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April 30, 2021

Victam Asia will join forces with VIV Asia for their event in January 2022

After postponing the Victam Asia event twice, with the current vaccination programmes happening all over the world, the event will likely go ahead in January 2022.
As many events were postponed the past two years, there will be a full agenda once events can take place again. To optimise the event for exhibitors and visitors and trying to avoid conflicts with other events, Victam and VNU have decided to join forces: Victam Asia and VIV Asia will be organised in co-location.

The two events Victam Asia and VIV Asia will be organised in co-location at the Impact Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, Thailand from January 12-14, 2022.

After informing the existing exhibitors, Victam Asia received a lot of positive feedback regarding the joining of the two events, and will happily be restarting activities soon.

For more information about the event visit the Victam Asia website, HERE.

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

Agri-tech expert appointed as first ever agriculture professor at Hartpury University

The first Professor and Director of Agriculture has been appointed at Hartpury University, Agri-tech expert Matt Bell. The aim is to drive impactful research and innovation, connecting commercial farming activities with student experience.

Professor Matt Bell
Image credit: Hartpury University
Professor Bell, an expert in agricultural systems and sustainable food production, specialises in the complex relationship between animals, plants, soil, nutrients, water and climate.

His extensive research allows land managers to assess the impacts of changing their activities to their profit, production efficiency and environmental impact.

In his new role, Professor Bell will help integrate Hartpury's farming initiatives with research and teaching –including Hartpury's commercial farm, Agri-Tech Centre and planned Digital Innovation Farm.

Hartpury's award-winning farm, which supplies produce to M&S, Muller, Glencore and Frontier, and Agri-Tech Centre, which connects local farmers with digital technologies and data, play a central role in connecting students with innovative real-world practice.

By 2030, the government-supported Digital Innovation Farm will make Hartpury home to the National Centre for Agricultural Data Management and Interpretation, to assist the industry in its advancement of agricultural technology, data and security.

This is part of Hartpury's exciting 10-year smart farming vision, putting it among the national thought leaders in agri-science.

Professor Bell will support Hartpury University's Agriculture Department in developing ambitious research opportunities, connecting commercial activities with teaching, and provide international industry expertise.

Professor Bell says: 'The resilience of food systems to environmental change and more resource efficient systems has become a global priority, meaning the ambitious developments at Hartpury attracted me to this exciting new challenge.'

'It is an exciting time for farming and the rural landscape with a new policy model for UK agriculture, and the urgent need for more sustainable food systems that produce nutritious and affordable food for all.'

'The Digital Innovation Farm at Hartpury is relevant and timely, and will help inform industry and its farm-level decision making.'

Professor Bell added: 'My agricultural research and teaching exploring sustainable agriculture has taken me around the world from my upbringing in Herefordshire to Scotland, Australia, Northern Ireland, Nottingham and now Hartpury.'

'My early work in Scotland investigated genetics, nutrition, health and welfare of livestock before moving to Australia to use my agricultural systems background in work investigating the impact of climate on pasture-based livestock systems.'

'My varied experience will benefit the current developments at the farm, take research solutions to commercial adoption and help shape the future of the agriculture departments at Hartpury University and Hartpury College.'

'Hopefully my passion for farming systems will inspire students to seek a career in agriculture and potentially further their learning from FE to undergraduate and then postgraduate study at Hartpury.'

Agriculture degrees and diplomas at Hartpury provide routes into a range of career opportunities within the UK and international agriculture industry, including farm management, agronomy, policymaking, academic research, science and consultancy.

To read more about Hartpury University visit their website, HERE.
 

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

April 28, 2021

Cereals is holding a fully in-person event this June

Contrary to the rumour mill, Cereals is happening in real life, and you can be there in person, says Alli McEntyre, event organiser. 'No online webinars, just real people meeting in the fields of Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire. Not a 'virtual' link in sight,' she says. 'You can walk across real grass, eye up actual machines, talk to people directly, attend seminars in person, examine the crop plots - and there's even a soil pit you can get into.'
 
Image credit: Cereals

There will be 300 exhibitors to visit and the Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers Arena will showcase live demos that you can watch in person – from a safe distance, of course. The Isuzu Driving Course will let you drive real vehicles, and the full seminar programme will consist of 100 percent live speakers, travelling from all over the country to the actual Cereals site in Lincolnshire. It's all in the flesh – and naturally Covid-19 secure.

The Cereals Event will be held in Lincolnshire on June 30 – July 1, 2021, and will comply with all required biosecurity measures against Covid-19.

For more information visit the Cereals website, HERE.
 

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

Registration is now available for AFIA’s Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference

Registration has opened for the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference (PISC), happening in-person August 17-19 in Orlando, Fla. This three-day 'must attend' program includes education and networking events for hundreds of feed ingredient buyers and sellers across the animal food manufacturing industry.


'We are thrilled to once again offer the feed industry the opportunity to make new connections and learn strategies that drive business,' says Veronica Rovelli, AFIA's senior director of meetings and events. 'PISC provides a perfect venue for industry members to foster and deepen relationships with their suppliers and clients, many of whom have been unable to travel over the past year due to COVID-19. We look forward to safely being back on the road seeing our members and making new acquaintances.'

In addition to the networking events, conference attendees will hear presentations on myriad topics, including: navigating the plant-based product trend, communicating with consumers using 'agvocacy,' managing the threat of foreign animal diseases, such as African swine fever, understanding the current trade and political landscape, forecasting the grain and economic outlooks and more.

The conference will also host a Suppliers Showcase where AFIA member suppliers will have the opportunity to highlight their products and services.

PISC will take place in-person at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, but may look different than in years past due to the AFIA's commitment to providing a safe environment for attendees in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Those who are unable to travel may have an option to participate virtually by contacting register@afia.org.

To learn more about AFIA and their event visit their website, HERE.
 

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

Feed Forward webazine to launch two-part conditioning special this May

Triott Group is to launch a two-part Feed Forward Conditioning Special in May, the first of which focuses on demystifying the steam dosing process.

Image credit: USDA NRCS Montana on Flickr

The two-part special promises to be the most comprehensive Feed Forward production yet, walking viewers through the entire conditioning process: from the boiler room, to the steam dosing unit, to the conditioning operation, to the expander, to the pellet line.

Both episodes of the Conditioning Special webazine will be livestreamed by Dutch feed & food production technology specialist, The Triott Group - and hosted by IVS, Almex and PTN, all Triott companies.

Part one, entitled, 'It all starts with steam', drops at 11am CET on May 11th and focuses on the importance of super-heated, dry steam to the conditioning process. Viewers will learn how good quality steam can solve a variety of problems in the feed mill: from poor pellet quality, to production breakdowns and bottlenecks, to reduced capacity. The IVS Steam Team will answer viewers' questions and demonstrate how the unit works; while a leading customer will share their own insights and experiences.

With a broadcast date of June 15 at 11am CET, part two of the Conditioning Special picks up the story by outlining the real purpose of conditioning; the factors for success, and the variables that feed mills need to consider. It will then guide viewers through the entire conditioning process in a simple, practical way, explaining when and how to use different conditioning equipment and set-ups.

'Increasingly, we see feed mill customers grappling with the challenges of choosing the right conditioning system and asking us questions about how to make the right choice,' says Erik Ottevanger, Triott Director. 'Despite the critical role of both the conditioning and steam dosing processes in the feed mill, it's clear that some mystery remains – for good reason. There is no 'one size fits all' solution; the variables are often very complex; and there is a wide choice of different systems available. With this 2-part special, we want to open up the 'black box' of conditioning and give our viewers a practical insight into how they can unlock more value from the entire process.'

The first part of the special includes:

  • An in-depth look at how and why the steam dosing is essential to the overall conditioning process and the typical benefits it can provide.
  • Independent sight from Mr Jan Grohn, Production Manager at leading German feed manufacturer, AgriV, who explains what the advantages are of great steam and how aspects of their operation have been improved through better quality steam.
  • An overview of the bigger picture from conditioning specialist PTN, covering the fundamental factors that need to be considered.
  • A demonstration of how the steam dosing unit works – and how the IVS system is able to achieve consistently high performance – from technical director and IVS 'Steam Doctor', Hans den Otter.

'Here at IVS we have spent 30 years understanding steam, so we're delighted to have this opportunity to share this expertise with Feed Forward viewers,' says Managing Director of IVS, Frank Dielissen. 'Steam holds the key to boosting the quality & quantity of every process in compound feed and pet food. It really does 'all start with steam' - and we are looking forward to explaining how and why in a practical way.'


For more information about the Triott Group visit their website, HERE.

 

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

Qatar-based Gulf Biotech buys license from Unibio to turn natural gas into sustainable protein

Gulf Biotech, the Doha-based industrial biotech investor, and Unibio, the leading sustainable protein company, have signed a license agreement to produce sustainable and organic protein in Qatar. The large availability of natural gas makes Qatar an ideal location for the conversion of natural gas into protein.


The plant will initially have one module consisting of four U-Loop® fermenters, with a total annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes of Uniprotein®. The technology is based on a modular design and extra modules can easily be added to expand the production. Gulf Biotech will now focus on planning for the construction of the facility. The Uniprotein® produced in the plant will be used as a protein supplement in feed for fish and animals to replace unsustainable existing products derived from fishmeal or soy.

The facility will be the region's first natural gas to protein plant and will be based on Unibio's U-Loop® technology, where natural gas is converted through continuous fermentation into Uniprotein®. The production of Uniprotein® is highly resource-efficient and sustainable compared with the production of traditional protein, such as fishmeal and soy. Relative to soy production, Uniprotein® uses 1/300th of the water and 1/25,000th of the land.

With the signing of this agreement, Gulf Biotech, represented by H.E Hitmi Al-Hitmi, has shown its commitment to using innovative technology and Qatar's natural resources to tackle the highly pressing challenge of producing sustainable food for the world's rapidly growing population.

Henrik Busch-Larsen, CEO of Unibio states: 'The abundance of natural gas in Qatar makes the country an obvious choice for the production of Uniprotein®. We are delighted to be partnering with Gulf Biotech who are visionary, ambitious, and open to new technologies. Together, we can help address one of Qatar and the world's major challenges and sustainably feed the world's growing population. We look forward to bringing our partnership to the next phase where we will plan the engineering and construction of the new plant.'

H.E Hitmi Al-Hitmi, Founder of Gulf Biotech, says: 'We are extremely pleased to have signed the region's first license agreement with Unibio for a plant to produce organic and sustainable protein from natural gas. As the world seeks to feed its ever-growing population in an environmentally sustainable manner, the opportunity for us to produce protein-based on the fermentation of natural gas in Qatar is highly important. We see enormous potential for the future sustainable development of our business in Qatar and beyond.'

For more information visit the Unibio website, HERE.
 

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

April 27, 2021

The Delacon team helps raise awareness with World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021

Delacon's vision is to unlock the plant universe for better lives. Using nature in its phytogenics, the company has been caring about the resilience in livestock animals for 33 years. On the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, 2021, the Delacon team is raising awareness for the importance of health and resilience at work.

Image credit: Delacon
The global pandemic brought resilience back to one of the top priorities on Delacon's agenda. Covid-19 has challenged the population as a society, as an industry, and as individuals – from an economic, social, and health perspective. The feed-to-food chain has been under pressure to ensure the food supply for more than 7.9 billion people worldwide, while considering the changing consumer habits due to lockdowns and increased teleworking.

For Delacon, taking responsibility for better lives is linked to the company's vision and deeply rooted in its core values: make a difference, grow together, impact life. 'Especially in challenging times, values are guiding stars', explains Delacon CEO Markus Dedl. 'We have made a difference with the creativity in serving our customers. The Delacon team has grown together even further and ensured close connections with our partners globally – and we have impacted lives through actions of solidarity, within the team and for local communities.'

'I strongly believe that it needs healthy people for a sustainable and healthy organisation', Markus Dedl continues. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, one-quarter of all employees worldwide name the workplace as a high stressor in life. Markus Dedl notes: "The workplace can have a high impact on people's overall resilience. Therefore, we decided to not only focus on safety and health related aspects, but also to create more awareness on resilience in general. We recently kicked off our awareness program and decided to take one day off on April 28 for the entire company – to remind ourselves of the importance of health & resilience, and to recharge our batteries."

For more information about Delacon visit their website, HERE.
 

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

Sweet Manufacturing presents a new conveyor product for feed mills

When working with highly corrosive products such as salt, lime, and dical (dicalcium phosphate) in a feed mill, long- lasting and reliable material handling conveyors are needed. K&S Millwrights, an authorised Sweet Manufacturing dealer in Ohio, is providing its local feed mills with a new conveyor option.

Image credit: Sweet Manufacturing
K&S has provided a solution that they consider is both reliable and long-lasting, while keeping maintenance requirements to a minimum. Aside from the greasing of the bearings, their Round Bottom Flite-Veyor® allows you to 'set it and forget it.'

By utilising the Round Bottom Flite-Veyor®, customers receive a conveyor that has optimal cleanout capabilities. Constructed of 3/16' thick 304 stainless steel, the RB conveyors can be configured with a stainless steel chain and nylon paddles. They can also include gasketing material to produce fully enclosed equipment that will function for years to come without the need to replace liners or perform internal maintenance to the conveyor's body.

The conveyors are fitted with lip seals or cinch seals to provide a barrier between the inside and outside environment. By utilising the seals on the head and tail shafts, the product cannot escape and damage the bearings resulting in premature failure.

K&S conveyors are built to conceal the corrosive products inside, away from important parts that could be damaged and need costly repairs if neglected. The Flite-Veyor® product line consists of hardworking pieces of equipment that can transfer any product from a truck to silos inside tunnels by keeping the product contained, maintaining a clean work area.

To learn more about Sweet Manufacturing visit their website, HERE.
 

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

Cimbria unveils their new brand identity and website

Cimbria, a turnkey solution provider and manufacturer of custom-built solutions for agricultural and industrial processing, today unveiled its new brand identity and website. The changes reflect the brand's customer-focus and industry expertise.
The evolved look includes a more straightforward and modern style that was inspired by the original design. The internal team utilised Danish design principals that prioritise simplicity and functionality and pay homage to the brand's history. Brothers Eric, Svend, and Henry Olesen founded Cimbria in 1947 in Denmark.

A dashed circle has been prominent in the logo throughout the brand's almost 75 years and remains integral to the new version. The circle symbolises Cimbria's approach of working collaboratively to turn their customers' vision into reality, and contains eight dashes; each representing a critical step in the Cimbria Complete turnkey process. Cimbria is at the centre, maintaining a deep connection with their customers throughout the entire process. The circle has forward momentum to illustrate the role the brand plays in helping customers grow into the future.

'The Cimbria brand has always been known for manufacturing innovative products and offering turnkey solutions from start to finish and beyond,' says Stefan Caspari, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AGCO's Grain and Protein brands. 'This is an exciting time in Cimbria's history as we place even greater emphasis on the deep connections we have with our customers – truly understanding their business. We offer expertise to simplify the process for them, reduce their risk and give them peace of mind. The refreshed logo is symbolic of our customer-centred mindset.'

The Cimbria website has also been redesigned for easier navigation and access to information. It highlights the Cimbria Complete process that starts with customers' business goals to create custom designed, manufactured, installed and maintained turnkey solutions. It also showcases the brand's portfolio of drying, material handling, storage, processing, and optical sorting equipment.

For more information visit the Cimbria website, HERE.
 

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

April 26, 2021

The IPPE has been recognised as one of trade show executive’s gold 100 and fastest 50 growing annual U.S trade shows

The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) has announced its recognition by Trade Show Executive on their Gold 100 shows, ranked by net square feet of exhibit space for 2019. IPPE came in at #21 on the listing, up from #31 in 2018.
 

Trade Show Executive also recognised IPPE as part of their Fastest 50, ranked by percentage of growth in net square feet, for which IPPE came in at #26. IPPE is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association, and the North American Meat Institute.

'IPPE's recognition by Trade Show Executive is wonderful news, and we are honoured to be acknowledged for the IPPE's growth. This recognition is indicative of the synergies gained from our combined efforts and even more so from the commitment of our loyal exhibitors, attendees and members from around the world. We are excited about the upcoming 2022 IPPE and are looking forward to an in-person trade show,' says show organisers.

The 2022 IPPE will take place January 25-27, at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta.

For more information visit the IPPE website, HERE.
 

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

Sukup announces new Global Fabrication Inc. acquisitions

Sukup Manufacturing Co. has announced the company is acquiring certain assets of Global Fabrication, Inc., a full service fabrication facility located in Hampton, Iowa. This expansion will allow Sukup to double its manufacturing capacity for catwalks, towers, and other structural products while maintaining a commitment to employment in North Central Iowa.

Image credit: Sukup
The existing facility is approximately 70,000-square feet. Sukup is currently accepting applications for immediate hires at this location, and plans to have the facility fully operational by April 2021.

Steve Sukup, president and CEO of Sukup Manufacturing, says, 'This is the second facility expansion Sukup has announced in 2021, and we believe this investment in our manufacturing facilities is a positive sign of continued growth as a company. Ultimately, our goal is to create products that help farmers feed and fuel the world, and this additional space and personnel is necessary to meet demand. One of our top priorities in this acquisition is to retain many of Global Fab's current employees. We look forward to a smooth transition, and adding manufacturing capacity for our material handling products.

'Sukup is a trusted employer in North Central Iowa,' says Todd Hall of Global Fabrication. 'We appreciate Steve Sukup's leadership through this process, and are confident the employee transition will go smoothly. It's great to know that Global Fab will be part of Sukup's positive impact on the agriculture industry moving forward.

NCP, Inc., acting as exclusive financial advisor, and BrownWinick, acting as legal counsel, advised Sukup on the transaction.

For more information about Sukup visit their website, HERE.
 

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

A new Protein Innovation Centre opens in Singapore, jointly run by Givaudan and Bühler

Givaudan, a global leading company in Taste and Wellbeing, and Bühler, global leader for food processing solutions, today jointly announced the official opening of the APAC Protein Innovation Centre.
Located at the Givaudan Woodlands site in Singapore, the Protein Innovation Centre is jointly run and supported by experts from both companies and is connected to a vast network of R&D innovation centres in Switzerland and key hubs across the region that enables agile plant-based product development on a global scale.


The Protein Innovation Centre in Singapore welcomes food processing companies, start-ups and university researchers from across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region keen to co-create plant-based food experiences that do good and feel good. The Centre combines the pilot technology of Bühler's extrusion and processing equipment with Givaudan's new culinary facilities.

Outfitted with a pilot scale wet and dry extruder, a state-of-the-art product development kitchen, storage facilities, meeting amenities and a viewing area where visitors may tour the 400-square-meter facility and view live demonstrations, the Protein Innovation Centre is constructed with the end-to-end process of plant-based protein production in mind. Businesses will also benefit from support throughout the co-creation process, from raw material selection to product development and research, to application, flavour science, extrusion, and consumer testing.

At the Centre, customers can develop high-quality products suitable for Asian culinary applications at scale. The facility can produce up to 40 kilograms of plant proteins an hour and features dry extrusion, as well as a newer wet extrusion technology that delivers a fibrous structure more akin to muscle, and higher protein content as compared with dry extruded products.


Monila Kothari, APAC President, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing, says: 'We are proud to be part of a partnership that will contribute towards a sustainable food future for Singapore and the APAC region. Through the Protein Innovation Centre, we aim to create an ecosystem that supports start-ups and food businesses in an environment of co-creation. The Centre will provide them access to the expertise, networks and technology required to create authentic plant-based protein alternatives that meet consumer needs and expectations. By bringing flavour solutions that are vegetarian, vegan, plant-based and natural, as well as technologies such as wet extrusion to Singapore and the region, we are helping to make plant-based foods more delicious, authentic, and accessible to business and consumers. We are excited to open our Centre in Singapore, a country that is a hot bed for FoodTech Innovation.'

Ian Roberts, Chief Technology Officer at Bühler, says: 'Great tasting and sustainable protein alternatives are an important contributor to feeding 10 billion people sustainably by 2050. The changes that need to happen to our protein value chains prior to that are so deep, they can only be achieved if the various partners of the food ecosystem start working together today. The Protein Innovation Centre that we open today with Givaudan at the core of Southeast Asia's vibrant food ecosystem, is a step towards achieving our vision of a collaborative and sustainable future of food. The Protein Innovation Centre will not only enable the development of more plant-based protein products across Asia, it will also ensure delicious products can be scaled to the production volumes required to create a positive environmental impact on our food chains.'

For more information about Bühler visit their website, HERE.
 

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

April 23, 2021

Farming for net zero with Cereals 2021

Cereals has decided to move their focus over to achieving net zero, something they believe farmers and the industry need to join together and approach.

'Boosting agriculture's contribution to achieving net zero, and therefore actively addressing the issue of climate change, should be a priority for all involved in the food chain,' says Dr Ruth Bastow, innovation director at CHAP.

Image credit: Cereals
Cereals is therefore focusing on both best practice and emerging scientific developments to help farmers adapt to and mitigate climate change, explains event director, Alli McEntyre. 'We have top researchers and farmer speakers covering topics from carbon credit schemes to the possibilities of genome editing, looking at both the challenges and opportunities ahead.'

An essential part of CHAP's mission is to provide the solutions, networks and expertise needed to support this journey, and further enhance sustainable farming practices, says Dr Bastow. 'This is a collective goal and we can contribute a lot as an industry - from optimising tillage to reduce machinery inputs and carbon emissions, to using data to inform crop management decisions.'

In the AHDB theatre, Minette Batters, president of the NFU, will outline the road to net zero, while scientists and farmers will explore the practical solutions available. Harry Henderson, knowledge exchange technical manager at AHDB, will chair a Monitor Farmer debate, covering both sides of the coin. 'There's a huge range of opinions on net zero and whether it's achievable is the crux of where we'll head with the debate.

'Are we going to see agriculture become more mixed so that cereal growers also raise livestock, creating wider rotations and using manure to build soil organic matter? Or will we see a reduction in horsepower, a revision in the use of fertilisers and plant nutrition, or probably both?'

Behind all of these potential changes lies the question of responsibility; does it lie with farmers, transporters, processors, retailers or consumers? 'Everyone needs clear guidelines on this because there are grey areas,' says Mr Henderson.

Some farmers are already embracing steps towards net zero through practices like regenerative agriculture, but others are just realising that something is going to have to shift if they can't obtain more value from their crops, he says. 'There might be a real possibility that those who aren't already working towards regenerative agriculture will run out of money once BPS comes to an end.'

Ecological practices of building up organic matter, nutrient cycling and soil health, are slow processes – but the adoption of cover crops, biopesticides, biostimulants and natural manures can play a vital part.

Genome editing allows plant varieties to be developed much faster than previously possible, explains Wendy Harwood, senior scientist at the John Innes Centre. 'It produces the same results that we would get from conventional breeding, but much quicker, as we can precisely tweak the crop's DNA to get the exact trait wanted.'

This could be anything from disease resistance to drought tolerance – reducing inputs and improving water utilisation – all of which could help on the road to net zero, she says.

The first developments are likely to be along the lines of disease resistance, with a wheat that is resistant to mildew already developed. 'It's likely that genome editing will foster other developments such as improved nutritional content or better storage properties,' adds Prof Harwood.

But there are a few hurdles to overcome first – the chief being legislation and the differentiation between genome editing and genetic modification. 'These two are quite different. In its simplest form genome editing only involves small changes to the existing DNA whereas genetic modification adds something new.'

But while legislation is holding up some advancing technologies, others are able to steam ahead – one being carbon offsetting. Gentle Farming is enabling regenerative farmers to benefit financially from their activities. Thomas Gent started looking into carbon credit schemes in the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and now operates the UK's first internationally certified soil carbon offsetting scheme.
Using field data as well as satellite imaging, farmers can measure improvements in carbon storage from practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping and reduced fertiliser input, he explains.

Regenerative farming is not just about carbon – there's also water quality and biodiversity that come into play. It's also about helping farmers to tell their own individual stories in their journey to improve soils and combat climate change, says Mr Gent. 'Net zero is not a problem, it's an opportunity.'

To learn more about Cereals and their upcoming event visit their website, HERE.
 

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

Ocrim-FBC bring about new systems with their business unit

Four years ago, Ocrim took over FBC, a long-established company based in Medesano, in Parma, Italy. Specialising in palletising and packaging in bags, bundles and other forms of packaging, the business has been manufacturing end-of-line systems since 1980.

The creation of this business unit has produced some tangible results, exceeding initial expectations. It has provided an important link in an industrial supply chain that was already well integrated, with every process in the factory insourced, ensuring traceable, checked and certified Italian-made products.

Image credit: Ocrim
Various customised systems have been produced and installed for customers over recent years, designed to meet a wide range of needs. For example, end-of-line systems were developed for Molinos de Costa Rica and Harinero Sula: projects that involved very careful planning and the use of tailor-made solutions, due to the complex nature of their systems.

Another project with particular significance was the design of a system for Molino Pasini, a milling company based in Cesole (Mantua, Italy). It involved a robotic palletising system for flour and bread making mixes in 1 kg and ½ kg bundles. As the system is highly technological and completely automated, it is open to significant upgrades in the future. Molino Pasini chose Ocrim-FBC for this ambitious project as both companies share the same vision with regard to Italian design and production.

Many of the company's other projects have already been completed, while others are on going and in production. 

For more information about Ocrim visit their website, HERE.
 

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

April 22, 2021

COFCO ET international to provide 200TPD corn wet milling facility to produce starch in Pakistan

On February 8, 2021, before the Chinese New Year, COFCO ET International Engineering Co., Ltd. and Pakistan MATCO FOODS., ltd. Met over a conference call and successfully signed a contract for a 200 ton/day corn wet milling production facility.

Due to the ongoing challenges of Covid-19, the two parties have had to overcome many difficulties and inconveniences, by communicating effectively via video conference calls. After receiving many offers, MATCO selected COFCO ET International Engineering Co., Ltd as the general contractor for their first corn deep processing line.

 
Image credit: COFCO ET International Engineering Co., Ltd.
In 2018, relevant technicians of COFCO ET International Engineering Co., Ltd. First visited MATCO during a business trip in Pakistan, developing friendly relations through professional communication, which established a solid foundation for signing this contract.

This project will be an important milestone for COFCO ET International Engineering Co., Ltd to enter the Pakistan market. As a subsidiary of COFCO Group, one of the Fortune top 500 companies, high standard, good quality and excellent service are top priority.

Visit the COFCO ET website, HERE.
 

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

New dates released for Indo Livestock Series 2021 Expo and Forum

Due to the unstable pandemic situation, PT Napindo Media Ashatama, the organiser of the mentioned expo, has decided to divert the offline edition of Indo Livestock2021 initially scheduled for June 23-25 2021 to instead be a virtual event which is going to be held August 2-7, 2021.

In this virtual event, the organisers will present a new experience of business and promotion through programs and features including a Virtual Booth, Technical Product Presentation and Business Matchmaking, which can be easily accessed in a timeless and flexible effort. Distance and time-commitments are no longer a barrier because you can do all the activities virtually or online.


This virtual event is aimed to be the best solution to generate business and promotion activities. The virtual expo will open up the doors for everyone to retain a broader connection with leading companies and stakeholder in livestock, vet, agriculture, and fisheries sectors during these restrictions.

The upcoming 16th edition of Indo Livestock, Indo Feed, Indo Dairy, Indo Agritech, Indo Vet and Indo Fisheries 2022 will be held July 6-8 2022 at Jakarta Convention Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia.

For more information visit the Indo Livestock Series website, HERE.

 

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