January 31, 2013

31/01/13: Japan resumes Vietnamese rice imports; changes at NAMA; UK flood areas mapped

Vietnamese rice producers have resumed exports to Japan after a five-year ban. An Giang Import Export Co (Angimex) has won a bid to supply 30,000 tons of white rice to Japan. The rice passed stringent tests and the whole process has been supervised by the importers.

NAMA Chairman Jim Meyer named the committee chairmen for the 2013-2014 term. The committee chairmen were selected based on their experience and expertise in the subject matter of the committee. 
“The strength of an association can be measured by the commitment of the members that volunteer their time and expertise. The leadership provided by the committee chairmen is a valuable component of NAMA. I am looking forward to working with them over the next two years on the issues important to our industry,” said Meyer.

Grain growers in the UK has been dealing with some very wet weather recently. According to the Met Office, the last 12 months have been the second wettest since records began. This flood map shows which areas have been most affected by the downpours.
View map...
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Uncooked, polished, white long-grain rice grains
Uncooked, polished, white long-grain rice grains (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Event: It's the start of the last day of IPPE in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Despite the short-lived tornado that struck the CNN-Phillip Arena-Georges World Convention Centre around midday on day two, it was already evident that the addition this year of the American Meat Institute (AMI) to form a triumvirate of processing organisations with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the US Poultry and Egg Association to form the new International Production and Processing Exposition (IPPE), was already on the way to a great success.

The show sees the filling of both Halls A and B to capacity at the Georgia World Congress Centre and the visitors had much to see and do despite the odd bucket that had been strategically placed to catch drips from leaks in the roof.

After an initially quiet first morning for IPPE, the end of day one and the morning of day two proved very popular. Exhibitors enjoyed a steady flow of guests with the crowds being more diverse than last year in our view, and with a healthy stream of Latin and African visitors.

While meat and poultry exhibitors were presented in either the live production and processing, live production or live poultry production areas, feed-related exhibitors maintained their own section of Hall A and drew together ingredient, equipment and other suppliers. It was a great display of the diversity of feed manufacturing essentials!

From GFMT's point-of-view the show has yielded many new contacts both in terms of new readers, subscribers and contributors to our pages. We were fortunate enough to have a team of three in Atlanta for the event. Our Spanish-language editions (of both GFMT and International Aquafeed) were well received as was the International Milling Directory.

The Global Miller congratulates the organisers on a great event and looks forward to next year's offering.

Dr Mian Riaz of Texas A&M University, a contributor to both International Aquafeed and GFMT, visited our stand on day two to meet with Roger Gilbert

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January 30, 2013

30/01/13: IPPE special

Day two of IPPE in Atlanta, USA looks sets to be another cracker. As you'd expect from such a large trade show, there is lots to see and do with various talks, exhibits and product launches. We're at booth 1700 so drop by and say hi.



Here are some of the highlights so far:

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association recognised five companies that have been exhibiting for 50 or more years at the International Poultry Expo.  Held during the 2013 International Production & Processing Expo, James Adams, Wenger Feeds, Rheems, PA, and newly elected chairman of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, presented plaques to each company in acknowledgement of their long-term exhibiting tenure.
 Aviagen and Watt were recognised for 60 years of exhibiting at IPE. Lyon Technologies, Inc. and Kuhl Corporation were recognised for 55 year at IPE, and Elanco Animal Health was recognised for 50 years of exhibiting at IPE.
“Your support of the International Poultry Expo has allowed the poultry industry to grow and advance, as we have directly invested show revenues back into the industry. We thank you sincerely for your continued support,” commented Adams.
More information...

Danisco Animal Nutrition launched Axtra® PHY, the very latest technological advance in phytase enzyme solutions at the show.
Axtra® PHY is the result of an extensive development program, including animal studies conducted under a wide range of conditions. The patented phytase, isolated from Buttiauxella has unrivalled performance and economic benefits.
Comparative studies with current E.coli phytases, have demonstrated that Axtra® PHY has over 70 percentgreater bio-efficacy than its market-leading Phyzyme® XP. This translates into over 20% more release of phosphorus and calcium, and up to 30 percent more release of energy and amino acids, at standard phytase inclusion levels. Under current raw material prices, these advances in performance translate into incremental feed cost savings of $1.50 per ton compared to existing E.coli phytases.
Dr Tom D’Alfonso, Sales Director for the Americas says, ‘Now more than ever, our customers are seeking solutions to mitigate rising feed costs without compromising animal performance. The science underlying Axtra® PHY phytase is second-to-none, and includes matrix recommendations based on around 300 data points for every key nutrient. This offers our customers complete confidence to reap the substantial feed cost savings without compromising performance.’
More information...
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Alltech's world feed survey finds significant growth in Africa and aquaculture

The world is producing 959 million tons of feed and has increased its production by at least four percent in the last year, according to the 2013 Global Feed Tonnage Survey released by Alltech. Alltech assessed the compound feed production of 134 countries in December 2012 through information obtained in partnership with local feed associations and Alltech’s sales team, who visit more than 26,000 feed mills annually.

“The 2013 publication of the annual year-end assessment by Alltech is being released as an industry outlook resource for the new calendar year and will hopefully allow governments, non-governmental organizations and the greater public to appreciate the value that the feed industry is generating globally,” said Aidan Connolly, vice president of Alltech and director of Alltech’s annual Global Feed Tonnage Survey.

Among the 134 countries assessed in Alltech’s survey, China was reaffirmed as the chief producer of feed at 191 million tons and an estimated 10,000 feed mills. Consistent with late 2011 assessments, the United States and Brazil followed with 179 million tons produced by 5,251 feed mills and 66 million tons produced by 1,237 feed mills respectively. Overall, a 26 million ton increase was observed in BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) year to date.

Asia continues to be the world’s number one producing region at 350 million tons. However, Africa exceeded Asia in percent growth over 2011 results, increasing its tonnage nearly 15 percent from 47 million in 2011 to 54 million in 2012.

Globally, the survey identified 26,240 feed mills, with North America and Europe serving as home to more than half of them. The Middle East was estimated to have the largest feed mills, with an average of more than 63,000 tons produced per mill. Sixty percent of feed produced globally is pelleted, with percentages particularly high in Europe.
When analyzed by species:
  • Poultry continues to dominate with a 43 percent share of the feed market at 411 million tons, likely due to religious and taste preferences as well as cost. It grew by approximately 8 percent over 2011 estimates. Sixty percent of all poultry feed tonnage is dedicated to broilers, with the rest fed to egg layers, turkeys, duck and other fowl.
  • The pig feed sector matched poultry’s 8 percent growth, moving to 218 million tons globally.
  • The ruminant feed market, comprising dairy, beef and small ruminants, grew more than 13 percent between late 2011 and December 2012, and now requires 254 million tons.
  • Equine feed tonnage increased almost 17 percent to 10.8 million tons.  
  • Aquaculture is the fastest growing species sector by tonnage with growth greater than 55 percent since 2011.
  • Pet food represents 20.5 million tons, 40 percent of which are produced in the United States, but Brazil continues to make considerable advances in this sector.
“As we look to the demands of the future, chiefly the feeding of 9 billion people by 2050, these survey results should stir optimism and resolve within our feed and food industries,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president of Alltech. “Our global feed industry is rising to the challenge, and we’re seeing growth across the board. Moreover, we’re seeing it in some particularly key areas– BRIC, Africa and aquaculture.”

Global feed production has traditionally been difficult to quantify because many countries lack a national feed association. For this reason, Alltech began in late 2011 to leverage its global presence to obtain a finer estimate of the world’s feed tonnage. The results of the annual year-end assessment are announced in January as an industry outlook resource for the new calendar year.

Connolly presented the 2012 Alltech Global Feed Tonnage Survey findings at a joint meeting of the International Feed Industry Federation and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Oct. 2012.  The meeting identified the need to collect more detailed information, a request to which Alltech responded, engendering a deep appreciation for what the feed industry is delivering worldwide.


a manufactured pelleted ration for horses, mad...
a manufactured pelleted ration for horses, made of grains and other plant products with vitamins and minerals added (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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January 29, 2013

Event: Doors open at IPPE


The GFMT team are in Atlanta, USA this week for the IPPE show. The site is already a hive of activity with people keen to see the latest food and feed developments.

The GFMT stand is also looking marvellous. One of of our first visitors was Carlos Cesar Pavesa, director and CEO, Engormix (pictured below with GFMT publisher, Roger Gilbert).

If you're at the show come and visit us on booth 1700. If not, stayed tuned to the blog for the latest updates.

We were visited early on the opening day of IPPE (our stand 1700) by Carlos Carlos Cesar Pavesa, director and CEO of Engormix, the Latin American online news service for the feed industry.

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Mary Waters resigns as president of NAMA

The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) announced today that Mary Waters had decided to resign her position with the Association. The employment relationship is being ended amicably on mutually agreeable terms. NAMA thanks Ms Waters for the positive contributions she made to NAMA and wishes her the best.

The two fundamental strengths of NAMA are the commitment of its members to actively participate in the Association through the committee structure and its strong staff. NAMA’s members and staff will continue to work with our grain chain partners, the growers who produce the most abundant food supply in the world, and the companies that turn our ingredients into great food, on the issues of food safety, the availability of wheat supplies through enhanced breeding, access to sanitation tools, nutrition education and promotional efforts.

More information...
Wheat Stalks
Wheat Stalks (Photo credit: mrpbps)


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Filip


Filip supplies mills all over the world with  sieve cleaning products. Services include:
expert consultation prior to purchase, if required,
custom designed brushes and cleaners to meet your individual requirements,
prompt delivery and fast processing of your order,
a high degree of experience in export,
a large number of agents outside Germany who are able to look after our customers around the world in their respective languages.
Click on the image to visit the Filip website.

29/01/13: Alltech European Lecture Tour; rice mill expansion in Louisiana; silos in Nigeria

Details of Alltech’s 27th European Lecture Tours have been announced. This year, the series of talks, which runs from March 11-21, 2013, is titled Stay Curious: Can Advanced Nutritional Technology Deliver EPS (Efficiency, Profitability and Sustainability).
“Concerns about feed, feed ingredients and the effects of high performance rations on the environment, finite resource depletion, animal welfare, health and, ultimately, the health of consumers themselves, have come to the fore and placed feed in the spotlight. In order for producers to remain efficient, sustainable and profitable we need to revolutionise the way we feed our animals and our world. Join us in March as we share new technologies and ideas that will pave the way for the future of the agricultural industry,” said Pat Charlton, vice president Europe, Alltech.

Farmers Rice Milling Company Inc. announced a $13.4 million expansion and modernisation of its rice mill in eastern Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA.
The 55,000-square-foot expansion of the mill’s clean rice packaging and distribution facility will allow the company to increase processing speed and volume.

The Federal Government in Nigeria is constructing silos throughout the country as part of a wider drive to improve the agricultural chain. The silos, some of which are due for completion in April 2013, will help boost grain reserves, price stability and food security.
During a tour of ten silos being built in Igbariam, Anambra State, Labaran Maku, Minister of Information said, “The purpose of grain reserve is for the nation’s food security. The nation can come under disaster, can come under drought. They can come in different ways, it could be war in some instances leading to food insecurity.”
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English: Ladders in a silo in Yyteri.
English: Ladders in a silo in Yyteri. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

January 28, 2013

Event: We're at IPPE

Three of the GFMT team are in Atlanta, USA for IPPE, January 29-31, 2103.

The show is the place to be for all things poultry and meat related. The expo is the primary source of funding for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the world's largest and most active poultry organisation. It represents the entire industry as an "All Feather" association. Membership includes producers and processors of broilers, turkeys, ducks, eggs, and breeding stock, as well as allied companies.

The show kicks off tomorrow so team are busy setting up today. If you're attending, come and visit us at booth 1700. If you can't be there, feat not! We'll be blogging regular news and updates from the show.
A fried egg, sunny side up.
A fried egg, sunny side up. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


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Event: World millers are looking forward to IDMA

IDMA Exhibition, the most important meeting platform of the world milling industry, is preparing to bring world millers together for the fifth time in Istanbul Expo Center on April 4-7, 2013. It is expected that the exhibition in 2013 will be visited by more than 10,000 professionals from 120 different countries.
 
Mrs Zübeyde Kavraz, the General Manager of Parantez Fair Organization Company that continued its preparations for 2013 exhibition after IDMA 2011 Exhibition, which was fruitful for both participants and visitors, answered our questions about IDMA 2013.

Mrs Kavraz, the IDMA exhibition you organised in 2011 was very much appreciated by both visitors and participants. The next exhibition is in April, 2013. How are the preparations for IDMA 2013 going?
As you know, International, Flour, Semolina, Rice, Corn, Bulghur, Feed Milling Machinery & Pulse, Pasta, Biscuit Technologies Exhibition (IDMA), has proved to be the most prominent meeting platform of the world milling industry. Therefore, the leading trademarks of the world milling industry have already booked their places in the 5th IDMA Fair to be held in Istanbul Expo Center on April 4-7, 2013. We consider this as a proof of the success of IDMA 2011.

As Parantez Fair Organization Company, our main aim is to meet all expectations of the visitors and participants in this exhibition we organise biannually and to make them leave the exhibition satisfied. For this reason, we intensify the preparations for IDMA 2013 at a great pace.

How will IDMA 2013 be different from the previous exhibition? What kinds of differences are waiting for the participants and visitors in the exhibition in 2013?
We organised IDMA 2011 exhibition in two halls and in a total space of 14,000 square metres. We expanded the exhibition area for 2013 so that more brands will be represented in the exhibition and product diversity will be increased. IDMA 2013 Exhibition will be in three halls encompassing a total area of 21,000 square metres. First of all, this will allow visitors to see more alternatives and products varieties in 2013 Exhibition. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations and technologies developed by these brands.

We can say that another significant difference for visitors will be the increase in the number of foreign participants. This means almost all of the leading actors in the world milling industry will attend the exhibition. This will strengthen the international characteristic of IDMA again.
In addition, we expanded domestic and foreign visitor attendance activities. We believe that especially the promotional activities aimed for foreign visitors will produce results in the fair in 2013 and this will satisfy the participants. Participants will have the opportunity to increase their market shares thanks to the work relations they will form by coming together with thousands of professional visitors from 120 countries.
Mrs Zübeyde Kavraz, the General Manager of Parantez Fair Organization Company talks about IDMA 2013.

You have just stated that you increased the number of halls to three. Why open a third hall?
There are several reasons. First of all, majority of the participants, who left IDMA 2011 satisfied, demand to enlarge their fair booths in IDMA 2013 whereas numerous companies which failed to participate in the exhibition of 2011 desire to take place in IDMA 2013. Therefore we need to create space for the said companies. However, the main reason for us is the demand we receive from international visitors.

As it is well know that we carry out our promotional works in 120 countries of the world as Parantez Group. During these promotional activities, the manufacturers, who produce flour and semolina which are the principal raw materials of pasta and biscuits, also appear to be pasta and biscuit investors.

The said investors, who follow up IDMA in order to shape their investments, are enthusiastic about benefitting more efficiently from this exhibition. We decided to open a third hall to ensure that the biscuits, pasta and bread technologies are widely represented in the exhibition in accordance with the request we received from the said investors.

Thus, the exhibition’s representation ability will be increased in addition to providing opportunity to the visiting investors in terms of having access to all technologies they require at a single point.

Could you also mention about the domestic and foreign promotional activities and the actions performed for visitor organisation? What kinds of promotional activities are you carrying out and in how many countries?
As I just said, we expanded our promotional and visitor attendance activities for 2013. First of all, number of countries where we carry out activities to draw visitors was increased to 120. In order to ensure more efficient promotion and visitor attendance, we work together with the leading associations, unions, media institutions and tourism agencies in these 120 countries.

In this context, more than 100 associations, unions and tourism agencies in Asian, Africa, Middle East, Balkan, South and North America and European countries are providing assistance for Parantez Fair Organization Company for IDMA 2013 and carrying out active operations for visitor attendance. We have already made agency agreements in over 20 countries. Similar activities are underway in other countries.

Moreover, we continue to perform promotional work and invitations in five different languages by means of one-to-one interactions and by directly reaching out to the target group, namely company executives as we did in the previous fair in order to increase the number of visitors. In addition, we reorganised our website in seven languages for promotion. This way, many visitors have the opportunity to reach all information and developments about the exhibition in their own languages.

Who will be the participants and visitors of the exhibition? Who is the target group of the exhibition?
Flour, semolina, corn, rice and feed millers, producers and representatives of pulses cleaning and packing, pasta and biscuit technologies, grain storing silos, filing, carrying and discharging systems, laboratory equipment, additives, packing machines and materials, spare parts and sub-industry products as well as international sellers of grains and pulses will attend the fair. These participants introduce the latest innovations in the systems they have developed or represent to the visitors in IDMA 2013. 

The target visitor group of IDMA 2013 consists of; the professional executives, investors and employees of global flour, semolina, rice, corn and feed millers, professional executives, investors and employees of commercial factories producing and trading pulses, pasta and biscuits, international buyers of grains and pulses, professional executives, investors and employees of food companies making production in connection with the grains and pulses sectors, presidents and members of non-governmental organisations and professional associations related to the grains and pulses sectors, academics and students from education and research institutions, senior executives and employees in official institutions dealing with matters such as food, agriculture and foreign trade, and seed producers.

How many visitors are you expecting for IDMA 2013?
IDMA 2011 was visited by more than 8,000 people from 60 countries. We expect IDMA 2013 to be visited by more than 10,000 local and foreign professionals from 120 countries over four days.

Could you give information about other activities that will be performed in the exhibition?
We will organise seminars on basic subjects such as pulses, rice, cracked wheat (bulgur) and pasta in IDMA 2013 as we did in the previous exhibition. Differently from the previous exhibitions, Turkish and English simultaneous translations will be done in the seminar that will be organised in 2013 exhibition. This way, visitors from abroad will easily benefit from these seminars. Apart from the seminars organised by us (Parantez Fair Organization), some international institutions and companies will have similar events. We will announce them in our website in the following days.
However, our most significant event will be the 14-hour ‘Milling Certification Training’, which will concurrently take place with the exhibition.

What is the scope of this training? Who can participate in the training and who will be the trainers?
As Parantez International Fair Organization, we organise a 14-hour ‘Certificate Milling Training’ programe for the representatives of the milling sector who will visit the exhibition within the scope of IDMA Exhibition. The programme, which will take place on April 5-6, 2013 consists of 14-hour theoretical training. The programme trainers are the professionals who are successful in their fields.
The main topics of the content of training are as follows; Supply of Raw Materials in Milling sector, Raw Material Storage, Mill Technologies and Milling, Efficiency and Energy Saving with regard to Milling, Quality and Quality control with regard to Flour and Flour Additives, Wheat and Flour Logistics in International trade and Flour Plant Investments- Investment Feasibility Studies and Management.

The training will be provided in free of charge in both English and Turkish. Those who wish to participate in the program are required to be employed at a flour plant (mill) or work in milling Technologies production industry and be able to prove such employment. 

We will be accepting limited number of participants into the program to ensure training efficiency and success. Determining the limited number of participants will be based on early registration priority. He who wants to participate in the program is required to transmit his flight details, hotel reservation particulars, the document which proves his employment at a flour factory or a company producing milling technologies after registering via the online registration link under the section Milling Training Program on the IDMA website. The participants who register online but fail to send the above mentioned documents will not be registered to the programme.

What would you like to add as your final remarks?
As I said earlier, our primary purpose is to meet the expectations of participants and visitors of our exhibition at the highest level. We are rapidly continuing our preparations for this purpose.
We believe we will prove again in 2013 that IDMA is the most important meeting platform bringing all parties of the world grain and pulses industry together.

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28/01/13: Idaho Barley Commission; US GM labeling

The Idaho Barley Commission is considering creating a $1 million research endowment with the University of Idaho. The money would be used to fund a scientist who would specialise in barley agronomics and soil fertility.  
The move that could result in the state checkoff fee for Idaho's 1,500 barley producers increasing one cent per hundredweight. The current assessment is two cents per hundredweight, which is less than one cent per bushel.

Several states in the US are considering plans on GM labeling. Washington is has delivered a ballot of about 350,000 voter signatures to the Washington Secretary of State asking for mantatory labeling of GM foods.
Initiative 522 – the so-called People's Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act - would require food and seeds with GM content be labeled beginning July 2015. Assuming the signatures are certified by the Secretary of State, the state legislature would have three options: adopt the measure into law, refuse to act on it but place it on the November 2013 ballot, or approve an alternate measure and place both it and the original on the ballot.


Barley
Barley (Photo credit: freefotouk)
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January 25, 2013

New! GFMT article: Roll refurbishment

The team at Satake Europe wrote this article on roll refurbishment. I was lucky enough to visit the Satake refurbishment workshop and learnt a great deal about how regrinding and refluting works. Check out the article below.
Click on the image to read the story


25/01/13: Drought continues in Kansas; US Grains Council annual report

The U.S. Grains Council has launched its 2012 online Annual Report, available now at www.usgcAnnualReport.org.
The online report includes success stories from the year, video highlights, photographs, and market profiles from more than 25 countries and regions. Market profile pages display supply/demand charts, market growth potential and other information viewers may find useful, including highlights from Council programs in each country.
“Since the Council was founded 52 years ago, we have focused continuously on building markets and expanding trade opportunities for U.S. farmers and agribusinesses,” said Don Fast, USGC chairman.“By promoting sound trade policies, building relationships between trading partners and being a reliable third-party resource, the Council and its members have enhanced food security and food choice for countless people around the world. This work is at the heart of our mission of Developing Markets, Enabling Trade and Improving Lives. The Council's global staff live and breathe it - and it makes us proud to witness their efforts.”
An exclusive feature of the online report provides access to downloadable spread sheets containing supply/demand data for more than 25 countries and regions that are provided on the individual market profile pages. 
A downloadable form of the printed publication is also available online.

The drought in Kansas, USA has deepened over the last week, threatening winter wheat production, Reuters reports. 
Kansas is generally the top US wheat-growing state, but the new crop planted in the autumn has been suffered from a lack of soil moisture.
Read more...


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Winter wheat in early spring. The end of march.
Winter wheat in early spring. The end of march. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

January 24, 2013

New! GFMT article: Extrusion technologies for food products in India

Our GFMT article for today focuses on the ever-popular topic of extrusion. Raj Kapoor, GFMT's India partner, explains how this technology is growing and growing in India.
Click on the image to read the article.
Other articles on extrusion:
Generating added value by extrusion.
Extrusion at the flour mill.

24/01/13: Thursday news round-up

Farmers Rice Milling Company Inc. plans a $13.4 million expansion and modernisation of its rice mill in eastern Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA creating around 87 jobs.
The 55,000-square-foot expansion of the mill’s clean rice packaging and distribution facility will allow the company to increase processing speed and volume.

Happy birthday to FEFANA. The the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtureshas turned 50.
The first statutes of FEFANA were signed on January 22, 1963 by the National Associations in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
The founding members had the forward vision of forming a European Association to act as an interface between the feed additives manufacturing industry as a whole and the European Union, then European Economic Community (EEC), and its Member States authorities.

Through integration of the National Platforms and direct corporate affiliation at European level, FEFANA now counts more than 100 members companies from 28 countries including the EU, Switzerland and Norway.

The European Commission has dismissed any suggestions of a freeze on EU decision making on the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops, reports Europolitics. The Commission is currently in the process of assessing the GM crop files for authorisation of cultivation, Frédéric Vincent, the spokesman for health and consumer policy at the European Commission, told Europolitics, on  January 23, 2013. He confirmed that “the Commission has not yet decided whether or not to launch the procedure for authorisation” of cultivation of any of the seven GM crops currently awaiting approval (six maize varieties and one soybean) and that such a decision might not be taken “in the near future”.
European Commission
European Commission (Photo credit: tiseb)


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Consergra

CONSERGRA, S.L. is a Spanish company established in 1969. Since then, its main activity has been the construction of special refrigeration and air conditioning units, mainly used for the preservation of grains, oilseeds and perishable granulated products. Other refrigerating and air conditioning units for different purposes are also produced according to customer needs. click on the image to visit the Consergra website.

January 23, 2013

New! GFMT article: The changing face of pallets

The humble pallet doesn't get much attention. However, there are hundreds of thousands of pallets in circulation worldwide. This article form GFMT November/December 2012 looks at the origins of pallets and recent developments.


Click on the image to read the story.

You can also browse past issues of GFMT online for free.

23/01/13: FAO stats on Armenian crop production, rising wheat prices in India, Cargill beef plant to close

The FAO has released a report into food production in Armenia. We haven't featured Armenia on the blog much in the past so I thought I'd share the key points of this story. 
Crop production increased by around nine percent in 2012 and prospects for 2013 winter cereal crops are favourable. 
The cereal import requirement of the country is expected to decrease by 16 percent in the 2012/13 marketing year (July/June) compared to the previous year. However, the country is still heavily dependent on cereal imports, mainly wheat. 
Prices of staples, wheat flour and bread, increased steadily in the second half of 2012 and reached record levels in November. The increase mainly reflects higher prices in the regional export markets, as the country imports some 60 percent of its wheat consumption requirements.

Wheat flour crisis hits garrison city, Rawalpindi, India as 20kg bags of the flour hit Rs800 against the official rate of Rs670.
As a result, the prices of roti, bread and rusk have gone up despite the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR)’s claim that there was no shortage of wheat flour or an increase in the prices. Last week, the CDGR increased the price of the 20kg wheat flour bag from Rs618 to Rs670 but the retailers refused to accept it and fixed the price at Rs800.

A Cargill beef processing plant in Texas, USA is to close on February 1, 2013 due to dwindling cattle supply. The Plainview, Texas facility has come under pressure after years of drought in Texas and Southern Plains states.
John Keating, president of Cargill Beef says, "Increased feed costs resulting from the prolonged drought, combined with herd liquidations by cattle ranchers, are severely and adversely contributing to the challenging business conditions we face as an industry.  Our preference would have been not to idle a plant.”
Approximately 2,000 people work at the plant, and they will receive company support. 

English: Makai de Roti, Corn flour Roti
English: Makai de Roti, Corn flour Roti (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



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January 22, 2013

22/01/13: New council vice-chairman at Campden BRI; marl in poultry feed study

Tom Falcon has been elected Campden BRI council vice-chairman. Campden BRI is the UK's largest independent membership-based organisation carrying out research and development for the food and drinks industry worldwide.
Tom has been the production and distribution director of Shepherd Neame Ltd, Britain’s oldest brewer, since June 2008. Prior to this, Tom worked for The Maersk Company Ltd (responsible for business and process improvement) and A.T. Kearney specialists in business strategy, procurement and supply chain management). 

Today we've got an article on poultry feed from Engormix. D. Ouachem and N. Kaboul, Institute of Agronomic and Veterinary Sciences, HadjLakhdar University, Algeria discuss marl as a natural supply on broiler chicken feed.
Clay is a natural supply that could be used in poultry feed to achieve the same goals because it is a very abundant product in nature, inexpensive, widely used by hens raised outdoors. In this study three percent marl was incorporated into feed and tested on broiler chicken, at the young age and at 56 days. 


English: Five day old Cornish-Rock (Cornish Cr...
English: Five day old Cornish-Rock (Cornish Cross) chicks in a brooder. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Guest blog: Tom Blacker from the International Milling Directory

Today we have a guest blog post from Tom Blacker from Perendale Publishers. Tom has taken on the challenge of coordinating the International Milling Directory (IMD) for 2013/14. Although he's fairly new to the company, Tom has fully immersed himself in all thing IMD and the next edition is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

So, over to Tom...

Grain & Feed Milling Technology and the International Milling Directory (IMD) are normally separated by the different purposes and also by the building’s walls here at the Perendale offices. As it will be myself coordinating the new 2013/14 directory for publication and print later this year, it is good to welcome you in to 2013 with a renewed focus for the IMD too. 
 
Foremost on the horizon is my first conferencing for the International Milling Directory at GEAPS Exchange in Louisville, Kentucky, USA in just over four weeks. IMD will be at the Perendale exhibition stand and will be distributing copies of the current edition to attendees and participants.
The GEAPS show is for the grain handling, elevator and processing industries and is a very long running conference. I am going to be a new face but aim to be able to attract the same levels of productivity as the old hands who have been before. Many of the IMD’s member companies and organisations will be present, especially from the US market. Large and smaller companies are exhibiting and the single hall plan means all will be easy to reach. 

I am personally excited about the opportunity to interact and promote the IMD as well as Grain & Feed Milling Technology to this conference. Falling in February, after IPPE, will hopefully give a refreshingly compact approach to a US conference. Around 500 stands have been booked in total for GEAPS Exchange so far.  

Do come and check out the IMD and myself at the Perendale Publishers’ stand next to the main hall’s entrance doors. Ivan Marquetti, Perendale Publishers’ Latin America manager, is due to join me for GEAPS Exchange so I also look forward to working together with him at this event. 
Don't forget, you can access the IMD online here.

IMD coordinator, Tom Blacker at the Perendale Publishers office, Cheltenham, UK

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Wenger

With a little ingenuity and a lot of hard work, brothers Joe and Louis Wenger founded Wenger Mixing Company in a small Kansas (USA) town in 1935. They went on to design a machine that blended molasses with dry feedstuffs and produced pellets in 1948. Theirs was the first extrusion cooking system and the basic technology for all commercial extruders used today.
The Wenger brothers' novel idea created a worldwide industry. And, seventy-five years later, Wenger Manufacturing, Inc. is still a family-owned business committed to groundbreaking innovation in the extrusion market.

Today, Wenger offers a range of premium single-screw extruders, twin-screw extruders, dryers/coolers, flavor coating and enrobing systems, and control systems. A new generation of proud employees works toward customer satisfaction daily in our multiple plants, in our world-class research and development center, and in sales and service offices around the globe.
Wenger equipment is unmatched in quality. Perhaps even more importantly, we've built a reputation for having lasting partnerships with customers. Lasting because of our dedication, ingenuity, and responsiveness – and our promise to carry out that commitment for generations to come.
Click on the image to visit the Wenger website.


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January 21, 2013

21/01/13: DDGS now a non-hazardous cargo in the US; BASF launches Novasil Plus; Indian poultry feed prices

The classification of US distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a non-hazardous cargo became final and mandatory under the code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on January 1, 2013. This was the culmination of a process initiated by the US Grains Council (USGC) in 2010 in coordination with DDGS producers and shippers and the US Coast Guard, which is the official US representative to the IMO. 
Erick Erickson, USGC director of global strategies said, "Previously, DDGS had not been classified by the IMO. But as DDGS trade grew, several insurance organisations communicated their opinion that DDGS was a hazardous cargo, raising the prospect that DDGS cargoes would be required to be shipped on vessels equipped with special fire suppression equipment – thus raising the cost of DDGS shipments."

BASF has launched Novasil™ Plus, a feed additive for achieving better and safer animal nutrition. The product has been well-established in the feed market for years but is now directly available from BASF. Novasil Plus can be used in two ways, depending on its registration status in each country: as an anti-caking agent for enhancing the flow properties of feed or feed ingredients, or for binding aflatoxins.
“BASF is striving to optimise animal nutrition,” said Dr Alexandra Brand, who heads BASF’s global Animal Nutrition business unit. “Novasil Plus helps feed producers to improve the technical properties of feed while enhancing animals’ health by relieving them of the negative effects of poisonous aflatoxins. This delivers major benefits for both farmers and consumers.”

The poultry industry in Andhra Pradesh, India is in crisis according to the Hindu Times. The newspapers pinpoints high feed prices and declining demand for birds and eggs as the reasons behind the problem.
The increase in raw feed materials such as maize and soybean means producing a bird costs Rs. 60 a kg. However, the animals only fetch around Rs. 50 a kg at market.
Calves and distillers grain
Calves and distillers grain (Photo credit: MUExtension417)
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January 18, 2013

18/01/13: Former GEAPS president dies; Cargill USA buys two feed mills; rice prices soar in Bangladesh

Cargill has secured the winning bid to complete the acquisition of two animal feed mills from the Pennfield Corporation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, for $9.8 million in a bankruptcy proceeding.  
The acquisition will be finalised January 21, 2013, and Cargill will assume ownership.
Under terms of the agreement, Cargill acquired Pennfield’s animal feed mills and associated assets located in Mount Joy and Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.
“We are thrilled to add Pennfield’s state-of-the-art facilities and knowledgeable employees to the Cargill family,” says Rob Sheffer, group director, for Cargill’s Northeast region.  “The deal not only expands our footprint in the region but it also provides us with additional capabilities and opportunities to serve new customer segments and enhance our offerings for existing customers in the region.”
Jennifer Horn, former director of administration and family member of Pennfield will join Cargill as administration team lead, where she will be responsible for overseeing Pennfield customer and employee communications.  “We believe the employees and customers of Pennfield could not have received a better outcome than being part of the Cargill family,” Horn says.  “Cargill is not only a market leader but also a family-owned organisation that shares the same values and commitment to providing the best products for our customers.”

Rice prices soar in the Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Naogaon districts in Bangladesh. Wholesalers and rice millers have attributed the situation to drastic fall in husking of paddy at rice mills due to unavailability of sunlight during the severe cold wave coupled with dense fog.
Due to the adverse weather, it takes much longer period to prepare a chatal for processing paddy into rice.
The price of coarse rice increased by Tk 100 to 120 per 50 kg sack while that of fine rice including miniket and pyjam increased by Tk 250 to 300 per sack in the retail markets of the three districts, said market sources.

Melvin R. Mai, former International GEAPS president, passed away January 7, 2013 aged 78.
Mai, a Lifetime member of the Gulf South Chapter, served as GEAPS' 50th International president from 1980-1981. At the time of his presidential term, he had been a Regular member for 11 years, and had been named GEAPS' Member of Distinction in 1979. This prestigious award is bestowed by the GEAPS International Board of Directors to give special recognition to members who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement and pursuit of GEAPS' vision and mission.
He is survived by his wife, Delores Mai, two daughters and two grandsons, Jeremy and Justin.

Rice up close
Rice up close (Photo credit: Rowan Peter)
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