The latest V-Connect Indonesia Edition successfully brought 50 global companies and over 2,000 trade participants from 50 countries together

In 2021, the trade fair industry is still impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which affects the physical trade exhibition. However, VNU Asia Pacific, together with Permata Kreasi Media, the organiser of ILDEX Indonesia and Aquatica Asia, keeps pushing to create an online event to connect with the livestock and aquaculture industries for the Indonesian market and international companies via the 'V-Connect Indonesia Edition' platform.

This is the digital platform developed by VIV and ILDEX to enable in-person B2B networking and provide a progressive web base. This smartphone-supported online ecosystem optimises the connection and business opportunities for ASEAN's Feed-to-Food Industry participants.

'V-Connect Indonesia Edition' has shown itself to be the leading digital B2B networking and knowledge-sharing event for ASEAN's Feed to Food Industry. During the event, over 2,346 virtual exhibition visitors from 50 countries connected with 50 top companies. Over 366 potential buyers registered to attend our platform, making up 418 interactive chats and successful business matches with our exhibitors.

Successful Knowledge Sharing Platform
Moreover, 14 conference sessions were given by 32 speakers from private companies, government agencies and industry associations who presented about the Newcastle Disease Challenge, Animal Health, Industry Professional Training and Antimicrobial Resistance. In addition, presentations about expanders for higher pellet mill capacity and better pellet quality, Cage-Free Egg Producers, eFishery, Smart and Happy with E-Digital, Digital Transformation, Complete Solutions for Profitable Pigs, Optimal Stress Management and Black Soldier Fly Meal for fish-shrimp farming were given.

In total, 1,555 conference delegates showed that the industry's demand for knowledge, innovations, and networking remains high. As such, a digital platform can be an efficient solution to this demand.

Indonesian Livestock Market Outlook
Ruri Sarasono, Director of PT. Permata Kreasi Media (the representative of the organisers) states that "Covid-19 has changed the regular form of our entire industry completely; physical events, especially in the Asia Pacific region, have been severely affected over the past year and a half. However, the livestock industry business needs to be carried on by considering the demand from the market remains at a high level."

Dr Ir. Nasrullah, M.SC, Director General of Livestock and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture The Republic of Indonesia supported that "The Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia appreciated the holding of the ILDEX event since 2013. Which is an event related to livestock, fisheries and others on an international scale in Indonesia. Apart from being a promotional tool of advanced products and technology in this industry. ILDEX is also a meeting place for stakeholders from within and outside the country."

"This event is a tangible manifestation that digitalisation is a new phenomenon, an opportunity as well as challenge for the marine and fisheries sector and is expected to be a hope to support Indonesia's development," adds Dr Tb Haeru Rahayu, A.Pi., M, SC, Director General of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of The Republic of Indonesia.

The "V-Connect Indonesia Edition" will remain open to all participants until December 9 2021 to allow business matching with exhibitors and re-watching sessions you might miss during the event. To continue the journey on the V-Connect Indonesia Edition platform, visit the link, HERE.

ILDEX Exhibitions 2022: Back to Business in Person
2022 is an important year to re-launch the trade exhibitions in full swing after the pandemic and shift to the digital platform. VNU Asia Pacific, together with a local partner, Permata Kreasi Media, confirmed that ILDEX Indonesia and Aquatica Asia will be held November 9-11, 2022 at Hall 3-3A, Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Jakarta, Indonesia. With the new date on Q4, 2022, the organisers anticipate widespread mass vaccination in Indonesia, and cross-border travel is gradually returning to normal. The event is set at an ideal timing to meet the market demand after a yearlong downturn. While ILDEX Vietnam will organise from August 3-5, 2022 at SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in Q3 of 2022. The organisers will do their best to provide the best trade shows to serve the industry demand and meet customers' expectations.

For more information about the ILDEX exhibition visit the website, HERE.

 

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

Alapala to acquire majority of the shares of Axor Srl to ensure strong partnership in pasta technologies

Alapala, one of the leading providers of turnkey wheat, semolina, maize and feedmills with over 700 successfully completed projects and Axor Srl, Italian pasta technology company delivering pasta production plants worldwide will expand their strategic partnership to build integrated plants for the food industry.
 

Developing products and solutions to meet needs in food technologies, Alapala continues to make investments to grow further. Alapala's new move took place in Italy, the leading country in the global pasta and pasta technologies industries. Alapala has acquired majority of the shares of Axor Srl to ensure a strong relationship with one of the Italy's pioneering companies in pasta technologies.

Pointing to the fact that pasta technologies are integrated with flourmilling in the food industry, Alapala Holding CEO Görkem Alapala says, "As one of the leading grain processing technology groups and Turkey's leader grain processing and food technology exporters, we have extended our operations to pasta technologies industry through an acquisition. We will be operating in international markets in this niche sector. We will continue our production in Italy with our partners whom are the founders of Axor Srl. By combining our networks through the partnership between Alapala and Axor Srl, we will be able to supply integrated plants."

For more information visit the Alapala website, HERE.
Or visit the Axor Srl website, HERE.

 

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

SternEnzym improves the production of gluten-free wafers with their new compound

Enzyme designer SternEnzym facilitates the production of high-quality gluten-free wafers with its new compound Sternzym GA 31077 GF. This improver makes gluten-free wafers as stable and crispy as standard wafers.

In recent years consumer interest in gluten-free foods has risen sharply. People suffering from celiac disease or gluten intolerance have to be careful not to eat foods containing this protein. But for many consumers, the reasons for choosing gluten-free foods are not strictly medical. More and more perceive gluten-free products as healthier. Thus, gluten-free is no longer a niche product. 'Adding gluten-free baked goods to a product range is an ideal way for manufacturers to expand their target groups and meet a growing demand,' says Dr Karin Abraham, Head of Research and Development at SternEnzym.

However, gluten-free flour is a challenge in the production of baked goods, because gluten is an important ingredient that gives dough more elasticity and provides a better structure. Gluten also improves mixing tolerance and gas retention ability.

It's especially difficult to make gluten-free flat baked goods like cookies with a crème filling between thin, crispy wafer sheets. Normally, gluten is part of what gives such thin baked goods their stability. The flour used for high-quality wafer sheets typically has a protein content of nine to 11 percent. Lower than that, the wafer is too soft and fragile. Higher than that, the wafer becomes too hard. These fluctuations can in principle be compensated for with enzymes.

However, the complete absence of gluten presents a greater challenge for making quality wafer sheets. Enzyme designer SternEnzym has developed a new solution – the improver Sternzym GA 31077 GF. 'With the help of this enzyme compound, high-quality wafers can be made from gluten-free flour. The consumer can't tell any difference,' says Angelika Drakulic, Application Technologist at SternEnzym. The enzymatic solution Sternzym GA 31077 GF ensures optimum dough viscosity and adaptable wafer sheet colour. Sternzym GA 31077 GF can be added to various gluten-free flours, and is a mix of standardised glucoamylase enzyme from fungus with a thickener. Glucoamylase turns starch into glucose units, supporting fermentation and giving an even browning. The thickener contributes to the viscoelastic properties of the dough.

For more information visit the SternEnzym website, HERE.

 

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

The 5th Asia AgriTech Expo and Forum delivers outstanding results

Organised by Informa Markets Taiwan and co-organised by Council of Agriculture, the 5th Asia AgriTech Expo & Forum concluded on 13 November 2021 in Taipei, Taiwan with results exceeding everyone's expectations.

Industry leaders and trade buyers took full advantage of this precious opportunity to gather together and do business. Quality buyers and visitors from the domestic market and from across the world participated in both the online and the in-person events. During the exhibition over 70 percent of space for the 2022 edition was rebooked, underlining the importance of this event for all participants.
 

Image credit: Informa Markets

Serving as a must-attend event and the only in-person agricultural exhibition to be held under Covid-19 in most of the Asia countries, the exhibition attracted more than 120 exhibitors from nine countries and regions, and over 16,418 visits from 16 countries and regions.

Due to Covid-19 travel restriction, Asia Agritech Expo was held in conjunction with an online exhibition platform called 'Asia Livestock Hub' that featured 295 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions and 608 visitors from 45 countries and regions. The Hub and the official website's Digital Product Showrooms facilitated 60 matchmaking meetings for exhibitors both online and offline during 11-13 November 2021.

'Asia AgriTech Expo' is the only one 3-in-1 hybrid B2B agricultural event and sourcing opportunity for Asian agricultural community this year. Even though visitor turnout was down because of international travel restrictions, we did receive very positive compliments from exhibitors and quality visitors who engaged in serious trading from both the in-person exhibition and Asia Livestock Hub. Over 70 percent space for next year's exhibition was rebooked onsite. We deeply appreciate the support and trust that our industry partners have placed in us, and we look forward to delivering an even more efficient trading platform for Asian agricultural community next year,' says Ms Sabine Liu, General Manager of Informa Markets Taiwan.

The next Asia AgrTech Expo & Forum will be held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1, on 10-12 November 2022.

To book space, please contact Ms Meiyu Chou at aat.sales@informa.com.

Visit the Asia AgriTech Expo and Forum website, HERE.

 

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

BASF and Cargill expand partnership to develop and market innovative enzyme-based solutions for the animal feed industry

BASF and Cargill are expanding their partnership in the animal nutrition business, adding research and development capabilities and new markets to the partners' existing feed enzymes distribution agreements. Together, they will develop, produce, market, and sell customer-centric enzyme products and solutions. The goal is to bring farmers feed innovations that reduce nutrient waste, improving feed efficiency, and promote animal growth and wellbeing.

'We are proud to enter this next stage of collaboration with Cargill. Through joint solutions we will further increase the value creation opportunities in the enzymes space,' says Julia Raquet, Senior Vice President BASF Animal Nutrition & Aroma Ingredients.
 

Image credit: Stanze on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

'Together, BASF and Cargill are bringing forward market solutions that target zero nutrient waste and address customers' major productivity and sustainability challenges. By combining our scientific excellence and animal nutrition expertise, we will more quickly advance the feed industry efforts around greater nutrient absorption through enzymes that promote animal wellbeing and environmental protection,' says Adriano Marcon, President of Cargill's animal nutrition business.

Enzymes help animals increase nutrient utilisation from feed ingredients. This improves the growth of the animals and reduces nutrient excretion into the environment. Due to the lower excretion of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, the negative environmental impact is minimised, improving the overall sustainability of animal production. As enzymes increase feed efficiency in animals, less feed is needed to produce animal protein. In this way, enzymes help reduce land and water use to produce feed raw materials.

BASF is a pioneer and specialist in enzymes for more than 30 years, owning a genomic library with more than two million microorganisms. BASF's enzymes technology includes enzyme identification, engineering, registration, scale-up, production and formulation. Cargill is in a favorable position in the value chain – one that has direct interaction with both producers and consumer-facing customers. The direct relationship with producers allows Cargill to develop solutions that provide foundational economic and environmental benefits to their operations. Both companies thus share a joint bond and at the same time complement each other in their efforts to be leaders in the field of feed enzyme solutions globally.

'By combining BASF´s and Cargill´s research and development knowledge, application know-how and broad market reach, we will deliver enzyme products and solutions generating distinctive value to the animal nutrition industry,' says Daniela Calleri, Vice President Business Management BASF Animal Nutrition.

'Building upon the successful start of our distribution partnership, we will generate even more value for our customers moving forward. They will benefit from innovative enzyme products and solutions further increasing utilisation of feed nutrients and improving overall sustainability of animal production,' says Mariano Berdegue, Cargill Animal Nutrition Strategic Marketing and Technology Director.

Along with the new development agreement, BASF and Cargill also aim to expand their distribution partnerships over the coming months, adding further countries across multiple continents to the cooperation. This extended partnership builds upon the successful distribution collaboration both partners have developed across Brazil and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) in recent years.

Visit the Cargill website, HERE.

Visit the BASF website, HERE.

 

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

V-Connect Indonesia Edition starts this week

There are just two days to go until the V-Connect Indonesia Edition, which will run online 24-25 November. You are invited to experience the online platform for ASEAN's Feed to Food Industry to meet, network and make deals, organised by ILDEX Indonesia and Aquatica Asia team.

Explore the variety of segmentation of the exhibitors and conferences including Livestock, Farm Management, Animal Health, Aquaculture and Consultation.
 

Take part in over 14 top-notch sessions on the topics like cage-free egg production, Newcastle disease, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), usage of Black Soldier Fly Larvae, and more.

For more information visit the V-Connect Indonesia website, HERE.

Register, 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.

IFEEDER launches industrywide sustainability project

The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), along with The Context Network, officially launched a project this month to develop a sustainability road map for the animal food industry.

The road map will support the advancement of both corporate sustainability programs and climate-smart initiatives with key stakeholders. Through industry and stakeholder assessment, IFEEDER will evaluate risks and opportunities within each animal food industry segment to determine the extent of support to be mapped and further developed.
 

Image credit: dr_zoidberg on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

'Our recent conversations with member companies about their sustainability programs have illuminated the fact that everyone in our industry – no matter where they are at in their sustainability journeys – wants to do more to help their customers achieve their climate pledges and meet changing consumer expectations,' says Lara Moody, IFEEDER's executive director. 'By leveraging the expertise of The Context Network, our goal is to use research and analysis to identify and advance strategies and tools our members can use to improve their sustainability programs and meet the needs of their stakeholders.'

The road map development will be conducted in three phases, with the first phase focusing on developing a gap analysis to understand the barriers preventing companies from launching or measuring progress on sustainability programs and mapping the stakeholders impacted by industry initiatives.

The second phase will be to conduct qualitative and quantitative research by working with select scientific advisors focused on environmental sustainability in the feed industry along with AFIA members and key supply chain advisors. The last phase will be developing key findings, tools and strategies the industry can use to advance their sustainability programs and communicate their vision to key influencers.

'A good sustainability road map will enable all members of the U.S. feed and pet food industry to collaboratively make progress on issues that are important to them, their customers and the communities they operate in,' says Matt Sutton-Vermeulen, principal of The Context Network. 'That means companies that have yet to begin their sustainability journeys will have an 'on-ramp' to get up to speed, while other companies with mature sustainability programs will be able to stay on track to make continuous improvements.'

IFEEDER continues to seek partners willing to join in the sustainability road map project, which is one part of its multifaceted strategies to advance understanding and trust in a sustainable animal food industry. To date, Arm and Hammer Animal and Food Production, Animix, LLC, Anipro/Xtraformance Feeds, Belstra Milling, Berg+Schmidt America, LLC, Bill Barr & Company, Inc., CJ Bio America, Inc., ED&F Man Liquid Products LLC, Elanco Animal Health, Kemin, The Mosaic Company, United Animal Health, Inc., Westway Feed Products and Zinpro Corporation have joined the effort.

For more information on IFEEDER's sustainability road map project visit the website, HERE.

 

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

Kemin Industries launches TOXFIN® CARE all-in-one protection against mycotoxins in feed

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient has launched a new solution in Europe, TOXFIN® CARE, focused on preventing loss in performance and productivity by safeguarding animal organs and tissue from potential damage caused by mycotoxins.

Mycotoxin management is a crucial element in every livestock diet, as contaminated feed is a major challenge within the animal nutrition and health industry. Kemin aims to reinforce the immune system, protecting poultry, ruminants and pigs from the not-always-visible, negative effects of mycotoxins.
 

Image credit: Kemin

'The direct effects of mycotoxins, or clinical mycotoxicosis, are not always evident; we mostly see the indirect effects of contamination, such as a weakened immune system, which lead to a higher prevalence of diseases,' says Valentine Van Hamme, Business Manager – Health, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA (Europe, Middle East, North Africa). 'Contaminated feed is a major challenge across the entire feed industry, but we know that every situation is different and requires a unique solution. That's why Kemin offers a complete TOXFIN® range to ensure the right solution tailored to our customers' mycotoxin challenges.'

Mycotoxin management is crucial, so Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA offers an extensive portfolio of mycotoxin management solutions for its customers, with each product answering specific customer needs.

'Kemin already has a wide range of solutions available in our product portfolio to offer flexibility for our customers, but getting our newest portfolio member, TOXFIN CARE, on the market was crucial because it offers an all-in-one strategy,' says Ms Van Hamme. 'TOXFIN CARE offers extensive protection against mycotoxins because it contains a unique adsorbent blend, prevents oxidative stress, supports and protects the liver and modulates the immune system. This latter functionality, especially algae beta-glucan, makes the product unique.'

Along with a complete TOXFIN range, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA offers the Mycotoxin Management Toolbox, which allows for correct assessment and offers a solution to address the root of the problem – resulting in solutions for feed safety and overall protection of the animal.

"For successful mycotoxin management, one must select the right product, but other aspects are also critical,' says Ms Van Hamme. 'With Kemin's complete Mycotoxin Management Toolbox, we can support animal nutritionists and health specialists to make informed decisions on the use of raw materials, ensuring high-quality and safe feed formulation. The end goal is to have healthier and more profitable animals.'

Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA's Mycotoxin Management Toolbox mitigates mycotoxin risk with Kemin's Customer Laboratory Services feed analysis on mycotoxins; protects production animals using the TOXFIN range of solutions to control mycotoxins; and enables feed control with Myco CURB®, the industry-leading mould control product for feed preservation.

For more information visit the Kemin website, HERE.

 

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

Build my Feed Mill 2021 takes place in just a few days!

Build My Feed Mill is a concept introduced by Milling and Grain and VIV Worldwide in 2017 under the CropTech-FeedTech brand.

The concept aims to raise awareness that there are too few feedmills in low-economic and developing countries that are fit for purpose. The technological debt means that there is little chance of some countries reaching the international average for feed production of 133.6kg/per capita.

During the Build my Feed Mill Conference companies are given the chance to present 10-minute presentations about how their solutions assist feed mills in their everyday processes and practices.

Join us for the next Build my Feed Mill Conference November 23rd, from 13:30 - 15:30. Members of the Milling and Grain team will be there so be sure to keep an eye out for them, and follow the hashtag #vivworldwide on social media for more updates!

You can see the conference program below:

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's optical sorting webinar takes place next week with the launch of the SORTEX H

Bühler's next webinar, SORTEX H SpectraVision Industry 4.0 Ready - Ensuring Food Safety within a Changing Landscape, takes place November 23. They will be taking a look at the new SORTEX H SpectraVision for the wheat and rye industry, along with providing a sorting demonstration of wheat with the new machine, before looking into Bühler's digital solutions and concluding with a Q&A.

Highlights of the webinar include:

• How to ensure food safety within a changing landscape
• SORTEX H SpectraVision: Solution Selection for a changing landscape
• Learn about Bühler's aftercare services and digital solutions to ensure you achieve optimum performance, stability and consistency
• Be part of a virtual sorting demonstration and get an overview of typical installations
• Participate in an open Q&A session where Bühler experts will share a wide range of wheat sorting insights

Speakers include Martin Friesser, Head of Segment Wheat & Rye; Melvyn Penna, Product Manager; and Janine Wegmann, Product Manager.

The webinar will run from 09:00 - 10:00am (CET) but you will also have a chance to join again later on in the day from 17:00 - 18:00pm (CET).

To register for the seminars visit the link HERE, or HERE.

 

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

A new mentorship program for women in agri-food begins next year, with support from Alltech

Guided by feedback from the latest Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA) Survey, Alltech is converting insight into action by partnering with WFA to connect women from across the agri-food sector with mentors to champion their professional success. The Women in Food & Agriculture Mentorship Program will facilitate meaningful conversations and professional development while also providing a valuable networking experience.

'Growing up in the family business, every day was a lesson in leadership,' says Dr Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. 'Mentors, including my father (Alltech founder Dr. Pearse Lyons), were an invaluable resource in challenging and championing my personal and professional development. Although the power of mentorship is evident, and even as the future of farm and food becomes more inclusive, nearly 70 percent of women working in agriculture around the world are reporting a lack of access to mentors. Through this unique agri-food mentorship program, women will have the opportunity to cultivate industry connections that will empower their success.'

The application process to join the WFA Mentorship Program is open to mentors and mentees through January 31, 2022. Prospective participants can indicate their preferences, such as language, ag sector and regional location. As male champions are an asset in promoting gender equality, men are invited to apply to be mentors as well.

Following the application phase, organisers will match mentorship pairs, who will meet virtually for one hour each month starting in March. This manageable time commitment is intended to support flexibility and accessibility for busy participants. With Alltech's support, the program is free.

'We are delighted to have Alltech's support of the WFA Mentorship Program,' says Ollie Theocharous, head of content at WFA. 'Their partnership will allow us to take the program to the next level as we further our mission to support diversity in the industry.'

Alltech believes that inclusion cultivates creativity, drives innovation and is essential to the company's vision of Working Together for a Planet of PlentyTM. In 2019, Alltech selected Gender Equality as one of the nine United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to which the company committed to advancing.

To help guide a course toward meaningful change, Alltech began by listening. In 2019 and 2020, the Alltech-supported Women in Food & Agriculture Survey gathered real-world insights into the current workplace environment and the outlook for the future. The survey results now serve as a valuable reference tool for the agri-food industry as it strives to become more inclusive and to create tangible solutions for the challenges facing women in agriculture.

To learn more about the program visit the website, HERE.
For more information about Alltech visit their website, HERE.

 

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

Maxtex announces new appointment of Kelly Cailes

Mr Cailes, Director of International Trade, is now heading up the International Trade Division to market and sell Rice Flour Processing Compact units (RFPC – Maxx Series) utilising a 'wet milling method.' Maxtex is also launching Maxx Flour for the international market & Mountain Flour for the Thai domestic market.

Kelly Cailes

Tripop Boonmuan, President and CEO welcomes Mr Cailes on the 25th anniversary and says, 'Kelly is leading the Maxxteam to revolutionise the Rice Flour industry'. He adds, 'Maxtex is committed to providing high quality equipment and flour that adheres to FDA, HACCP, GMP, HALAL & GHP standards.'

Mr Cailes has been living & working in Asia for the past 22 years, and will fulfil an integral role for global growth and commercialisation. Maxtex Flour Factory (MFF), in Amata Industrial Estate, will be operational in January 2022. This state of the art facility will offer live streaming, virtual tours and live customer support.

For more information visit the Maxtex website, HERE.

 

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

The USDA funds a new scientific collaboration to help reduce methane emissions in dairy operations

The Nature Conservancy, the Innovation Centre for U.S. Dairy, and the Institute for Feed Education and Research are launching a three-year project to explore innovative feed management strategies that can reduce enteric methane emissions in dairy cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a $537,440 award for this project through its Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trial program. With project partner resource contributions, the project will total more than $800,000.

Image credit: Rockin'Rita on Flickr
(CC BY-ND 2.0)

Working with up to 10 dairy farms in Michigan and Wisconsin, this project will combine on-farm trials and demonstrations of emerging technologies with strategic engagement of critical stakeholders including farmers, farm advisors, industry, carbon market players, and regulators for scaling the adoption of feed management strategies. The project will provide direct financial support to participating farmers to cover their costs of participation and as a direct incentive to participate.

Each organisation will have a key role in the project:

• The Nature Conservancy will oversee project management and lead producer and stakeholder survey efforts to inform project deliverables and corresponding outreach, education, and engagement.
• The Innovation Centre for U.S. Dairy will lead the on-farm trials and demonstrations and oversee outreach and communication of project findings.
• The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) will develop and manage the industry and scientific expert panel to provide technical review and insights as well as manage a third party to undertake the on-farm trial economic assessment.

'The opportunity to work directly with farmers to test out feed management strategies, including the use of additives, and gain more insights, both scientific and anecdotal, will help the industry scale the adoption of climate-smart practices that are good for the planet and financially advantageous for operators,' says Alisha Staggs, dairy program manager for The Nature Conservancy in North America. 'Our project will help inform greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for cattle, Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, and the development of protocols for measuring enteric emissions—all in service of mitigating one of U.S. dairy's largest emission sources.'

Methane emissions—from a variety of sources including oil and gas, coal, agriculture and landfills—comprise one-fifth of all man-made greenhouse (GHG) emissions, with enteric methane emissions accounting for 25 percent of cradle-to-grave GHG emissions by the U.S. dairy sector. Given the ambitious goal of the recent agreement between the United States and the European Union to reduce overall methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030, this project could help U.S. dairy operations reduce emissions, which in turn, could have a significant impact across the industry.

'Feed rations and feed additives can significantly impact the carbon footprint associated with dairy, livestock and poultry production, and the feed industry is integral to developing and supporting these strategies for reduced GHG emissions on farms,' says Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER. 'This project will support efforts to advance the use of these solutions through more informed on-farm and stakeholder decision making and is part of IFEEDER's long-term approach to supporting sustainability efforts across the animal protein sector.'

Feed management, including additives, to reduce emissions is gaining interest as an approach to reduce the dairy industry's carbon footprint. However, the strategies are not widely used within USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs, nor do project currently exist to generate credits within carbon markets, making it difficult to support an economic case for adoption. This project aims to better understand the barriers to adoption and overcome those barriers by sharing on-trial results, economic assessments and scientific insights to better inform NRCS programming and engage a wide spectrum of key stakeholders to scale adoption via private and public sector-supported pathways.

The partners are conducting this effort in support of the U.S. Dairy's Net Zero Initiative (NZI), a five-year, collaborative effort launched in 2020, which includes research, on-farm pilots and partner-based strategies to develop a pathway on-farm to reaching the 2050 environmental stewardship goals set by the Innovation Centre for U.S. Dairy. NZI seeks to accelerate voluntary action to reduce environmental impacts by making sustainable practices and technologies more accessible and affordable to U.S. dairy farms of all sizes and geographies.

'Enteric methane mitigation is not a novel field of research but demonstrating that the most promising options are effective on-farm is critical to the widescale adoption necessary to meet the dairy industry's environmental goals,' says Dr Juan Tricarico, vice president for sustainability research at the Innovation Centre for U.S. Dairy.

Dairy operations exist across the 50 U.S. states and are an integral part of the global food system. By exploring innovative feed management strategies and engaging key stakeholders, this collaborative project seeks to close scientific gaps and inform industry-wide practices that will reduce dairy's environmental footprint, while ensuring operations are sustainable.

'The livestock sector is a crucial part of the agriculture system,' says Ms Staggs. 'This project will advance innovative techniques that will deliver tangible outcomes for the good of the environment, farmers and, ultimately, consumers.'

For more information visit the IFEEDER website, HERE.

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

Dutch companies Dinnissen and Ottevanger join forces in process technology

Dinnissen Process Technology and Ottevanger Milling Engineers have announced that from 16 November 2021 they have formed a strategic alliance to realise customer value, synergy and focus together.

The alliance takes shape through a participation in Dinnissen by Bolster Investment Partners and Triott Group, the holding company which Ottevanger forms a part of.
 

The collaboration allows Dinnissen to focus more on high-end processing solutions for food, dairy, chemicals, pet food and pharma. For Ottevanger, the alliance offers the opportunity to strengthen its position in the international feed market.

This step fits in with the ambition of the companies to realise value creation, continuity and growth in a sustainable way. Both production technology companies have a strong international customer base, which largely complement each other. With the alliance, the companies will continue to shape collaboration in areas such as customer projects, international services, R&D, innovation and efficiency.

For Dinnissen, the alliance means the company can serve its customer group even better. Also, the collaboration with the Triott Group companies offers the opportunity to further expand the range of automation solutions, 24/7 support and dosing and storage systems.

For Ottevanger, the alliance offers the opportunity to strengthen its position in the international feed market. Dinnissen's high-end machines strengthen the current range in the field of food grade and hygiene.

Bolster Investment Partners has a lot of experience in (internationally) expanding Dutch manufacturing companies and is joining this partnership as a long-term investor. Bolster will support the alliance in realising its growth ambitions with a strong network and with knowledge in the field of organisation, strategy and professionalisation.

Frans Bakker, CCO Dinnissen Process Technology comments, 'We are facing the next growth step for our company. This alliance with Ottevanger and Bolster enables us to achieve this and to continue our healthy future. We want to follow our customers even more internationally, and strengthen our service and 24/7 support. Ottevanger has been a solid player in the international processing industry for years. We complement each other very nicely.'

Ernst-Jan Ottevanger, CEO Ottevanger Milling Engineers and Triott Group says, 'Dinnissen is a wonderful company, built on values that have many similarities with our values: customer-friendly, progressive and with an eye for the human dimension. This alliance fits in with our growth strategy. We are confident we can offer our customers even more with this.'

Joost Bakhuizen, partner Bolster Investment Partners comments, 'Dinnissen and the Triott Group companies are exceptional Dutch companies with strong international market positions and leading customers in feed and food. The companies are complementary to each other. We see many opportunities for further growth from the perspective of synergy. This investment therefore fits in perfectly with our long-term strategy.'

Visit the Dinnissen website, HERE, and the Ottevanger website, HERE.

 

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

UK chia seed grower halves agri seeds wastage

Fairking Ltd, an Essex-based farmer and cleaner of low quantities of seeds and special applications such as chia, borage, quinoa, echium and camelina, required an optical sorter to process its varying products and batch sizes quickly and efficiently.

Since investing in the SORTEX A, the company has been able to recover over half of its 'waste' product while successfully handling different varieties of the smallest seeds and expanding its business. With more and more active ingredients being black-listed by the EU and UK, seed discoloration has become an increasing problem for growers. Fortunately, with the SORTEX A's ColorVision technology, Fairking is able to ensure consistently high-quality products for its customers.
 

Image credit: Buhler Group

Carrying on a tradition stretching back to the 1850s, the Fairs family farms more than 4,000 acres of land in Great Tey, near Colchester in Essex, UK. 'We grow wheat, oilseed rape, peas and specialist crops such as borage, camelina, quinoa and echium,' explains Peter Fairs, who began working for the family business in 1964.

Peter is a pioneer with 'a passion for experimenting with and developing unusual, niche crops.' Back in 1985, when few British people had heard of quinoa, a friend brought some seeds back from Peru and Peter tried growing them. It took years of hard work to end up with the delicious quinoa that his business now produces. The Fairs are also the UK's first chia seed grower.

In 1994, Peter's son Andrew joined the family firm, bringing fresh farming expertise to the wide range of crops the Fairs grew and processed through their company, Fairking Limited, which Peter founded in 1982. His other son, Roger, owns Tey Farm Systems, which specialises in designing and building crop storage and irrigation solutions.

Unique service
Fairking remains an independent, family-owned and managed farming business, while cleaning specialist crops for itself and some 60 UK growers. 'We're fairly unique, because we clean low quantities of seeds and special applications for a number of small companies who sell agri seeds via farm shops or online, but often don't have the resources to clean the seeds themselves,' says Peter. 'Many growers struggle to find anyone who will clean small amounts of seeds for them. Most won't set up a processing line for 20 tonnes, they want to run 200 tonnes before changing products, because of money lost through downtime and cleaning time. We're different,' he mentions.

Fairking's line features Bühler's SORTEX A ColorVision optical sorter with high-resolution InGaAs cameras. 'The sorter makes it easy for us to change products, so we can process and re-process at various batch sizes, small to large,' says Andrew.

He adds that most of Fairking's contract processing is repeat business. 'With the quality and flexibility the SORTEX A gives us, we're able to take on more varied work which helps to grow our business. For example, with the SORTEX A we have the ability to clean special flower seeds in very small quantities such as half a tonne at a time!'

'Many growers also like the fact that we have a standalone, versatile, dedicated sorting station: this is to eliminate cross contamination. We keep our sorting station separate and use the SORTEX A to remove any traces of foreign seeds,' Peter adds.

Meeting challenges
Peter says seed processors face an ever-growing number of challenges. 'The modern thinking is that everything we eat must have no residues or pesticides on it. More and more active ingredients are being banned by the EU and UK, and these were used to control weeds and diseases. To an extent, I understand, of course. But without active ingredients, we're getting more seed discoloration from diseases and far more weed seeds.'

Brands and consumers are becoming more discerning, too, he says. 'I'm looking at a bag of uncleaned camelina seeds; the good seeds are orange and about 25 percent are black, which must be removed. Consumers don't want any discoloration.' Fortunately, the SORTEX A's InGaAs technology ensures that Fairking achieves a consistent quality of products by removing any light and dark defects, color defects and foreign materials.

Peter adds: 'The seeds we handle are also very small. This is where the SORTEX A really comes into its own as it can handle the tiniest seeds. And it's helped us to reduce good product ending up in waste. 

'Using de-stoners and mechanical sorters, we were ending up with as much as 40 percent waste, because we couldn't clean finely enough. But the SORTEX A has given us the flexibility and accuracy to recover such batches and more than half that figure. This type of product simply cannot be cleaned by any other mechanical machine.' 

Peter is similarly impressed with the SORTEX A when cleaning borage. 'Sclerotia is a black fungus that grows in the stem of a borage plant. It's the same color and size as the borage. While no gravity table or dressing table can separate it out, SORTEX InGaAs technology does a great job of detecting and removing it. We can now grade and effectively discriminate seeds by shape/composition, color, density and air classification, which gives us the best combination all around,' he enthuses.

Passing the test
So how and why did Fairking choose its SORTEX A? 'We were delighted to arrange a trial for Peter and Andrew in London in February 2020, so they could see the SORTEX A ColorVision up close,' recalls Alex Vaks, Sales Manager, UK and Ireland for Bühler UK Ltd. 'Trials were carried out on chia, borage, quinoa, echium and camelina, and Peter and Andrew were very happy with the results.'

Peter adds: 'We provided a sample product and Bühler's experts set up the color map. During our visit we found out just how well the SORTEX A performs. We were also shown the inventory of spare parts, so we know that if we ever need anything, it's easily accessible.'

Later, Bühler held meetings with Roger [Fairs of Tey Farms], to ensure that the correct platform and system were engineered for the SORTEX A, which was ordered in June 2020 and installed a few months later.

Although a long time ago, Peter fondly recalls the first ever Bühler demonstration he attended. 'It was in 1972. I remember afterwards sitting in a pub in London and You're So Vain by Carly Simon came on the jukebox. That's how I remember the year,' he states. 'We were sorting peas, beans and navy beans at the time. Bühler has come a long way since then – so have we!' he laughs.

For more information visit the Bühler website, HERE.

 

 

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