28, 2015

28/08/2015: India’s pulses sector: trends, challenges and opportunities

India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses in the world. This is due to India’s

enormously diverse culinary traditions that use many pulses and minor millets, say Raghavan Sampathkumar who comments on agribusiness from a political, socio-economic and cultural perspective on the country’s food value chain. Raghavan will be contributing to our ‘Commodities” section in MAG from time-to-time.

According to Mr Sampathkumar “India imports nearly three-to-four million tones of pulses annually,” adding that this fact is motivation “for India’s pulse and oilseed production to become self-reliant; with some aiming for this to happen by 2022.” Based on current average yields, India would need nearly seven-to-eight additional hectares of land to meet the gap in demand without imports. In order for India’s pulses sector to become self-reliant Sampathkumar believes that many obstacles have to be considered.

The first of these obstacles is the Indian agricultural and price policies. In India, food generall only means two crops; rice and wheat. Politics are always winning over economics; which is evident from entrenched policies such as the MSP (Minimum Support Prices) and procurement systems that seem to favour these two crops.

Issues around domestic farming: There are no reliable marketing opportunities for farmers to sell

Raghavan Samathakumar.

their crops, so why grow something that you cannot sell? Archaic laws such as APMC (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee) regulations prevent farmers from into direct supply contracts with a processor or retailer. The safest crops to grow would be rice or wheat, which have minimum support prices that are increased annually and have established procurement systems.

Limited crucial statistics data within the sector: There is a lack of reliable data on production, acreage, and/or consumption. Estimates tend to vary vastly from source-to-source; not only for pulses but also for crops too. It is obvious what will happen when policies are made without reliable data on these parameters.

Sampathkumar believes that “if India is to achieve a self-reliant pulse and oilseed sector, it will require a holistic understanding of current of the food value chain and the agrarian situation in the country” Sampathkumar also believes that India is long poerdue “a review of current ag-food policies and increased investment in research and infrastructure for storage, food processing and marketing.”

August 27, 2015

GLOBALG.A.P. Launches Sustainability Module for Feed Mills

The Responsible Operations Standard (ROS), A New Add-on for GLOBALG.A.P.'s Compound Feed Manufacturing Standard, Puts Feed Mills at the Forefront of Sustainability.

GLOBALG.A.P. is proud to announce the publishing of a new voluntary GLOBALG.A.P. Add-on. The Responsible Operations Standard (ROS) Add-on for Compound Feed Manufacturing V1 aims to improve the sustainability practices of feed mills wishing to produce sustainable compound feed for aquaculture and livestock. This is achieved by:
    •    Reducing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
    •    Reducing water use
    •    Strategies to avoid waste and effluents
    •    Responsible sourcing of agricultural and marine feed materials from sustainable production
    •    Product declarations on feed efficiency, environmental impacts, and genetically modified    organisms (GMO) content
    •    Mass balances for specific claims on sustainability attributes of feed materials
    •    Promoting social engagement with the local community

The module was developed based on industry demands and with the strong commitment and support of the Norwegian aquaculture compound feed industry. It consists of seven sections with a total of 57 Control Points and Compliance Criteria.
It is available as a third party certification. Feed mills with a current GLOBALG.A.P. Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM) Certificate or any GLOBALG.A.P. equivalent certificate for compound feed may apply for the assessment.

GLOBALG.A.P. is a leading global certification program whose mission is to bring farmers and retailers together to produce and market safe food to protect scarce resources and build a sustainable future. Visit www.globalgap.org for more information.

Read more HERE.

27/08/2015: IAOM Mill Maintenance II Course

October 19-21, 2015

Wichita, KS  USA

REGISTER NOW!

The popular Mill Maintenance II course will once again be offered as one of IAOM’s valuable educational programs this fall. The course will be held October 20-22 in Wichita, KS. One day of the course will be spent at Cowley College in Arkansas City, KS. The agenda will include preventative maintenance, bearings, belts and chains, power transmissions, electric motors, safety, sifters, and electrical troubleshooting.

Your company has made a significant investment in the equipment in your mill. To keep it running at peak efficiency through the years it needs to be maintained and serviced properly. An effective maintenance program requires qualified, motivated and well-trained personnel. The IAOM Mill Maintenance courses provide an opportunity for your maintenance staff to gain the training, contacts and confidence they need to keep your mill operating at maximum capacity. Make an investment in your company’s future by attending IAOM’s Mill Maintenance courses.
REGISTRATION:
(includes tuition, materials, lunches)
                              IAOM Members - $900
                              Non-Members - $975
    •    To register for the course online with a credit card, click here: IAOM Online Store. You will need to log in (or create a New Visitor Registration) with your e-mail address and password. If you have forgotten your password, please click on "Forgot Your Password" and follow the prompts. Or you can call and provide your payment information at that time.
    •
    •    To register with a check or wire transfer payment, please fill out and submit the on-line form at http://www.iaom.info/online-course-enrollment-form/
LODGING:        Hyatt Regency Wichita
                           400 W. Waterman
                           Wichita, KS 67202
                           Phone: (361) 392-1234
A block of rooms has been reserved for IAOM at $129/night (+tax) for single rooms (including breakfast). Reservations should be made by September 28, 2015. To book your sleeping room, please click on this link: https://aws.passkey.com/g/50323895

Read more HERE.

27/08/2015: IFEEDER Funds Three-year University Research Project

The Institute for Feed Education and Research, the American Feed Industry Association's 501(c)(3), announces its selection of a recipient for its first research grant chosen through a competitive process to help further education and research within the animal food industry. IFEEDER sought requests for proposals (RFPs) earlier this year from those dedicated to education and research within the animal food industry, primarily land grant universities.

Mark Hanigan, Ph.D., the David R. & Margret Lincicome professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, submitted a proposed project on an industry-specific project, "Assessing Intestinal Absorption of Amino Acids from Various Feedstuffs." As a grant recipient, Hanigan will receive up to $75,000 in three installments during the next three years. His submission was one of 12, which came from 11 different universities.

The RFP that IFEEDER's Research Committee laid out contained specific parameters, requirements and submission points for each proposal. The committee designated four research themes that IFEEDER is focusing on:
    •    Legislative and Regulatory Issues
    •    Feed Safety/Food Safety
    •    Animal Nutrition and Health
    •    Sustainability - environmental, economic, social

Hanigan's research project was chosen because of the potential improvements it will have on the American feed industry such as the impact on nutrition of the animal, health of the animal and aid in the sustainability of our industry from both an environmental and social aspect.

Mark Hanigan Ph.D

"Industry representatives, university scientists and feed industry consultants are the backbone of progress for the feed industry," said Chad Risley, Ph.D. (CEO of Berg+Schmidt America), who chairs IFEEDER's Research Committee. "Our commitment to research, education and sustainability for the robust future of animal feed and the needs of a growing world population, compels us to collaborate closely with allied groups for ideas and answers."

In addition to its newest research project, IFEEDER plans to continue its search for grant candidates in the future and will monitor its previous commitments--thus far $631,000 has been donated by the nonprofit foundation to research and education projects since its inception in 2009.

Read more HERE.

August 26, 2015

26/08/2015: More Soyatech news

http://oilseedandgrain.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4952c76442c10cb798d21bfc5&id=98a8684031&e=11e1e9f3a1

Image: NASA/GSFC/MODIS

Black Sea region has potential to meet rising global grain demand – Macquarie
If the Black Sea region can restore socio-political peace, it will likely find itself ideally situated to profit from meeting the rising global demand for grain, according to Macquarie.

Cibus and Rotam announce agreement to develop non-transgenic rapeseed for China
Cibus and Rotam have announced an agreement to develop non-GMO herbicide resistant rapeseed in China to meet the country’s growing demand for high quality rapeseed oil.

BioMar and Tongwei form fish feed joint venture
BioMar has formed a joint venture with one of the largest fish feed companies in the world to produce fish feed for the rapidly growing fish farming sector in China.

Ardent Mills to acquire flour mill from Mondeléz Canada
Ardent Mills announced it has acquired a flour mill in Mississauga, Ontario from Mondeléz Canada for an undisclosed amount.

We have heard:

The US outbreak of avian influenza this past spring cost the economy of the state of Iowa US$1.2 billion, killing 30 million hens and 1.5 million turkeys in the state, according to a report commissioned by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF)
G3 Canada officially opened a multi-million dollar grain terminal at Colonsay on August 20. The terminal is expected to have a handling capacity of over 400,000 tons per year, according to general manager, Ross Affleck
In April Cargill began using drones in Indonesia to monitor forested land to prevent further deforestation as a result of palm oil industry activities, according to the company’s 2015 corporate responsibility report issued August 19
Interstate 35 in Waco, Texas was closed for hours on August 20 after an 18-wheeler was involved in a crash with two other trucks and two cars, spilling 51,000 pounds of soybeans, according to NBC affiliate KCEN

Don't forget about these! Click each banner to learn more and book your place:

Food Protein hosts 1st plant operations and process engineering short course - October 18-21, 2015

Looking for answers to your organic and non-GMO supply chain challenges?

The Organic & Non-GMO Forum has answers
September 30, 2015 in Minneapolis, MN

26/08/2015: GEAPS President Appoints Third Vice President, Board Director

The Grain Elevator and Processing Society announced two appointments to the International Board of Directors today.

David McKerchar, CGOM, Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd., Canadian Prairies Chapter, was appointed to the office of third vice president, responsible for representing Canadian members’ interests on the Board. Jeff Jones, MKC, Great Plains, was appointed as a Board director. Both appointments were made by International President Matt Kerrigan, Bunge North America, Gateway.

For the first time in GEAPS history, the office of third vice president will transition from father to son. McKerchar takes over the position from his father, Jim McKerchar, who held the office from 2011-2015.

“David McKerchar did some great work with the GEAPS/K-State Distance Education Program, and that’s one of the main reasons why we are appointing him,” explained Kerrigan. “He is a younger member in the organization. We are really excited for the perspective he will bring to the Board, coming from something of an outsider’s point of view. He should provide some new insight for an experienced industry.”

Jones was appointed to fill a director position that was vacated after the 2015 elections. He has been a GEAPS member since 2013, and currently serves as his chapter’s treasurer.

“Jones was highly recommended by Board director Barb Grove,” Kerrigan said. “Grove noticed his enthusiastic involvement in their chapter and learned that he wanted to get more involved with GEAPS. Jones is relatively new to the industry, and his position at MKC adds to the Board’s broad range of experience, with members from many different-sized companies.”

For Jones, the position is an opportunity to build relationships with others across the industry. He looks forward to educating members and promoting GEAPS’ relevance within the industry.

“Industry safety is number one in my thought process,” Jones said. “It’s followed by promoting industry relevance and education. I look forward to promoting GEAPS’ position as The Knowledge Resource in the local community, and helping shape education and training options that help our members work more safely and efficiently.”

McKerchar and Jones will both hold the positions until GEAPS’ annual meeting in July 2016.

About GEAPS
The Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) is a professional association that supports its members and the industry by serving as The Knowledge Resource for the world of grain handling industry operations. GEAPS addresses the industry’s critical operations and processing needs by providing the finest networking, education and professional development programs. GEAPS global network of industry professionals includes more than 2,800 individual members from about 1,150 companies.

Read more HERE.

26/08/2015: Tragic news from Buhler Ltd in the UK

Mr Robert Egli

It is with deep regret that we report the sudden death of Robert Egli, Managing Director of Buhler Ltd in London.

Robert tragically died in a hiking accident in the Alps last weekend; our thoughts and prayers are with Robert’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.  

Mr Robert Egli was Managing Director of Buhler Ltd, the UK sales and service part of the Buhler organisation for over five years. His original area of expertise was technical; within Milling and Process Engineering and his experience spans 36 years within Buhler.

Robert made a personal pledge to drive the development of the wood pelleting industry within the UK and Ireland and did so for the last year with much enthusiasm and knowledge.

26/08/2015: Synthetic Biology Propels the $25 Billion Flavors and Fragrances Industry

Nascent technology is key to the industry’s shift from high costs toward a more affordable and sustainable path to meet consumers’ demand, says Lux Research.

The multi-billion dollar flavours and fragrances (F&F) industry is increasingly tapping biotechnology and synthetic biology to reinvent itself from an unsustainable high-cost, high-risk path, according to Lux Research.

Over the past decade, biotechnology tools – such as fermentation and enzymatic transformation – have begun offering a sustainable and natural path, besides the promise of lower cost, in the search for superior F&F production methods – though technical challenges remain.

“The largest hurdle to adopting these promising new ways of producing F&F compounds is scaling up production,” said Meraldo Antonio, Lux Research Associate and lead author of the report titled, “Eau d’coli: Application of Biotechnology in Flavors and Fragrances.”

“However, the early success of companies such as Amyris and Evolva suggests these challenges are not insurmountable,” he added.

Lux Research analysts took an overview of the F&F industry, besides conducting a comparative analysis of production methods. Among their findings:

    •    Top 10 hold dominant market share. According to industry studies, the top 10 players in the industry account for 80% of the $25 billion flavors and fragrances market. The consolidation of market share has created a highly competitive dynamic for leaders seeking novel ways to meet consumer desires.

    •    Changing consumer preferences drive the market. Driven by health concerns and a growing distrust of the food industry, consumers overwhelmingly favor natural products and are willing to pay a premium for clean label products and “free-from" foods. Additionally, there is a growing demand for diversification of products, creating opportunities for the development of new F&F compounds.

    •    Amyris leads pack of startups. Over the past few years, several developers of alternative F&F production technologies have entered the space. Among them, farnesene developer Amyris leads the pack with strong performance in both business execution and technology. It also has numerous partners in Top 10 F&F houses such as Firmenich, IFF, and Takasago.

The report, titled “Eau d’coli: Application of Biotechnology in Flavors and Fragrances,” is part of the Lux Research Food and Nutrition Intelligence and the Lux Research Bio-based Materials and Chemicals Intelligence services.

About Lux Research

Lux Research provides strategic advice and ongoing intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our clients.

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Read more HERE.

August 25, 2015

25/08/2015: India: Challenges facing the milling industry

First published in Milling and Grain, May 2015

Today, India is facing many challenges in terms of the growth and advancement of the milling industry. As the industry grows, trade shows are becoming one venue where these challenges can be addressed and discussed. GrainTech India has become India’s largest event, and in this report the organisers discuss how the event can help the industry.

Indian agriculture is now going through critical times. On the one hand, relying on the strength of Green Revolution strategy and having emerged as an exporter of grains and food products, the government is keen to enact a food security law to ensure availability of food grains to every individual in the country. On the other hand, the weaknesses in the implementation of the strategy are showing up in a glaring manner. One such instance is the huge losses of procured food grains for want of proper storage facilities.

© Samrat35 | Dreamstime.com - Agriculture In India Photo

The need for an effective supply chain
The need of the hour is to increase productivity of grains and build an effective supply chain to ensure what is produced in the farm reaches the consumer in good shape. In fact, what is imperative is to plug every loophole in the food production and distribution system, which means use of effective available technology and building of modern storages is required.

As per trade sources, India wastes food grains worth over 58,000 rupees every year because of weaknesses in storage system and techniques and deficiencies in supply chain. This colossal loss of grains is unfit for human consumption. It is unfortunate in a country where a sizeable section of the population goes to bed hungry.

Looking towards new and better technology
India has over 5000 Rice mills, 1000 Flour milling plants, 200 Soybean plants, 2000 Spices crushing plant, 1500 Pulses mills, 2000 Oilseeds crushing units, 1000 Feed Units, 100 Bio-fuel and energy projects, 1000 Coffee plants etc., looking for new and better technology to upgrade their manufacturing, processing, packaging line. “GrainTech India 2015” will seek to reduce the technology gap in processing as well as in the supply chain.

Domestic and export targets
To feed increasing domestic demand and also to achieve the export targets of food products, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Food Processing Industry and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce are investing a substantial share of the budget for promoting technological up-gradation and value addition in all segments of Rice, Wheat, Pulses, Oilseeds, Spices, Dairy and Feed and all other food sectors. The event will join hands with the government to support its efforts.

http://issuu.com/gfmt/docs/mag1505_w1/56

© Paulprescott | Dreamstime.com - Food Preparation Photo

The last edition of GrainTech India 2014 had the participation from over 28 countries around the world such as Turkey, Poland, France, Italy, UK, China, USA, Holland, Spain, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, Israel, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, Thailand, Russia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Oman, Iran, India, Brazil and UAE etc., displaying their comprehensive range of products and technologies in the grain industry. This year we are expecting more countries to come to India for technological interactions with their counter parts and tap the huge potential of Indian market.

The 7th India Foodex 2015, an international exhibition on food products, processing and packaging machinery and allied Industries and India food park expo 2015 introduced for the first time focusing on numerous food products, technologies, minimising food wastage, value addition and cold chain will be the concurrent Show.

GrainTech India: India’s largest grain milling industry event
Major technology suppliers from Turkey, USA, China, Germany, Italy, and India reserve their pavilions

The 6th edition of GrainTech India 2015, widely acknowledged as India’s largest International exhibition on grains, cereals, spices, oil seeds, feeds, products and technologies is to be held from 21st to 23rd August 2015 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bangalore, India.

GrainTech India has strong support from prominent Indian agri and food organisations, adding the strength and value to the event. Among the numerous organisations supporting the exhibition are The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, All India Food Processors’ Association, Coffee Board, Roller Flour Millers’ Federation of India, Spices Board India, The Soyabean Processors’ Association of India, All India Rice Exporters’ Association, Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council, CLFMA of India and Indian Biscuits Manufacturers’ Association.

Read the magazine HERE.

Essmeuller company profile

The Essmueller Company’s roots go back to Saint Louis, Missouri in 1878. One of its co-founders, Fred Essmueller, immigrated from Germany in 1865, thirteen years prior to his first partnership. During this period, he gained fame as a millwright with IQ Halteman & Company. His specialties included ground-up building and renovation of flour mills along the Mississippi River.

Fred Essmueller had native talent and a strong will to succeed. Between 1878 and 1899, he formed and dissolved several partnerships. His last partner retired in 1899, and with the help of his son, Will (WC), he renamed the firm Essmueller Mill Furnishings Company.

It retained this name until 1941 when it was incorporated as The Essmueller Company. The company performed machining and fabrication 'job shop' work and one-of-a-kind equipment for mills in grain belt states. Diverse on-site work locations were centered in Saint Louis and Kansas City, Missouri.

Visit the website HERE.

25/08/2015: IBM presents data-driven agricultural insights at Women in Agribusiness Summit

Thanks to the coupling of real-time data collection with accurate position information, farmers can now manage intricate production details, such as where each seed is placed, to optimise their yields.

How will Big Data innovations such as this usher in a new era in American agriculture? IBM Research Scientist Dr Robin Lougee paints a picture of the possibilities that advanced technology may have in reshaping the ag supply chain at this year’s Women in Agribusiness Summit, September 28-30 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.

Dr Lougee, who is the global research lead for Consumer Goods and Agriculture at IBM, will outline the possibilities across the agriculture value chain based on IBM’s cutting-edge research. Her presentation on building stronger, tighter supply chains will address:

Sequencing the Food Supply Chain: using pioneering scientific and analytic techniques to profile communities of microorganisms anywhere along the farm-to-table process to improve food safety
Transparent Supply Chain: leveraging predictive and cognitive technologies to manage integrated global operations by exception
Data-driven Innovations: advancing the art-of-the-possible in precision irrigation, hyper-local weather forecasts, material sciences, drones and geospatial-temporal analytics for agribusiness

Joining Dr Lougee as presenters during the Track 2 Industry Strategy discussions on the second day of the two-and-a-half day Summit, are:

Beth Robertson-Martin – senior manager of natural and organic sourcing for General Mills – on Organic & Non-GMO Markets: Growing Demand, Growing Challenges
Janine M Bruder – senior human resources consultant for Nationwide – on Human Resources: Overcoming Unconscious Bias
Elizabeth Miller – risk management consultant at INTL FCStone – on Risk Management: Navigating a More Volatile Landscape

In addition to plenary sessions, this fourth annual event also includes skill development workshops, and an executive track that addresses the best way to utilise executive coaching and networking, how and why to create a personal board of directors, and how to shape an organisational culture of innovation and success.

More than 450 attendees are expected at this year’s Women in Agribusiness Summit, hosted by HighQuest Group, an industry event tailored to professional women in the ag sector with the mission of developing leaders, increasing industry knowledge and inspiring action. Visit www.womeninag.com for details, and join the conversation @Womeninagri, on Facebook and LinkedIn.

25/08/2015: Latest online auctions

http://industrial-auctions.com/online-auction-fish-and-meat/129/en

Online auction fish and meat processing machinery in Urk (NL)
Closing tomorrow 26th of August from 14:00h (CET)

Viewing day
25th of August
From 10:00 till 15:00 hrs
Address:
Hoornse Hop 6
8321 WX Urk (NL)

http://industrial-auctions.com/online-auction-machinery-and/127/en

1st of September: Online auction machinery and inventory former meat processing factory in Gelsenkirchen (DE)

Viewing days
26th of August (9 - 16h)
27th of August (9 - 13h)
Address:
Moorkampstrasse 12
45883 Gelsenkirchen (DE)

http://industrial-auctions.com/online-auction-food-processing/130/en

8th of September: Online auction food processing machinery in Brokstedt (DE)

Viewing day
3rd of September
From 9:00 till 14:00 hrs
Address:
Osterfeld 14
24616 Brokstedt (DE)

http://industrial-auctions.com/online-auction-machinery-and/131/en

23rd of September: Online auction machinery and inventory for the fish processing industry due to outsourcing production Haasnoot Vis in Katwijk ZH (NL)

Viewing day
21st of September
From 9:00 till 15:00 hrs
Address:
Rijnlandkade 1
2222 AE Katwijk ZH (NL)

http://industrial-auctions.com/online-auction-food-processing/133/en

1st of October: Online auction food processing machinery, refrigeration and inventory due to ending activities Zeeuwse Vleeshandel BV in Middelburg (NL)

Viewing day
29th of September
From 9:00 till 15:00 hrs
Address:
Elektraweg 15
4338 PK Middelburg (NL)

25/08/2015: Nestle India welcomes Mumbai High Court verdict

Nestle India has welcomed the Mumbai High Court's verdict revoking the ban imposed by the Indian Government on the sale of Maggi Noodles over concerns about MSG and excessive lead content.

However, an order for fresh tests has been imposed on the company.

Image: Stefan van Bremen

In a press statement dated 13 August the company said:

"The trust of our consumers and safety of our products are our utmost priorities across all the markets in which we operate.

"Nestlé India respects the decision made on 13th August by the Honourable Bombay High Court to revoke the ban order passed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra on MAGGI Noodles and will comply with the order to undertake fresh tests.

"Nestlé India remains committed to working with the FSSAI, FDA Maharashtra and other stakeholders.

"It is Nestlé India’s endeavour to get MAGGI Noodles back on the shelves as soon as possible for the benefit of our consumers.

"We await copy of the Judgment."

According to the NDTV website, Nestle's share prices had taken a hit over the affair, dropping by up to 4.7 percent, and a second-quarter loss with sales falling 20 percent due to withdrawal of the noodles from the domestic market.

Nestle insists it does not add MSG to Maggi Noodles.

"We do not add the flavour enhancer MSG (E621) to MAGGI Noodles sold in India. However the product contains glutamate derived from hydrolysed groundnut protein, onion powder and wheat flour. Glutamate produces a positive test result in a test for MSG," the company stated in May - a position it reiterated in a further statement the day before the Mumbai High Court ruling.

Visit the Nestle site HERE, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India site HERE.

August 24, 2015

24/08/2015: Designing a resilient future: Food, technology, and sustainable development

Milling and Grain talks to the President and CEO of IPACK IMA to find out why this event will be critical for the future of the milling industry

by Olivia Holden, Milling and Grain

First published in Milling and Grain, May 2015

IPACK-IMA 2015

Ipack-Ima is among the most attractive international exhibitions for suppliers of technology and materials for processing and packaging. It will be held May 19-23 2015 at Fieramilano, Milan, Italy. Ipack-Ima is a large system exhibition showcasing the very top solutions in food and non-food sectors for industry professionals; in particular it is world renowned for its display of dry pasta technology.

A rich programme of meetings, conventions and seminars will flank the global event for the duration of the five exhibition days: these events will have a common keyword, sustainability. More than 40 events have been already scheduled focusing on the main issues and trends of each business community.

“Designing a Resilient Future: Food, Technology, and Sustainable Development” is the central theme of Ipack-Ima and will be developed – in concordance with “Feed the planet. Energy for life” – (the theme of the Expo 2015) - through an international convention scheduled on May 20th 2015 and organised in partnership with UNIDO and the UN Food Agencies. The main issue under discussion is sustainability, the leitmotiv of all side events to the 2015 shows, and the conference aims to enhance the possible evolution of food technologies in the future.

http://issuu.com/gfmt/docs/mag1505_w1/52

Marco Pedroni, Chairman of Coop Italia

Following a tradition of prominent chairmen who are key figures in the industries represented at the show, Ipack-Ima’s Chairmen for 2015 is Marco Pedroni, Chairman of Coop Italia (the largest retail chain in Italy, with a turnover of 13.1 billion Euros, and a 19 percent market share). In the lead up to this much anticipated event, Milling and Grain magazine spoke with both Mr Pedroni in his official capacity as Chairman and Guido Corbella, CEO of Ipack-Ima about what this must attend event has to offer.

As chairman of Coop Italia, the largest retail chain in Italy, what do you believe to be the main consumer concerns regarding fresh food?
Food production and distribution are a great opportunity for Italy’s economic system. Italy boasts an incredible variety of wine and food products and an unparalleled culinary tradition famous around the world. However, Italian companies are not equally able to organise an efficient supply chain and export this remarkable heritage; the Milan Expo is a crucial chance to make that quality leap in our agro-food system. As Italy’s leading distributor we are committed to this goal and have been putting in place partnerships centered on Italian food with other European and international retailers. Our main concern is to make good, safe food accessible to everyone. Quality and safety must be accessible to all population ranges at a fair price, including to the less wealthy in developed countries and to the poor everywhere in the world. Packaging is a fundamental part of this concept of food accessibility, safety and quality.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background in the food industry and what you believe your contribution to Ipack-Ima as this year's president will be?
Coop Italia is not just a distributor of consumer goods; it’s also a leading producer. Our private label with its two product lines represents 30 percent of Coop’s total sales, and is one of the key private labels in Italy. We gather over 200 medium and small-size food-producing companies and we enabled many of them to grow larger, reaching markets that would not otherwise have been accessible to them. As a food distributor our contribution to the packaging industry is relevant, both to bring consumers’ needs to manufacturers of packaging materials and machinery and to promote packaging-driven product and service innovation.
Good distribution must first know today’s consumers and understand tomorrow’s trends; this is essential to guide the choices of all players in the production chain. The demand for safety, shelf-life-related needs, fair prices, environmental protection, transparency and product information accessibility are the basic principles that must be observed by everyone - manufacturers of goods, packaging producers and distribution companies. In addition, this must be done with a strong ability to integrate things and cooperate. It is in this spirit that I accepted this responsibility in Ipack-Ima, and I hope to contribute through Coop’s closeness to consumers and to all families.

Sustainability is obviously a very pressing issue, how will this be addressed at the event?
Sustainability is a central issue. Counter-posing it to cost effectiveness is not the right way to look at it. In fact the opposite is true: it is possible to produce and distribute in a more effective as well as more sustainable way. I’m thinking of innovative packaging materials making it possible to produce using less energy, prolong products’ shelf life and reduce waste. Of course this requires investing in applied research and not settling for easy ways to increase profits. Long-lasting enterprises are the ones that take no shortcuts and invest in honest, long-term relationships with their clients. Products and packaging will exemplify all of these aspects of sustainability. At the Milan Expo, Coop will present a selection of products, and more specifically the lines Vivi Verde, Fior Fiore, Senza Glutine, Bene Sì, which represent the practical application of these principles.

What do you believe are the major issues facing the global supply chain?

I believe many things will have to be done to ensure efficiency and sustainability on a national and global scale. There is a crucial pre-competitive area requiring the cooperation of all players - producers, distributors, transporters, public institutions: better transportation systems, product identification standards, traceability. And each company has its own specific area of competence. In food, the key idea is to shorten all production and distribution passages and make them more efficient, especially in Italy where the situation is very far from optimal. The packaging industry plays a crucial role in meeting these objectives. It can contribute to optimising products, make them safer and longer lasting, encourage volume aggregation, improve product recognition and information for consumers. In a well-organised system, even small and medium-size enterprises can overcome the obstacles of an increasingly globalised trade and be competitive.

Guido Corbella, CEO Ipack-Ima

What makes Ipack-Ima a unique and must attend event for our industry?
The 2015 edition will be unique as Ipack-Ima for the first time will be held in conjunction with other 5 exhibitions: Dairytech, Fruit Innovation, Meat-Tech, Converflex, Intralogistica, all in one place and date. It is a truly a one-of-a-kind global event that will offer a special opportunity for visitors, who can access all of the six shows with a single entrance ticket. This concentration of exhibitions creates a unique ensemble that is unparalleled in the world for its all-comprehensive display of interconnected sectors spanning across the entire supply chain. Milan will be home to the world’s largest and most wide-ranging showcase in the fields of processing, packaging, converting, package printing and logistics.

Last but not least, our big event will be held in conjunction with the Expo Milano: just a short distance between the two exhibition sites! Furthermore Ipack-Ima is the only event officially recognised by the Expo Milano (the Universal Exposition running at Fieramilano from May 1 to October 31, 2015) as Italy’s leader in processing and packaging technology. The show is among the most attractive international exhibitions for suppliers of technology and materials for processing and packaging. It is a large system exhibition showcasing the very top solutions in food and non-food sectors for industry professionals; in particular it is world renowned for its display of dry pasta technology and for its suppliers to the milling industry.

IPACK-IMA is now a joint staging of six shows. What sectors of the food industry will be covered?
The 2015 edition is set to be a major one for Ipack-Ima: it will showcase technology for the fresh food industry. The exhibition halls will give extensive room to one of the liveliest sectors of the food and distribution industry, faced with new consumption habits. Fresh food requires new, specific packaging and packaging technology, which finds its perfect showcase at Ipack-Ima, flanked by vertical exhibitions dedicated to the fresh food technologies: Meat-Tech (processing and packaging for the meat industry), Dairytech (processing and packaging for the dairy industry), Fruit Innovation (dedicated to product innovation, technologies and Services for the fruit and vegetables industry).

Ipack-Ima is now acknowledged by MISE as a ‘top 15’ show for its dedication to promoting Made in Italy products. What does this recognition represent?
Ipack-Ima now belongs to the top shows for made-in-Italy products enjoying the support of the “extraordinary plan for Italy’s international relaunch”, part of the government’s decree for the country’s recovery. The recognition by the Ministry for Economic Development qualifies Ipack-Ima as one of the topnotch events for the promotion of Italian technology. MISE’s initiative has the goal of strengthening (on a global scale) top exhibitions where Italy is already recognised as the leader but which are often under attack by international competitors, also by capitalising on the unique promotional springboard provided by the Expo. Thanks to this recognition and benefitting from the government’s special decree for Italy’s recovery, Ipack-Ima has organised a plan to support incoming foreign buyers visiting the exhibition, with the cooperation of the MISE and the operational support of ICE – the Italian agency for foreign trade. Ipack-Ima 2015 will welcome 270 international buyers from 50 countries selected also according to the preferences expressed by exhibitors.

What will there be of specific interest to millers at the Expo?
As I said before, Ipack-Ima is world renowned for its display of dry pasta technology. It focuses a particular attention to the technologies for the grain based food business community (pasta, bread, biscuits, flours, rice, grain, cereal, couscous, feeds, pet food). With one month to go, Ipack-Ima 2015 will host 278 companies active in the GBF industry, 20 percent from outside of Italy (China, Poland, Germany, Malta, Turkey, Switzerland, France, Taiwan, UK, The Netherlands). Moreover, there will be important scheduled side events dedicated to this sector, such as the press conference of AIDEPI (Italian Association of Confectionary and Pasta Industries) on May 20.

On May 21st, Bühler will present “One step ahead in processing grains to food”, the annual plenary meeting of SEMOULIERS (Union des Associations des Semouliers des Pays de l’UE), UNAFPA (Union of Organisations of Manufacturers of Pasta Products of EU), and IPO (International Pasta Organisation). On May 22nd, there will be the Annual Plenary Meeting of ITALMOPA (Italian Millling Association) and the “4th Italian Fresh Pasta and Gnocchi Seminar” organised by APPF (Association of Fresh Pasta Producers). All the attention given to these events testifies that Ipack-Ima is becoming a crucial reference point for the grain based food business community.

Read the magazine HERE.

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