Crops

Controlling moisture in cereal grain drying processes

Hydronix sensors are used to measure the moisture of the material entering and exiting the dryer. (Image source: Hydronix)

Managing the moisture content of cereal grains is crucial to maximising storage times, maintaining nutritional value and taste, and ensuring efficient use during further processing

Cereal grains are used to produce animal feeds, flours, cooking oils, fuels, alcohol products, packaging materials and much more.

The benefits of precise moisture control include:

o Safe storage of grain for longer duration
o Minimising the amount of energy required to dry the grain
o Maintaining the nutritional value and taste
o Reducing harvesting losses such as cracked kernels
o Reducing dependency on weather conditions for harvesting

Where to measure moisture

Hydronix sensors are used to measure the moisture of the material entering and exiting the dryer. For a system drying material with a reasonably consistent incoming moisture, one sensor can be used on the output of the dryer. The sensor’s output can be used as the process variable of a feedback control loop for the dryer.

For systems with more fluctuation on the incoming materials, this may be insufficient due to the time delay between materials entering and exiting the dryer. In this case, another sensor can be installed on the input to the dryer to implement feed-forward control of the dryer, with the value from the sensor on the output used for feedback error correction. This configuration allows the dryer control to respond quickly to changes in incoming moisture and adapt to unmodelled effects on dryer performance such as weather conditions.

Result after installing the sensor

An accuracy of ±0.17% was obtained from the output of a dryer processing barley. The moisture range was limited as the dryer controller was operating to maintain a target slightly lower than 12.5% to make the barley suitable for long-term storage.

Summary

Drying grain to a consistent target requires highly accurate sensors that can provide precise and repeatable measurements, resulting in a consistent product, a reduction in spoiled or wasted material and better efficiency.

Hydronix sensors, such as the Hydro-Mix XT and Hydro-Mix XT-EX offer a purpose built, robust and durable solution for grain drying and processing applications. These sensors can significantly increase profitability through waste reduction, yield maximisation and efficient use of energy.

For more information, visit: https://hubs.li/Q02s-Mhq0

Popular Indian spice brands under FDA scrutiny

The presence of high levels of ethylene oxide in India's MDH and Everest spice brands, have raised questions about their safety. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

India's popular spice makers MDH and Everest, are currently under FDA's radar after high levels of ethylene oxide were found in their spice blends

Hong Kong's recent suspension of three MDH spice blends and an Everest spice mix for fish curries along with Singapore's recall of the Everest spice mix, have raised questions about the safety of these products. Singapore has claimed the presence of high levels of ethylene oxide (ETO), a pesticide that poses a cancer risk with long exposure, thus deeming these products unfit for human consumption.

According to a report by Business Today, the Indian Spices Board has agreed to commence mandatory ETO testing of these consignments, stating that it is working with exporters of these recalled consignments to investigate the root cause and propose corrective measures.

Bayer’s first ever bioinsecticide for arable crops to launch in 2028

The new bioinsecticide from Bayer can be used in oilseed rape and cereals. (Image source: Bayer)

Global healthcare and nutrition company, Bayer announces its signing of an agreement with leader of crop protection solutions, AlphaBio Control, to secure a license for a new biological insecticide, targeted towards arable crops

Infestation by insects like the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), can be devastating for oilseed rape crops throughout the growing season and even cause seedling death. Keeping this in mind, the new bioinsecticide has been designed for use against coleoptera insects like these.

Moreover, by including it in a digitally-supported integrated pest management system, Bayer’s systems approach—which combines various solutions—will help to maximise the cost efficiencies of this new product.

“We are delighted to license Bayer exclusive rights to our latest bioinsecticide which will significantly improve the choices available to arable farmers wishing to reduce the environmental impact of food production,” said general manager for AlphaBio Control, Marta Ruiz.

Moreover, the new insecticide also aligns with Bayer's commitment to help reduce the environmental impact of crop protection products by 30% by 2030. The initial launch of the product is planned for 2028.

For more information, visit: www.bayer.com and www.alphabiocontrol.com

East China's Mengzhuang Town develops new mode of agriculture to propel rural prosperity

In addition to the tea garden, East China's Mengzhuang Town targets local characteristic agricultural development. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The tea garden located at Daguozhuang Village of Mengzhuang Town in east China's Shandong Province, has developed characteristic agriculture to propel rural prosperity

According to this new mode, the tea garden pays land rent at market price to local farmers each year and offers plenty of job opportunities. In addition to the tea garden, the town targets local characteristic agricultural development, and has made great efforts in developing other agricultural parks, including strawberry varieties research centre, agriculture and tourism integration park, herbal medicine park, and chicken breeding park. Moreover, the town has also mobilised related parties, creating various development models, such as village-enterprise joint venture, 'common prosperity company' and rural partners.

Thanks to all these efforts, in 2023, the collective income of all five administrative villages in the town exceeded US$27,607. More than 3,500 jobs were created by 75 enterprises within the area and surrounding areas. Local incomes went up significantly, and the entry of 48 new agricultural business entities in the town resulted in a boost in the annual output value.

Escalating prices pave way to olive oil fraud

Examination of fatty acid and sterol compositions are the most common analytical methods used to identify adulterated products. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As the olive oil industry continues to face unprecedented challenges, there has been a gradual increase in fraudulent activities involving the sale of counterfeit mixtures that closely resemble authentic olive oil

The Mediterranean region responsible for the majority of the world's extra-virgin olive oil production has been hit by a severe drought, resulting in significant reductions in output from countries like Spain, Tunisia, Greece and Italy. This scenario has led to a dramatic surge in prices, in turn attracting counterfeiters who are exploiting the situation by introducing fake products into the market. With more than 260,000 litres of fake olive oil seized in Italy and Spain, Europol's recent investigations have shed light on the alarming prevalence of counterfeit olive oil within the market.

Fraudulant schemes like these involve the substitution of high-quality olive oil with cheaper, inferior seed oils that are manipulated with additives like chlorophyll and carotenoids to mimic the appearance of authentic olive oil, thus deceiving the unsuspecting consumer. Mixing olive oil with lower-quality lampante oil is another method used to dilute the purity of olive oil while reducing costs. This not only compromises the quality but also misleads consumers about the product they are purchasing. Extra-virgin olive oil, a popular staple in culinary traditions has therefore, come under scrutiny wordwide, urging consumers and restauranteurs alike to exercise caution and vigilance.

The presence of polyphenols are responsible for olive oil's unique flavour profiles, ranging from sweet to bitter or zesty. These compounds not only contribute to the oil's taste but also offer numerous health benefits. Characteristics like taste and aroma that are distinctive to authentic olive oil cannot be replicated by seed oils. However, distinguishing genuine olive oil from fraudulent mixtures can be challenging. Examination of fatty acid and sterol compositions are the most common analytical methods used to identify adulterated products.

Moreover, since certain countries do allow the sale of blended oils, it is extremely important for consumers to carefully examine product labels for harvest dates, locations and certification seals from reputable third-party organisations, prior to selecting extra-virgin olive oil. Advances in technology, such as blockchain systems for traceability, offer promising solutions for enhancing transparency in the olive oil supply chain. However, the effectiveness of these tools is contingent upon consumer awareness and engagement.

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