FEATURE
rice processing as well as pasta and noodle production industries. These industries are using some of the same technologies that are used in the feed sector and it is quite clear there is sound synergies here.
Seminars Pellets for bioenergy Around 100 participants attended this event: It proved a great success for Aebiom (the European Biomass Association) which had been held on the last day of the show. It focused on the market and on the opportunity for the pelleting technology. It shows some advantages: energy density, logistics, lower investments in plants ‌ the pellet demand might reach 229TWh in 2020, 68 percent solid biomass, 50 percent pellets. For Jean-Marc Jossart (of Aeobiom), the demand for pellets will reach 42 million tonnes worldwide by then. Sweden with its two million tonnes (500Kt 28 | May - June 2011
of import) of wood pellets and Germany (at 1.6 million tonnes or nearly self-sufficient) have been the major European markets in 2009. The globalization of the pellet sector opens up worldwide supply with the transport and logistical implication of the pellet transfer from regions with high biomass potential to high consumption regions. Price index and more and more sophisticated price regulation tools are becoming available, a sign that the market is becoming a worldwide commodity. With the market growth, raw material diversification will become crucial: the use of new raw materials such as straw and hay (which poses questions about competition with feed), corn cobs, sunflower husks, peanut shells and other biomass offers a realistic opportunity for future diversification. The general pattern is the same as with feed: not to allow spoilage or waste of any resource. Finally, biomass quality is perceived as essential in achieving successful market development. The ENplus quality certification is developing: 60 percent of Germany and 90 percent of Austria production capacities are expected to be certified at the end of 2011. Aquafeed Organised by Linx Conferences in association with Nofima, the Norwan Research Institute, and sponsored by Buhler, Aquafeed Horizon was attended by more than 100 participants looking for the latest developments in aquatic feed production. For example, handling, storage and transport of feeds lead to attrition of pellets. Undersized particles represent loss and poor utilisation of feed resources. Thus, feed with high physical pellet quality is in demand. However, physical properties affect the nutritional value of feeds. Research shows that feed intake appears to be the main factor when evaluating pellet quality, but several other factors such as pellet durability, nutrient digestibility and fat belching must be taken into consideration when searching for the most economical and sustainable pellet quality.
Hardness and durability combined with low, medium or high water and steam input in the extrusion process show different impacts on feed intake and fish growth. Those data can be used by the industry to better understand and correct the observed variance in extrusion properties, pellet quality and to improve the product specifications used by fishmeal producers and purchasers. As explained Joseph P Kearns from Wenger, the developing trend in aquafeed plants is to ensure feed safety throughout the production process. A strategic path to accomplish this would be to assess and design the facility with attention to raw materials and their storage, plant equipment design, processing or operating procedure, final product efficacy and the overall culture of day-to-day operation of the plant. As Urs Wuest from Buhler said, the changing requirement in the aquafeed industry translate into a demand for specific technical requirement such as extrusion technology. Ingredients and additives Eufetech, the European Feed Technology Center, and Linx Conferences proposed a conference focusing on feed safety and formulation advances. Eufetech brings together animal feed manufacturers, academia and researchers from: Bemefa (Belgium), FEFAC and FEFANA (UE), Cesfac (Spain), Tecaliman (France), Wageningen (The Netherlands), Ghent University (Belgium), FINSV (Serbia), Isan (Italy), University of Nottingham (UK). Since 1995, the EU has required feed manufacturers to estimate the mixing and cross contamination risk on their plants. The pressure from this regulation has continuously grown and the last Directive (08/09) limited the carryover from three to one percent for coccidiostics, depending on whether or not it is target feeds. In this context, Tecaliman had developed, beginning 20 years ago, rules to evaluate mixing capability of a mixer and cross contamination levels in plants. The technical centre promotes a method using external micro-tracer which became recognize as a reference in Europe. The quality of new raw material as distillers dried grain depend of the process on the plant as Kip Karges of Poet Nutrition showed. Ilvo from Belgium had evaluated the nutritional value of wheat DDGS for ruminants and pig. During the conference, a wide range of other topics had been presented, form GMP+ to enzymes as additives for upgrading the nutritive value of poultry diets containing sunflower meal and the potential of organic trace minerals to improve animal health and reduce environmental impact of animal production systems.
&feed milling technology
Grain