The Global Miller: 2016

December 23, 2016

Season's greetings from The Global Miller and Perendale team

The team here at Perendale Publishers, providers of Milling and Grain magazine, the International Milling Directory, and The Global Miller blog would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

We thank you for your continuous support throughout 2016 and look forward to servicing the milling industry again in 2017.

The Perendale team and associates attending the 2016 Christmas dinner

The Global Miller blog will resume operation from the 3rd January 2017.

Until then have fun, stay safe, and we will catch you in the new year!

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

Romer Labs company profile

Romer Labs is a leading provider of diagnostic solutions to ensure the highest quality standards at all stages of the supply chain in the agricultural, food and feed industry.

Romer Labs products and services address the entire agriculture and food value chain from screening at the producing farms to highly sophisticated reference laboratories. The company’s broad range of innovative diagnostic tests and professional services play a pivotal role in integrated food safety approaches.

Romer Labs aims to be at the forefront of diagnostic technology and is constantly expanding its product and service portfolio to continue to meet customer's evolving demands.

The fundamental objective of Romer Labs is to provide scientifically sound, high-quality products and services to "Making the World’s Food Safer®".

Visit the website HERE.

December 22, 2016

23/12/2016: G3 to build next-generation grain export terminal at the Port of Vancouver, BC

G3 Terminal Vancouver, an affiliate of G3 Global Holdings (G3), is pleased to announce that it will build a state-of-the-art grain export terminal in North Vancouver, British Columbia, the first new grain terminal constructed at the Port of Vancouver since the 1960s.

"Our Vancouver terminal is central to G3's vision of a coast-to-coast grain handling network that sets a new standard in efficiency," said Karl Gerrand, CEO G3.

www.g3.ca

"We plan to transform the movement of grain through the west coast, providing Canadian farmers with competitive pricing and reliable delivery opportunities."

G3's Vancouver terminal will feature a rail loop track that will be capable of holding three 134-car trains, unique to grain exporting terminals in Canada.

The terminal includes over 180,000 metric tonnes of storage and will be able to handle cereal grains, oilseeds, pulses and special crops, much of which will be supplied via a throughput agreement with G3 Canada Limited.

This will allow trains to travel to Vancouver, unload while in continuous motion, and travel back to G3 Canada's primary elevators, including four recently constructed primary elevators, without detaching from their locomotives, critical to increasing supply chain efficiency.

In addition to improved rail efficiency, G3's Vancouver facility was designed with a focus on high velocity receiving, shipping, and best-in-class environmental and safety standards, representing the next generation in grain terminal design.

The development of G3's Vancouver terminal will be led by Bill Mooney, who has extensive Vancouver grain terminal management experience, together with G3's team of experienced project engineers.

Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co. has been selected as the design-build contractor for the project. Construction will commence in March 2017, subject to final notifications, with the terminal slated for completion in 2020.

Read more HERE.

23/12/2016: IPPE 2017 offers free attendee activities/networking opportunities

The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is planning a variety of free activities and networking opportunities for IPPE attendees.

IPPE will be held at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, Ga., from January 31 – February 2, 2017.

IPPE attendees are encouraged to stop by Event Zone, C1305, for daily TECHTalks presentations.

These short, educational presentations by exhibitors address operations and technical issues critical to all aspects of the feed, meat and poultry industries.

The presentations will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, and 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2017.

A Poultry History Museum/Hall of Fame display can be viewed in Booth C60 in the C-Lobby.

Image: Thomas Vlerick

The display takes attendees back to the beginnings of the American poultry industry and describes how the industry became the world's largest producer of poultry products.

Stop by Booth C305 in the C-Hall to see firsthand the iconic Oscar Meyer Weinermobile. Dating back to 1936, the vehicle has evolved through several generations of design to provide a reflection on the styles of the times.

IPPE will be hosting a Chicken and Turkey Cutting and Cooking Demo at the Event Zone, Booth C1309, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31.

Aliza Catz, corporate executive chef and director of culinary innovation for West Liberty Foods, will showcase healthy and convenient ideas on how to cook poultry.

The 5th Annual Chili Cook-off contest is planned for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31.
A group of highly competitive Atlanta chefs will prepare their favourite chili recipes featuring beef, pork and poultry. Attendees can sample and vote for their favourite chili at the Event Zone, Booth C1309. The “Best Chili” award will be presented at 4 p.m. to the winning chef.

The Welcome Reception at the Georgia Aquarium will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, with Big Dutchman sponsoring the event.

Complimentary tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to all IPPE attendees. Tickets will be distributed at a special desk in the B-Building and C-Building lobbies on Monday and Tuesday of the Expo.

IPPE is again welcoming back Steve Olson and Chef Francesco Abbinanti, C.E.C., for an encore Beef and Pork Cutting and Cooking presentation as they demonstrate and prepare the latest trends in cuts of meat products for creating convenient meals.

Join them from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Event Zone, Booth C1309, on Wednesday, February 1. IPPE is inviting attendees to see if they can stand the heat by hosting a Hot Wing Eating Contest where the winners of each "Heat" go on to compete eating sequentially hotter wings.

The Hot Wing Eating Contest is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, at the Event Zone, Booth C1309. Winners will receive Visa gift cards, and other souvenirs will be distributed.

Read more HERE.

22/12/2016: OCRIM’s 6th technical conference “wheat, flour and…

On the 26 October this year, Milling and Grain magazine attended OCRIM’s 6th technical conference “Wheat, Flour and…” at its headquarters located in Cremona, home to violin extraordinaire Antonio Stradivari and arguably one of Northern Italy’s most picturesque historical cities.

The annual event was aimed at clients, local residents, and friends in the worlds of industry, academia and politics.

The day began with more than one hundred millers and industry professionals from around the globe greeting one another over a tantalising, Ocrim-style Italian breakfast buffet.

With just one bite it was definitive that when it came to the finest of foods, we were in the finest of hands. Indeed, having celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, Ocrim is a family-run global leader in specialised milling plants, feed mills and general cereals processing in over 150 countries.

www.ocrim.com

From the outset, Ocrim has specialised in turnkey projects and offers an oversight of the entire process, for example from plant construction to specialist staff training and continual client-specific after-sales assistance.

Walking the Italian Way, we were ushered along a red carpet into the conference room, which happened to be the first International School of Milling Technology founded by Ocrim in 1965.

Known throughout the world for its excellence and considered one of the company’s flagships, the school organises training courses for the milling sector run by Ocrim staff as well as lecturers and experts from the American headquarters of the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM).

The audience were warmly welcomed by Ocrim’s CEO Alberto Antolini, who credited the company’s Italian DNA and remarked upon the importance Ocrim places on the knowledge and culture of the origins of food “Origin is key – original products, training and skills.” He bridged Italian originality with the success of the company’s future “We have a strong cultural background and we are future-centric.”

Stefano Mazzini, Ocrim’s Commercial Director further welcomed guests, to what he described as a “special conference”.

Ocrim’s vision was to connect continents, by presenting the second half of its conference via video in both Italy and one of the world’s fastest growing economic countries boasting an average annual GDP growth rate of more than 10% for the last decade, Ethiopia.

Stone mills and alternative flours
The morning’s debate on ‘Stone mills and alternative flours: nutritional pros and cons and food trends’ was chaired by Lorenzo Cavalli, President of the Italian association of milling industry technicians and boasted the following panel of industry experts:

• Marco Galli, Technological manager in Ocrim
• Alberto Figna, Owner of Molini Agugiaro & Figna of Parma
• Filippo Drago, Owner of Molini Del Ponte
• Simona Digiuni, Nutrition and biogenetics University of Parma
• Marco Tesini, Nutritionist specialised in food science, Bologna

The opening speech was given by Stefano Ravaglia, Head of research and development at Società Italiana Sementi, a leading supplier of seeds, who reminded the audience of the importance of correct breeding and the need for dynamism “given the challenges of mother nature.”

He assured us that SIS are constantly researching the genetics of wheat such as its specific protein content and what the ramifications of gluten free wheat are, concluding, “In modern breeding, we haven’t lost anything.”

Lorenzo linked this to the influence of consumers within the industry, stating that “consumers are more and more demanding, asking for healthy, top quality food.”

He then steered the grounds for the lively debate that was to follow, to the fact that today we have two ways of milling flour– stone ground and industrial.

Questions were put forward such as: although stone milling produces significantly less flour per hour than roller milling, does the flour taste better? Similarly, another key question emerged: which is healthier – whole meal or refined white flour?

Without confirming either method as superior, Marco Galli commented on the common misconception that suggests because industrial flour goes through a number of different stages, it is being mistreated, whereas in stone milling, there is only “one path” so it is better.

He corrected this by saying that “In industrial milling, wheat has time to cool down between stages which is not possible in a stone mill.”

He further highlighted the potential dangers of repeating what our ancestors did because of the many risks wheat has and how they can be avoided thanks to modern machinery such as the use of industrial optical screening.

Read the full article HERE.

Silos Cordoba company profile

Silos Cordoba is a leading manufacturer of metal silos for grain storage (grain storage bins). In addition to a large selection of grain storage solutions, including flat silos, hopper silos, truck load silos and farm silos; they also manufacture a full line of handling equipment; livestock equipment, including ventilation systems, feeding and watering systems; metal structures and cladding.

The State-of-the-art manufacturing plant, equipped with the most advanced machinery and equipment, enables Silos Cordoba to meet the requirements of our most demanding clients worldwide.

Founded in 1975 by Juan López Lietor, the company is located in Córdoba, a historical city in Andalucia, southern Spain, where the most traditional arts and crafts such as pottery, jewellery, handmade leather goods and guitars coexist with the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies.

The scent of the orange blossom, the golden stone of the Mosque, the stern arches of the Roman bridge, the silver-shadowed streets of the Judería and the rich cultural heritage of its people make it possible.

According to their website: “We are committed to customer satisfaction. We look at the specific needs of each client to develop a personalised solution. We have a multidisciplinary team of qualified engineers that are experts on project development. We have a team of technicians and operators that are experts on facility assembly. We control the materials and monitor all the stages of the development and assembly processes to assure quality up to delivery”.

Through the use of the most up-to-date technologies, the support of an experienced team and the quality of our materials and processes, the goal of Silos Cordoba is to provide their clients with customised, high quality and cost-efficient solutions, innovate in product development, and meet their clients demands on time.

“We have developed a global network that guarantees an excellent service wherever you need it”.

Visit the website HERE.

22/12/2016: IGP Institute and USSEC team up to teach risk management techniques

Latin American professionals travel to the IGP Institute to learn about risk management practices.

Seven participants travelled to the IGP Institute Conference Centre in Manhattan, Kansas, December 15-16, 2016, to engage in the USSEC Risk Management Latin America course.

www.grains.k-state.edu/igp/

The collaboration between the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the IGP Institute provided education and training to Latin American professionals about current risk management practices.

IGP curriculum manager Carlos Campabadal led the course in several lectures with the help of guest presenters. The relationship between the IGP Institute and USSEC provides skills for mitigating the risk during grain purchasing is highlighted in this training.

Course participant Angela Maria Ayora a general manager for egg production companies in Colombia saw this firsthand.

“It was a great opportunity for me,”Ms Ayora says. “I decided to take advantage of it and to get all the information that I can so I can figure out how to apply it to the six companies I represent and in my daily job responsibilities.”

Fellow course participant Juan Esteban Mejia, a farm manager also from Colombia, says that he hopes to put the techniques he has learned here at the IGP Institute to use when he returns home.

“It would be good for our companies in Colombia to learn from this training and explore the possibility of not taking on so much risk,” Mejia says.

“Right now we are always in the market. It has been beneficial to see how the whole network works.”

This is just one example of the partnership trainings offered by the IGP Institute.

IGP also offers training in grain processing and flour milling, grain purchasing, and feed manufacturing and grain quality management.

For more information on this and other courses, click HERE.

December 20, 2016

Alapala company profile

Establishing plants at any desired capacity, Alapala Machine is a company that exports 95 percent of its current production today and has hundreds of references in over 75 countries in 4 continents including developed industrial countries such as Belgium, France, Italy, Canada and USA. Alapala continually develops and expands thanks to its superior technology infrastructure, perfectionist staff and management, and its quality and customer-oriented approach.

It renders the best before-sales and after-sales services with its staff specialized in their industry, overseas representatives, strong service networks and spare-part stocks.

Alapala can manufacture quality and high performance machinery where the best efficiency ad products can be obtained in the production facilities that have the most developed and state-of-the art technology.
Alapala’s lines of business:

•    Wheat flour mills,
•    Semolina mills,
•    Corn flour mills,
•    Rice processing plants,
•    Feed mills,
•    Cereal storage systems,
•    Weighing, conveying, packing equipment
•    Harbour facilities under the licence of Tramco Inc-USA

Read more HERE.

21/12/2016: Nutriad concludes 2016 Spain maize mycotoxin survey

Multinational feed producer Nutriad, concluded its 2016 Mycotoxin Survey in Spain, which included 107 maize samples from different Spanish regions.

All samples were collected almost immediately after the harvest from farms or animal feed production sites.

Radka Borutova

More than 400 analyses were conducted to test for the occurrence of the 4 mycotoxins most frequently found in agricultural commodities intended for animal production.

The survey provided an insight into the incidences of aflatoxins (Afla) – sum of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2, zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FUM) – sum of fumonisin B1 and fumonisin B2.

The results showed that almost 48% and 29% of the maize samples were contaminated with FUM and DON, respectively.

Only 47 % of the samples contained Afla and this low incidence of contamination was unexpected. The average concentrations of all recovered mycotoxins were medium (>LOQ but below EU recommendation levels).

The highest concentration of DON detected in one of the samples reached 3721 μg/kg. Only 8.4% of the samples contained ZEN, a mycotoxin affecting fertility performance of all animal species. The ZEN average concentration reached 145 μg/kg which is high especially for sows and piglets.

Unexpectedly, the results showed that the average concentration of DON was 821 μg/kg which is significant. Several samples were contaminated with 2 to 4 mycotoxins at the same time which may lead to synergistic interactions among them.

The Nutriad survey detected a low incidence of Afla, which was unexpected as there has been concerns in the Spanish market over high aflatoxin M1 levels in milk of dairy cows.

Maize harvested in central Europe 2016:
©Copyright: Radka Borutova,
NUTRIAD International

Whilst the average of Afla1 detected in the positive samples was 4.7 μg/kg and the maximum concentration was 13 μg/kg, none of the samples exceeded the maximum EU permitted concentration of aflatoxin B1 (20 μg/kg).

The Nutriad 2016 mycotoxin survey concluded that this year’s harvest of maize in Spain was of medium quality (>LOQ but below EU recommendation levels) in terms of mycotoxin contamination which is comparable with the results from 2015.

Based on the results of this survey conducted immediately after the 2016 harvest, the belief is that this year’s maize crop in Spain should not be automatically considered safe for inclusion into finished feed rations for all animal species and a degree of vigilance is prudent.

Stated Radka Borutova, Business Development Manager at Nutriad: “Vigilance is always advisable as cereals in animal feeds originate from many sources and some continental European cereals and South American soya harvested in 2016 have been shown to be contaminated with medium to high concentrations of mycotoxins. The last possible line of defense is the detoxification of mycotoxins in vivo. The addition of proven mycotoxin deactivators to animal feeds is a very common method to prevent mycotoxicosis and is an effective strategy to keep mycotoxin risk low under any and all conditions.”

Read more HERE.

21/12/2016: Siwertell secures industry award success again

Siwertell, part of Cargotec, has won its fifth prestigious International Bulk Journal (IBJ) Award.

A joint submission with its customer Peel Ports took the prize in the Best Ship Loading/Unloading System category at the awards ceremony held in London on 21st November 2016.

"This latest win sends a clear message to anyone in the market for a dry bulk handling system that Siwertell is the first-choice for anyone whose priorities are capacity, safety, environmental issues and overall performance," says Emily Brækhus Cueva, Marketing Manager, Siwertell.

Trevor Pereira, Managing Director of the Maritime Standard;
Juha Huovilainen, Sales Director, Siwertell; Emily Brækhus Cueva, Marketing Manager, Siwertell;
David Huck, Port Director, Peel Ports; Garry Sharpe, Project Director, Peel Ports;
Ray Girvan, Publisher, IBJ

The IBJ judges offered their congratulations to Siwertell and Peel Ports, noting that Peel Ports' new £100 million biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool - constructed using two fully-enclosed Siwertell 790-D screw-type ship unloaders - greatly increases berth capacity, enabling quick vessel turnaround and vastly reducing dust emissions.

The terminal is capable of supplying Drax power station with up to 10 train loads of wood pellets per day.

Drax power station represents the largest single decarbonisation project in Europe; it will use up to three million tonnes of US-produced wood pellets a year.

"We were honoured when Peel Ports asked us to partner with them in this award submission. We have immense faith in the quality and attributes of our products and take great satisfaction from ensuring that they achieve long working lives for their owners" says Juha Huovilainen, Sales Director, Siwertell.

Peel Ports Group and Siwertell have a well-established relationship, with Peel Ports choosing Siwertell 11 years ago to design, manufacture, deliver and install a similar Siwertell 790D at its Liverpool Grain Terminal, the UK's largest grain import facility handling over 1 million tonnes per annum.

The IBJ Awards competition was introduced in 2009 and this year it attracted a record number of entries. Ms Brækhus Cueva explained the awards' importance to Siwertell and their influence on the world of shipping, bulk handling and port operations.

"IBJ is a well-respected organisation within the bulk material industry. Those in positions of responsibility take careful note of the shortlists and winners in categories relevant to their operations. They are also well aware of our regular successes, confirming our consistent performance and providing important industry recognition of our efforts and achievements".

Read more HERE.

21/12/2016: Validation of diet modelling including live yeast effect as rumen modifier

During the Annual Congress on Ruminant Research organised this week in Paris (3R- Rencontres Recherches Ruminants), a study on ruminant diet modelling conducted in partnership with Toulouse Agricultural College (Toulouse, France), was presented.

This innovative study aimed at integrating the effects of ruminant specific live yeast used as rumen modifier into dairy production dynamic model.

Eric Chevaux, Global Applied R&D Manager explains: “Rumen specific yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 has been widely studied and today we have gathered data on its effects on the degradation of a large database of raw materials and forages in sacco.”

Image: Micolo J

“This enabled to predict its effects on ration degradation. Backed-up by a large dataset of field results on dairy production, it allowed us to go one step further and design a dietary sub-model to predict the effect of this specific additive on milk production. The trial presented today contributed to validate our predictive model”.

A concrete advance for dairy producers
Laurent Dussert, Category Manager, Ruminant Feed Additives commented on the study: “Intensive farming practices require a high plane of nutrition, which typically includes high levels of fermentable carbohydrates. This can put the animal at risk of developing metabolic disorders, such as sub-acute rumen acidosis.”

“A large amount of data concerning our rumen specific live yeast modes of action and benefits indicate that it represents a valuable tool which allows maximising the forage portion of the diet, giving the farmers and nutritionists the possibility to either increase milk or meat revenue per kg of feed, or to optimise feed cost with similar milk revenue.”

“The present study confirms the relevance of a sub-model which enables to take into account the quantitative response of live yeast on rumen pH and fibre degradation within a feed formulation program. Such concrete advance is valuable to allow nutritionists and producers to model for improved feed efficiency and income over feed cost.”

Read more HERE.

Erkaya company profile

Erkaya, which was founded in 2000, it is one of the leading and outstanding manufacturers of Turkey in the field of basic laboratory equipment and ingredients for wheat mills and bakeries.

Erkaya holds a major part of the Turkish market. Strong international focusing, formulated, fast, economic solutions combined with continually evolving quality awareness and customer oriented services form a significant part of its business concept.

Because of these special features, Erkaya has become a fast growing company among its competitors. Having ISO 9001:2000 Erkaya is exporting to many countries worldwide by the contribution of its professional work force and very competitive quality and price.

What they have been proudly manufacturing and marketing are as follows;

- Flour additives
- Bread improvers
- Vitamin premixes for flour fortification
- Laboraory Equipment for grain, flour and feed industry
- Cereal flours
- Laboratory chemicals

They have an experienced team in all departments such as Production, Quality Control, Sales and Technical Assistance.

Their vision is 100 percent customer satisfaction. Erkaya is ready to meet the needs and demands of its customers all times and just in time.

Their sales team pays great attention to satisfying their customers from order to delivery in modern attitudes.

Their range of customers includes;

- Flour mills
- Bakeries
- Universities
- Private corporations doing grain purchasing and marketing
- Trading markets
- Feed sector

Visit the website HERE.

December 19, 2016

20/12/2016: Torsten Wywiol elected “Entrepreneur of the Year 2016”

The business award acknowledges entrepreneurship, innovativeness and personal commitment

Torsten Wywiol (50) has been elected “Entrepreneur of the Year 2016”.

The CEO of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe in Hamburg was recently presented with the prestigious business award of the professional services firm EY in Berlin.

This year, 34 companies reached the finals of the demanding, multi-stage competition. From this group of finalists, an independent jury selected the winners of the coveted title.

In the category Consumer Products and Retail, the award went to Torsten Wywiol, who has built up his group of twelve independent specialist companies into an internationally respected ingredients manufacturer and innovator in the fiercely competitive food industry.

The “Entrepreneur of the Year” award acknowledges outstanding achievements in over 60 countries.

In 2016 the award was granted for the 20th time in Germany to entrepreneurs who achieve top performance and regularly bring about remarkable innovations.

At the same time they must attach importance to fair treatment of employees and contribute to solving social problems.

The Stern-Wywiol Gruppe is made up of twelve independent specialist companies in Germany that manufacture and market functional ingredients for the production of food and feed.

They include such internationally renowned firms as Hydrosol, Mühlenchemie, SternMaid, SternVitamin, Sternchemie, SternEnzym, HERZA Schokolade and Berg+Schmidt.

Each individual company has a high level of competence in a specific field, for example in baked goods, dairy products, deli foods, meat, fish, chocolate, flavourings, lecithins, enzymes and vitamins.

Their customers include industrial bakeries, dairies, producers of food and sugar confectionery, and also manufacturers of animal feed in 136 countries.

The Stern-Wywiol Gruppe has already developed some 1,500 base materials from which the group continuously creates and manufactures new ingredients and raw products that give industrially produced foods a longer shelf life and make them healthier and more nutritious.

This is done in close cooperation with the customer, but above all it is made possible by the flexible structures of the enterprise: the group’s Network of Excellence offers a platform for the development of customized products by the specialist companies.

The constant exchange of information between all the food experts stimulates creativity and promotes the emergence of new formulations.

On an area of 3,000 square metres at the group’s own Stern- Technology Centre, ingredients are mixed, stirred, baked or boiled in various pilot production units.

15 percent of the employees are engaged in developing and optimizing food ingredients. “It is here that all the firms specializing in different industries have access to the pooled knowledge and skills of the whole group”, says Entrepreneur of the Year Torsten Wywiol.

“We make an important contribution to human nutrition around the globe”, Wywiol explains.

It is no mere chance that the group regularly cooperates with relief organizations. Fortification of flours with essential vitamins and minerals helps to prevent deficiencies and promotes the health of many populations around the world.

The Stern-Wywiol Gruppe was founded by Torsten’s father Volkmar Wywiol in Hamburg in 1980.

Through the shrewd acquisition of small companies, but above all through its own development, the single enterprise grew into a dynamic group of firms that now employs a staff of over 1,000 worldwide and achieves an annual turnover of 450 million EUR.

Today, the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe not only supplies ingredients; it also offers intermediate products to industrial bakeries, dairies, and manufacturers of food and confectionery.

Not only has Torsten Wywiol considerably increased the group’s turnover; he is also forging ahead with its internationalization.

With 15 affiliates abroad, in the world’s key markets, the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe has already established a sound basis for further growth.

“In most of the markets where our group operates, it holds a leading position or offers the best quality”, Wywiol explains.

In flour treatment and flour improvement the group plays a leading role, and the enzymes for food and animal nutrition meet the highest standards.

“Being a family business we have the advantage of short routes; we can respond faster to customers’ wishes and make quick decisions”, says Torsten Wywiol.

A large proportion of our profits is invested in training our employees. They can plan plenty of scope and freedom into their daily activities and expect responsibility.

“As a company operating outside the structures of the big multicorporate enterprises, we regard our independence as almost sacred”, Torsten Wywiol asserts.

“That has always enabled us to be a little different from the rest. A bit unconventional, sometimes – but all the more creative and successful.”

Read more HERE.

20/12/2016: Evonik ends cooperation with Chr. Hansen in the area of probiotics for animal nutrition

Evonik Industries and the Danish company Chr. Hansen plan to end their cooperation in the Asia Pacific region effective December 31, 2016.
Evonik had been a distributor for Chr. Hansen's probiotic feed additives for swine and poultry feed in the region since 2012.

“We enjoyed a highly trusting partnership with Chr. Hansen, but want to be active in the probiotics market with our own products in the future," said Dr Emmanuel Auer, the head of the Animal Nutrition Business Line at Evonik, to explain the decision.

Image: Brian Gratwicke

Evonik acquired the probiotics business of the Spanish company NOREL in the summer of 2016.

The transaction added two probiotic animal nutrition products to the specialist company’s feed amino acids portfolio: Ecobiol® (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) for broilers, and Fecinor® (Enterococcus faecium) for piglet breeding. More products are expected to follow.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, which are administered with the feed and have been proven to show health-promoting effects in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals.

They play an important role in livestock breeding as natural alternatives to antibiotics and antibiotic growth promoters. “We aim to offer the most comprehensive range of solutions for healthy and sustainable animal nutrition by including probiotics,” says Auer.

Evonik’s Animal Nutrition Business Line has over 60 years of experience in the manufacture of essential amino acids and provides solutions for efficient and sustainable animal nutrition to customers in over one hundred countries.

Evonik wants to make an even greater contribution to the efficiency of animal feed by supplementing its portfolio with innovative feed additives beyond amino acids in order to create additional value for its customers.

Evonik’s products and services in the area of animal nutrition play a key role worldwide in the production of healthy and affordable food, while preserving natural resources and reducing the ecological footprint.

Read more HERE.

20/12/2016: Manildra Group’s North American headquarters relocates

Manildra Group USA, the industry leader in vital wheat gluten, wheat proteins, and wheat starches, has relocated its North American Headquarters to Leawood, Kansas.

The new headquarters features a state-of-the-art Innovation Centre.

Manildra has expanded its vital wheat gluten business and evolved to become the go-to resource for wheat protein and starch innovation.

Image: Elias Gayles

"This new location provides the needed space to grow our team and better support our customers," said Manildra Group USA president Neal Bassi.

The Innovation Center provides the resources for research ranging from ingredient process development to finished food products.

"By creating a highly collaborative environment we can bring together our quality control, ingredient expertise and finished product application knowledge in a way that gives our customers a competitive advantage," said Mr Bassi.

"As we all address consumer demands in this changing marketplace we are now able to collaborate with food manufacturers from beginning to end on products ranging from organic to clean label to high protein."

The Innovation Centre allows Manildra to streamline time to market for both new ingredients and customer initiatives.

Capabilities include ingredient quality testing, bake testing, and finished product analysis.

The bakery in the Innovation Centre can produce a variety of food products including breads, cakes, tortillas, nutrition bars, snacks, and more.

Read more HERE.

December 18, 2016

Zhengchang company profile

Zhengchang, established in 1918, has made constant innovations in feed machinery industry and accumulated a wealth of experience in tackling the various challenges facing feed companies and, more importantly, is able to offer a range of comprehensive solutions.

ZCME has now evolved into China’s largest manufacture of feed machinery and has 16 branches in China with over 1300 staff and more than thirty offices all over the world.

Zhengchang to date has successfully constructed more than 2000 turnkey projects world around the world, covering fields of poultry and livestock feed, aquatic feed, pet feed, premix feed, sawdust pellet, fertilizer, silo storage, pasture, electrical control and garbage treatment, etc.

ZCME projects are designed to deliver to the client higher feed quality, higher overall capacity and more profits.Zhengchang have conquered challenges one after another for the customers and accumulated rich experience over the past 90 years.

They are now making great endeavors to apply their latest achievements to feed, pasture, environment protection, fertilizer, sawdust shaping industries.

Zhengchang is more than a professional partner who can provide advanced machinery, technology and management ideas.

It is also a true problem solver who knows you well during your development. Zhengchang is with you every step of the way.

Visit the website HERE.Zhengchang, established in 1918, has made constant innovations in feed machinery industry and accumulated a wealth of experience in tackling the various challenges facing feed companies and, more importantly, is able to offer a range of comprehensive solutions.

ZCME has now evolved into China’s largest manufacture of feed machinery and has 16 branches in China with over 1300 staff and more than thirty offices all over the world.

19/12/2016: Academia and industry determined to unlock animal performance gains through precision nutrition

New discoveries in the science that underpins feed efficacy could bring significant value to the animal feed industry, according to academics and researchers at a recent industry summit.

The 3rd International Phytate Summit (IPS3), held in November and hosted by the University of Arkansas, the University of Illinois and AB Vista, brought together top scientists and nutritionists from 22 countries to discuss the positive benefits of precision nutrition – and in particular the destruction of the anti-nutrient phytate.

Driving positive change
AB Vista senior research manager Dr Carrie Walk said that new understandings revealed at the meeting of the wide-ranging negative impacts of phytate on animal nutrition are likely to bring about positive changes to dietary formulation.

“We know that phytate destruction in the intestinal tract has massive benefits on nutrient utilisation and performance.”

“Four or five years ago people were using phytase to release phosphorus. Now we understand more about phytate and its influence on nutrients as well as animal performance, and can formulate diets based on more complete phytate destruction and provision of nutrients beyond phosphorus.”

Hans H. Stein, Professor of Animal Science at the University of Illinois, agreed, adding: “Currently, discussion in the swine industry is focused on calcium digestibility and formulating diets based on digestible calcium. Results of research indicate that phytase increases calcium digestibility – so this effect should be taken into consideration when it comes to diet formulation.”

Connecting science with real-world application
IPS3 saw a renewed commitment between academics and industry representatives to connect the science of enzymes and feed ingredients to real-world application, said Dr Mike Kidd from the University of Arkansas.

One such area of research is amino acids – where under or over-supply can significantly impact animal performance.

“Phytase appears to influence amino acid digestibility, so researching the underlying mechanisms is really important if we’re going to take the next steps in understanding what’s going on.”

“We look at data and think about phytate and phytase – but can we look at it and say phytate has changed the amino acid requirement of a chicken?”

Professor Merlin Lindemann of the University of Kentucky said that such new developments in the industry’s understanding of nutrition could have a significant impact on feed formulation.

“When one realises that the benefits of superdosing phytase to destroy the anti-nutrient phytate actually go beyond calcium and phosphorus release to amino acid release, trace mineral release and whole body energetics improvement, then one wonders what other unanticipated benefits may there be?”

Read more HERE.

19/12/2016: Digestibility is the top reason livestock producers use phytogenic feed additives

Digestibility enhancement ranks as the number one reason that the livestock industry uses phytogenic feed additives (PFAs), according to a recent survey of more than one thousand agribusiness professionals.

Plant-based compounds –specifically essential oils, herbs and spices– are known to have a range of biologically active properties that can be applied to modern animal production.

www.biomin.net

These include anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and digestion enhancing effects.

Beyond digestion
“There is no doubt that better digestion is a key reason to use PFAs in animal nutrition,” commented Michael Noonan, Global Product Line Manager Phytogenics at BIOMIN.

“Digestibility was the emphasis back in 1989 when Digestarom® was first launched— as is evident in the name.”

Decades of scientific research has improved our understanding of the application of phytogenic feed additives.

“For a product such as Digestarom, the science is there. The mode of action is documented. It includes enhanced digestibility, gut microbiota modulation, gut protection and gut integrity. Ultimately, this means better feed conversion.

For producers, it translates into higher profitability and better competitiveness in global feed markets.”

Science meets reality
Nutritionists, growers, business owners, veterinarians and consultants located in over 100 countries provided their views on the use of phytogenic feed additives in livestock in the recent BIOMIN Phytogenic Feed Additive survey.

The desire to improve feed efficiency, reduce antibiotic usage, lower the environmental footprint and optimise gut performance all contribute to the industry’s increased interest in PFAs. “We know that some leading producers have been early-adopters of PFAs,” said Mr Noonan.

“Understanding the motivations and benefits of PFAs as reported by professionals in real-life production situations takes the discussion with clients to a whole new level.” We are looking forward to analysing the feedback and sharing the results.

The full results of the BIOMIN Phytogenic Feed Additives Survey will be published in March 2017.

Read more HERE.

19/12/2016: NGFA leader says industry needs to engage with consumers

Members of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and other agricultural groups need to partner to increase their communications with consumers and the public on food- and agriculture-related issues, said NGFA Chairman John Heck, senior vice president of The Scoular Company, at the 45th annual Country Elevator Conference and Trade Show.

The 2016 Country Elevator Conference and Trade Show, conducted December 11 - 13 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, is the single largest gathering of country elevator personnel and this year's meeting attracted more than 700 members of the grain, feed, processing and export industry.

During his keynote comments Monday morning, Mr Heck outlined several potential themes emerging in the NGFA's new long-range plan, currently under development.

Among several priorities, the new plan likely will emphasise the importance of communication on food and agricultural issues with consumers, noting the impact on the supply chain.

"The facts we have access to aren't always known by, and sometimes don't resonate with consumers... [but] it's the facts that have to be communicated," he said.

Mitch Dawson, chairman of the NGFA's Country Elevator Committee and director of grain operations at MFA Inc., Columbia, Mo., echoed Mr Heck's sentiments in comments during the conference.

"The internet and social media have made it difficult for consumers to know what is truth and what is fiction when it comes to our food," Mr Dawson said, noting that each person in agriculture has a responsibility to convey the benefits of commercial agricultural production and marketing to the public.

"Agriculture is our job, our careers...and it better be your passion. If not, you're probably in the wrong career field," he said. "We need involvement from each of you."

When it comes to other priorities for 2017, Mr Heck noted that NGFA is working to provide extensive input to President-elect Donald Trump on legislative and regulatory issues, particularly regulatory excesses that should be rolled back during the early months of the new administration.

Image: Ian Sane

Trade will also be a high priority for the NGFA with the incoming administration. "One of our early priorities also is to begin a constructive dialogue with the Trump team on ways to improve and modernise trade agreements - starting with the North American Free Trade Agreement - in a way that reinforces the importance of two-way trade and preserves the many positive aspects of trade agreements for ag," Mr Heck said.

In addition, the NGFA chairman highlighted the challenges for the industry when it comes to the commercialisation of agricultural biotechnology traits.

While very supportive of the technology and the benefits and efficiencies it brings to modern production agriculture, the NGFA continues to urge technology owners to obtain foreign market approvals before new traits are planted on a commercial scale so as to avoid trade disruptions.

"Frankly, one of our hurdles has been to convince farm and commodity groups that appear willing to accept the short-term risk of prematurely planting biotech traits before they are approved in world markets," Mr Heck said. "We need to do a better job of informing those growers of that risk."

Regarding new gene-editing technologies that are making their way into the market, Mr Heck said obtaining some international regulatory coherence with other countries on how and whether these traits will be regulated is imperative.

"We simply can't allow the same kind of disparate regulatory treatment to occur with these new gene-editing techniques as happened with transgenics," he said. "The market disruption could be catastrophic."

Finally, Mr Heck reminded attendees that the NGFA will continue in its mission to provide proactive safety education and training outreach to the industry.

Regional Grain Handling Safety Seminars in partnership with State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations will continue in 2017 to further disseminate a strong safety message.

In addition, the NGFA will continue its partnership with State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations and state feed regulatory agencies to conduct training for the industry on compliance with the Food Safety Modernisation Act.

The 2016 Country Elevator Conference features expert insights into biotechnology, the agricultural economy, and generational differences in the workforce, as well as a variety of educational sessions geared toward facility operations, merchandising and management.

Read more HERE.

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