Daily Digest 29/06/12: Vietnam; new rollers; Chopin; fertiliser database

Hello,

The grains industry gets a fertiliser database.  Read more...

Advice about when to get rollers sharpened.  Read more...

French company Chopin has launched a book detailing the analysis methods, studies and applications related to grains.  The Mixolab Applications Handbook details the results from 200 tests to products  including barley, corn and wheat.  Read online and order here.

Three new feed mills planned in Vietnam.  Read more...

Have a great weekend.

NSRW Rye and other Grains (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! GFMT Article: Bagging case study

Purchasing new equipment is a big investment so it makes sense to spend time making sure you buy the right machines for your needs. This case study examines how Weston Milling in New Zealand and Australia worked with Chronos BTH when the company installed new bagging lines.

Read the full article here.

English: Relief map of New Zealand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daily Digest 28/06/12: Cargill, Monsanto; disease resistant barley

Hello,

The Global Miller is back!  Yesterday I visited a few milling companies in the UK and learnt a great deal about the repair and maintenance side of the industry.

Here's the news...

• Cargill plans to build a feed facility in Bovina, Texas.  Read more...

• New Farm-o-San website for Trouw Nutrition.  Read more...

• Earlier in the month, we linked to a story about Brazilian farmers taking on Monsanto over rights to soya royalties.  This article published in Nature expands on the subject and is a fascinating read. 

• Scottish scientists have made a break-through in creating disease resistant barley.  The new discovery enables barley seed to inherit disease protection characteristics from its parent plant.  Read more...

What do you think...

English: soya in urdu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! GFMT Article: New weighing software for UK cooperative

Earlier in the week, we had a look at the modern world of bulk weighing.  Today, look at the issue in more detail with this case study about the Granary Weald cooperative, UK.

The grain drying, cleaning, handling and marketing facility installed new weighing software which has saved time across the whole process.

Read the full article from GFMT May/June 2012 here.

You can also search the GFMT archives for more stories and features.

Grain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

GREAT NEWS - NEWS - NEWS

GFMT has launched a new agriculture news platform with a focus on grain-related news. Global Milling News was launched earlier this week at www.global-milling.com and over the past 14 days under trial has accumulated over 7,000 on-target stories. There is not another service like this. We have designed it to bring together all the news stories published globally - and related to your sector of agriculture - in one place so that you can easily find those stories from your region or subject area of choice.

Rice milling (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daily digest 26/06/12: EU; Canada; USDA

Hello,

Today we have been looking at different organisations around the world and impact they have on the milling world...

The European Commission has launched its 145th feed additive list.  More information...
The UDSA is to fund 450 renewable energy projects for rural and small businesses.  Read more...
The Canadian Wheat Board and Viterra announce a partnership on grain handling.  Read more...

What do you think...

I'm off on a site visit tomorrow so won't be blogging.  See you on Thursday.

Wheat, Pennsylvania (LOC) (Photo credit: The Library of Congress)

New! GFMT Article: The modern world of bulk weighing

Fast, reliable and flexible: welcome to the modern world of bulk weighing.  Bulk weighers get a thorough examination by Ray Vrtiska, Intersystems, USA in GFMT May/June 2012.
Read the full article here.

Grain (Photo credit: peter pearson)

GAFTA to support Grain of Russia 2012

GAFTA to support Grain of Russia 2012

Read full press release...

Daily Digest 25/06/12: biofuel; business news

Hello,

Biofuels have got us talking today:
Details of a new method of producing biofuel ethanol from palm oil waste have been published in the Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science.  Read more...
In Brazil, Vale has bought an plot of land bigger than London on which the company plans to build a $500 million biofuel plant.  Read more...
Sweet and biomass sorghum would meet the need for next-generation biofuels according to Purdue University scientists.  Read more...

In business news:
Alltech will work with Engormix.com to promote its new mycotoxins report. Read more...
Cargotec has secured an order for a Siwertell ship unloader from Denmark's leading power company, Dong energy.  Read more...

What do you think...

Biofuel project in Iba, Zambales (Photo credit: treesftf)

New! GFMT Article: Rice contracts and trading

With rice contracts being negotiated up to 12 months in advance, selecting the best terms and conditions for your company is imperative.  GFMT asked Director General of Gafta, Pamela Kirby Johnson OBE, to write an overview of contracts used in rice trading.

It's a thoughtful and comprehensive piece which offers a great insight into the rice supply chain.  Read the full article here.

Rice Diversity. Part of the image collection of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! GFMT Article: Mould control in grain and feed

Today we have look at mould control in grain and grain and feed.  Taken from the May/June 2012 issue of GFMT, this article is written by staff at Kemira Solutions.

Daily Digest 22/06/12: bumper corn forecast; Pakistan and GM; mill buy outs

Hello,

• 'Super-size' corn forecast for Matto Grosso, Brazil.  Read more...

• Pakistan considers GM food labelling policy.  Read more...

• Grain millers Inc., USA expands into flax with the acquisition of ENRECO, Inc.  Read more...

Have a great weekend.

New! GFMT Article: In-house recycling

Waste products from the milling process are quick to pile up and can be expensive to get rid of.  Increasingly, companies are solving the problem by recycling in-house. 

This article from GFMT May/June 2012, outlines the benefits of on site plastic recycling.

Plastic recycle logo PE-LD, Polyethylene (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daily Digest 21/06/12: Show and events special

Hello,

Here at the Global Miller, we love a good show and we know you do too.  So today we've rounded up the best show and event news we can find.

Are you attending any of these shows?  Let us know.  You might even see the Global Millers and GFMT magazine there.

Agriculture (Photo credit: thegreenpages)

• Sponsor for Oilseeds & Oils 2012 announced

Turkish company Aves Ic ve Dis Ticaret A.S. became the general sponsor of the fourth international conference Oilseeds & Oils 2012, devoted to the market of oilseeds, vegetable oils and by-products, which will be organised in Turkey (October 1-3, 2012, Istanbul, Hilton Hotel).

• Animal Framing Ukraine

31 October - 2 November 2012,  International Exhibition Center (IEC), Kiev, Ukraine
The floor plan for Animal Framing Ukraine is more than 75 percent filled.
Provisional exhibitors list: Agroexpert, Agrosvit, Agrotechnology ApS, Agseal LLC, Ak Aydin Plastik San, AVD Agro, Awila, Bauer Technics S.R.O., Big Dutchman, Big Herdsman Ukraine, Cehave Korm / Nuscience, Codaf, CPM Europe, DACS A/S, DanBred International, Danube, Dneproenergostroyprom, Dr. Thomas Muller, Dykun Global Consult, Eko-servis, Emka Incubators NV, Golden Gain Inc. Limited, Haka Planen.Bauen GmbH, Haller AG, Hellmann Poultry GmbH & Co. KG, ICK Engineering, Ikadan Ukraine, Impress-media, InterHeat Inc., Intraco Ltd, Jiangsu Myande Food Machinery Co. Ltd, JSR Genetics, Jyden Bur A/S, Kompass (Lider), Korea Thumb Vet. Sales, KSE Process Technology, Kutlusan, Lambton Conveyor, Lycan, Metalplast, Modern Poultry, Modern Veterinary Medicine, MSD animal Health, National Swine Registry, Engineers, Petersime, Polnet Ukraine, Press-time (Business proposition), Promavtomatika, Propozitsiya, Rotem Control and Management, Salmet International GmbH, Scan Pork, Sioux Steel Company, Skov, Sommen Automation and Technology, Symaga, Tanin, Technokomplex&K (Feed&Facts), Technosvet, TEXHA, Topigs CIS, UkrEcoTek, UkrEximBank, Val-Co Europe, Van Aarsen International, Van Hoof, Variant Factory, VDL Agrotech BV, Vencomatic, Wesstron, Wynveen International BV, Zheng Chang, Zoopan

• VIV Russia 2013

Leading companies from all parts of the feed to meat market participate in VIV Russia 2013
From 22 - 24 May, 2013 VNU Exhibitions Europe together with ASTI Group will organize VIV Russia 2013, the leading, innovative platform representing all parts of the feed to meat market for pigs and poultry. VIV Russia showcases new products and services, state-of-the art technologies and the latest trends in the animal protein industry. In addition to the exhibition an extensive conference and seminar program is in preparation. More than 70 percent of the total exhibition area has already been booked or reserved by suppliers, including a considerable number of leading companies in various parts of the animal production and meat processing supply chain such as Alltech, Provimi, Andritz Feed&Biofuel, Aviagen, Pas Reform, Big Dutchmen, Poly-Clip, Meyn Poultry Processing solutions. VIV Russia will be held for the sixth time at the International Crocus Exhibition Center in Moscow.

GFMT Article: New reference method for mycotoxin analysis

With the May/June issue of GFMT going online this week, we take a look at the first article:
LC-MS/MS: The new reference method for mycotoxin analysis by Dr Eva-Maria Binder, Chief Scientific Officer, Erber Group, Austria.

The analysis of mycotoxins has become an issue of global interest, in particular because most countries already set up regulative limits of guideline levels for the tolerance of such contaminants in agricultural commodities and products.  Read more...

 

Daily Digest 20/06/12: New mill in Iowa, Alltech; sandwiches; algae

Hello, 

At the Global Miller, we've been reading about...

• See Algae Technology, Germany has signed an agreement to supply and install an algae production plant in Brazil.  The plant will produce algae biomass and bioethanol for livestock feed.  Read more...

SEE ALGAE Technology GmbH ("SAT" or the "Company"), a leading developer of infrastructure for the commercial production of high-quality algae, announced today that it had signed an agreement to supply and install a 1 hectare "dual-use" algae production plant for Recife, Brazil-based Grupo JB ("JB"), one of the leading bioethanol producers in Brazil. Once operational, this farm will primarily be utilized to produce algae biomass and bioethanol from both natural and genetically modified algae strains. Algae biomass is used as a replacement for soybean meal in feed for livestock and fish. This production process will also yield algae lipids which can be used to make biodiesel and certain biochemicals, among other compounds.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1f4d7)

SEE ALGAE Technology GmbH ("SAT" or the "Company"), a leading developer of infrastructure for the commercial production of high-quality algae, announced today that it had signed an agreement to supply and install a 1 hectare "dual-use" algae production plant for Recife, Brazil-based Grupo JB ("JB"), one of the leading bioethanol producers in Brazil. Once operational, this farm will primarily be utilized to produce algae biomass and bioethanol from both natural and genetically modified algae strains. Algae biomass is used as a replacement for soybean meal in feed for livestock and fish. This production process will also yield algae lipids which can be used to make biodiesel and certain biochemicals, among other compounds.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1f4d7)

• Former Alltech intern recognised at World Poultry Congress.  Read more...

SEE ALGAE Technology GmbH ("SAT" or the "Company"), a leading developer of infrastructure for the commercial production of high-quality algae, announced today that it had signed an agreement to supply and install a 1 hectare "dual-use" algae production plant for Recife, Brazil-based Grupo JB ("JB"), one of the leading bioethanol producers in Brazil. Once operational, this farm will primarily be utilized to produce algae biomass and bioethanol from both natural and genetically modified algae strains. Algae biomass is used as a replacement for soybean meal in feed for livestock and fish. This production process will also yield algae lipids which can be used to make biodiesel and certain biochemicals, among other compounds.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1f4d7)

• This story is slightly off-topic but no one can resist a good sandwich.  Resource Data Management, the control and monitoring specialist, has presented the Technical Excellence Award at the Sammies – the British Sandwich Industry Oscars 2012.  Tom Hollands of Raynor Foods, won the accolade for a number of technical advances, including implementing a closed loop recycling scheme and developing a butter spray machine that increases the quality and throughput of sandwich production.  Read more... 

• StateLine Cooperative is to build a new feed mill in Iowa.  Visit website...

A toasted Chicken Sandwich from Whole Foods Market. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What do you think...

GFMT: new issue online

The May/June issue of GFMT magazine is online now.  This edition has a fantastic range of features including NIR in practice,  a new reference for mycotoxin analysis and contracts for the rice supply chain.

Have a look and tell us what you think.

You can search through the rest of the GFMT archive here.

Over the next few weeks, we'll also post the main articles on the blog.

FEFAC: European feed industry committed to livestock production

At the occasion of the 55th FEFAC Annual General Meeting, FEFAC President Patrick Vanden Avenne highlighted that "the European feed industry is fully committed to support the competitiveness and sustainability of livestock production in the EU and at global level, thus contributing to global food security, pointing to the need for more proactive, flexible market management measures to maintain viability of EU feed supply".

With a view to the current policy debate on the 'CAP' reform proposals’ goal of improving “resource efficiency” and competitiveness in European food production, Patrick Vanden Avenne stressed that “safe and balanced compound feed from competitive and sustainable sources is an essential prerequisite for the long term viability of EU livestock production”.

Patrick Vanden Avenne stated that “In a situation of extremely volatile grain and protein markets, which negatively affects the EU’s livestock sector competiveness, the compound feed industry plays a crucial role in fully exploiting the nutritional potential of co-products from the food and biofuel industry, including former foodstuffs, provided they are safe for both animals and humans”.

European Union (Photo credit: ana branca)

He called on the European Commission to rapidly prolong the TRQ import duty suspension for wheat, while doubling efforts to reduce the increasing backlog of GMO import approvals, in order to send a clear signal to the market that the supply of competitive feedstuffs remains a top priority for the European Commission in order to safeguard EU livestock production.

He welcomed in particular the planned vote at EU Standing Committee level on the reauthorisation of non-ruminant processed animal proteins for fish feed. He stated that a “positive vote would pave the way for our EU aquaculture producers to step up their efforts to increase EU aquaculture production by creating a level playing field with seafood imports”. “EFSA has provided clear scientific evidence that n.r. PAPs are safe. They can help reducing the EU’s dependency on fishmeal imports thus contributing to the Common Fisheries Policy reform goals of pairing sustainable wild fisheries with the sustainable development of aquaculture”.

More information...

Daily Digest 19/06/12: NAMA; Tate & Lyle; Brazilian farmers take legal action; opportunities for soybean farmers

Hello, 

Today the Global Millers have been looking at...

• NAMA's response to proposed changes to the wheat standard.  The organisation as mixed views on the reclassification.  Read PDF...

• Tate & Lyle open a food innovation centre in Chicago, USA.  The facility includes laboratories for food science research and processing and for applications and technical services.  Read more...

• Five million Brazilian farmers take on US based biotech company Monsanto.  The farmers are demanding the return of the €6.2 billion taken as royalties.  Read more...

• Russian Trade Bill welcomed by American Soybean Association.  Read more...

What do you think...

Foden steam wagon, Tate & Lyle livery, AU 6695 Steam rally, North West England (Kendal?), 1970s. Now at the British Commercial Vehicle Museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

EU compound feed production down by 0.3 percent in 2011

EU compound feed production down by 0.3 percent in 2011 / no significant market trend expected in 2012 despite high quotations for major feed materials

In the wake of the 55th FEFAC Annual General Meeting on ‘EU CAP reform impact on EU livestock and feed sector / EU food waste strategy’ on June 15, 2012 in Brussels, FEFAC members have provided final estimates for the compound feed production for the EU-27 (Greece, Malta and Luxembourg excluded)in 2011. The total production estimate is now set at 151 mio. t, i.e. 0.3 percent below the figure for 2010. Cattle and pig feed have seen their production fall, respectively by -2.1 and -0.6 percent, whereas poultry feed increased by 1.1percent, thereby confirming its position of leading segment of compound feed slightly above pig feed.

The most important factors which weighed on the EU feed demand in 2011 were the still fragile economic situation of the pig sector and the high feed material costs. As regards ruminants, the severe drought on the first months led to a lower forage harvest during the spring cut but this was offset by the good autumnal weather conditions that favoured grass growth.

EU Member countries recorded very heterogeneous performances, with some experiencing dramatic falls of their compound feed production such as Czech Republic (-14 %) or Denmark (-6.6%), whereas several countries such as Germany, Poland and, to a lesser extent, Italy, managed to buck the general market trend with positive growth around three percent, supported by a surprisingly quick recovery of pig farming activity.

The high cereal prices over the last two years contributed to improve the competitive market position of industrial compound feed production vs. home mixing. However, this gain was offset to a certain extent by the development of alternative pig feeding strategies based on roughly grinded feed and liquid feeding.

As a result, Germany’s position as leading EU country in terms of total compound feed production before France was strengthened, with Spain scoring third.

European Union (Photo credit: erjkprunczyk)

Outlook for 2012

FEFAC experts identified the following key drivers for the compound feed market in 2012:

· On the livestock sector side, the entry into application of the new cages standard for laying hens from 1 January 2012 and the new group-housing requirements for sows which may lead to a significant reduction in young sows replacement in certain producer regions; the development of the Schmallenberg virus in ruminant populations may also weigh on the demand;

· On the feed demand side, the high quotations for all feed materials, whether energy sources like cereals or protein sources like soybean meal, due to high Chinese demand and seasonal drought in South America, will further affect the profitability of the livestock industry, in particular the pig farmers;

· On the supply side, the persisting problems on the trade of maize co-products (DDGs, Corn gluten feed) linked to asynchronous approval of not yet authorised GM events, despite the adoption of the technical solution last year.

As a consequence, FEFAC experts foresee a stabilisation in cattle feed production, a slight increase in poultry feed demand (+1percent) offset by a reduction in the demand for layer feeds (-5 percent) and a further setback in pig feed production (-0.5percent). Overall, compound feed production is expected to remain stable vs. 2011.
Click to enlarge

More information...

GFMT Article: Synthesis of animal feed formulation techniques

Reading about Evonik and Biomin's respective expansions in feed additives today, this story from the GFMT archives caught my attention.

Written by Dr Pratiksha, Assistant Professor, School of Applied Sciences, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India, the features explains the differences between linear and non-linear models of feed formulation.  

Read the article as it appears in the magazine here or scroll down for just the text.

Daily Digest 18/06/12: Evonik and Biomin expand; CBH gets Japanese tender; grasshopper plague in Russia

Hello,

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  Here's what's been going on while you were away.

Two of big companies are expanding their feed additive divisions:

• Evonik unveil new feed additive plants in Russia and Brazil.  Read more... 
• Biomin buys German company, MICRO-PLUS.   Read more...

Elsewhere,

• CBH has nabbed its first Japanese MAFF tender.  The Australian company will supply 36,060 tonne of MAFF ASW blend wheat, a blend of noodle and premium milling grade wheat, destined for east Japan for August shipment.  Read more...

• And finally, Birds may be Alfred Hitchcock's nemesis but in Russia a grasshopper invasion poses a major threat to the country's crops.  Watch video...

 What do you think...

Evonik Industries Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Animal Farming Ukraine: Victam and FIAAP pavillion

English: Dnepr river in Kiev (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Animal Farming Ukraine 2012
31 October - 2 November, 2012 
International Exhibition Centre, Kiev, Ukraine

The VICTAM & FIAAP PAVILION

The Ukraine is investing heavily in the development and enlargement of its livestock industry. This will undoubtedly mean that the Ukraine's animal feed sector will have to invest in order to expand and modernise its feed production plants to meet these demands. This will have an impact on companies who design, build and equip animal feed plants and of course also companies who also supply the raw materials and specialist additives and ingredients used within the feed production process. The VICTAM & FIAAP Pavilion at Animal Farming Ukraine therefore offers you the opportunity to meet, discuss and influence the decision makers within the Ukraine's feed industry.

Following the success of Animal Farming Ukraine 2011 exhibition there will again be a VICTAM & FIAAP Pavilion at the 2012 event. The Organisers of Animal Farming Ukraine 2011 conducted a survey of the 6000 industry professionals that attended the show and found that animal feed production is one of the top four reasons to visit the exhibition.

Preparations are well under way for the 2012 exhibition at which it is expected there will be over 150 exhibitors, an increase on the 136 that exhibited in 2011 and that the number of visitors will also increase correspondingly.

Already a number of companies have reserved stands within the 2012 VICTAM & FIAAP Pavilion, they are as follows:
Lambton Conveyor Ltd. - USA
Sioux Steel - USA
CPM Europe - Netherlands
Wynveen - Netherlands
Jiangsu Myande - PRC
ZCME - PRC
SYMAGA - Spain
KSE - Netherlands
Van Aarsen - Netherlands
"The programme of pig breeding development in Ukraine plans to more than double the head of livestock by 2015"

"The current growth rate of poultry production in Ukraine allows us to forecast an increase in the rate of more than 30% by 2015"

"In 2012, Ukraine will develop and finance from the state budget regional programmes to develop dairy cattle breeding"

A selection of recent Government statements.

You will see from above that a number of companies have recognised the market potential of the Ukraine and have reserved exhibition stands within the VICTAM & FIAAP Pavilion. It is not too late for you to join them. Let me know and I can help you reserve an exhibition stand within our specialist feed pavilion area at this increasingly important exhibition.
More information...

GFMT Article: Saving energy in flour milling

Saving energy is a concern for most millers.  Today we take a look at how to reduce energy bills in flour milling in this article by Tuncay Lamci, General Manager, IMAS Integrated Machinery Systems, Turkey.

It was originally published GFMT Jan/Feb 2012.  Click here for the feature as it appears in the magazine or scroll down for just the text.

Daily Digest 15/06/12: AB Vista; Mulitcracker grinding; GE soybeans

Hello,

All the GFMT team are back in the office after Cereals 2012.  This is what we've been talking about...

• AB Vista ran its second Ruminant Feeding seminar in Birmingham, UK on May 30, 2012.  Delegates heard about the latest trends in ruminant feeding and the benefits of adding specialist micro-ingredients.  Read more...

• Check out this video of the Multicracker grinding system which is inspired by shark's teeth.  Watch video...

• Genetically-enhanced soybeans have bean approved for commercial use in Mexico.  Read more...

Have a great weekend.

English: Birmingham, UK (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daily Digest: 14/06/12 Cereals 2012 special

Hello,

We've got a special Cereals 2012 themed digest today.  We've collated all our stories (and a few other choice tidbits from around the web) for enjoyment.

Three of the GFMT team pulled on their wellies and made the trip up to Lincolnshire. 

Things started pretty chilly but soon warmed up with Dan Basse's address.  The show heated up during a debate on chasing yields and feeding the world. In brief moments of down time, the team enjoyed reading a report on the power of agriculture. 

Elsewhere, Farmers Weekly got excited about some heavy duty machinery on show.  It's not quite the Global Miller's thing very pretty all the same.  Read more...

The Farmers Guardian reported on the National Union of Farmers response to proposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy.  Read more... 

Last, but by no means least, you can browse the official Cereals 2012 site.

If you went, we'd love to hear what you thought of it.

English: Harvesting near Worlaby. "The UK is likely to harvest about 15m tonnes of wheat this summer, producing an exportable surplus of around 3m tonnes." See Farmers Weekly. Photo taken from Middlegate. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The new VIV China

With the upcoming 2012-edition, organizers VNU Exhibitions Europe and CNAS have created a NEW VIV China. Focusing on better matchmaking with quality buyers, exhibitors can expect to do lots of promising business at VIV China again, scheduled at the NCIEC in Beijing for September 23-25, 2012. The commitment of market leaders exhibiting from Europe, The USA and China form the best prove of a new recipe that works.   

It took the organisers serious efforts to win back exhibitors, following a series of weak trade shows in 2009 and 2010. “ It is essential to differentiate VIV China from all other events by playing our best cards. This will turn VIV China into the preferred international business platform from Feed to Meat again”, explains Ruwan Berculo, Project Manager at VNU Exhibitions Europe. At first, the frequency returned to its 2-year cycle. The organisation of the International China Summit forms a good example of new opportunities introduced for quality matchmaking.  Investments in a better visitor campaign should result in new buyers visiting VIV China. And once on site, visitors will find it much easier to find their suppliers. “The market will see a completely NEW VIV China, set to create the perfect business ambiance”, concludes Berculo.   

The first signs indicate the efforts work. With half a year running up to the show, it’s nearly sold out. Some 400 exhibitors confirmed their participation. International Market leaders such as Aviagen, Big Dutchman, Buhler Group, Jamesway Incubators, Moba, Pas Reform and Poly-Clip Systems are among them. The countries of Great Britain, France, The Netherlands, South Korea and The USA present their suppliers in dedicated pavilions. 

English: Beijing CBD 2008-6-9 Jianwai SOHO, Yitai Center, CCTV ‪中文(简体)‬: 北京中央商务区夜景（可见央视新址、建外SOHO等） (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Personalized promotion campaign
A new personalised promotion campaign focuses on bringing in Top-quality buyers from China’s 7 most important animal production regions. From Feed to Meat, professionals will be attracted to attend the event. So far, 800 key buyers throughout China have already registered. That’s a unique result. In total, it is expected VIV China 2012 draws some 15,000 visitors, of whom 80% is Chinese. “With 15,000 professionals visiting, the 400 exhibitors can take the time to have fruitful business conversations that go beyond a quick hand shake”, explains Berculo. 

International China Summit
One of the best examples of better matchmaking opportunities forms the International China Summit. On Saturday September 22, the day before VIV China 2012 starts, the organisers present a full-day program filled with a wide range of conferences on trends & developments and 20-minute seminars focusing technical best practices. International media partners, exhibitors, associations and institutions have selected their best speakers. They share their knowledge and visions on various topics for the production of feed, eggs and poultry and pig meat as well as for ways to improve trade. 

Great Britain and France focus in their presentations on Pig breeding. The growth in demand for pig genetics strongly continues in China. Without making it commercial, exhibitors will emphasise how investments in premium products lead to much better results. China increasingly realises the need to invest more money now to get better results for a longer term.  

The combination of VIV China 2012 and the International China Summit perfectly blends a world-class showcase of products with lots of relevant knowledge to improve results. That’s what China needs to secure a healthy meat, egg and fish industry. Registration via www.viv.net for free entry for both VIV China 2012 and the International China Summit is now open.

Cereals 2012: Power in Agriculture Report

Visitors to Cereals 2012 in Lincolnshire, UK, had the opportunity to pick up copies of a report which it's publishers, the Oxford Farming Conference, are calling "a vital report on the future of farming" .

Much has been made of feeding a world of nine billion people by 2050, given a background of changing climate and the need for sustainable production systems. This report, Power in Agriculture, seeks to show where that food is coming from and what resources will be needed to produce it, The report is timely - first published in January this year - due to the following factors: farm productivity must be improved over the next decade; the shift in global power eastward; increased globalisation in agriculture; opening of agriculture markets through trade liberalisation and de-regulation and the continuing reliance on the use of non-renewable natural resources and the depletion of mineral reserves.

The report presents a unique series of regional power indexes which reveals the UK farmer is still a major player with the agriculture sector "punching above his weight".

"But ...  for the farming industry in this country to grow it needs to respond to the challenges of an increasingly globalised agricultural system and greater pressures on our resources," says Cedric Porter, chairman of the 2012 Oxford Farming Conference in the report.

As might be expected the US and the EU top the power index by some margin. The report recognises that pressure on UK agriculture will come from countries such as Brazil and India. It also sees a shift in the focus of power from governments towards commercial businesses.

"The exercise of this power isn't limitless and can be constrained by policy," says the report. Copies of the report, which deals with trade flows, economics of livestock as well as cereal production and trade through to political power and natural resources, can be fund on: www.ofc.org.uk

Agriculture (Photo credit: thegreenpages)

Cereals 2012 Debate: Chasing yields and feeding the world

Five prominent ag specialists from the political to the producer participated in an public debate on how the United Kingdom might increase yields to meet a growing global food demand. Opening the debate, which attracted some 130 visitors, chairman Richard Whitlock who is president of the Oxford Farming Conference which hosted the event, put the question: 'Do we have the political, scientific and economic means to significantly increase UK crop output?'

He also asked where the barriers were to increased yields, particularly from wheat and said that tensions between food production and environmental protection meant the right balance had to be struck in terms of global food security issues and climate change.

A central outcome was that increasing yields was not at odds with environmental protection and that the two could develop side-by-side. Other points made included more emphasis on looking at the complete supply chain, including breeding and genetics, that GM was not 'a white knight in shinning armour' and that minimising post-production waste should not be overlooked.

UK farmers were praised by panellists for their use of new technologies and were considered the most innovative worldwide and were in a 'fantastic position' to use new tools - from new machines to new web applications - to increase output.

While it was fair to question the recent flat lining in wheat yields, the UK was not lagging behind and had one of the highest average yields foe wheat in the world. However, the question was also how to integrate research and the environment. "We need to employ our resources very cleverly," said one panelist.

The old perennial statement of "there's enough food, it's just a question of distribution" was raised but panelist Andrew Wraith, head of agribusiness for Savills, made the point that farmers were driven by supply and demand. Producing 99 percent rather than 101 percent of total demand would make all the difference in maintaining a sustainable food production system or returning to the prices that made farming unsustainable.

"Producing three percent more each year to meet growing population requirements is significant," he said. "As a grower do we need to be chasing this production?"

He acknowledged that his position might be considered selfish, but farmers had to know the demand was there in order to produce more. His view was "to produce enough from less". And as with any farmer anywhere he considered his neighbour to be his biggest competitor and the driver to make his business the best.

"We must not loose sight of sustainability which must come from profitability," he added.

Professor Wayne Powell, director of The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, Wales, said that yield stagnation was largely due to a narrow genetic base in wheat varieties. The UK needed "strong vibrant breeding programmes" to fully capture scientific findings.

Dan Basse addresses Cereals 2012

What a start to Cereals 2012!

Agrii, the new UK company that combines Masstock and UAP under one name called Agri Intelligence, hosted a leading commentator and adviser to the UK and Chinese governments, Dan Basse to address Cereal 2012 visitors on World Food Supply and Demand.

He addressed global crop marketing prospects saying the key factors driving prices for the foreseeable future would be a combination of weather (in terms of drought and moisture stress in key production regions), biofuels and their demand for agrimony-based feedstocks and South East Asia and in particular China.

Caption: Dan Basse visits the GFMT and IMD stand at Cereals 2012. He was getting a feel for UK cereal farming and the UK weather after delivering a stimulation hour-long presentation on meeting growing world food demand

He focused much of his comments around wheat supply and demand taking in corn and soybean production to complete a pictured that suggested a current volatile period for grain prices and a bullish period ahead for wheat in particular.

Coming to the UK from his home town Chicago, USA, Mr Basse who is president of AgResource, said two-thirds of a cereal farmer's net revenue in the USA now arises from marketing activities. He also mentioned, based on his calculations, that GM technology in grain production had not delivered any corresponding increases in yields, however they had taken some of the volatility out of seasonal variation in output.

GFMT will be reporting Mr Basse's presentation in more detail in its up-coming edition.