11/01/13: Mapping wheat genomes; Hovis turns to wheat imports; Poland and GM

• A new research centre in Western Australia aims to crack the genetic code of wheat. The Researchers at the Australia-China Centre for wheat at Murdoch University hope they can do for wheat, what the human genome project did for DNA. Read more...

• UK bread maker, Hovis has abandoned its commitment to use 100 percent British wheat. The company claims the poor UK harvest left the company with no choice but to import from the EU. Read more...

• Poland has become the eight EU member state to ban the cultivation of GM crops approved by the European Food Safety Authority as safe. Two crops will be affected by the ban: Monsanto’s MON810 maize and BASF’s Amflora potato. The  decision will come into effect on January 28, 2013. Read more...

English: European Union: adapted from original orthographic map File:Global European Union.svg by User:Ssolbergj & Online Map Creator; w/ EU member/state borders (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

30/08/12: FDA; calls for Australian wheat reform

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Today we've been talking about...

• Industry associations commend FDA and AFFCO on mutual recognition of the AAFCO ingredient approval process:

Five major U.S. grain, animal feed, feed ingredient and pet food organisations commended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for extending the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties entitled, “Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Association of American Feed Control Officials.”

This 12 month extension is vital to the continued success of the AAFCO ingredient review process. The U.S. animal feed and pet food industries need workable paths for getting new feed ingredients approved and into the marketplace. The extension of the current MOU will ensure there is no gap in available review mechanisms for the industry in short order.  The associations strongly supported the cooperation between FDA and AAFCO in the ingredient review process as well as this extension.

“The ingredient review process has worked for many decades and we look forward to another very successful year and hopefully many more to come,” according to the five associations.

English: Logo of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2006) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Report calls for continuing wheat reform:

A study commissioned by grower co-operative, the CBH Group, Australia has endorsed the Federal Government’s plans to further wind back regulation of the wheat export market to bring it into line with other agricultural exports.
The report, Continuing the Reforms of the Australian Wheat Export Market,  says the reforms to date, and the expectation further deregulation would occur in 2014, had attracted a range of new services to the market from existing and new participants.

22/08/12: Kiotechagil visits; CBH award, dispersing unit

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• Kiotechagil hosts Japanese and Spanish visits at Manton Wood

A group of customers and distributors from Japan visited Kiotechagil’s Manton Wood production plant and attended a seminar hosted by Anpario Group chief executive David Bullen and director of biosecurity Murray Hyden.  Murray focussed on the complexities of manufacturing acid products such as Bact-A-Cid and Salkil and the complex and effective quality assurance processes which are in place. The visitors were from Rokku Chemicals, Kiotechagil’s main sub –distributor in Japan and their key Japanese customers . The trip was organised in conjunction with Spencer Feeds, Kiotechagil’s primary distributor for Japan.

In a separate visit, Kiotechagil’s Spanish distributor Fatroiberica visited the  Manton Wood production facility for an update on current and planned new products including Neutox, the company’s new broad spectrum toxin binder. Ian Cockshott, Kiotechagil’s sales manager for Europe and South America, said, “This proved to be a perfect opportunity to strengthen our cooperation. The difficult circumstances facing the region means that, more than ever, producers are focused on cost.  We fully recognise the challenges our customers face and offer a range of technical solutions to maximise efficiency and  genetic potential.”
 

• CBH’s Quality Optimisation recognised as Western Australia Project of the Year

A year after the CBH Group rolled out Quality Optimisation to wheat growers in Western Australia the innovative tool has been recognised by the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) as WA Project of the Year.

Quality Optimisation provides growers with more flexibility and control over their wheat quality. It allows growers to individually optimise by blending loads of wheat online through LoadNet® after delivery.

Quality Optimisation now goes forward into the national awards to be announced at the national AIPM conference in Melbourne later this year.  Read more...

• Dispersing unit reduces energy demand in the process of production

At the Achema trade fair 2012 in Frankfurt, the Business Unit Grinding & Dispersing of NETZSCH Group for a first time presented their new dispersing organ to a broad public. The sophisticated design and the convincing performance parameters drew considerable interest.

In several sectors of the industry successful dispersing, which is the targeted separation of agglomerated particles, is still representing a challenge. NETZSCH is meeting this challenge with the new OMEGA® dispersing unit, which is suitable for the processing of both standard and high-tech products. Moreover, the OMEGA® achieves extraordinary energy efficiency through clever utilization of turbulence, cavitation and shear forces, thus providing real saving potential. In comparison to technologies currently in operation, the OMEGA® dispersing unit is one of the most cost effective on the market.

More information...

Australian wheat crops in some regions on for record crops

In the Northern areas of Western Australia's wheat belt, they are on track for record crop production. The Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd. (CBH) who deal with the marketing and dominates the storage and export logistics in the region estimates the total production this crop year of 12.5 million tons. This figure is down from the government's Department of Agriculture estimate range of 13 to 14 million tons, but will still be the second highest on record. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers.

Australia researchers developing test to improve pig & poultry feed

Scientists at the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia are close to developing a new rapid computerised screening tool for pork producers to measure protein quality in imported soybean meal. Principal researcher Jae Kim said the tool, expected to be developed by June this year, could also eventually be applied for the broiler/layer industry.

Dr Kim said the tool would enable producers to check the lysine quality in soybean meal, an important ingredient in the diet of young pigs. “Lysine is the most important essential amino acid in pig nutrition,” he said. “A deficient or short supply of lysine hinders the utilisation of other amino acids needed for the efficient production of pigs.  So it is important for producers to be able to precisely estimate the biologically available lysine in pig diets. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

Crop damage from weather growing as cost of grains advances

Less than a year after the worst drought in a generation destroyed one-third of Russia’s wheat crop and sent global food prices surging, more bad weather is damaging fields from North America to Europe to Asia.Corn planting in the US, the world’s largest grower, is advancing at half of last year’s pace because of excess rain, government data show.

The Canadian Wheat Board said fields are so muddy that only three percent of grain has been sown, compared with 40 percent normally. At the same time, drought left the Kansas wheat crop in the worst shape since 1996, and dry spells are threatening crops in France, Western Australia and China. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, which is published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

World agricultural supply and demand estimates

US wheat ending stocks for 2010/11 are projected higher this month on reduced export prospects. Projected exports are lowered 25 million bushels with increased world supplies of high quality wheat, particularly in Australia, and a slower-than-expected pace of US shipments heading into the final quarter of the wheat marketing year.

By-class changes include lower projected exports for Hard Red Spring, White, and durum wheat, partly offset by small increases for Hard Red Winter and Soft Red Winter wheat. The marketing-year average price received by producers is projected at US$5.60 to US$5.80 per bushel, unchanged from last month.

Global 2010/11 wheat supplies are projected 1.9 million tons higher reflecting higher production. Argentina production is raised 1.0 million tons based on higher reported yields. Australia production is raised 1.0 million tons with higher yields in Western Australia where wheat quality was not hurt by harvest rains as in the east. Other production changes include a 0.5-million-ton reduction for EU-27 with a smaller crop reported for Denmark and a 0.6-million-ton increase for Saudi Arabia on an upward revision to area. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.