6/11/13: Rain did not dampen spirits at UK Grain 2013

Driving into the heart of the British cropping region to attend the UK's leading grain event on a wet and windy late autumn day, bode badly for what was to come.

However, visitor spirits were lifted when they arrived at the East-of-England Show Grounds in Peterborough which hosted the one-day UK Grain exhibition where the indoor event proved to be a quite, warm and comfortable environment in a purpose built display facility; where you could meet with the widest range of grain storage specialists and share coffee and a pasty with friends and colleagues while the rain fell outside. 

UK Grain 2013. The seventh event attracted 80 exhibitors to this specialist one-day event

Exhibitors might have wished for more than the 130-plus registered visitors, those that had taken the time to attend would have had ample opportunity to explore and find the latest in storage technologies from flat storage to moisture and temperature probes, etc. They also had the opportunity to listen to presentations hosted in a very modern seminar room if visiting the stands did not occupy them for the full day.

Grain and Feed Milling Technology magazine was welcomed onto all stands visited and its rewarding to learn that almost all in the UK grain handling business know our magazine. 

Overall there were 80 exhibitors and we visited most of them in the day.

Despite what might appear to be small numbers of visitors, this event now in its seventh year, was in GFMT's view the best one yet. It is held in great premises, has ample and easy to reach car-parking and offers farmers and others involved in grain handling and storage an ideal opportunity to look at all the options available in storage when making significant investment decisions in this sector. The management is enthusiastic, supportive of the industry and professional while maintaining a friendly and welcoming environment. 

The two seminars covered:

• Grain Market Update by Jack Watts, AHDB Analyst

• Review of harvest quality in 2013 by Dr Ellie Marshall, HGCA, Research & Knowledge Transfer Manager

• The Grain Supply Chain by Martin Savage, nabim, Trade Policy Manager

• Effective pest control of post harvest products by David Cross, Rentokil, Technical Training Manager

• 'Grain Storage, a farmers view on the why's and why not's' by James Price, Perdiswell Farm, Oxfordshire

The Global Miller will be reporting on these presentations over the coming days. If you were reluctant to spend the UK£10 entry fee, or did not have time this year to visit UK Grain, then we hope our reportage will encourage you to attend next year.

29/10/13: Alltech's Career Development Program; supporting the link from food to feed; Bunge acquires Mexican mills

The second annual Career Development Program organised by animal health and nutrition company Alltech has been launched.

Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech, announced a further ten vacancies for the program, which takes place in February 2014.

Graduates will have the opportunity to work with some of the world’s top specialists in the fields of science, aquaculture, marketing, veterinary science, I.T., business and biotechnology.

Deadline for applications is 2 December 2013.

Full announcement available here.

Earlier this year, an industry association was set up to promote the use of recovered food waste in animal feed. The European Former Foodstuff Processors Association (EFFPA) focuses on the interests of businesses which specialise in the processing of former foods for use in animal feed in all EU member states.

Using former foodstuffs in animal feed has been practised since ancient times, the sector however, has never been formerly represented. Until now.

EFFPA held its 1st General Assembly in Brussels this month, aiming for an official launch of the association on 1 January 2014. It is a part of EFFPA’s mission to include as many operators as possible in the association, all for the benefit of a more professionalised former foodstuff processors sector.

EFFPA estimates that former foodstuff processors in member countries now process appoximately 3 million tonnes of former foodstuffs into animal feed.

For more information, visit the EFFPA website.

Bunge North America, an branch of food operating corporation, Bunge Limited, has agreed to buy the wheat milling business of agribusiness group Grupo Altex. 

As a leading Mexican wheat miller, Grupo Altex operates six mills with an annual processing capacity of approximately 800 thousand metric tons. Its product portfolio includes bread flour, prepared flours for baked goods, tortillas and pizza and semolina for pasta.

"This investment further strengthens our core food and ingredients segment by building on the consistent success of our North American milling business," said Gordon Hardie, managing director, Food & Ingredients, Bunge Limited.

Visit the Bunge website for the full release.

The EFFPA food waste hierachy promotes animal feed as the most sustainable option for foodstuffs no longer suitable for human consumption.