Jatropha – Oil for Biofuels and Meal for Livestock Feed: Risk Management in the Right Places
March 18, 2014
Demand for diesel fuel continues to grow. As such, this is reflected by higher prices. This effect is exacerbated in places with notable populations, a strong dependence…
Author: Dave Albin
Small-Scale Fish Feed Extrusion
March 11, 2014
A Mozambique tilapia farm is for sale: www.undercurrentnews.com/2014/02/11/mozambique-tilapia-farm-looks-for-new-owners/ The owners, Emvest, want to sell Deep Water Produce and its cage farming site on Lake Cahora Bassa in Tete province,…
Author: Michael Martin
Moving Your Business From “Good To Great”
March 4, 2014
My favorite business strategy book is by the author Jim Collins and its title is Good To Great. I read it first, maybe 8 years ago, and I…
Author: Kevin Kacere
Cold Weather Operation
February 25, 2014
If you are like us in the Midwest, it has been extremely cold this year. Cold weather can make operating your equipment like an extruder or oil press…
Author: Jim Little
Extrusion Improves Cassava-Based Products
February 18, 2014
Cassava is a major root crop, grown mainly in the developing world. Cassava is mostly a source of starch, and has very little protein (1.4% of raw cassava). …
Author: Dave Albin
Nutrition is Not All What Soybeans Provide
February 11, 2014
We are all familiar with the nutritional contribution of properly processed soy protein and oil to both animals and humans. Soybeans contribute a lion’s share of the amino…
Author: Nabil Said
Mycotoxin Contamination is Widespread in Feed Ingredients and Complete Feeds in Asia
February 4, 2014
It has been discussed in a previous blog here that high-shear dry extrusion is effective at reducing mycotoxin concentrations in grain. In particular, research on cottonseeds has exhibited…
Author: Dave Albin
Extrusion Effects on Fiber: Challenges and Opportunities
January 28, 2014
Extrusion cooking is a highly-versatile, globally-accepted method for processing and improving food and feed production. The effects of extrusion on improving starch digestibility, decreasing antinutritional factors (which inhibit…
Author: Dave Albin
Global Trends & Feeding the World
January 21, 2014
It is the time of the year where everybody is adjusting from the busy holiday season and preparing for the new year ahead. You cannot help but to…
Author: Nabil Said
Trans Fat, Where It (Mainly) Comes From and Why You May Want to Avoid It
January 14, 2014
Trans fat has been in the news lately. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that they may remove trans fat from its GRAS list. Ingredients included on…
Author: Dave Albin
Non-GMO Oilseeds: Another Dynamic Niche Market for Natural Processors
January 7, 2014
As consumers are concerned about the sources of their food, an increasing interest by food companies, oilseed processors, and farm growers for non-genetically grown soybeans has occurred. USDA’s…
Author: Craig Briney
Waste Not Want Not
December 31, 2013
Frequently, we read articles and press releases titled or use the proverb; “Waste Not Want Not”. Some of those articles deal with the global issue of food waste in…
Author: Nabil Said
Money is All You Need…?
December 24, 2013
Finding the money to fund equipment and raw materials purchases is the biggest obstacle in the path of African agribusiness enterprises. Yes, you have heard me say this…
Author: Michael Martin
Perhaps More Important Than Ever to Make Quality Food Products
December 17, 2013
The New York Times recently ran an article explaining how crop improvement and breeding programs have not focused on nutrient content or quality. This particular article focused on…
Author: Dave Albin
Alternative Ingredients to Fish Meal in Aquatic Feed
December 10, 2013
Fish meal has been used as a main ingredient in aquatic diets, poultry and swine feed. High quality fish meal can supply a good part of the protein,…
Author: Nabil Said
Actually, There IS a Way to Convert Fish By-Products into Useful Products on a Small to Medium Scale
December 3, 2013
NOAA Fisheries recently published an article on “Feeds of the Future” about sustainable ways to produce ingredients for aquaculture. As stated in the article, as fish farming increases,…
Author: Dave Albin
Consortium of U.S. Universities Boosts Support for Soybean Growers in Africa
November 26, 2013
The University of Illinois has received a $25m federal grant to lead a consortium of universities and non-governmental organizations to improve soybean value chains in Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia,…
Author: Michael Martin
Oil Press – Cage Maintenance
November 19, 2013
Maintenance of the oil press cage is important in keeping oil residuals down, proteins up, foots down, and overall product quality high. The cage is a fairly simple…
Author: John Doud