25/02/14: Olmix expanding operations into Ivory Coast, Miratorg launches new high-tech hatchery

The French animal nutrition company Olmnix which has been active in West Africa for the past 10 years met with the Ivory Coasts Minister of Livestock and Fishery Resources, Kobenan Kouassi Adjournani. Meeting him was the CEO of Olmix, Herve Balusson - where their expansion into the Ivory Coast was agreed upon. Establishing multiple zones in which Olmix could operate out of in order to produce feed and research.

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Miratorg launches a new high-tech factory with the value of RUB 700million; alternatively $23 Million US dollars. Which will have the capacity of 75 million eggs per annum, including an integrated chicken broiler which can produce a capacity of 100,000 tonnes annually. The high-tech factory also prides itself on its ability to hold itself to the highest as well as strictest veterinarian standards - putting in place all the necessary redundancies and safeguards to limit the possibility of infectious diseases.

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Day old chick (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

02/10/13: Bike-powered mill; investment in US freight rail infastructure; invest in Indian grain storage - Rabobank

A bicycle-powered grain mill is helping to combat poverty in South Sudan.

Invented by Canadian PhD student, Chris Hergesheimer, the bike mill can produce 1 kg of flour in 7-9 minutes. This is a remarkable contrast to the1.5-3 hours it takes to grind a family's daily sorghum needs by hand.

Hergesheimer came up with the idea to give his arm muscles a break when milling small batches of flour for a farmers market in his native British Columbia.

The design is relatively simple, using a chain and sprocket to connect the mill to a bike frame equipped with a seat, pedals and handle bars.

The idea to export to invention to South Sudan came from one of Hergesheimer's friends who moved to Canada following the civil war in Sudan in the 1990s.

Now Hergesheimer his raising money to fund a trip to the country to build the mills with local people.
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US freight railroad company, BNSF, plans to invest USD$90 million in rail upgrades in New Mexcio, USA.

The company will make signal improvements to five main line tracks through the Belen Terminal and add a locomotive servicing pit to the yard at Belen. It will also continue its robust track improvement program in New Mexico, which will include 2,100 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, the replacement of about 160 miles of rail and more than 170,000 railroad ties, as well as significant signal upgrades for federally mandated positive train control (PTC).

“BNSF's capital investments in New Mexico will help ensure our network is prepared for growing demand for freight rail,” said Matthew K Rose, chairman and chief executive officer.

“We are focused on investing to meet our customers' expectations and on expanding capacity where growth is occurring. Given the importance of a low cost supply chain to the U.S. economy, our privately funded rail infrastructure is well positioned to help New Mexico compete in global markets.”

The US rail network plays a vital role in the transportation of grains in and out and across the country so the improvements are sure to be welcomed by the industry.
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The time is right to invest in Indian grain storage, according to a report by Rabobank.

Demand for grain storage is expected to grow in the next five years with the drive coming from an envisaged grain-storage deficit, inadequate storage and the new Indian Food Security Bill.

Rabobank predicts that in the long run, strategic players who prefer a relatively lower degree of government control will be investing; however, in the short-term, silos will attract investment on the back of government schemes and captive usage by private millers and processors.
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English: A BNSF heads west past the Rochelle Train Park. www.rochelletrainpark.com (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cereal grain scientists to present new research at AACC international meeting

Cereal grain scientists from around the world will gather in Albuquerque, New Mexico from the 29th September - 2nd October 2013 for the AACC International Annual Meeting. 

This event is expected to attract as many as 1,100 of the world’s cereal grain scientists representing a broad range of expertise working in academia, industry, and government.

David Hahn, AACC international president, Koushik Seetharaman, program chair and the 2013 Annual Meeting Technical Program planning committee have put together an outstanding scientific program, including 23 special and oral technical sessions on today’s most relevant cereal grain topics and critical issues, such as wheat improvement in the 21st century, value-added processing of oats and barley, and designing safe grain-based food products.

In addition to the symposia and oral technical sessions, AACC International is introducing a new series of two-hour sessions entitled "Conversations That Matter," encouraging greater interaction and discussion between presenters and the audience. AACCI's current topics affecting the industry are "The Formulation of Healthy Food," "The Issue of Gluten-Free Products," "The Measurement of Dietary Fiber," and "The Perception of Whole Grain Foods."

Some scientists believe that food containing wheat, sugar, and carbohydrates are detrimental to optimum brain functionality. In the Hot Topic session entitled "Grain Brain for Grain Brains: A Look at Grains and Cognition, Dementia, and Mental Health," Julie Jones, from the Department of Family, Consumer & Nutritional Science at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, will test the strength of these arguments against existing literature on grains and carbohydrates.
The second Hot Topic session led by Anne Bridges, AACC International, and Ray Shillito, Bayer CropScience, addresses the challenge of how to feed the future world population. An important part of this challenge is improving the nutritional composition, quality, and quantity of food from agricultural sources. “Sustainability, Genetics, and Future Cultivars” will provide an overview of current breeding technologies for grains and oil seeds, new crops, potential food benefits, and the corresponding updates in molecular detection methods to manage authentication in the food supply chain.

More information.


 

Official seal of City of Albuquerque (Photo credit: Wikipedia)