18/07/2013: China may become top wheat importer; Campden BRI open day 2013 highlights; FDA policy on salmonella in animal feed

Frost and rain has damaged China's wheat crop during this year's harvest, resulting in greater import demand, reports Reuters. 

This demand could see China overtake Egypt as the world's top wheat buyer. More imports would also force other buyers to pay more for grains, another blow for the Middle East after two years of political turmoil have already left it struggling to pay for food imports.
Read more...

The annual lecture, organised by Campden BRI, UK, was a highlight again this year with the main lecture presented by Michael McCain, president and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Using the global food strategy as his theme, McCain spoke about the importance of developing a sustainable food system. 

Click here to download the lecture as a podcast.
Read more...

A new FDA policy has been released that focuses enforcement on salmonella serotypes that cause disease in the animal species for which the feed is marketed. 

The Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.800 Salmonella in Food for Animals, gives new direction regarding decisions to recommend seizure or import refusal of pet food, animal feed and their ingredients.
Read more...

given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

Salmonella typhimurium invading cultured human cells. (Photo credit: Microbe World)

 

Over 500 members and guests registered for Campden BRI Day 2013

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

The annual Campden lectu

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

Over 500 members and guests registered for Campden BRI Day 2013

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

Over 500 members and guests registered for Campden BRI Day 2013

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

Over 500 members and guests registered for Campden BRI Day 2013

The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf

10/07/13: Grain storage in tropical climates; Russia's grains hit by drought; India's grain subsidy programme

Grain storge is a vital, yet often overlooked, part of the food and feed supply chain. 

Tropical climates that allow for year-round farming would seem to be a tremendous economic advantage, but for corn and soybean farmers in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso it also poses a problem - an abundance of grain followed by about a 10 percent post harvest loss, partially due to a lack of storage. 

"There is a 34 percent undercapacity of soybean storage, and the situation is aggravated by the rapidly increasing production of second-crop maize," said University of Illinois agricultural economist Peter Goldsmith. 

"The worst situation occurs in northern Mato Grosso with a simulation of a full-maize second crop. The potential to succession crop is great and current levels of storage are low. There is clear evidence of a shortage of storage, particularly private and cooperative, as grain production rises in the state," he said.

Goldsmith conducted the research project, which was the first to employ Geographic Information System (GIS) software to map the coordinates of commercial, cooperative and private grain storage facilities in Mato Grosso. 

Read more...

The Russian grain crop is expected to fallen below government targets after drought hit growth in some regions, reports Bloomberg.

The harvest may reach 90 million to 94 million metric tons in the 2013-14 season which is just below the Agriculture Ministry’s 95 million-ton target.

Read more...

The Indian government is planning to expand its grain subsidy programme in a bid to tackle the country's hunger problem. Sixty-seven percent of India's population, or 800 million people, will have the right to buy up to 5 kilos of rice, wheat and other cereals from the state each month, or receive cash compensation. 

Is this the way to end hunger in the world's second-most populous country? Andy Mukherjee, Reuters, gives his opinion.

Read more...

These are soybean harvest operations near Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Credit: Peter Goldsmith

19/11/12: News stories from Russia, Alltech and NAMA

Hello, 
We're back from a very successful EuroTier and have so many exciting things to follow up on. But for now, here's our news picks:

• Russia may be the worlds' third largest grain exporter but the country looks set to import 2 million tons following this summer's drought. According to the Russian the country’s Grain Producers’ Union the country usually imports about 800,000 tons of feed grain, according to the union data. Read more...
  

• Alltech founder, Dr Pearse Lyons has won an award for strengthening economic ties between the US and Ireland. Lyons received the Ireland-U.S. Council’s Award for Outstanding Achievement at Council’s 50^th Annual Dinner, held Nov. 8 at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. “We in this Council are extraordinarily pleased to recognize the substantial contributions made by Pearse Lyons during his impressive career as an entrepreneur and businessman,” said Dennis Swanson, the president of the Ireland-US Council based in New York. “He has built an impressive enterprise that has its roots in Ireland but scored its early dramatic growth in the United States." Read more...

• The 
North 
American
 Millers’
 Association
 (NAMA)
 has revamped its website as part of an effort to strengthen communications with key audiences. 
“NAMA
 has
 a more
 than
 100
 year
 history
 of
 taking
 action 
as 
the
 voice 
of 
the
 grain
 milling 
industry,”
 says 
NAMA 
President
 Mary
Waters.
 “We’re
 excited
 to 
build
 on
 this
 valuable
 reputation
 as 
we
 strongly
 position
 NAMA
 for
 the 
ever‐more
 complex
 business
 climate
 we
 operate
 in
 today,
 as 
well 
as
 tomorrow.”
 Visit the site...

  

  Grain (Photo credit: peter pearson)

  
  

02/11/12: Nigeria prepares for 'rice revolution'; new staff at Anitox; ADM to expand flour milling operations

Hello, 

• The Nigerian government has earmarked rice as one of eight value chains for development. At present, the country is the world's second largest importer of rice. Read more... 

• Feed industry specialist Pieter Vos has been appointed by Anitox as Sales Manager for The Benelux countries, comprising Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. “This is an excellent time to be joining Anitox. There is a tremendous need for the company’s products and services in The Benelux because, in common with many other countries, the pig industry here has substantial problems with levels of Salmonella and other pathogens," says Pieter. More information...

• ADM is to the expand its flour milling capacity in Indianapolis, USA. ADM Milling is one of the world's largest flour millers with multiple wheat flour mills in the U.S. as well in Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and the United Kingdom. Read more...

  

  #3 Flour & friends (Photo credit: mrlins)

  
  

22/10/12: Ukraine wheat ban; UK wheat crop falls; Evonik invests in biotech

Hello, 

• Ukraine is to ban wheat exports from mid-November due to rising commodity prices.  The country is the first leading producer to restrict its exports following the summer drought.  Read more...

• The UK wheat crop has fallen 13 percent to 13.3m tonnes, according to DEFRA.  The forecast, the lowest since 1988, puts the UK a net importer of wheat for the year.  Read more...

• Specialty chemical manufacturer, Evonik Industries, plans to expand its biotechnology interests with a €350 million investment in its Biolys® business.  An amino acid used in animal feeds, Biolys® is a source of L-lysine produced via fermentation. Investments include construction of new L-lysine plants in Brazil and Russia capable of producing nearly 200,000 metric tons each year as well as a recently finished production expansion to 280,000 metric tons per year at its Blair site in North America.  Read more...

English: Wheat (Triticum aestivum) near Auvers-sur-Oise, France, June 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

China redrawing the global food landscape

20 years ago China abandoned its soybean self-sufficiency drive and began to import oilseed, feeding its livestock, with this move the Chinese changed the industry. Well its about to happen again with corn, in the near future China will triple its corn purchases. This will have an effect on the global market, at present Japan is the worlds biggest corn importer, farmers will start to plant more to cope with demand also the amount of corn used for biofuels could start to shrink. 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.