Milling & Baking News - August 07, 2012 - 7

Greatest growth in global milling lies ahead

s strong as the temptation may be to relate material for a rapidly growing milling industry. Indoforecasts of continued rapid growth in global nesia stands as the stellar example of a nation that has population to likely expansion of basic food assured its millions an adequate food supply made businesses like flour milling, a measure of caution up of flour-based products. needs to accompany such analysis. It is obvious that The world’s two most populous nations, China and industries like wheat milling will not enjoy gains India, present fascinating insights into the way flour comparable to population growth in countries and milling capacity relates to population gains. Mainly regions where other food crops, especially rice or as the result of governmental participation in distrimaize, dominate. Beyond those basic limits are the bution of wheat, India has maintained its unique sinmuch larger impacts of infrastructure condition, in- gle-operator grinding units to make its special flour. vestment capacity and government encouragement. It China, which has more than 2,000 flour mills at the has been striking in watching these forces play out in latest count, has spurred milling modernization to the recent years to perceive how neglectful governments point that it not only is the world’s largest producer of are. Even nations striving to expand food production flour but also has become a major center of manufacoften overlook the importance of making food avail- turing milling equipment. able in a form that is easily transported and readily According to population experts and food analysts, converted into edible food. the 21st century will be an unprecedented challenge. No one involved with population and food issues By the middle of this century, in 2050, the global popdenies that flour and bread are the perfect solution. ulation is forecast to exceed 9 billion, which would That has been strikingly evibe a third more than at presGrowth in ﬂour milling in recent years dent in the nations that made ent. As amazing as those is not limited to nations suddenly up the Former Soviet Union numbers may be, the truly freed from a failed system but also has astounding aspect is that alwhere bread historically has occurred in developing nations where been the main source of enmost all of the increase will economic gains were matched by ergy and nutrients. In the occur in developing nations wake of the break-up of the and at the same time, the expansion in milling capacity. F.S.U. into independent nashare living in cities will tions, the introduction of modern flour milling has climb to 70 per cent, contrasted with the 49 per cent been a central theme in a nation like Kazakhstan. Rap- urban share at present. That combination accounts for id growth in milling not only has assured an adequate the likelihood that food needs of what is described as food supply for a population that often suffered from “this larger, more urban and richer population” will hunger under the Communist regime, but made for expand at a rate nearly double the population gain growth to the point that Kazakhstan, almost miracu- alone. The Food and Agriculture Organization projlously, is now the world’s leading exporter of flour. ects global cereal grains needs in 2050 at 3 billion Growth in flour milling in recent years is not lim- tonnes, against 2.1 billion currently. That makes no ited to nations suddenly freed from a failed system allowance for grain used to make biofuels. but also has occurred in developing nations where The chances are good that flour milling will come economic gains were matched by expansion in mill- near to matching this growth. If so, this century ing capacity. That model is mainly evident in central would witness the largest expansion of milling in hisand southern Asia where countries that once relied tory. While this will occur mainly in nations that now almost totally on local rice supplies have turned to have a limited, if not a primitive industry, the impact emphasizing domestic wheat production as well of such growth will certainly be felt in every corner of as expanded wheat imports to provide the raw milling, no matter how advanced. MBN MORTON SOSLAND, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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