Bühler's Flavour Creation Centre is operating at full power for customersFlavor Creation Center: With cutting-edge infrastructure and an integrated network of Application & Training Centers, customers can develop new recipes and test new processes under one roof.

November 30, 2023 - The Flavour Creation Centre, which is part of Bühler's recently expanded food innovation hub in Uzwil, Switzerland, is now functioning at full speed. The centre combines Bühler's proven expertise in roasting and grinding cocoa and coffee beans and processing malt and nuts to create innovative flavours and future-fit products. With cutting-edge infrastructure and an integrated network of Application & Training Centres, customers can develop new recipes and test new processes under one roof.

Flavor Creation Center: With cutting-edge infrastructure and an integrated network of Application & Training Centers, customers can develop new recipes and test new processes under one roof.

The Flavour Creation Centre, which has been processing coffee since 2013 and cocoa and nuts since 2022, has been upgraded and refurbished, and is now up and running as part of Bühler's innovation hub in Uzqil, Switzerland. The opening of four Application & Training Centres (ATCs) - Flavour Creation Centre, Food Creation Centre, Protein Application Centre and Energy Recovery Centre - complementing the existing ATCs, such as the Extrusion Application Centre, is a milestone in Bühler's journey to support customers and partners to create a more sustainable food system.

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The centre showcases Bühler's proven expertise in product innovation, technology and process validation process optimisation, and training and education. In partnership with other Application and Training Centres, customers have the unique opportunity to consider new and different technologies along the value chain to find the best possible solution for their application, from the raw material to the finished product.

"The Flavour Creation Centre is the perfect place to process cocoa beans to cocoa mass, cocoa powder and butter; to roast coffee to perfect flavour; and to process nuts to pastes," says Skeljzen Nesimi, Head of Product Management and MarCom, Chocolate and Coffee at Bühler. The processing, roasting and grinding of cocoa beans, nuts and coffee is now combined in one location to create innovative flavours and high-quality products. The technological solutions available for cocoa include cleaning, de-shelling, alkalising and roasting (batch and continuous roasting), and result in high-quality cocoa mass, cocoa butter and cocoa powder.

For coffee processing, customers have access to diverse roasting technologies such as tangential roasters and drum roasters. These solutions support their search for the best flavour profile, processing time, and colour. Attuned to healthy food trends, the Flavour Creation Centre also offers a new grinding technology, the Pulsar mill, which has been designed to grind nuts and seeds into smooth and tasty pastes.

Innovation playground

In fact, product innovation is a fundamental part of the centre and different roasting technologies can be applied to assess the influences on flavour, taste and physical characteristics. "Customers can try new flavour, roasting, or new grinding profiles for their products," says Skeljzen Nesimi. With a cutting-edge infrastructure available, customers can develop new recipes, try new processes, test different machine settings and configurations, compare different technologies and analyse the influence of raw materials on finished products.

"We also help our customers in buying processes, so that they can easily find out which type of solution can deliver defined results considering their techniques and processes, and match their flavour expectations and product requirements," adds Nesimi. "Sustainability and quality are key issues for them; for instance, they want to know whether they can roast a product at a lower temperature or shorter time and improve efficiency, but still get the same quality. We support their buying decision."

More recently, start-ups and some established producers are rethinking conventional products and experimenting with alternative raw materials, such as barely carob, oats, to create bean-free chocolate and coffee. Bühler supports these companies not only in finding the right process and equipment, but also in developing recipes. "By combining our know-how and infrastructure with the scientific knowledge of our academia partners, we can support our customers in achieving tangible results, accelerating changes, and designing the future of food," says Skeljzen Nesimi.

Accelerating synergies

The collaboration with the other Application & Training Centres in Uzwil provides extended finished-product value streams. The Flavour Creation Centre collaborates with the Chocolate Application Centre team to produce cereal bars and chocolate bars. At the Energy Recovery Centre cocoa shells are used to produce energy. Training and education is another highlight of the application centre as up to October 2023 more than 4000 customers (be it beginners or experienced professionals) had participated in a wide range of training courses about raw materials, setup of equipment, technologies and services.

For more information, visit 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.

Handling food processor wastewater treatment surprises with automatic scraper strainers

November 29, 2023 - For food processors, removing suspended solids such as fats, grease, grit, contaminants and leftover process materials from liquids is necessary to comply with regulations like the EPA's Clean Water Act, which sets wastewater standards for industry and national water quality criteria for pollutants in surface waters. To remain compliant, processors often use clarifiers, also known as settling tanks or settlers.

Acme Strainer for Industrial Wastewater

Clarifiers are designed to continuously remove the solids that accumulate due to sedimentation, the separation of suspended solids from a liquid by gravity. Concentrated impurities are discharged from the bottom of the tank while scum particles float to the surface of the liquid and are typically removed with strainers.

Although clarifiers are common, there are substantial limitations when conditions are unpredictable. The problem for wastewater treatment is that no fluid processing or filtration system remains static. Treatment conditions continually change due to variable factors such as pressure, particle size, solids loading and even the presence of sticky biologicals.

"The flow rate and volume of suspended solids in the fluid changes depending on production demands and the equipment used as well as the time of day, day of the week and seasonal factors," says Robert Presser, Vice President of Acme Engineering Prod Inc, a North American manufacturer of industrial self-cleaning strainers. The company is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of environmental controls and systems with integrated mechanical, electrical and electronic capabilities.

Fortunately, a separation technology designed to tolerate variability - automatic scraper strainers - is being used after clarifiers and before further processing when reliable, economic, low-maintenance water treatment is necessary. These self-cleaning scrapers filter out both tiny particles and larger debris, utilising a blade and brush that work together to keep all straining surfaces fully effective and free of obstruction. 

The technology assures reliable straining that facilitates regulatory compliance. The approach also virtually eliminates manual maintenance as well as equipment clogging and fouling issues with downstream water treatment processes such as membrane filtration, reverse osmosis or zone disinfection.

Clarifier Challenges

Since the clarifiers used by food processors rely on gravity to clear suspended solids from wastewater, the natural separation process can take a very long time to occur. Flocculants are also often added to facilitate the agglomeration and settling of suspended particles out of the wastewater, however, the amount of flocculant must change. In addition, the 'size' of the solid particulate is also continually changing, which makes balancing the process more difficult.

Large clarifiers must be regularly emptied of wastewater and washed down as well. This requires replacing a significant volume of water or other processing fluid at great expense.

Unpredictable factors such as algae blooms can further compromise traditional treatment. Food processors must periodically clean algae and other undesirable materials from the weirs, baffles and troughs of clarifiers/settling tanks.

"Algae can grow at a surprisingly fast rate, particularly in summer, until it impairs tank function. If an algae bloom flows over the top of the settling tanks, you cannot let it compromise the downstream equipment. When food processors use a high-pressure hose to wash down the rims of the settling tank, this releases a substantial amount of algae and contaminants that must be captured," says Presser.

With wastewater, typical automatic backwash strainers are particularly challenged by sticky biologicals like algae, which can harbour other contaminants like scum, grease, sludge and foam. The accumulation can continually shrink the usable open area of the strainer until it is no longer effective and must be cleaned.

"Algae can adhere to the screen and create a 'cake' that the backwash arm cannot remove since it decreases pressure and suction. It is ironic that you need a relatively good open area on the clean side of your screen for backwash units to function." says Presser.

Backwash design also relies on a substantial amount of constant pressure, which can compromise reliability if not always available. "Backwash units do not operate well in backwash mode below 30 PSI. To compensate, some utilise complex, pressure-inducing tactics, but these do not always resolve the issue," says Presser.

Additionally, conventional backwash units are not designed to effectively remove larger or irregularly shaped solids.

"Oversized solids that are larger than the gap between the screen and the backwash arm does not fit within cleaning mechanism, so remain in the vessel and must be removed manually."

Today, automatic scraper strainers like Acme's are designed to tolerate surprises while meeting water treatment requirements. The company's motorised units is designed to continually remove both very large and very small, suspended solids from wastewater. Cleaning is accomplished by a spring-loaded blade and brush system, managed by a full automatic control system.

Four scraper brushes rotate at 8 RPM, resulting in a cleaning rate of 32 strokes per minute. The scraper brushes get into wedge-wire slots and dislodge resistant particulates and solids. This approach enables the scraper strainers to resist clogging and fouling when faced with large solids and high solids concentration. It ensures a complete cleaning and is very effective against organic matter 'biofouling.'

For wastewater treatment after clarifiers, 200-micron Acme automatic scraper strainers can be used to filter up to 6000 GPM of the water and spillover. After wash downs, the technology can effectively capture even sticky biologicals like algae and other contaminants that are washed loose. This can protect additional downstream processes such as membrane filtration or ozone disinfection equipment, which can be utilised if further purification or pathogenic organism inactivation is required.

An advantage of automatic scraper strainers is that the technology does not require continuous water pressure to keep the screen clean. Unlike backwash strainers, scraper strainers do not rely on a pressurised backwash to remove solids from the screen. Instead, a blade and brushes provide more reliable cleaning under varying conditions.

"The blade and brushes scrape the screen clean, and the small brush filaments get into the slots. So, if a solid is stuck in a slot between the wedge wire, the filaments will push the solid through," says Presser.

He explains that scraper strainers allow the solids to accumulate at the bottom of the vessel, where the blowdown valve will open periodically to clear them out "Since a gate valve isolates the solids collection area, the wastewater flow continues in the regular section of the strainer," says Presser.

Blowdown occurs only at the end of the intermittent scraping cycle when a valve is opened for a few seconds to remove solids from the collector area. Liquid loss is well below 1 percent of total flow.

The blowdown can operate without moving parts and can even perform from the suction side of a pump. These capabilities, which are not possible for a backwash unit, aid design flexibility and can facilitate installation at space-constrained plants.

Unlike a manual strainer, it is not necessary to open and clean an automatic scraper strainer. No one needs to manually blow down the solids. Since it is automatic, it is essentially a set and forget type of system that lets operators walk away and focus on other aspects of the facility, which helps to reduce overall labour costs.

Wastewater treatment conditions can change along with production and the seasons, so it is important for companies to utilise technology that can flexibly and reliably meet compliance requirements and protect downstream equipment. Automatic scraper strainers are designed to do so and can tolerate the inevitable surprises and variability while also helping to minimise maintenance.

For more information, visit 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.

NOVUS Dairy Technical Services Manager helping European dairy industry meet goalsEdwin Westreicher

November 28, 2023 - Edwin Westreicher, Dr sc agr, is lending his expertise to dairy farmers and nutritionists as Novus' dairy technical services manager for Europe. The intelligent nutrition company added Dr Westreicher to the Europe team to help optimise herd efficiency, ensuring the more sustainable production of milk and milk components.

Dr Edwin Westreicher

"Profitability is the goal of any dairy farmer," Dr Westreicher says. "Novus feed solutions and technical services support optimising feed efficiency and increasing milk production while also prioritising environmental and financial sustainability."

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At Novus Dr Westreicher works with compound and mineral feed manufacturers, nutritionists and dairy farmers to determine the best management practices and nutritional solutions to support the herd productivity and meet operational and financial goals. He also works as a link between the company's R&D group and global strategic marketing team and provides vital training for the commercial teams.

Growing up on a cattle farm, Dr Westreicher has a lifetime of experience in the animal agriculture industry which includes serving as a senior researcher in ruminant nutrition at Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands. He has also consulted feed mill companies on feed formulations.

"Edwin brings a unique perspective to our team," says Novus Global Ruminant Technology Lead Heather Tucker PhD. "He has a history of conducting well-respected research aimed at supporting the needs of the European dairy industry. We work together, utilising that experience and perspective, to build strong trials that can help the European dairy industry while also demonstrating the value Novus solutions can provide to the market."

Novus is the intelligent nutrition company providing solutions for the global animal agriculture industry. The company's portfolio includes bis-chelated organic trace minerals, enzymes, organic acids, essential oils, liquid and dry methionine, as well as a network of experts around the world to provide guidance on management best practices.

For more information, visit 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.

Alltech One World Tour welcomes international agriculture leaders to Dubai

November 27, 2023 - The Alltech One Work Tour (One), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech One Conference to the world, resumed today in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. One Dubai welcomed international attendees to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry in the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, welcomed attendees to the Alltech ONE World Tour stop in Dubai, UAE.  

For the past 38 years, the Alltech One Conference has been held in Lexington, Kentucky, the home of Alltech's global headquarters. In 2023, however, the company - a global leader in the field of agriculture - is bribing the conference to its partners, customers, suppliers and friends around the world, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE.

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• Alltech celebrates 30-year anniversaries in Brazil and Peru
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"As our customers and partners continue to face many challenges and uncertainties, we determined that 2023 would be dedicated to meeting them in their markets," said Dr Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. "This special edition of the ONE endeavours to deliver global expertise to locally relevant issues. In the midst of economic and political uncertainties that fuel regionalisation, this ONE reflects the responsibility we have as a global company to be connector of people and ideas, ever advancing our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty."

Alltech One Dubai features discussions led by local and international experts about the latest trends in sustainable agricultural, animal nutrition and business, including presentations from Dr Lyons; Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech; Sheikh Dr Majid Al Qassimi, founding partner at Soma Mater; and Gerald Kieran, general manager of dairy farms, Emirates Food Industries (EFI).

In his opening remarks, Dr Lyons welcomed delegates to Dubai to discuss agriculture's role in saving the planet.

"Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and we are at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future," he said. "Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet's resources."

Alltech recently released the results of the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, and McCarthy discussed those findings in further detail during her presentation.

"Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption yet remains confident and committed to evolving towards a more sustainable food system," she said. "The key to success will be development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain."

Sheikh Dr Majid Al Qassimi focused on how the UAE is making food and agriculture systems more equitable, accessible and sustainable.

"For the National Farms Sustainability Initiative, it wasn't enough to have our own farms start, but to ensure that we start with sustainability in mind," he said. "Today, more than ever, consumers want to see sustainability in all their products, including their food."

Kiernan spoke about Alltech's and EFI's recent Planet of Plenty partnership with National Dairy Farms and Masakin Dairy Farms, two prominent companies owned by EFI, to bring leading-edge Caron footprint benchmarking and methane-reducing technologies to the Middle East.

"With growing concerns about climate change, companies worldwide and under increasing pressure to adopt eco-conscious practices," said Kieran. "As industry leaders, National and Masakin recognise the importance of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and setting new sustainability benchmarks." Kiernan's comments were echoed by Paul McVeigh, regional manager for Alltech in the Middle East.

"The solidification of many years of collaboration with EFI in a Planet of Plenty Partnership represents the goals of the wider global Alltech family," said McVeigh. "This partnership illustrates what is possible in the Middle East region when companies join forces toward a single goal, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk while reducing their environmental footprint."

As One Dubai continues, delegates will hear from industry experts on various topics, including ruminant and poultry sessions focused on mycotoxin management, calf nutrition, dairy farming waste management, egg quality and mineral management, as well as carbon policies.

The Alltech One World Tour will continue with international stops in 2024, uniting change makers and thought leaders throughout the global ag value chain to explore opportunities for agriculture.

For more information/registration, visit 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.

International Poultry Scientific Forum to present the latest research findings impacting the poultry industry at 2024 IPPE

November 27, 2023 - The poultry industry continuously invests in research to expand its knowledge and mastery of avian care and to identify processes and techniques that help increase the overall success of the industry. These research developments and related topics will be discussed at the International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF), held in conjunction with the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta.

Sponsored by the Southern Poultry Science Society (SPSS), the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases (SCAD) and US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the forum will present information on industry topics such as environmental management, nutrition, physiology, pathology, processing and products and avian diseases.

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The one and a half-day forum will begin Monday, Jan 29, 2024, and continue through Tuesday, Jan 30. The pre-registration fee is US$95 through Jan 12. Beginning Jan 13, the cost is US$155. Students may register complimentary by uploading a copy of their valid student ID. To register for IPSF click HERE.

The 2024 IPPE will be held Jan 30 - Feb 1 and is a collaboration of three trade shows - the International Feed Expo, International Poultry Expo and International Meat Expo - representing the entire chain of protein production and processing. The event is sponsored by USPOULTRY, the American Feed Industry Association and the Meat Institute.

For more information, visit 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.

Israel bombs Gaza’s only operating wheat mill

November 24, 2023 - Israel has intensified its war of starvation against Palestinian civilians by bombing the only operating wheat miill in the Gaza Strip, says Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

Euro-Med Monitor condemned the Israeli army’s artillery shelling of the Al-Salam Mill in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza, the Strip’s only operating wheat mill, forcing it to shut down. Israel’s targeting of the mill came as part of its attempt to deepen the food crisis for Palestinian civilians following its bombing of dozens of bakeries, most of them in Gaza City and the Strip’s northern regions.

Due to structural damage, lack of fuel, water, and wheat flour, bakeries have not been operating in Gaza City or the Strip’s northern areas for more than a week now. Wheat flour is no longer available in any local markets.

With more than 1.6 million people internally displaced due to Israel’s forced evacuation of Gaza City and its surrounding areas into the southern Gaza Valley, the Strip’s central and southern regions face a complete collapse, given that all water wells have ceased operations.

According to the Euro-Med Monitor team, 10 water wells, which are considered the only source of water in Rafah City, recently stopped pumping. The southern Khan Yunis desalination plant, meanwhile, which supplies drinking water to approximately 100,000 people, has ceased operations due to a fuel shortage.

Sixty water wells in the central and southern Gaza Strip and the two main desalination plants in the middle area and Rafah, in the south, have all ceased operations, summarised the human rights organisation. The group warned of a complete interruption of drinking water sources throughout all governorates of the Gaza Strip.

The Geneva-based human rights organisation stressed that Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza, is required by international humanitarian law to protect and meet the needs of the people living there.

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.

Promote process control drives Anpario's automation ambitions

November 23, 2023 - Promtek prides itself on creating industry-leading process control and automation solutions that continually overachieve their customers' objectives. That is how the company has forged a worldwide reputation for excellence in the field. Anpario was looking to modernise its entirely manual production process and bring its factory into line with contemporary efficiency and sustainability targets. It was the perfect match.

Formed over 30 years ago from the merger of three respected animal nutrition companies, Anpario has achieved major success in the agriculture, animal health, manufacturing and animal nutrition markets. It provides services in Eubiotics, feed quality control, feed security and natural feed additives. Anpario's technologies are sold in over 80 countries around the world.

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Being an international producer and distributor of high-performance natural feed additives for animal health, the merger that created Anpario resulted in the consolidation of the three seperate companies' production lines into one UK factory. Production volume at the single site spiked. In addition, the complicated legislative processes surrounding the manufacture of animal feeds necessitated the automation of the factory production line and the implementation of process control software and technology.

Shane Bailey, Anpario Operations Director, explained: "Automation is the smart way to manage everything - from raw materials to labour. Our very rapid growth after the merger left us with many challenges - not least that of keeping up with customer demand for our wide range of products. Promtek's process control automation and software platform was, and still is, perfect for our needs. Plus, the quick, easy, regular site visits are great too."

Promtek set out to achieve a number of goals on the project including: increasing production line automation, integrating process control systems, improving track and trace of ingredients, and managing health and safety concerns.

To ensure the future visibility of the Anpario production facility, the automation of the production line incorporated the ability to expand and add new lines on an ad hoc basis. Actual mixing value data is sent to the ERP system, showing updated stock values in real time. Using Promoter's customised control screen visuals designed to imitate real factory equipment - that also streamlines operator onboarding - the day-to-day business activities are managed seamlessly and more efficiently compared to the previous manual setup.

Product categorisation within the process control platform improves finished product safety, as the software allows products to be categorised according to mixing sequences and schedules multiple production runs. This effectively eliminates cross contamination between regulated ingredients. The system automatically produces barcodes from the ERP from a raw material pallet. Barcodes are internationally recognised and increases the track and traceability of lot codes and bin numbers.

Capex expenditure in a suitable process control system that can deal with exceptional growth requires complete buy in and benefits to all business areas. From technical to purchasing, the investment in the automated process control system would show a ROI just two years after installation.

Shane added: "We currently have just over 300 recipes active on our process control system, which is twice as many as we had when we started working with Promtek. They took the time to understand our business, the flexibility they have given to the company is first rate, and the system is future-roofed. More than that, it's really about the mutual trust we have developed over the years of working together as a team."

For more information, visit 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.

Tornum acquires Simeza

November 23, 2023 - Tornum Group, a leading global player in the agricultural industry, and Cesco EPC, an international contractor specialising in large-scale industrial investments in inland and port grain terminals announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement. This agreement includes the acquisition of Silos Metálicos Zaragoza S.L.U. (Simeza), a prominent manufacturing company specialising in storage solutions, by Tornum, and the exclusive distribution within selected global markets by Cesco.

Luca Celeghini, MD, Cesco EPC and Nicklas Margård, CEO, Tornum Group

This strategic move marks a significant step forward in Tornum’s journey towards becoming an even stronger system and comprehensive supplier in the European and global agricultural markets and in Cesco’s journey focusing even more on the design of high-capacity conveying equipment and engineering solutions for large industrial grain terminals.

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Tornum Group's CEO, Nicklas Margård, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition "We are very pleased to welcome Simeza to the Tornum Group. Simeza is a well-managed company with a leading market position that opens new opportunities. This strategic fit enables us to combine Cesco's strengths, backed by decades of experience executing projects worldwide, with Tornum's extensive network and commitment to excellence. Together, we are well positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities in the agricultural industry and provide our customers with an even broader range of innovative solutions tailored to their evolving needs."

Luca Celeghini, Managing Director of Cesco EPC, added, "After a lifetime dedicated to developing the concept of silos as a fundamental component of storage technology, culminating in the improvement of product design and manufacturing technology at Simeza, I am pleased to hand over the company to Tornum for its further development in the global market. I will be focusing on enhancing Cesco’s engineering solutions for industrial storage plants and leading the design and manufacturing of its high-capacity, heavy-duty conveying systems."

This partnership will empower both Tornum Group and Cesco EPC to jointly deliver innovative solutions to the global agricultural and grain logistic market, reaffirming their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

For more information, visit 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.

Successful conclusion to VIV and HAN MEA 2023: showcasing the future of the seed to food industry in Abu Dhabi

November 23, 2023 - The 4th edition of VIV MEA, held from November 20th to 22nd in Abu Dhabi, in co-location with Horti Agri Next MEA, delivered a dynamic event, marking a positive continuation in the region for the global animal husbandry and agribusiness industry.

VIV and HAN MEA 2023 demonstrated a strong foundation in B2B international business in the Middle East and North Africa region. Over three days, the show encouraged face-to-face meetings, networking, information exchange, and a bustling marketplace in Abu Dhabi, UAE. With 10,080 visitors from 113 countries, the event maintained its consistent attendance and even exceeded the previous edition by 51.1 percent.

You may also be interested in:

• VIV MEA 2023 anticipates its biggest edition to date as it returns to Abu Dhabi together with HAN MEA
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The co-located events featured 500 exhibitors from 50 countries, showcasing the latest developments of the agrifood industry in the five halls at Abu Dhabi's prestigious venue ADNEC, in a collective of more than 17,500 sum of gross exhibiting space. One third of the visitors came from the UAE, with countries like Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia ranking on top right after. 67 percent of the total visitors onsite indicated interest in both events.

Inspirational Speaker Line-up

Over 80 renowned industry experts and visionaries took centre stage as part of the event's comprehensive speaker line-up. More than 37 sessions, presentations and panel discussions delved into recent industry trends, challenges and opportunities, providing invaluable insights for all attendees, in both the animal livestock production and the arable and controlled environment agriculture industry.

A series of sessions, including the AgritectureXchange panel discussions led by Agritecture CEO, Henry Gordon-Smith, as well as speed dating with roundtables sessions on the first day, and a special program organises by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture Food and Safety Authority (ADAFSA) covered a wide spectrum of topics crucial to the future of Agriculture in the region. HubOrgange, the Dutch Poultry Centre, Dutch Green House Delta, and many other industry partners also contributed with vibrant sessions throughout the three days.

Aquafeed Extrusion & Nutrition Conference: On the 19th of November, a one-day conference organised by Perendale Publishers, sponsored by aquaculture leaders like Skretting and Blue Aqua, focused on the topics of the production and extrusion of aquatic feed along with the nutrition and farming for fish and shrimps.

Poultry Marketing Round Table (PMRT): For its 3rd edition, MEAP, WATT Global Media and VIV gathered academics, technicians, poultry producers, governors and end consumers in a Round table to discuss and come up with solutions and clarifications to anticipate to future uncertainties.

A long-awaited co-location during the Abu Dhabi Food and Security Week

The co-location of VIV MEA and HAN MEA 2023 provided an opportunity to explore the entire agribusiness industry, providing the importance of connection among animal production, precision farming, rural cultivation and innovative horticultural techniques. By holding these two events at the same tie, at the same venue, during the 

Abu Dhabi Food and Security Week, the organizer managed to highlight that integrating the entire industry’s value chain is key to resilient and sustainable agricultural eco-systems. 

With a closing statement the organizers expressed their gratitude to all the participants and key players who shaped this edition:

”As we wrap up three incredible days of VIV and HAN MEA 2023, we are thrilled for the journey we've embarked upon to shape the future of the agrifood industry, together with everyone who played a role in this; from our international exhibitors, the amazing speakers, the enthusiastic attendees to our long-term partners, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture Food and Safety Authority and the Netherlands Embassy among others. The journey does not end here. We look forward to building on the momentum generated by these events here, to our upcoming events around the world,” said Birgit Horn, Managing Director of the Agrifood Portfolio at VNU Europe. 

VIV and HAN MEA will return from November 25 to 27, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, to set yet another milestone as the region’s top industry platforms.

For more information, visit 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.

Alltech celebrates 30-year anniversaries in Brazil and Peru

November 20, 2023 - Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition company, is celebrating 30 years of operations in Brazil and Peru. Alltech's foundation and growth in South America is linked to the vision of its late founder, Dr Pearse Lyons, to support the success of agricultural producers and improve the health and performance of the animal, consumer and environment through nutrition and scientific innovation.

Dr. Mark Lyons and members of the Brazilian team commemorated the 30th anniversary with a special event in Maringá on Nov. 1.

"My father saw a lot of potential when he visited South America in the early 1990s," said Dr Mark Lyons, President and CEO of Alltech. "He understood that countries like Brazil and Peru would become key markets for agriculture and established our offices. Over the past 30 years, we have continued our development through new investments, construction of new manufacturing plants, acquisitions and organic growth."

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Brazil is the company's third-largest market in the world as is home to six manufacturing facilities and 1356 team members. Dr Mark Lyons led the team in Brazil during construction of Alltech's largest yeast fermentation plant for animal and agricultural nutrition. Located in São Pedro do Ivaí, Paraná, the plant began operating in 2007 and exports products to 80 countries. Today with 270 employees, the facility produces yeast solutions (Mycosorb^®, Bio-Mos^®, Actigen^®, Nupro^®, Bioplex^® and Sel-Plex^®), organic acids, non-protein nitrogen (Optigen^®) and other blends. In 2022, it received the “A” certification of the Paraná Climate Seal from the state government for voluntarily reducing its carbon footprint and adhering to the State Public Registry of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions to combat climate change.

Alltech Crop Science, initially called Improcrop, started its activities in Brazil in 2000. In 2016, the Alltech Crop Science plant in Uberlândia, MG was launched. Alltech Brazil continued to expand and in 2018, the administrative headquarters of Alltech Brazil, which had operated in Araucária, in Greater Curitiba, was transferred to Maringá, Paraná. Then in 2019, Alltech acquired Guabi, a producer of high-quality feed and premix for a variety of species at four manufacturing facilities in Brazil.

“We started as an innovative company in a consolidated market, but we grew along with Brazil’s search for the international market,” said Paulo Rigolin, Alltech’s vice president for Latin America. “Alltech’s culture fits very well with the Brazilian one; we have learned how to use technologies and global knowledge to adapt to the reality of our customers. It is a very successful story.”  

Alltech began operations in Peru in June 1993, in an office located in the Lima district of Miraflores with four employees. Today, this team has grown to 17 top-level professionals, who are responsible for meeting the needs of Peruvian agricultural producers, both in terms of optimizing animal nutrition and health and maximizing crop yields. Alltech Crop Science began its commercial activities in Peru in 2018. Today, these solutions help address the main challenges of local farmers in the production of blueberries, grapes, avocados, among other products.

"We are very pleased to have supported Peruvian producers over the past 30 years to address their main challenges through Alltech solutions and services that are backed by more than 40 years of research and proven effectiveness," said Luiz Folgate, general manager of Alltech Peru. "Today's challenges for the industry are increasingly diverse, complex and unpredictable, so we will continue to contribute to a more efficient agriculture sector and Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™."

“We are celebrating the first 30 years, but we are already thinking about the next 30 years and the opportunities to continue supporting Brazilian and Peruvian agribusinesses as they positively impact the communities in which we live and work,” said Dr. Mark Lyons. “We export our technologies globally, but we are also very well aligned with the needs of local producers, providing natural solutions and supporting them to be competitive in the world market.”

For more information, visit 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.

IFIF elects Chairman and Board of Directors for 2024-2025

November 20, 2023 - The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) is pleased to announce that IFIF's 36th General Assembly unanimously re-elected Ruud Tijssens as IFIF Chairman for the 2024-2025 term of office, recognising Mr Tijssens' successful leadership since 2021 under which IFIF experienced important growth in strategic projects and continues to build deeper relationships with stakeholders around the globe.

Mr Tijssens, on accepting his second term as Chairman, thanked the General Assembly delegates for their trust as well as "all IFIF Members for their contributions to our success, which strengthens IFIF as the united voice of the global feed industry to promote and support sustainable, safe, nutritious and affordable food for a growing world population."

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Mr Tijssens highlighted that "Through IFIF's efforts and partnerships we continue our clear focus on IFIF's three strategic pillars including (1) regulatory to promote a balanced regulatory framework and support the dynamic pace of innovation, (2) sustainability with science-based standards and innovation to contribute to support sustainable livestock production, as well as (3) education & best practices. We will continue to drive key initiatives, including IFIF's Nutritional Innovation work, capacity development for feed safety programmes, as well as the IFIF FAO International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) series."

He added "As we work together closely with our global partners and stakeholders to support the sustainable development of animal production and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, IFIF will continue to champion science-based decisions, the need for continued innovation and better technologies, as well as regulatory convergence and free and fair trade."

In addition, the IFIF 36th Annual General Assembly re-appointed Bruno Kaesler to a second term as IFIF Treasurer, and elected the following representatives and organisations to the IFIF Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term:

• Roberto Betancourt, Board Member, Brazilian Feed Industry Association Sindirações), Brazil
• David Bray, President, Stock Feed Manufacturers' Council of Australia (SFMCA), Australia
• Frank Chmitelin, Executive VP Strategy, Sustainability and Safety, Adisseo, France
• Pedro Cordero, President, European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC), Belgium
• Constance Cullman, President & CEO, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), USA
• Melissa Dumont, Executive Director, Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC), Canada
• Bruno Kaesler, Managing Director, Kaesler Nutrition GmbH, Germany
• Adriano Marcon, President & Group Leader, Cargill Animal Nutrition, USA
• Colm Moran, Director European Regulatory Affairs, Alltech, France
• David Nickell, VP Sustainability and Business Solutions, DSM, Switzerland
• Ismael Roig, President ADM EMEA & Global Animal Nutrition, ADM, Switzerland
• Joerg Seifert, Secretary General, EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures (FEFANA), Belgium
• Jesse Sevcik, Executive Advisor, Corporate Affairs, Eland Animal Health, USA
• Reinder Sijtsma, Director Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs, Nutreco, Netherlands
• Andrea Simon, VP/Head of BL Strategy, Animal Nutrition, Evonik Operations GmbH, Germany
• Ruud Tijssens, Group Director Public & Cooperative Affairs, Royal Agrifirm Group, Netherlands
• Sven Weber, VP Feed Enzymes & Feed Performance Ingredients, BASF, Germany
• Wang Zongli, Secretary General, China Feed Industry Association (CFIA), China

For more information, visit 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.

IFIF and FAO continue to strengthen collaboration on critical issues to ensure safe and sustainable feed & food at 22nd Annual Meeting

November 20, 2023 - The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) held their 22nd annual meeting to further strengthen their collaboration on critical issues to ensure safe, nutritious and sustainable feed and food.

IFIF FAO Annual Meeting 2023

The meeting was officially opened by Mr Thanawat Tiensin, Director Animal Production and Health at FAO, together with Mr Rudd Tijssens, IFIF Chairman. They welcomed the IFIF delegates representing over 80 percent of global compound feed production and reiterated their commitment to this longstanding partnership and agreed to continue to strengthen their work together to tackle the challenges facing the feed and food chain.

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Mr Tiensin reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sector, as well as other stakeholders, to support evidence-based key role of the feed and livestock sector in sustainable livestock transformation. Mr Tiensin reiterated that livestock production is a vital part of our agrifood systems, providing essential nutrients for all and enhanced livelihoods and economic opportunities for billions of people around the world.

Mr Tiensin highlighted that "FAO advocates improving efficiency is essential to producing more with less. Animal Feed is a vital part to this, as efficiency can be pursued by optimising feed conversion, reducing feed loss and waste and enhancing nutrient utilisation, all of which can reduce pressure on biodiversity and land and water resources, as well as decrease greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate environmental degradation.

Mr Tiennes reaffirmed that achieving sustainable, resilient, inclusive and efficient sustainable livestock transformation can only be achieved by working together with all stakeholders and he called on all Members of the International Feed Industry Federation to continue concrete actions to support sustainable livestock transformation.

Mr Tijssens, IFIF Chairman, underlined that "the animal feed industry plays a crucial role in supporting sustainable livestock production by leveraging innovation and efficiency. Animal nutrition supports animal health and welfare, as well as productivity and allows farmers to produce more with less and optimise environmental resources."

Mr Tijssens "congratulated the FAO for their achievements over the last year, including organising the first-ever conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation and the first high-level Global Forum for Animal Feed regulators in Rome, directly ahead of the FAO IFIF Annual Meeting 2023. Our joint meeting with the FAO once again underlined our strong partnership as IFIF continues to support key FAO initiatives such as the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership, the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock and the Multi-stakeholder Partnership for Feed safety."

Mr Tijssens highlighted "The publication of the updated FAO and IFIF Manual on Good Practices for the Feed Sector was a key milestone as we work together on Capacity Development for feed safety. IFIF continues to contribute to FAO's work to address antimicrobial resistance including through advancing nutritional innovation to support animal health. IFIF looks forward to the 17th International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) in 2024, which is another great example of IFIF FAO collaboration positively impacting the feed and food chain. In addition, a capacity Development training in Asia will be an important opportunity for us to further strengthen collaboration with the Asian feed sector, regulators and stakeholders."

Mr Tijssens added that "Together with the dedicated colleagues at the FAO we contribute to building a solid science-based approach to support safe and sustainable animal nutrition to bring quality and affordable food to a growing world population, producing more with less and even better under diverse production systems. The high quality of exchanges and cooperation towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continue to build on our achievements and together with all IFIF members I am pleased our relationship with FAO continues to strengthen year to year."

Daniela Battaglia, Livestock Production Officer at the Animal Production and Health Division of the FAO, said "FAO and IFIF have a long standing partnership and this meeting addressed a number of critical issues of common interest, such as the need for capacity development to ensure feed safety and the importance of collaborating to tackle the containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). FAO is committed to work with the private sector and the feed operators and believes that they can valuably contribute to make the livestock and food sectors more responsible and sustainable and to achieve important goals such as public health, and animal health and welfare."

For more information, visit 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.

Bühler boosts food innovation with new Application & Training Centres in Uzwil

November 20, 2023 - Swiss technology group Bühler today unveils its new food innovation hub in Uzwil, Switzerland, bring together a diverse range of capabilities into a single location and setting a new storage for product and process development. Four Application & Training Centres (ATCs) - Flavour Creation Centre, Food Creation Centre, Protein Application Centre and Energy Recovery Centre - are opening their doors to customers and complement the existing ATCs, such as the Extrusion Application Centre. The new ATCs connect the entire value chain and enable a circular economy approach to food production. With Bühler's cutting-edge infrastructure and team of experts, customers have the ideal environment to master market changes and design the food of the future.

"In this world where requirements are changing so fast, customers need flexibility and creativity to adapt their products addressing key issues such as sustainability, the use of local raw materials, healthy diets and affordability," says Johannes Wick, CEO of Grains & Food at Bühler Group. "With the completion of the new Application & Training Centres we are able to cover the entire scope of production, from different raw materials to multiple types of finished products. We cannot offer our customers enormous flexibility and the options they need to disrupt their markets."

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Bühler has Application & Training Centres in 23 locations around the world - some of which cover multiple industrial applications - offering dedicated training for customers and providing them with a collaborative platform to test new product ideas and experiment with product innovations. Over the last years, Bühler's global network of application centres has expanded, bringing together new business partners, academy, start-ups, and suppliers, with the goal of offering a state-of-the-art setup for customers to drive innovation. In October, along with the Institute of Food Technology (Ital), the FoodTech HUB Latam, Cargill, and Givaudan, Bühler opened the Tropical Food Innovation Lab in Brazil. This innovation ecosystem developed sustainable food and beverages while promoting biodiversity in Brazil.

Enabling innovation through synergies

With the opening of the new Flavour Creation Centre, Food Creation Centre, Protein Application Centre, and Energy Recovery Centre, together with the Application & Training Centres already in operation in Uzwil, this site has become a one-stop shop for Bühler's customers worldwide. "The opening of the Application & Training Centres is a milestone in our journey to support our customers and partners, to create a more sustainable food system" says Ian Roberts, CTO at Bühler Group. "At the new ATCs customers have access to a unique combination of technology and expertise."

The new Protein Application Centre provides field to ingredient and consumer product process solutions under one roof. The centre will enable the buildup of know-how and foster the development of processes for the production of plant-based food, including meat substitutes, plant-based drinks and ingredients. Equipped with the latest wet isolation and fractionation techniques for separation of protein, starches and fibres, the centre is operated in collaboration with Bühler's partner, endeco, and will connect the Grain Innovation Centre, Extrusion Application Centre, Pasta Application Centre, Food Creation Centre, Flavour Creation Centre and Energy Recovery Centre.

The Extrusion Application Centre, which runs 80 to 90 trials per year, will link closely into the new Protein Application Centre enabling a unique opportunity to optimise the full process solution from raw materials through consumer products. In this multi-purpose laboratory customers can conduct tests on food and animal feed, test new recipes, product shapes and textures.

At the Flavour Creation Centre, Bühler's proven expertise in processing, roasting and grinding cocoa beans, nuts and coffee is combined in one place to create unmatched flavours and exquisite products. The centre which has been processing coffee since 2013 and cocoa and nuts since 2022, has been upgraded and renovated. It offers product innovation, training, process optimisation, raw material analyses and operates in line with Bühler's chocolate Application Centre, Food Creation Centre and Energy Recovery Centre.

Whether it is snack bars, wafers, biscuits, crackers, any variety of baked good or chocolate products, the new Food Creation Centre was developed to support customers through the entire innovation and industrialisation process. The centre, located in an area of 850 square meters, combines cutting-edge technology, analytical services, product and process development, workshops and trainings.

Integrated energy efficiency solutions

Together, the Application & Training Centres in Uzwil produce about 550 tonnes of biomass annually. To make optimum use of the waste and by-products generated by the ATCs, Bühler and its strategic partner, Vyncke, have built the Energy Recovery Centre, which serves as a heating facility for Bühler's headquarters. The Energy Recovery Centre also works as a demonstration and testing platform for customers who want to reduce CO2 footprint, waste production and energy costs by using side streams. "The energy generation from biomass as an integrated part of process solutions for food has not been systematically developed and therefore has an enormously high potential, both from a business and sustainability perspective," says Johannes Wick. "The Bühler-Vyncke Energy Recovery Centre is an important step for us in implementing out sustainability goals and is intended to serve as an example for energy recovery options in food and feed production."

Transformative impact at scale

Bühler's partnerships have been ensuring leading-edge technology development and new means of collaborating with customers and partners. Milling Solutions, together with the other business areas, also started construction on a new Grain Innovation Centre (GIC) in Uzwil, where Bühler and its customers and partners will develop, test, and scale sustainable and efficient solutions for grain and feed processing to improve food and feed solutions. The focus will be on yield, quality, energy efficiency, and the flexibility of the plants together with nutritious and great tasting recipes based on a broad variety of grains and pulses. The GIC is scheduled to start operations by the end of 2024.

A new Grain Processing Innovation Centre (GPIC) in Kano, Nigeria, is also under construction and should open its doors at the beginning of 2024. The centre will be focused on the development of products, recipes and processes using local grains, such as sorghum, millets, maize, soy beans, beans and tigernuts.

"More than the impressive capabilities of each new Application & Training Centre we have been investing in, these are built to work in an integrated manner, offering a comprehensive process, so that the customers can take the best of it, and achieve tangible and remarkable outcomes," says Johannes Wick.

For more information, visit 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.

Agritechnica 2023: a powerhouse of inspiring innovations

November 20, 2023 - The world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, Agritechnica - held at the exhibition grounds in Hanover, Germany, from 12 to 18 November 2023 - has come to a close, boasting a record number of 470,000 visitors from 149 countries. 2812 exhibitors from 52 countries presented their innovations, products and services across 24 halls at the fully booked exhibition grounds.

Agritechnica, 15.11.2023. Hannover. Hall 9. photo: Swen Pförtner

The organiser of Agritechnica, the DLG (German Agricultural Society), had chosen the guiding theme of 'Green Productivity' for the global showcase of the international agricultural machinery industry. As part of Agritechnica's technical program, some 400 experts taking part in more than 300 professional events provided answers to many questions of the future, placing the topics of productivity and resource conservation at a large international stage.

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Conclusions:

1. The unique appeal of Agritechnica 2023 attracted a total of 470,000 visitors from 149 countries. Around two thirds came from Germany. Of the international visitors, 84 percent hailed from Europe, and 16 percent from outside Europe with a particular increase from Central and South America. The trend of increasing international participation has been confirmed among both exhibitors and visitors. For farmers from France and Poland, the highlight was the International Farmers' Day on the Tuesday of the trade fair. Visitors from these countries benefitted from free admission and a tailored specialist program - held in their native languages - which attracted significant number of French and Polish professional attendees.
2. With its many award-winning innovations and concepts, Agritechnica 2023 served as an important market guide for product launches and newly available solutions. 251 products were registered for the 'Agritechnica Innovation Award'. while visionary concepts were prominent in the 'DLG-Agrifuture Concept Winner 2023' award. And with the 'Systems & Components Trophy', the supplier industry demonstrated its role as an innovation driver for the agricultural machinery sector.
3. The program for young farm professionals was popular among the younger visitor segment with both the Young Farmers' Day on the Thursday of the trade fair and the 'Campus & Career' area, where DLG and its partners presented a comprehensive program of information and advice on all aspects of professional careers. WIth many agricultural businesses currently in the process of handing over their farms, potential young entrepreneurs strive to make the optimal investment decisions.
4. The DLG Spotlight on 'Smart Farming' presented the current state of automation and connectivity in agriculture. Exhibitors presented their digital smart farming solutions for greater efficiency and sustainability, attracting interest from the general press.
5. The 'agrifood start-ups' venue for company founders in the agricultural and food sectors brought creative entrepreneurs from all over the world together with investors, providing a stimulus for technical progress.
6. The inaugural 'Drive Experience', on an on-site test track, offered the opportunity to test drive tractors fitted with alternative power systems.
7. The debut of the DLG spotlight ' inhouse Farming' not only attracted many farmers exploring new branches in farming, including new self-contained food systems, but also attracted the attention of TV and the general media.
8. Systems & Components ideally complemented the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery as a technical spotlight, industry get-together and B2B platform for the supplier industry. The innovation award scheme 'Systems & Components Trophy - Engineers' Choice' showcased the latest developments and innovations in the field of components for agricultural machinery and related sectors.

"As the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, Agritechnica 2023 has demonstrated how highly innovative the industry is. After four years, exhibitors were finally able to present their wealth of innovations to the world here in Hanover once again," says Timo Zipf, Agritechnica Project Manager. "Everyone appreciated the opportunity for face-to-face discussions, exchanges and networking opportunities, also to make new business contacts," adds Zipf.

"The heart of the international agricultural machinery industry beats to the rhythm of Agritechnica," emphasises Tobias Eichberg, Managing Director of DLG Service GmbH, "and 2023 has shown manufacturers the ideal pulse rate for offering their developments to the market, which is two years."

"Personal networking and maintaining contacts at Agritechnica are invaluable for each and every visitor," says Freya von Czettritz, CEO of DLG Holding GmbH.

"With awards such as 'Women in Ag' and the 'DLG Influencer Award', we not only recognise the work of a wide range of farmers, but we also support them in expanding their networks. The Dealers Lunch, which was held for the first time, also brought together top sellers and young professionals from the international agricultural machinery trade," adds von Czettritz.

The next Agritechnica will take place from 9 to 15 November 2025.

The Agritechnica exhibition presents the full palette of farm equipment and services for crop cultivation, from tractors, tillage and seeding solutions to crop protection sprayers and combine harvesters, covering also autonomous and automated systems like field drones and robots.

For more information, visit 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.

Do you have the energy to transform food production?

November 17, 2023 - Charles Williams, Managing Director of process automation specialist Promtek Ltd, examines how food manufacturers can reduce their energy usage at the same time as improving productivity - and how maximising the potential of apprenticeships can help play a part.

If you search the internet ' how to reduce energy consumption or improve production throughput' you'll get a myriad of answers, some of which are actually incredibly helpful. Others are generic, non-industry specific responses that are likely to leave you non the wiser.

What we do know is that as a manufacturer, throughput in production can mean the difference between meeting quotas and losing customers to your competition - and whatever challenges the world is currently experiencing are reflected in the food industry. The biggest challenge is maintaining consumer trust in the food you are providing, but it's not just about the quality of the product. Now consumers are starting to ask questions about how food is produced and what the carbon footprint is through the whole supply chain. So, here's the real challenge: what is the food industry doing to tackle these issues?

Energy use reduction

According to the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) energy-intensive industries, in which the food sector sits, account for around one sixth of UK CO2 emissions. Food is vital to everyday life and the industry utilises advanced technology and skilled workers in its processes. Many products are traded internationally which only makes the challenge of reducing energy costs more incumbent on food businesses as a means of tackling future problems today.

There are, of course, many schemes and technologies that allow for the reduction of energy costs. For example, the enterprise integration platform Condor monitors fundamental process data for machine performance, offering both historical plant performance as well as real time snapshots of current output such as real time energy usage data. This data allows for machinery performance to be profiled and compared when changes are made to make sure that payback is achieved. It's no longer a case of it is either on or off.

Further, smart motor control allows targeted equipment power management providing key diagnostic information that enables you to optimise performance with real-time access to operation and performance trends - hence further energy savings. Automation removes human error and influence on the production system. It also increases efficiency and reduces carbon footprint.

The people at Promtek ave signed up to a trial program run by Interface NRM funded by Innovate UK, to implement an audit standard for carbon reduction to ISO14604. They have positioned the company to support their customer base if they wish to sign up to that standard too.

Improving production throughput

Mechanically factories do not change and evolve that quickly but all of the equipment has motors and sensors, and smart technologies allow data to be gathered from these individual components. This data is the heart of improving production throughput. Collecting, processing, analysing and validating that data before sending it on to other systems like the enterprise resource planning (ERP) and maintenance management systems provides the fundamental measurement that will be used to assess production performance. Enterprise integration platforms will give you this benchmarking data before and after you make any changes to your production cycle and will provide the evidence required to show you have been successful.

Another challenge affecting production throughput in the modern food industry is spikes and dips in demand. These are difficult to predict (except for the obvious seasonal demands) yet they can also be useful and used to drive a positive net gain with the application of smart data. By collecting a good amount of data from early on in the process, such as the physical impact of the ingredients on the equipment and relating that back to the dates in question you can look for patterns which will help you to predict the impact of demand on your machinery's reliability more accurately. Do this over time and you'll start to see annual trends too.

In a spike phase you do not want your factory to let you down. Knowing your supply chain and all the demands on it, coupled with ongoing and effective maintenance on machinery, Will ensure demand is met. A dip in demand is an opportunity to carry out the maintenance and review production throughput, ultimately using the dip strategically. Data collection on the factory provides indisputable facts on what you need, how you need it and when you need it and that data will feed into a producer's planning process.

Flagship apprenticeship scheme

Carbon neutrality has become the favoured touch stone in the drive for sustainability, but we would argue that it is not enough. If the industry fails to embed the knowledge, experience and skills gained over the last 40 years into the next generation of engineers, technicians, production managers and business owners, then all the benefits of carbon reduction will be wasted by the efforts of re-learning all those lessons in the course of replacing old equipment with new, rather than learning new techniques to adapt and update the equipment to keep it fit for purpose. Young and inexperienced new starters joining the industry are vital to creating a sustainable knowledge base and must be empowered.

When employees lack proper training, they cannot support a business properly; when they are poorly trained, they can be a danger and actually create delays to a production schedule. Properly trained employees and suppliers with the appropriate skills to make confident, well-informed changes to the production process is key to maximising throughput.

With that in mind, those at Promtek have invested in their engineering team's future and are delighted to have been awarded the Make UK Engineer Apprenticeship: Employer Gold Kitemark Accreditation which recognises us as one of the best employers in the UK for engineering apprentices. As the accreditation is voted for by existing apprentices, they say that they couldn't be more thrilled that this investment has paid off.

The investment in staff, and staff training, can be normalised across the industry and will create real time improvement in production throughput as employees will feel rewarded and valued and will in turn add value to any food processing business.

With controlled energy costs (through carbon footprint reduction), data driven production throughput and component staff well versed in company ethos and accountability Promtek can be more than useful to the future, and continued success, of the food industry.

For more information, visit 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.