The Global Miller: May 2016

May 31, 2016

31/05/2016: FEFAC and FEDIOL welcome the indefinite renewal of the Soy Moratorium

The Amazon Soy Moratorium guarantees market access only to soy products that are free from deforestation, slave or threats to indigenous lands.

Initially launched in 2006 for two years, and renewed annually since 2008, it has been renewed indefinitely on 9 May 2016, as announced by the Brazilian Soy Task Force (GTF). The GTF is a multi-stakeholder coalition bringing together the private sector, the civil society and the Brazilian government.

“The Soy Moratorium has proved to be effective in reducing deforestation in the Amazon as a consequence of soybean and we therefore welcome its indefinite renewal” says Henri Rieux, FEDIOL President.

From a broader perspective, FEFAC and FEDIOL consider that ending illegal deforestation through ensuring legal compliance with national regulation is the first step towards forest protection. This represents a valuable contribution of the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines which are also supported by FEDIOL.

“The Guidelines are in line with for example the current Brazilian Forest Code, which together with the federal monitoring of farms under rural environmental registration (CAR), can be considered a breakthrough in terms of environmental legislation enforcement and enabling responsible soy production” says FEFAC President Ruud Tijssens.

Moreover FEFAC and FEDIOL are convinced that zero net deforestation can only be achieved by regional actions, taking all agricultural activities (like livestock farming, cotton and corn production) in a certain region into account, and encourage such developments.
END

Read more HERE

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine GFMT
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

31/05/2016: Could tightened barley standards be the final snail in the coffin for Australian farmers?

Western Australia's barley growers will face tightened grain standards during harvest, with the Grains Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) reviewing its standards in order to meet end-user demands.

The changes, which will be in place for the coming delivery season, include the introduction of a new barley feed grade, tightening of the number of snail shells per half-litre sample and also a reduction of the ryegrass ergot standard, according to an article recently published by ABC Rural.

The review of barley standards began in October 2015, during which time it went through two rounds of consultation. Chairman of GIWA barley council Steve Tillbrook said WA's two main grain handlers, CBH and Bunge, had both opted to take on the recommendations.

Mr Tillbrook said the most significant change would be the reduction of snail numbers per sample. The tolerance for snails in feed barley has been tightened to two whole snail-shells per half-litre sample, down from 10.

Mr Tillbrook said, while the changes would be tough for some, they were necessary, "The biggest reason for the changes in the snails, and it's probably catching us a little unaware here in Western Australia because it's sort of something that is reasonably new, is data from CBH that says over the last five years the number of snails detected between one and 10 [per half-litre sample] has doubled in number every year," he said.

"Our international markets are starting to jump up and down, they are saying that if the trader sends over something that's not within spec they will then ban that trader."

Source: ABC Rural

In reaction to the tightened standards, GIWA also recommended an additional feed barley grade be implemented for the coming harvest, with a maximum snail tolerance of five.

Mr Tillbrook said he expected this would be used widely. "The thought behind that was, it's better off to have snails put in a heap of feed two, rather than in feed one because if you put the snails into feed one it means you've got to get enough clean grain to counteract it and that's getting harder to happen in a deregulated market with numerous traders," he said.

He said they have suggested a AUS$5 price difference between the two feed grades. The review committee also recommended WA ryegrass ergot standards for both malt and feed barley be tightened from 5cm to 3cm in a stepped progressions over two harvests.

Ergot is crop fungi that can be poisonous to humans or mammals if consumed.The standards will be brought down from 4cm for the 2016–17 harvest and 3cm the following year.

GIWA is also looking for support into areas of Falling Number, market preference for barley colour and chemical residue measurement on the crop.

Read more HERE.

May 27, 2016

The Milling and Grain Interview - David Wernsing

David Wernsing was appointed to General Manager of Union Iron in late February of this year, but his career in the industry started more than 25 years ago.
In the early 1990s, Mr Wernsing started with GSI in their grain dryer division. After some time on the plant floor and in production management, he moved to the engineering department as a technician and eventually became a product manager. In the late 1990s he moved to GSI’s international sales division.
Following a short break for academic study, Mr Wernsing then went to Brock as strategic accounts manager and soon after accepted an offer to be sales manager at Union Iron. AGI had just acquired Union Iron. He then spent a few years at Union Iron and then accepted a position with AGI as director of international sales.
In 2015, he became director of North American sales for our newly formed commercial division. In early 2016 Mr Wernsing was asked to be general manager at Union Iron. Mr Wernsing is firmly of the belief that he currently possesses sufficient “understanding of Union Iron’s people, products and customers to build and support an effective team that will manage this business successfully.”

May 25, 2016

Milling and Grain - June 2016 available now!

May 23, 2016

23/05/2016: In-depth insights for the supply chain of conventional, organic and non-GMO oilseeds and grains at co-located HighQuest events

Minneapolis (Image: Peter Ladd)

Providing the only venue where players from the entire ag value chain will gather for critical industry discussions and networking is this year’s co-located Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit and Organic & Non-GMO Forum. These annual events will take place on November 14-16, at the Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

The 11th annual Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit is a forum for all participants across the oilseed, grain and feed value chain – from buyers, traders and merchandisers to processors and providers of transportation/logistics services. Discussions will be laser-focused on what new developments have arisen, such as emerging market opportunities for exports to Cuba, or prospects from increased competition on exports from Brazil and Argentina. Similarly, conversations that are fundamental to engagement in the sector, such as outlook projections, strategies for risk management, and insight on the near-term impacts of weather on agriculture, will be more closely examined.

The 2nd annual Organic & Non-GMO Forum, which was expanded this year after an incredibly successful inaugural year, will focus on the development of supply chains and other business opportunities in the sector. Leading experts will provide both overviews and deep-dives into the most relevant issues facing the sector, including S&D forecasting and the impact of evolving policies. Examples of these interactive presentations and panel discussions include:

GMO labelling: the impact of current programs and legislative initiatives
Understanding the short and long-term costs of organic, non-GMO and conventional systems
Understanding the supply gap for US organic and non-GMO
Trends in organic & non-GMO dairy, livestock and poultry production

“By attending both events, participants will be privy to the most comprehensive coverage of the agricultural value chain, providing the greatest opportunity for understanding and business acumen,” said Event Director Joy O’Shaughnessy.

Last year’s attendees to these events had this to say:
“It’s a good place to network and expand our presence in the marketplace. We have access to all the key players in the transportation, logistics and infrastructure industries. We’ve been doing this for three years, and there has been superb turnouts every year.” -- Illinois Soybean Association

“I have attended three oilseeds/grains events organized by HighQuest Group within the past three years. I have been very happy with the attendee profiles, the organizer`s attention and the conference itself overall. At every event, there were very good networking opportunities. I would highly recommend oilseed/grain events of HighQuest Group to industry members.” – Westford Trade Services

Visit the Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit site HERE and the Organic & Non-GMO Forum site HERE.

23/05/2016: GAI AgTech Week seeks entrepreneurs to pitch investment opportunities to panel of proven investors

http://www.globalaginvesting.com/events/atw2016

A just-announced opportunity will reward a select group of agtech entrepreneurs with the opportunity to deliver a live presentation before veteran investors, agribusiness executives and accelerators in the agtech sector. Candidates from around the globe are invited to apply for the possibility to present at the upcoming GAI AgTech Week conference at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, USA, June 21-23, 2016.

Open to investment-ready agricultural technology companies that have raised a minimum of US$500,000 and are currently raising capital, interested parties are asked to apply online. The application asks for details such as capital raised to-date, problems solved by the company’s technology, and management team composition.

Applicants can increase their visibility in front of the GAI AgTech Week community of investors by submitting a short video for online viewers and conference attendees. Applications and videos must be submitted by Tuesday, May 31.

Presenters will be selected by veteran investors in the agtech sector and the GAI team. Each will earn an invitation to present live in 'The Capital Grill,' a special pitch session on Wednesday, June 22, led by an international panel of active investors and accelerator professionals. Immediate feedback will be given by the panel of experts.

Additionally, approved video submissions will be highlighted during the networking breaks at the conference, as well as uploaded to the GAI AgTech Week YouTube channel.

“These agtech entrepreneurs will have the very real potential of furthering their business along the path to commercialisation or exit,” said Kate Westfall, GAI AgTech Week director.

“We expect hundreds of decision makers – from leading venture capital to private equity funds to strategic investors and investment banks – to be in attendance and ready to invest in the latest and greatest companies in this burgeoning sector.”

Application forms and specific details about the invitation to present are available HERE.

Learn more about GAI AgTech Week HERE.

23/05/2016: USW/NAWG give an alternative take on ITC’s mixed score for wheat under TPP

The following is a Joint Statement from US Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers:

On Wednesday, the International Trade Commission (ITC) released its highly anticipated report on the economic impacts expected to accrue from the adoption of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). For the entire agriculture and food sector, the report forecasts a US$7.2 billion increase in exports or a growth of about 2.6 percent by 2032 compared to the same time frame without TPP.

The report recognised that the US wheat industry would see substantial gains in market access and subsequent exports to Vietnam where the United States currently competes at a tariff disadvantage to Australian suppliers. Specifically, the ITC notes that US wheat and other grain exports to Vietnam would increase by a healthy 25.3 percent by 2032 under TPP. However, ITC also concludes that US wheat exports to Japan would decline by 17 percent under TPP. Given our industry’s 60 years of experience in the unique Japanese market, we respectfully believe that ITC got this one wrong.

There are two distinct markets for wheat in Japan: one for high quality food grade wheat and one for lower quality, lower priced livestock feed wheat. Japan has consistently imported about 60 percent of its annual milling wheat needs from the United States, with Canada and Australia making up the balance. Because access to Japan’s milling wheat market would remain equal among the three suppliers under TPP and because Japan requires different types of wheat for distinct uses, we see no reason why US sales would decline.

Regarding the feed wheat market, ITC notes that Canada would see higher feed wheat sales under TPP because it is a 'low-cost producer.' If Canada has such an advantage over US wheat producers, then why has US wheat made up 45 percent of Japan’s feed wheat imports on average since 2013 while only 20 percent has been imported from Canada? The relative cost of feed wheat compared to alternative feed grain has far more to do with Japan’s feed import decisions than cost of production. As long as corn and other feed grain alternatives remain inexpensive Japan does not buy much feed wheat from any origin.

ITC’s statement that Canada is positioned to out compete the US in either milling or feed wheat sales to Japan is out of touch with the reality of Japan’s preferences for US wheat. It also fails to recognise that Canada’s competitive position with respect to the United States would be unchanged under TPP.

Modeling policy impacts to individual countries 16 years in the future is inherently difficult theoretical work. The reality is that TPP reduces barriers facing US wheat farmers and keeps us on a level playing field with two of our largest competitors. That is particularly important because Canada and Australia continue to seek tariff advantages by negotiating and signing free trade agreements in competitive markets at a much more rapid pace than the United States.

“The assumptions made in the ITC report are disappointing and misleading,” said NAWG President Gordon Stoner.

“US wheat farmers stand to benefit from a lower MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries) markup and new market access in Japan and from being able to compete on a level playing field in Vietnam. Congress should act quickly to enable farmers to take full advantage of the potential economic opportunities at stake under TPP.”

What really sets TPP apart from past agreements is it creates a platform for future growth. Not only does it target one of the fastest growing regions in the world, but once enacted it becomes a forum for other countries to join. Countries in line to join TPP include Indonesia, the world’s second largest wheat importer, the Philippines and Thailand, also significant importers. Each country already signed FTA’s with Australia.

That is why US wheat farmers remain convinced that we need swift consideration and approval of TPP.

“Every day that TPP implementation is delayed, our ability to compete on a level playing field in established and new markets erodes that much more. Wheat farmers need TPP, but so do our customers around the world,” said USW Chairman Brian O’Toole, a wheat farmer from Crystal, North Dakota.

Read the full ITC report online HERE.

Additional information about TPP is also online HERE and HERE.

May 20, 2016

20/05/2016: Yara strengthens its digital offering by acquiring farm management system company

Yara International ASA has reached an agreement with the Bulgarian company MicroAccount to acquire their Farm Management System business in Bulgaria and Romania.

"By combining Yara's extensive crop nutrition knowledge with a broad portfolio of digital farm management tools and services, we will have a unique platform from which to support our customers, far beyond the geographical area this business currently serves," says Yara's Head of Crop Nutrition, Terje Knutsen.

Last year Yara introduced a new farmer centric strategy for the Crop Nutrition segment. Digital tools and services like Farm Management Systems are becoming an increasingly important part of modern farming, and Yara has sought to strengthen its position in this area.

"We want to be the farmer's crop nutrition partner and deliver complete crop nutrition solutions, not only fertiliser. By expanding our digital tools and services portfolio we can help the farmer increase productivity and improve crop quality further, while at the same time contributing to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture," says Mr Knutsen.

For a number of years, Yara has invested in R&D and innovation to convert crop based agronomy and application knowledge into a digital format, through development of precision farming tools and services. The current portfolio includes the Yara N-Sensor which helps optimise the application of nitrogen fertilisers, smartphone apps designed to identify nutrient status and deficiencies in crops, and the knowledge bank Megalab where farmers' leaf or soil samples are used to give a complete recommendation for a Crop Nutrition Solution.

The acquired business will be operated from Varna in Bulgaria and become an integrated part of Yara Crop Nutrition's global footprint.

Visit the Yara site HERE.

20/05/2016: Bunge announces retirement of CFO Drew Burke

Bunge Limited announced on May 19 that Drew Burke, Chief Financial Officer, is retiring effective December 31, 2016.

The company plans to name a successor before the end of the year, and is conducting a search that will consider both internal and external candidates.

"For the past 14 years and in several roles, Drew has made great contributions to Bunge's growth and success," said Soren Schroder, CEO, Bunge Limited.

"As CFO, he has helped create shareholder value by driving efficient portfolio management, financial discipline and prudent allocation of capital. His financial expertise, deep knowledge of the business and strong leadership have made him a highly valued advisor and member of our team. We wish him all the best in his retirement."

Mr Burke said "I'm proud of what we've accomplished as a team at Bunge over the past 14 years. This was a difficult personal decision for me, as it's an exciting time for the company. I'll be staying on until the end of the year to assure a smooth transition, and am confident that with the strategic plan and talented team we have, Bunge will capitalise on excellent growth opportunities ahead."

Mr Burke was named Chief Financial Officer in February 2011, having served as interim Chief Financial Officer since September 2010. He joined Bunge in 2002 as Managing Director, Soy Ingredients and New Business Development. Previously, he was CEO of the US subsidiary of Degussa AG and worked for Beecham Pharmaceuticals and Price Waterhouse & Company.

Visit the Bunge site HERE.

20/05/2016: Campden BRI receives UKAS accreditation for ergot mycotoxin testing method

Campden BRI is pleased to announce that it has received UKAS accreditation for its ergot mycotoxin testing method. Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins which mainly affect cereals including wheat, rye, barley and oats and can cause issues via long-term dietary exposure.

Campden BRI is one of the few companies currently providing this testing service in the UK. The company has developed a sensitive mass spectrometry based method to detect the six major ergot alkaloids defined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocryptine and ergocornine) and their corresponding epimers at levels as low as 1µg/kg. The new accreditation provides reassurance that Campden BRI’s ergot testing service is impartial and competent, and meets internationally agreed standards.

Julian South, Head of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Campden BRI comments: “Here at Campden BRI, we have been carrying out ergot testing for several years to help manufacturers working with cereals and grains maintain the quality and safety of their products. EFSA has proposed that in 2017 maximum levels will be set for alkaloids in unprocessed grain. Our UKAS accredited method will help our clients ensure their products meet the legal requirements.”

Campden BRI has received UKAS accreditation for 94 tests. You can download a list HERE.

Visit the Campden BRI site HERE.

May 19, 2016

19/05/2016: British and Irish Flour Mills No1 Messrs F Skurray & Son’s New Roller Mill at Swindon, Wiltshire

by Mildred Cookson, The Mills Archive, UK

First published in Milling and Grain, April 2016

My last two articles in Milling and Grain featured material from the start of the 20th century on “British Empire Mills”, culled from one of the three major milling journals held at the Mills Archive. Another common theme followed visits to British and Irish mills, so I have chosen an account in that series from The Miller (1 May 1893), supplemented by a second, shorter article, published in Milling (Dec 24 1904).

In 1893, a visit by the milling trade celebrated the opening of Mr Skurray’s new roller mill in Swindon, west of London on the banks of the Berkshire and Wiltshire canal. The mill was built close to the Great Western Railway so, along with the canal, it had the advantage of using both railway and water carriage. Captain Marsh started up the engine of the mill on the visitors’ arrival, and the feed started by Mr F Skurray himself.

The mill was built in 1892 and fitted out by ER & F Turner. The site was chosen as Swindon was a large industrial centre with no mill nearer than Cirencester, and it was in the middle of probably the finest red wheat district in the south of England. The first plant was about 6 sacks and this with yearly improvements served until 1903, when a completely new Turner plant of 8 sacks capacity was installed. The buildings that were specially built for holding the six sack plant were enlarged to accommodate the larger plant.

https://issuu.com/gfmt/docs/mag1604_w1/14

Read the full article in Milling and Grain HERE.

Ocrim company profile

http://www.ocrim.com/site/inglese/index.html

The important investments made by Ocrim are the demonstration of its will to grow. Many are its activities all around the world - in particular, milling plants, feed mills, bio-ethanol plants, silos, cereal conveying lines and electrical installations; but the underlying factor in all this is the industrialisation - in other words the standardisation - of production processes in order to cut primary costs, thus offering competitive prices without jeopardising product quality.

This is an efficient policy on which Ocrim will go on concentrating its efforts in the future, attaining trust, loyalty and consolidating its market share. The challenge is to further improve itself but in a manner consistent with its strategic and commercial plan.

Ocrim’s partnership with Paglierani and long-standing collaborations with sub-suppliers complete the added value that Ocrim is able to offer its Customers, demonstrating the Italian spirit in a determined search for product quality without compromise.

Visit the website HERE.

19/05/2016: Kemin launches Lysoforte® Liquid and revolutionises application of bio-surfactants

Kemin has launched Lysoforte® Liquid, a bio-surfactant, which revolutionises the application process by directly dosing the bio-surfactant into the oil and fat application line.

Lysoforte® Liquid standardises the natural variation in the energy value of oils and fats and improves the digestion and absorption of nutrients in feed, making Lysoforte® Liquid one of the most cost-effective bio-surfactants on the market. The product has been launched in Europe, Middle East, India and in a number of markets in Asia. The product will launch in additional countries upon registration.

Lysoforte® Liquid is a naturally derived liquid bio-surfactant that is added directly into the oil or fat line during feed production. Mixing the bio-surfactant with the oil and fats early enhances its efficacy and helps standardise the energy value of the oil, in combination with the well-known effects of Lysoforte® on nutrient digestion and absorption.

“This is a situation where we took something that was working well and made it even better,” explained Dr Monika Bieber, Lead Global Platform Manager.

“Traditionally bio-surfactants are added as a dry product to the mixer with other feed raw materials. Their benefits to improve various steps in lipid digestion, such as emulsification, hydrolysis and nutrient absorption are well known. Consequently, the addition of a bio-surfactant leads to a better utilisation of the energy from feed raw materials, resulting in improved feed conversion ratios, lower production costs and improved profitability.”

https://www.kemin.com/en/europe/products/lysoforte

Image: Thaddeus Quintin

Like many raw materials, lipids come from a wide variety of sources and are prone to large variations in their nutritional value. In recent years, Kemin laboratories have been analysing numerous oil and fat samples using the Lipid Evaluation Test, which provides nutritionists with accurate lipid profiles, and characterises the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) values and oxidative status.

The analyses performed by Kemin scientists have reported up to 30-percent variation in AME values for a single oil type. Trials have demonstrated that applying the liquid bio-surfactant reduces the natural variability of oils and fats. As proven through the Lipid Evaluation Test, Lysoforte® Liquid increases feed formulation accuracy and, in turn, increases feed cost savings.

An application system is made available to assist customers with the application of Lysoforte® Liquid. This state-of-the-art system was created by a team of engineers who worked to make applying the liquid product directly into the oil and fat line easy and convenient at the feed mill.

Over the last years, the benefits of bio-surfactants to enhance lipid digestion have become well accepted in the feed industry. With the launch of Lysoforte® Liquid, Kemin demonstrates its leadership in the lipid nutrition area and its commitment to bring novel solutions to the feed industry to support its customers by improving and optimising lipid nutrition and increasing profitability.

Learn more HERE.

19/05/2016: Unibio signs its first commercial licence agreement

After years of development of its U-Loop technology, Unibio is ready to take a giant step forward. Unibio has signed its first licence agreement with a commercial client.

A full-size commercial plant having multiple U-Loop fermentors is planned for construction and commissioning in 2017. The aim of the agreement is to expand this capacity in the following years. Unibio has received an attractive upfront payment and is further incentivised by an attractive revenue stream in the years to come following successful commissioning of the plant. A revenue stream expectedly counted in millions of dollars over the next ten years. The aim is to supply the European and Russian markets with Unibio’s premium protein product UniProtein®.

The megatrends are very clear. The world needs sustainable solutions to the food challenge of the century. How can we feed a growing world population when agricultural land per capital is decreasing? And how can we do it in a sustainable way without destroying the planet? Part of the solution lies with Unibio. Converting methane to food, using a cheap and abundant resource as natural gas, is key to solving this challenge – basically what Unibio does is to integrate the energy and food systems to address this challenge.

Henrik Busch-Larsen, the CEO of Unibio, says: “We recently had a ground-breaking ceremony in Kalundborg, Denmark, where we are constructing a demonstration and production plant, and we are of course very excited to announce the construction of a large commercial plant already”.

Unibio inaugurated its pilot plant located at the Chemical Engineering department of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in October last year, where the Danish minister of Energy, Climate and Utilities, Lars Chr Lilleholt, was a key-note speaker.

Shortly after, the company won the Ernst & Young competition Entrepreneur of the Year within the Life Sciences category. The new partner, participating in the event, sees the collaboration with DTU as a very strong asset. In general Denmark holds great expertise within fermentation technology, and DTU works in close cooperation with large Danish companies within the fermentation industry, such as eg Novozymes and Novo Nordisk.

Henrik Busch-Larsen, the CEO of Unibio, continues: “We see the collaboration with this new partner as a natural step forward in the development of the company and technology and thus welcome our new partner into the Unibio family. We look forward to the construction of the plant and to bringing our premium protein product UniProtein® to the market. The coming months are going to be very exciting for the company”.

Visit the Unibio site HERE.

19/05/2016: NOAH welcomes protection of antibiotics for animals and people

Today’s publication of ‘Tackling Drug Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations’, by Lord Jim O’Neill, is a global landmark in the fight to keep antibiotics effective for both animals and people, says NOAH, which represents the UK animal medicines sector.

NOAH Chief Executive Dawn Howard says: “We endorse the proposal for incentives to develop innovative new treatments and better diagnostics: these must include the veterinary sector, so that animal medicines are available to treat the diseases that vets and farmers encounter. Improving the availability and uptake of vaccines, which is also proposed, can reduce the need for antibiotics. Veterinary surgeons need access to a range of medicines, including antibiotics, in order to treat the conditions and species under their care and support the high standards of animal welfare our society expects.

http://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160518_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf

Image: Thomas Wanhoff

“The Report’s call for improved surveillance will build on work already being undertaken within the different livestock sectors, for example in the UK poultry and pig sectors. Targets to reduce antibiotic use must be based on an understanding of why and where antibiotics are currently used, and we welcome the Report’s suggestion that careful consideration must be given to how any target setting will be done. Once the facts have been established, resources can then be focussed on areas where change is most needed to reduce any unnecessary use.

“It is important to remember that in the UK – and indeed throughout the EU, veterinary antibiotics are only available on veterinary prescription and have been banned as growth promoters since 2006,” she adds.

The Report recommends restrictions on certain antibiotics for veterinary use.

“NOAH believes that any such decisions must be based on independent regulatory officials’ expert opinions and must follow the agreed regulatory process – such as the recent EMA (European Medicines Agency) re-evaluation of the veterinary use of colistin,” Dawn Howard says.

“Any changes need to be given a realistic timeframe in order that animal welfare is not compromised – something the report itself acknowledges,” she adds.

“We also fully support the Report’s call for a global public awareness campaign of this ‘One Health’ issue involving both human and animal health to improve understanding and compliance. This is a global report for a global problem, with practical recommendations and calls to action, both on the international stage and here in the UK.”

Dawn Howard concludes: “The UK animal medicines sector looks forward to its role in implementing the Report’s recommendations by being part of the collaboration between UK government and industry, to develop practical proposals so that antibiotics remain effective to protect the health of people and animals into the future.”

Read the report HERE.

May 18, 2016

18/05/2016: Industry profile: Mühlenchemie - building quality into flour

First published in Milling and Grain, March 2016

Flour is a natural product, so is therefore subject to fluctuations in quality. But uniform quality is a “must” for bakers and millers. Mühlenchemie offers intelligent solutions for flour standardisation and flour improvement. They include Enzyme Systems, bromate substitutes, ascorbic acid, oxidising agents, vitamins and minerals, and also baking premixes for ready-mixed and composite flours.

With their internationally established enzyme preparations ALPHAMALT, POWERZYM, PASTAZYM and TIGERZYM they have created pioneering solutions in the field of flour improvement.

Everything revolves on our customers’ wishes
As a member of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, Mühlenchemie is an owner-managed company independent of the big organisations. This fact enables them to give all their attention to their customers and they have pride in their short routes, quick decisions and entrepreneurial courage, which are the pillars of their corporate philosophy.

Mühlenchemie regards itself first and foremost as a customer oriented service provider, and only secondly as a manufacturer. They are constantly developing new, innovative products and functional systems in response to customers’ requests. In personal meetings with clients they ascertain their wishes and requirements in respect of new products and improvements to existing brands. They define the frame of reference and work out a solution with their specialists.

Enterprise: the spirit of our employees
Mühlenchemie’s employees are the driving force behind their innovations. Each of them has a very wide scope for decisionmaking and bears the responsibility that goes with it. That enables them to act quickly and in the best interest of their customers.

Interaction between employees is open, frank and highly communicative. This team spirit across the limits of the individual specialist firms is one of the decisive factors that makes Mühlenchemie quick to respond and ready to address customer needs or industry changes promptly.

Read the full article in Milling and Grain HERE.

Tapco company profile

Tapco was conceived in the early 1970s by Paul D Taylor, President and Ted W Beaty, Retired, to fill a void in the elevator bucket industry. At that time, there was only one manufacturer of non-metallic buckets in the USA All the other buckets were made from fabricated steel. With the inherent problems of steel buckets and the limited range of the existing polyethylene brand, the time was right for Tapco.

 The company has been in its own 92,500 square foot facility for over 25 years. This has allowed us to bring our injection moulding ‘in house’ for better control and cost effectiveness. Tapco has nine injection moulding machines ranging from a small 150 tonne to a very large 1000 tonne press. This allows us to make our entire range of buckets in the most expedient and quality controlled manner.

 Tapco stocks the largest inventory of elevator buckets and bolts in the world, some 900,000 buckets and 14 million bolts. We also have the largest inventory of abrasion resistant sheeting, drag flights and hanger bearings in North America.  We have the products that you need, when you need them, and at a competitive price! Our shipping department is geared to handle the most urgent of emergencies. We welcome your rush orders. We at Tapco feel the future is unlimited. We have plans for new and different products relating to bulk material handling.

 Our exporting is growing every day. We have exported to more than fifty different countries around the world. Stocking distributors are located strategically in North America, Central America, South America, Australia, Western Europe and the Pacific Rim. This segment of the market is keyed for further growth.

 Tapco is continuously researching new technologies to better serve our customers. Product research has been a priority for many years. Innovations in the company’s state-of-the-art processing enables Tapco to meet the customized needs of its diverse customers. Tapco uses the highest quality material for their buckets; 100 percent prime virgin high-density linear polyethylene, impact modified nylon and thermoplastic urethane.

 Our mission at Tapco is to provide the highest value products and service at the best price. The company's focus is on building and maintaining "Solid and Reputable" relationships with its customers. With our high quality staff, we are able to serve your needs promptly. Most importantly, we appreciate and are proud of you, our customer. We look forward to serving you for many more years, and welcome any suggestions on how we can work more closely in the future.

Visit the website HERE.

18/05/2016: New Roto-Disc II spherical valve has outlet flange common to valve size

Roto-Disc, Inc, now offers a spherical valve for applications where the valve outlet has to mate to a downstream flange that matches the valve’s inlet orifice.

When provided with an optional Inlet Flange Adaptor, the Roto-Disc II can mate to common ANSI 150# Flanges on both the inlet and discharge side, eliminating the need for flange and piping transitions while maintaining a full-orifice valve solution. Typical applications include hopper fill & discharge, blender discharge, loss-in-weight feeder re-fill, bulk-bag unloading and other gravity or low-pressure applications.

Like the Roto-Disc, the Roto-Disc II slices through material build-up and wipes itself clean with each cycle. The sealing surfaces are not exposed to the flow of material and there are no hidden places inside for material to build-up. The valve maintains all other essential features of the original Roto-Disc spherical valve and all spare parts are interchangeable with equivalent sized Roto-Disc valves.

The Roto-Disc II can be supplied in Airlock/Double-Dump assemblies for processing material into and out of differential pressure environments. Roto-Disc also offers a full line of splitter/convergers and piping and flange process transitions.

Learn more HERE.

18/05/2016: USGC launches aqua DDGS promotion program in Egypt

US Grains Council (USGC) staff and consultants conducted a program in Egypt last week to promote distiller’s dried grain with solubles (DDGS) in aqua rations.

This program was done in conjunction with Mirasco, a USGC member company that has a large client base within the Egyptian aquaculture industry.

“Egypt has the most active and the largest aquaculture industry in the region,” said Hesham Hassanein, USGC regional director for the Middle East and Africa.

“But this growing sector only has limited knowledge of the technical and economic advantages of using corn co-products in fish feeds.”

To assess this industry’s potential to utilise US DDGS in their feed formulations, this week’s mission included site visits to large and growing fish farms.

“During the site visits, we saw that average aqua production in Egypt was 2 to 4 tons per acre,” Mr Hassanein said.

“However there is the potential for these farms to increase output to 8 to 12 tons per acre with improved management. This means there is a great growth potential that could increase demand for coarse grains and co-products.”

Hesham Hassanein, USGC regional director for the Middle East and Africa

The mission wrapped up with a seminar that was attended by 75 executives from the aquaculture sector.

“During the seminar, we gave an overview of the advantages of using US DDGS in aqua rations and discussed the success the Council has seen in Vietnam with our catfish feeding trials,” Mr Hassanein said.

“While Egyptian aquaculture is mainly focused on the tilapia species, the information from the catfish trial was useful to those attending our program also.”

In addition, the group explored the possibility of launching a similar type of feeding trial in Egypt.

"We were also successful in reaching a preliminary agreement with an international aquaculture research institute in Egypt,” Mr Hassanein said.

“They have agreed to conduct feed trials using higher inclusion rates of DDGS with support from Mirasco, which will provide the needed DDGS, free of charge, to carry out the trials."

The Council will continue its ongoing promotion of US DDGS to the Egyptian aqua sector through one-on-one meetings, presentations and seminars.

Learn more about the Egyptian market HERE.

18/05/2016: Industrial auctions online

18th of May: Online auction machinery for the complete food industry in Brokstedt (DE)

Closing today, 18th of May
From 14:00 hrs

25th of May: Online auction machinery and inventory former slaughterhouse Velisco in Rot am See (DE)

Viewing days
23rd of May (13-18h)
24th of May (9-13h)
Address:
Steinäckerstr. 16
74585 Rot am See (DE)

26th of May: Online auction machinery for the food industry on behalf of Madolex BV in Venray (NL)

Viewing day
25th of May
From 9:00 till 13:00h
Address:
Smakterweg 29
5804 AV Venray (NL)

https://www.industrial-auctions.com/auctions/171-online-auction-machinery-and-inventory-on-former-location-vion-food-group-in-wunstorf-de/

14th of June: Online auction machinery and inventory on former location Vion Food Group in Wunstorf (DE)

Viewing day
8th of June (12 - 17h)
9th of June (9 - 15h)
Address:
Bahnhofstrasse 63
31515 Wunstorf (DE)

https://www.industrial-auctions.com/auctions/172-online-auction-of-machinery-for-the-complete-food-industry-on-former-production-location-in-strovelstorp-se

16th of June: Online auction of machinery for the complete food industry on former production location in Strövelstorp (SE)

Viewing day
13th of June
From 9:00 till 16:00h
Address:
Asbytorpsvägen 4
26270 Strövelstorp (SE)

For sale: Building former turkey slaughterhouse
Steinäckerstr. 16, 74585 Rot am See (DE)

May 17, 2016

17/05/2016: Grainpro® levels up effort to stop aflatoxins in Nigeria

https://issuu.com/gfmt/docs/mag1603_w1/84

First published in Milling and Grain, March 2016

In February, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria’s Minister In February, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, met with Tom De Bruin, President of GrainPro® Philippines, and Daniel Haileselassie, GrainPro Continent Manager for Africa, to discuss appropriate measures to ensure food security in the country.

The GrainPro delegation presented modern drying and Ultra Hermetic™ grain storage innovations to the minister and his team. As a result, the minister is advising stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector to ensure hygiene in the production and storage of agricultural commodities.

The minister stressed the need to use modern grain storage solutions that don’t require toxic chemicals to prevent the proliferation of aflatoxin on all types of dry agricultural commodities.

The ministry is looking to introduce Ultra Hermetic solutions to local farmers as part of its efforts to prevent the threat of fungal contamination. According to Minister Ogbeh, units of GrainPro Cocoons™ are being tested by the agency for the storage of maize in four key states.

Read the full article in Milling and Grain HERE.

Pages