The commitment to build this facility was made because of the need to combat food insecurity, not only in Nigeria, but progressively across the African continent, said Bühler, quoted on the company’s website. Local cereals such as sorghum and millet play an essential role in improving food security in Africa, but their use is currently low and their processing underdeveloped. To meet this challenge, the Swiss company is opening this center with research and development capabilities, in collaboration with its founding partner, (FMN) Flour Mills of Nigeria, and its collaborating partner, Olam Agri.
The main aim of the center is to take the industrial processing of these cereals to the next level, thereby contributing to an adequate food supply. “Sustainable food value chains using local cereals are the number one priority for Africa’s development“, said Johannes Wick, Managing Director of Bühler’s Grains & Food segment, as relayed by world-grain.com. He adds,
At Bühler, we’re delighted to be contributing with our partners to this system change, with the aim of ensuring that more people in Africa have access to affordable, healthy food, thereby reducing hunger and malnutrition.
FMN has always been at the forefront of promoting food self-sufficiency in Nigeria and progressively throughout the continent. The application center is well placed to sustainably develop local cereals, create business opportunities and provide viable alternatives to some of the imported raw materials used in production. As a result, this partnership once again demonstrates the company’s commitment to feeding and enriching lives, every day.
Local cereals and crops offer many advantages and are an essential tool for improving food security. They have a high nutritional density with valuable vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats; they are climate-resistant and able to withstand high temperatures and arid conditions, and require less fertilizer and pesticides than other cereals, according to the Swiss company.
The difficult food situation in Africa is partly explained by the fact that many regions of the continent are major importers of cereals, mainly wheat and rice. They are therefore vulnerable to trade disruptions and exchange rate fluctuations.
Local cereals offer many opportunities, not only to increase food security, but also to generate new jobs in agriculture and adjacent markets, as well as enabling countries to become more independent of imports,
said Ali Hmayed, Director of the Grain Processing Innovation Center, Bühler. Transforming Africa’s food supply chain requires concerted efforts across many sectors, including agriculture, processing, recipe development, end-product innovation and consumer engagement.
