Flour Mills Research Articles

Effects of Roller Milling Parameters on Wheat-Flour Damaged Starch: A Comprehensive Passage Analysis and Response-Surface Methodology Optimization.

Damaged starch typically arises from mechanical damage caused by the action of the roller mills during the wheat flour milling process. The content of resulting damaged starch in the flour significantly influences its characteristics, emphasizing the importance of understanding and controlling the formation of damaged starch for the production of specialized flours. A detailed passage analysis from three different commercial mills revealed that starch damage control is primarily achievable at front passages of the sizing and reduction system, which generate the majority of the flour release in the mill. Also, it revealed that damaged starch content increases progressively from the initial to the final passages during milling in the break, sizing and reduction system. To investigate the effects of milling parameters on damaged starch, flour yield, and energy consumption, a three-level and three-variable Box-Behnken experimental design with response surface methodology was applied. As independent variables roll gap (0.05-0.35 mm), feed rate (0.15-0.35 kg/cm min), and fast roll speed (400-800 rpm) were employed. The obtained models were utilized to optimize milling conditions for producing flours with special characteristics.

Fuzzy Logic Based Adaptive Parameter Estimation System in Moving Measurement Systems

Fast and accurate weighing of the weighing systems used in industrial filling systems is of great importance in terms of increasing production capacity and maintaining product quality. In facilities that grind and process grain, machines and equipment are positioned horizontally and vertically on steel structures. Since these machines continuously perform grinding, transferring, filling, and emptying operations, they create continuous vibration in the mechanical systems they are connected to. Moving weighing systems are significantly affected by these mechanical systems. When the impact effect of pneumatic valves-controlled covers in moving weighing systems is added to these structural mechanical vibrations, there are significant waits and delays in weighing systems that measure performance. For this reason, in a performance measurement system in a flour mill, the measurement interval increases as the amount of weighing increases. For example, in a moving weighing system that performs 50 kg performance weighing, the measurement interval can increase up to 15 seconds, which is quite long. In this study, an applied study has been conducted to increase the weighing performance in moving weighing systems and to minimize the measurement interval. The data collection process in the study focuses on two main components: load cell data and IMU data. Thus, it is aimed to overcome the difficulties of traditional methods used in weighing systems, which are generally observed to be insufficient to combat slow and noisy data. The analysis techniques used in this study are Kalman Filtering, Dynamic Q and R Matrix Updates, Comparative Analysis and Statistical Analysis. The Kalman filter was used for the integration of Load cell and IMU data and was applied to filter out noise and oscillations in the weighing data and make more accurate weight estimates. The results obtained showed that the dynamic Kalman filtering method can provide faster and more accurate weighing results compared to traditional methods, with error rates varying between 0.4% and 1% for different combinations of Q and R values in measurements made on the scale. Dynamic Kalman filtering method effectively filters oscillatory and noisy load cell signals, with error rates of 0.7% to 1% for Q=0.02 and R=17 parameters, and error rates of 0.4% to 0.7% for Q=0.07 and R=13 parameters. was able to obtain more accurate weight estimates. This study has shown that the dynamic Kalman filtering method is a potential method that can be used in industrial filling systems. This method can contribute to increasing production capacity and maintaining product quality by providing faster and more accurate weighing results. In this respect, the research has a unique contribution. This method provides a revolutionary development in industrial weighing systems and fills an important gap in the literature.

Assessing the degree of personal exposure to PM2.5 in growing cities of Rwanda based on time-activity patterns and microenvironments

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is strongly linked with a wide range of diverse health effects making it a substantial global threat and a critical concern for public health. While studies have been conducted on personal exposure (PE) to PM2.5 in specific environments, contributions of different microenvironments and activities to overall daily PE remain unclear. This study evaluates the degree of PE to PM2.5 in five growing cities of Rwanda based on individual’s time-activity patterns and visited microenvironments. A total of 150 participants were recruited to collect real-time personal and ambient PM2.5 measurements during their routine activities in different outdoor and indoor microenvironments for five consecutive days in dry season. Each participant was an employee in one of the six most prevalent urban economic activities found in their city of residence: workshops, flour mill plants, near road activities, garages, markets, kitchens and motorcycle taxi services. The participant’s day was categorized into three most distinct microenvironments grouped under home, work, and other microenvironments (other MEs). PE to PM2.5 assessed for all participants showed significant variability among types of activities and categories of microenvironments (p < 0.05). The work microenvironment experienced the highest daily mean PM2.5 exposures ranging from 12.67 μg/m3 to 192.64 μg/m3, followed by other MEs ranging from 13.25 μg/m3 to 113.58 μg/m3, while the lowest exposures observed at home microenvironment with concentrations ranging from 11.69 μg/m3 to 72.54 μg/m3 among 7 monitored activities in 5 cities. Exposure contributions and personal-ambient differences were dominated by the work microenvironment, with a daily contribution of flour milling activities reaching up to 51.55 %; and some participants were exposed to maximum PM2.5 concentrations up to 22 times higher than ambient levels while in the kitchen activities. This study highlights the significant effects of daily personal activities and visited microenvironments on personal PM2.5 exposure, and the importance of considering a personal lifestyle in understanding the true personal exposure.

Micronization of wholewheat flour increases iron bioavailability from hydrothermally processed wheat flour dough

Cereal products contribute significantly to dietary intake of essential minerals. In wheat, iron and zinc are stored in specific grain structures including the aleurone, scutellum and embryo. Wheat cell walls are resistant to digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract and therefore this study investigated the hypothesis that physical disruption of the cell walls would increase the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of iron and zinc from wheat-based foods. Flour was micronized using a combination of roller milling and a micro-mill and this reduced median particle size by two-thirds. Hydrothermally processed wheat flour doughs were subjected to in vitro digestion to determine mineral bioaccessibility. Mineral bioavailability from food digests was measured using human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Iron (but not zinc) bioavailability from wheat foods made using the micronized flour (2.5 ± 0.5 nmol/mg cell protein) was increased significantly compared with foods produced from standard milled flour (1.3 ± 0.1 nmol/mg cell protein; P = 0.031). Micronization of wheat flour has the potential to increase the absorption of the endogenous iron present in cereal foods and this might have health benefits for population groups with poor iron status.

Health Risks and Dust Exposure among Flour Mill Workers in Eastern India: A Comprehensive Study

Flour milling, a prevalent agricultural industry in semi-urban and urban areas of India, involves grinding whole wheat to produce flour. However, this indoor occupation exposes workers to hazardous flour dust for prolonged periods without adequate ventilation. To investigate the health implications, a study was conducted on 142 flour mill workers in and around Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The findings revealed significant health issues, including respiratory problems (20%), eye irritation (8.6%), headache (11.4%), and shortness of breath (31.4%) among workers. Alarming levels of PM2.5 (330–385 ?g m-3) and PM10 (420–470 ?g m-3) dust particles were recorded. Notably, workers with over 10-15 years of experience displayed reduced pulmonary function, with a decline in force vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). To mitigate these risks, the study recommends implementing personal protective equipment, improved ventilation, and regular medical care for flour mill workers.

Compound extreme heat and drought stress alter the spatial gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains

The spatial gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains affected the grain milling characteristics and flour utilization. The increase in compound heat stress and drought stress (HDS) due to global climate change threatens wheat grain yield and quality parameters, but the impacts of extreme climate events on the gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains remain unclear. In this study, two-year, environment-controlled experiments with four heat stress levels (17/27, 21/31, 25/35, and 29/39°C) and three drought stress levels (30 %, 55 %, and 75 % field capacity) were conducted to investigate the effects of HDS on the gradients of protein and starch concentrations within the five grain layers. The results showed that HDS resulted in significantly greater protein concentrations, while resulting in lower starch concentrations in the wheat grain layers. Among the five layers, the endosperm layers exhibited the greatest increase in protein concentration under HDS, but the starch concentration under HDS decreased in the order of husk > aleurone > endosperm layer. HDS unevenly altered the protein and starch concentrations of the five grain layers. There was significant linear relationship between relative protein and starch concentration with accumulated heat degree days (AHDD). With a 1°C·d increase in AHDD, the protein concentration in the five grain layers increased by 1.17–2.19 %, while the starch concentration decreased by 0.62–0.90 %, depending on the drought stress levels. A significant linear relationship was also observed between the relative protein and starch concentrations and evapotranspiration (ET). A 1 mm increase in ET led to a protein concentration decrease of 0.58–0.76 % in P1-P5, with a corresponding starch concentration increase of 0.28–0.46 %, depending on cultivar and treatment stages. Our results indicate that HDS significantly impacts the grain quality parameters for the flour milling process and human diet and will provide important insights into adapting wheat quality to climate change.

Central Maintenance Spin-Off Creation towards Digitalization Focused on the Parent Company: A Case Study of Integrated Steel Corporation (ISC) in Indonesia

The steel industry plays a crucial role in national development. Major global steel producers such as the United States, Russia, and Japan have seen declines due to the rise of China as a dominant steel producer. Integrated Steel Corporation (ISC) in Indonesia has also faced declining performance, with its market capitalization dropping by 68.9% over the past eight years. The research primarily aimed to analyze customer preferences in the maintenance industry and determine positioning strategies. Additionally, it sought to identify the factors driving the formation of the Strategic Maintenance Services (SMS) spin-off from ISC and propose strategies for SMS to achieve a competitive advantage. Data were collected qualitatively through interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with customers to understand their perspectives, SMS management to grasp core business competencies and strategy, and ISC management to understand the parenting strategy. The results show several internal dynamics within ISC drove the formation of the SMS spin-off: 1) the transformation of the parent company; 2) short circuit incident at the main ISC factory; and 3) the cost burden of maintenance support. External factors indicate rapid industrial growth and the company's strengthening as a group after experiencing losses for almost a decade. The proposed strategy for SMS involves leveraging ISC’s subsidiaries and joint venture companies for centralized service maintenance. SMS aims to offer customized one-stop maintenance solutions with high quality at competitive prices by enabling Digital Maintenance Information (DMI). The target markets include large industries in steel manufacturing, petrochemicals, flour mills, cement, and logistics.

Characterising the effect of commercial wheat grain milling methods on wheat bran characteristics

SummaryTo assess the effect of wheat milling or bran separation method, five wheat bran fractions, one from stone milling (SB), two from roller flour milling (coarse: RB1, fine: RB2), and two from grain pearling (0–3%: PB1, 3–6%: PB2) were analysed. Physiological properties provided good physical and flow characteristics of SB fraction; however, it was the darkest. Particle size was in the order of RB1 &gt; SB &gt; RB2 &gt; PB1 &gt; PB2. The fibre analysis showed the highest insoluble fibre components for RB1, PB1, and exceptionally higher soluble fibre for PB1. The protein, fat, ash, and starch content were highest for RB2 and PB2. Antioxidant properties followed the order PB2 &gt; RB2 &gt; PB1 &gt; RB1 &gt; SB. Pearled fractions (PB1 and PB2) showed better functional properties than others. SEM, XRD, and FT‐IR verified the changes in the properties of bran fractions. The characterisation data will find applications to help increase the usage of bran fractions in specific food products.

Availability, distribution and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia

Livestock production is a major contributor to the national economy in Ethiopia, of which ruminants, particularly cattle, are the dominant and most important livestock species. Limited supply of quality feeds is a major constraint to the improvement of livestock production in Ethiopia. The expansion of agro-industries in Ethiopia, over the last three decades, has created an opportunity for an increased supply of agro-industrial byproducts as a source of feed for livestock. This study was conducted to assess the availability, distribution, and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia. About 310 flour mill factories, 194 oil factories, 13 brewery factories, 7 sugar factories, 4 malt factories, 2 meat and bone meal processing plants, 8 limestone factories, and 112 feed processing plants were surveyed to assess the availability and distributions of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds. A total of 757 feed samples were collected for evaluating nutritional values. The annual production of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 18,065 tons DM/year (abattoir byproducts) to 3,092,035 tons DM/year (malt byproducts) and the total annual production of the different agro-industrial by-products amounts to 5,245,854 tons DM. The annual production of compound feeds was reported to be 5,812,608 tons DM. All agro-industries are processing under their capacity, ranging from 11.7% in sugar factories to 93% in breweries. Shortage and seasonal fluctuation of supply of raw materials (34.8%), high price and price fluctuations of raw materials (17.5%) and electric power interruptions (17.5%) were the major challenges faced by different agro-industries. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 6.2% in maize grain screening to 15.9% in wheat bran for flour mill byproducts; 28% in cotton seed cake to 49.7% in groundnut cake for oilseed cakes and 14.8% in areqe atela to 24.8% in brewery spent grains for brewery and local distillery byproducts. High protein or energy contents of agro-industrial byproducts indicated their potential to be utilized in intensive livestock rations. Thus, it is necessary to create enabling conditions to allow the existing agro-industries to operate at full capacity and to attract new ones into the business to boost the production and availability of agro-industrial byproducts needed as main inputs to manufacture compound feeds.

Occupational health and safety in flour Mills: A research and risk assessment

Flour mills are one of the workplaces with occupational health hazards due to irregular workplaces and environments where insufficient attention is paid to workers’ safety. In this context, considering the extent of difficulties faced by workers in flour mills, hazards and risks that could affect the health and occupational safety of workers were investigated in a sample of flour mills in Iğdır province. The data obtained as a result of the research was ranked using the matrix method. The study identified 68 specific risks, of which 38% were identified as unacceptable risks requiring immediate action and 33% as risks requiring medium-term action. The results show that among the factors negatively affecting the health of workers, the respiratory hazard level of wheat dust with RS:15 (l:3, s:5) and the explosion hazard with RS:20 (l:4, s:5) occupy significant positions. Despite the emphasis on the importance of hygiene standards, serious deficiencies were identified, such as RS:20, which is considered high risk. In addition, the presence of many machines, such as conveyors, silos, compressors and rollers, was found to increase the risks on the system in the range of RS:20-25, which could lead to serious injury or death. Bacteria and microorganisms, such as RS:16-18, proliferate due to the low availability of personal hygiene facilities in the factory. For each identified risk, the necessary control measures are proposed and it is emphasized that protective measures should also be taken even after the implementation of these measures. Among the factors that negatively affect the health of workers in flour mills are the lack of use of personal protective equipment, working in dirty conditions, the presence of elements that can cause respiratory problems, as well as injuries related to carrying heavy loads on slippery floors and using unprotected machinery.

Adaptation of Conventional Wheat Flour Mill to Refine Sorghum, Corn, and Cowpea

This study evaluated the refinement of sorghum, corn, and cowpea grains using the processing steps and equipment originally designed for wheat milling that consists of a conventional gradual reduction system. The need to mill these grains resulted from a desire to produce alternative ingredients for developing new fortified blended extruded foods used for food aid programming. Milling of white sorghum grain resulted in a crude protein content of 7.4% (wb) for both whole and coarse-milled flour. The crude protein content in whole fine-milled sorghum was 6.8% (wb), which was significantly lower than that of whole coarse flour at 9.3% (wb). A decrease in the ash content of sorghum flour correlates with the decortication process. However, degermed corn, fine and coarse, had significantly different crude protein content of 6.0 ± 0.2% (wb) and 7.7 ± 0.06% (wb), respectively. Degerming of corn improved the quality of corn flour (fine and coarse) by reducing the crude fat content from 3.3 ± 0.18% (wb) to 1.2 ± 0.02% (wb) and 0.6 ± 0.13% (wb), respectively. This helped increase the starch content from 60.1 ± 0.28% (wb) in raw corn to 74.7 ± 0.93% (wb) and 71.8 ± 0.00% (wb) in degermed fine and coarse corn flour, respectively. Cowpea milling did not produce differences in the milling stream outputs when the crude fat and crude protein were compared. Whole flour from the grains had higher milling yields than decorticated flour. This study demonstrated that a mill dedicated to wheat size reduction can be adapted to refine other grains to high quality.

A new method for assessing the marketing efficiency of agricultural marketing channels

Purpose. This study aims to introduce a new method for assessing the efficiency of agricultural marketing channels. This innovative method rectifies the deficiencies inherent in earlier methods by encircling all channel participants in evaluating marketing efficiency, thereby delivering a more detailed assessment. Methodology / approach. The present study first identified the shortcomings of the old methods based on a literature review and then attempted to propose a new method for calculating marketing efficiency by overcoming these issues. The efficiency of marketing channels is calculated based on primary data collected from two randomly selected agriculture markets in Delhi, marketing cooperative societies operating in Delhi, and their respective intermediaries, flour mills, and consumers in the channel. The study’s sample size is 179 respondents, including all the channel members. After that, a comparison is made between traditional methods and the proposed method. Results. Results of this study show that the proposed method gives a better idea of the efficiency of marketing channels than the old methods, namely the Acharya’s approach, the Shepard’s method and the input-output approach. These methods ignore the crucial role of producers, focusing on overall margins and costs. They can call a channel efficient even if producers receive minimal benefits, necessitating a revised approach. The proposed method has two parts: (1) the ratio of overall channel benefit to cost, excluding consumers, to avoid misleading results, indicating higher benefits for channel members; (2) the ratio of the net price received by farmers to the price paid by consumers, reflecting farmer earnings. By separating marketing margins and costs, the proposed method simplifies previous complexities. Using the channel benefit-to-cost ratio and the farmer’s price-to-consumer price ratio, this method offers an accurate and comprehensive assessment, addressing flaws in Acharya’s approach. Originality / scientific novelty. The proposed method is the only method that takes care of every channel member rather than just focusing on producers / farmers. This method considers factors such as the price received by farmers (gross and net), marketing margins, marketing costs, and the price paid by consumers. Unlike old methods, this method focuses on adding value per channel, not on the number of intermediaries. Practical value / implications. The proposed method facilitates an effortless comparison of marketing efficiency for all channel members, especially farmers. Its simplicity makes it a valuable tool for policymakers to formulate effective strategies for enhancing overall channel efficiency. Researchers can also use this method in efficiency-focused studies related to agriculture and its products, gaining a comprehensive understanding of agricultural marketing channels.

Analysis of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Dermatophagoides farinae in different habitats using microsatellite markers

ABSTRACT The mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, is an allergen source that triggers allergy symptoms in humans. We studied how different habitats affect the genetic structure of D. farinae populations. We used 12 microsatellite loci to analyse the genetic structure of six D. farinae populations collected from four habitats: flour mill (FM), dormitory (DM), cotton mill (CM), and pillow (PL). The CM population had the highest genetic diversity (He = 0.641) while the FM population had less genetic diversity. AMOVA analysis showed 81% intrapopulation genetic variation and 19% interpopulation variation. The overall F ST value of the six populations was 0.18531, indicating significant population genetic differentiation. Significant genetic differentiation occurred between the FM population and the other three habitat populations. Bayesian clustering analysis showed that the FM population was divided into two clusters. UPGMA tree and PCoA data supported the above results and indicated that the D. farinae populations from CM, PL, and DM1 had similar genetic ancestors. It was speculated that D. farinae could spread through the cotton-pillow-dormitory route. This study showed that D. farinae may have undergone habitat-associated differentiation and provides measures for preventing the dispersal of D. farinae.

Мукомольные и физико-химичес¬кие свойства тритикалево-конопляной муки

The purpose of the study is to determine the milling and physicochemical properties of triticale-hemp flour of various ratios. Adding hemp seeds to the grinding triticale-hemp grain mixture has a positive effect and increases the yield of triticale-hemp flour. Compared to the original sample of triticale grain, the yield of triticale-hemp flour with the addition of 10% hemp increased by 5.5 %, which indicates the high economic efficiency of the developed technology. The weighted average fat content in triticale-hemp flour streams in a ratio of 96 : 4 %, taking into account the yield, is 3.05 %, and the protein content is 12.86 %; the weighted average fat content in triticale-hemp flour streams in a ratio of 94 : 6 %, taking into account the yield, is 3.58 %, and the protein content is 13.16 %; the weighted average fat content in triticale-hemp flour streams in a ratio of 92 : 8 %, taking into account the yield, is 4.13 %, and the protein content is 13.63 %; The weighted average fat content in triticale-hemp flour streams in a ratio of 90 : 10 %, taking into account the yield, is 4.85 %, and the protein content is 12.67 %. The weighted average fat content in triticale-hemp bran in different ratios, taking into account the yield, is 3.34 %, and the protein content is 14.44 %. The most optimal ratio of triticale-hemp grinding mixture is 92 : 8, at which the fat content in triticale-hemp flour increases by 329 %, and the protein content by 16.5 % compared to the control triticale flour.

Wheat germ supplementation has modest effects on gut health markers but improves glucose homeostasis markers in adults classified as overweight: A randomized controlled pilot study

Wheat germ (WG), a by-product of flour milling, is rich in bioactive substances that may help improve health complications associated with increased adiposity. This study investigated the effects of WG on gut health, metabolic, and inflammatory markers in adults classified as overweight. We hypothesized that WG, because of its many bioactive components, would improve gut health and metabolic, and inflammatory markers in overweight adults. Forty adults (18-45 years old) and with a body mass index between 25 and 30 kg/m2 participated in this single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study. Participants consumed the study supplements containing 30 g of either cornmeal (control, CL) or WG daily for 4 weeks. Primary outcome variables were gut health markers including gut microbiota, gut integrity markers, and fecal short-chain fatty acids, whereas secondary outcome variables included metabolic and inflammatory parameters assessed at baseline and at the end of supplementation. Thirty-nine participants (n = 19 and 20 for CL and WG group, respectively) completed the study. The genus Faecalibacterium was significantly higher in the WG group compared to CL post-supplementation but no significant changes in other gut health markers, short-chain fatty acids, inflammatory markers, and lipid profiles were observed. Compared with baseline, WG improved markers of glucose homeostasis including insulin (P = .02), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (P = .03), glycated hemoglobin (P = .07), and the pro-inflammatory adipokine, resistin (P = .04). However, these parameters after intervention were not different with control. Our findings suggest that WG supplementation have modest effects on gut health but may provide an economical option for individuals to improve glycemic control.

Cooking beyond flavors: Exploring the chemical reactions in the preparation of duck in Tucupi of Pará - Brazil

Regional cuisine is a cultural treasure that offers a wealth of unique flavors, techniques, and traditions. In the Brazilian gastronomic scene, the State of Pará stands out for its culinary diversity and emblematic dishes representing the fusion of indigenous, African, and European influences. "Pato no tucupi" is a typical dish from the region that delicately enchants residents and visitors due to its unique characteristics. Even though it is a traditional preparation, duck in tucupi has attributes that justify the study to understand better the transformations involved in this preparation. This work aimed to understand the chemical transformations associated with the main ingredients of this dish, which are duck, jambu, and tucupi. Bibliographic exploration encompassed Google Scholar, books, articles, and specialized gastronomy and food magazines, supplemented by observational inquiries into tucupi production in a flour mill. Several chemical reactions have been identified in these ingredients, such as the formation of hydrocyanic acid from the enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin. The duck also undergoes important changes related to non-enzymatic browning through the occurrence of Maillard and protein denaturation caused by heating during preparation. In turn, jambu leaves stand out in the dish's composition due to the sensation of numbness caused by the presence of the aliphatic alkylamine spilanthol. Cooking these leaves leads to the formation of chlorophyllide and pheophytin from chlorophylls a and b. This study delves into the traditional knowledge shaping regional cuisine while offering more profound insights into the chemical reactions driving this culinary process.

Global Shocks and Local Impacts: A CGE Analysis on the Impact of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Pakistan's Wheat Sector

Wheat is one of the most important and vital sectors of Pakistan adding around 2% to the country's GDP growth each year. The crop has been in turmoil for the past four years. The primary drivers of this turmoil are the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which have impacted wheat production. The current study employs a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model focusing on the individual and combined effects of these two global shock scenarios. The study initiates by exploring the baseline scenario which assumes that there is no existence of Covid-19 or Russia Ukraine Conflict, then the results are calculated firstly for the productivity loss due to pandemic and then due to the Russian Ukraine conflict. Finally, both the productivity shocks are combined to study the shared effect of both the losses. The results indicate that the sector has experienced a significant loss, with spillover effects on its subsidiaries, including flour mills, bakery and confectionary industries, animal feed industries, and processed food industries. The labor and export markets shocks are also simulated highlighting the loss in both sectors attributing to disrupted supply chains and restrictions in covid nineteen and high dependency on Ukraine and Russia wheat imports. Welfare analysis has also been done for all the four scenarios to capture the welfare losses faced in the previous 4 years and the results are compared to the baseline scenario to compare the damage. To mitigate these losses, two policy scenarios are proposed: an expansionary fiscal policy and increased subsidies, followed by increased tariffs and a shift towards locally produced wheat instead of relying on imports.

Process Innovation as a Strategic Tool in Enhancing the Performance of Organizations: A Study of Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

This study investigated how process innovation might be used as a strategic tool to improve organizational performance in the context of Nigerian manufacturing companies. The study employed a descriptive survey methodology and population of the study consisted 7.533 employees from specifically 3 chosen manufacturing companies in Nigeria: Lafarge Africa Plc, Flour Mill Nigeria PLC and PZ Cussons. The sample size for the study was estimated using Andrew Fisher's Formula to be 366 and the distributed questionnaire was designed on a five-point Likert scale. Out of the 366 questionnaires that were distributed, 340 were returned, giving the study a response rate of 93%. SPSS was used to examine the data that were obtained. The study found a substantial correlation between the two variables and it was determined that process innovation is important for improving organizational performance. As a result, it was therefore recommended that manufacturing companies should constantly innovate their processes to increase competitive advantage in the market.

Adult food and species type influence the nutritional physiology and tolerance of two flour beetles to the extract of Dennettia tripetala (G. Baker)

AbstractTribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val) are common and damaging pests of stored grain flours in several homes and flour mill industries worldwide. This study examines how food, species, concentration, and exposure time affect the susceptibility and nutritional physiology of T. castaneum and T. confusum when exposed to partially purified methanolic fruit extract of Dennettia tripetala (G. Baker) and two of its major active compounds (linalool and 2‐phenylnitroethane). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to evaluate the chemical profile of the partially purified plant extract. Thirty‐two compounds were found in the plant, including established insecticidal and insectifuge compounds such as linalool, cis‐vaccenic acid, 2‐phenylnitroethane, and linoleic acid, among others. The interactions among the factors have a differential impact on the susceptibility and nutritional indices of both Tribolium species to D. tripetala, linalool and 2‐phenylnitroethane. According to LC50 values, linalool and 2‐phenylnitroethane were the most and least toxic to both beetles, respectively. With increasing extract concentrations, all nutritional indices except feeding deterrence decreased. Relative to controls, linalool and 2‐phenylnitroethane evoked the highest and least reduction, respectively, in beetles' nutritional indices. Treated corn discs deterred both species over treated wheat discs, regardless of insecticide type. T. castaneum had a higher overall food consumption than T. confusum. Regardless of insecticide type, the relative growth rate was higher in T. confusum and T. castaneum fed with treated corn and wheat discs, respectively. D. tripetala extract, linalool, and 2‐phenylnitroethane showed higher post‐ingestion toxicity to T. castaneum than T. confusum. This study emphasises the importance of certain intrinsic factors, like beetles' species and cereal food types, when managing Tribolium species with plant‐based insecticides. The various data obtained from this study will help researchers and pesticide manufacturers formulate effective biopesticides from linalool and 2‐phenylnitroethane to control Tribolium species on corn and wheat flours.

Scenarios for a Scaling-up System for Organic Cassava Production in the Mekong River Basin: A Foresight Approach

Organic cassava flour and products are in high demand. However, the expansion of organic cassava (OCS) production is rather slow. To increase OCS production, extension workers, cassava flour mills, farmers, and researchers have been collaborating to support the farmers, but the planted areas have remained limited. This research aimed at understanding the current issues in scaling up the organic cassava production. The findings were subsequently used to formulate scenarios and recommendations for the collaborative scale-up of organic cassava production in the Mekong River Basin (MRB). We carried out a six-step foresight process with leaders of organic cassava farmers, the staff of organic cassava flour mills and factories, extension workers, the staff of research agencies, and local policy makers in Thailand. The results revealed two key factors or drivers of changes, namely, the degree of collaboration among stakeholders using multiple-view scenarios or a single-view situation and the degree of learning and communication about OCS that future stakeholders are likely to experience. Four possible scenarios for a scaling-up system of OCS production in the MRB were developed. The foresight process allowed for recognizing multiple views and opinions about the OCS production scaling-up process, considered as a whole system. The system was found to consist of various interdependent components. The process highlighted the need to increase the capacity and opportunities for productive collaboration in research and development. We concluded that the MRB members should issue a policy formulating a joint task force to coordinate the existing institutions’ plans and resources towards an actionable OCS production scaling-up system for the MRB in 2030.