Bühler, in collaboraiton with Flour Mills of Nigeria, has opened a grains application centre in Nigeria which will process local and ancient grains.
The initiative was started to address food security and stability issues across both Nigeria and the African continent.
Currently more than 2.3 billion people globally live in food insecurity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) run by the United Nations.
According to Bühler, local grains such as sorghum and millet can significantly improve food secruity — particularly in Africa.
Enhancing food security in the African continent
Currently, the region doesn't have the facilities to effectively use these raw materials, and processing capabilities aren't developed enough to make the most out of these ancient grains.
Therefore, Bühler is opening a dedicated Application and Training Centre with R&D capabilities in Kano, Nigeria to address this issue.
The main goal is to bring industrial processing of these grains to the next level and thereby contribute to affordable nutrition.
“Sustainable food value chains utilising local grains are the number one priority to help improve food security in Africa,” stated CEO of Bühler’s Grains & Food segment, Johannes Wick.
John Coumantaros, Chairman of the Board of Flour Mills of Nigeria, commented: “FMN has always been at the forefront of driving food self-sufficiency in Nigeria and progressively across the continent. The application centre is well positioned to sustainably develop local grains, create business opportunities and provide viable alternatives to some imported raw materials used in production. Therefore, this partnership further demonstrates our consistency in developing local content and in our commitment to feeding and enriching lives, every day.”
Ancient grains as a solution to food insecurity
Local grains and crops can offer many benefits to the local population due to their high nutrient density and abundance of valuable vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and proteins.
They are also climate tolerant and able to withstand arid conditions, with less fertilisers necessary for their growth.
“With these characteristics, local grains are ideal plants to be cultivated in Africa, specifically under the conditions of accelerating climate change,” said Head of Bühler’s new Grain Processing Innovation Center (GPIC), Ali Hmayed. The main reasons these local grains and crops have not yet been integrated into industrial solutions are complex, ranging from low farming volumes and short shelf life to a lack of process knowledge and equipment. Together with its partners, Bühler is now taking a major step to break through this blockage and is open to further collaborations.