A PROJECT conducted by the Australian Export Grain Innovation Centre (AEGIC) could have big implications for flour millers across the globe.
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Speaking at last week's Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) Asia event, AEGIC's research and technical services general manager Ken Quail said the organisation had set up a pilot program using low cost sensors, developed by AEGIC, to help in flour mills.
The project involved setting up multiple sensors across the mill which could detect quality parameters such as protein, moisture and ash levels. The sensors provide in-line analysis and give results in near real time.
Dr Quail said the system had worked well in trials.
"We generate a prediction of things like ash levels based on the information the sensors have given us and the promising thing is that there is a good correlation between the levels predicted by the sensors and the final quality results after the product was tested," Dr Quail said.
He said the technology could be a great boost for flour millers and that the sensors were cheap and readily available.
"If they can accurately predict the quality of their product it will allow them to make decisions earlier."
Dr Quail said AEGIC would be happy to work with buyers of Australian grain around improving their milling efficiencies.
"We see that as a big role of ours, providing that technical support to our customers and helping them get the very best out of the Australian grain they purchase," Dr Quail said.
Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
