What's New |
Updated:08/11/2008 |
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GrainPro Philippines, Inc. is ISO certified GrainPro Philippines, Inc., the manufacturing arm of GrainPro, Inc., became ISO 9001:2000 certified as of July 2, 2008. This achievement came thru intensive efforts of the local employees and a consultancy firm. This, all the more, emphasizes the commitment of GrainPro to provide quality products to its customers worldwide. |
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Ultimate solution for storing quality coffee "Roast Magazine" of July-August '08 publishes an article on the results of storing green coffee in GrainPro SuperGrainbags™. This article describes in scientific terms the reasons why coffee in traditional packing gets bad and how hermetically sealed bags preserve the unique taste and aroma of coffee beans. It is a worthwhile reading for anyone who takes storing and transporting specialty coffee seriously. Click here for a PDF copy. |
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Recent GrainPro article on storage of cocoa beans The recent March 2008 issue of "Coffee and Cocoa International" has an article by GrainPro's VP Marketing on "Storage of Cocoa Beans in the Tropics". For a PDF copy, click here. |
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For our latest newsletter click here. |
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GrainPro and its scientific partners have invested several years of scientific research in the possibility of storing high moisture (> 18%) corn. The results of the basic research have been recently published (click here). This research has been followed by successful field trials in China and Philippines, all confirming that high moisture corn stored under gas tight conditions can be preserved well without affecting the nutritional value, starch, and protein. Molds and mycotoxins are controlled by the high CO2 levels developed during storage. The corn develops a smell of fermentation and can be well digested by animals. This technology enables corn producers to store their corn either shelled or on the cob in times when the sun or mechanical driers are not available. The specific merits of fermented corn are, at present, being evaluated by the leading feed nutrition industry. |
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GrainPro SuperGrainbags™ in Ghana Agrimat Ltd., GrainPro's dynamic distributor in Accra, is undertaking a national campaign to introduce a solution for "in house food security" in Ghana with SuperGrainbags™ (SGB). The SGB's are being sold throughout the country thru some 20 agricultural retail outlets. Farmers' households experiencing this simple way of keeping their stocks insect-free are of help in promoting the product nationwide. A promotion campaign is launched on commercial TV to advertise this innovative product. The TV promo clip may be watched here. |
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Brown rice, the answer to the imminent rice crisis With rice prices doubling and more in Asia, the question of large scale introduction of brown rice needs to be raised again. On April 20, the spokesman of the President of the Philippines, Ms. Fajardo, called on the National Food Authority to introduce brown rice back into the diet of the Filipinos. Brown rice ("brice") is more nutritious than white (well milled) rice, contains more fiber, vitamins, and oil and was a normal part of the diet up to a hundred years ago, when rice milling technology enabled large scale supply of white rice (click here to read more on health benefits). Due to its nutritional value, human intake of brown rice is about 10% less than white rice. Its proven health effect has been long time acknowledged. One of the problems of storing brown rice was its limited shelf life. With the introduction of hermetic storage technology, the shelf life problem however has been resolved and brown rice can be stored as long as paddy in a self generated modified atmosphere. GrainPro is trying to address the Government of the Philippines. For more information on storing brown rice, click here. |
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Cocobord of Ghana evaluating hermetic storage The Cocobord of Ghana, which handles 7.5 million tonnes of cocoa beans annually, is in the process of evaluating hermetic storage as a way to store and transport cocoa beans without the use of fumigants. Preliminary results show a great potential. The evaluation research is being implemented by the Research Department in Tema. The research project is undertaken by GrainPro and Agrimat, GrainPro's distributor in Ghana. The project includes evaluation of GrainPro Cocoons™, SuperGrainbag™, and TranSafeliner™. |
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New GrainPro distributor for Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania Chemicals and Marketing Co. Ltd. in Blantyre has been appointed as distributor for a large area covering E. and S.E. Africa. Chemicals and Marketing Co. Ltd. is the largest distributor of agrochemicals and fertilizers in Malawi. GrainPro Cocoons™ and SuperGrainbags™ will be able to solve the problem of long term storage of grain at the farm and trading level, as well as food security storage of the government. |
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New GrainPro distributor for Sudan and Maldives PCP (offices in Dubai, India and Khartoum) has been appointed as GrainPro's distributor to Sudan and the Maldives. First batch of 20 Cocoons™ of 150 tonnes has been delivered and successfully installed. More Cocoons™, including MegaCocoons™, have been ordered for various clients. Commodities are wheat, sorghum, and pulses. Cocoons™ will be a major contribution in the future to the food security of this country having a long history of food insecurity. |
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A new product line has been developed for the use in shipping containers, the "TranSafeliner™". Installed as a gas tight liner in a container, it enables the commodity transported to be "fumigated" while in transit using the modified atmosphere (hermetic storage) or controlled atmosphere (G-HF) principle. In addition, the excellent water vapor transmission rates of the liner prevent any water absorption by the shipped commodity as well as condensation due to temperature fluctuation. For more information, please click here. |
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Expansion of GrainPro sales network GrainPro has expanded its sales network and has now regional managers for China based in Beijing, for East Africa based in Nairobi, for West Africa based in Accra, for Latin America based in Guatemala City, and for Indian Subcontinent and M. East based in Mumbai. By doing so, GrainPro will be in a better position to serve its customers worldwide. For contact data, please click here. |
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GrainPro Philippines relocated GrainPro Philppines office and new manufacturing plant moved on June 1, 2007 to Subic Bay Freeport Zone near Olongapo City in the the Philippines. For new address, see "Contact Us". Our new Marketing, Sales, and Manufacturing office is located in Subic Bay Gateway Park (SBGP), a modern industrial park. GrainPro Concord headquarters and U.S. Sales office remains in the U.S. at 200 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA 01742. |
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For a PDF copy of the latest GrainPro Newsletter, please click here. Hard copies can be obtained at request from our offices in the US or in the Philippines. |
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New Distributor for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Kenya Marketing and Promotions Co. has been appointed as GrainPro representative for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. |
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GrainPro manufacturing in the Philippines GrainPro's Board has opened its first in the world manufacturing facility on July 15, 2007 in the Philippines dedicated to hermetic storage systems. The plant, which has "state of the art" welding equipment, is located in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. With this new plant, GrainPro is able to serve its growing circle of customers better and eventually at a lower cost. |
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Major deal with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana Earlier this year, Agrimat Ltd., GrainPro's distributor in Accra, Ghana signed a contract for the supply of 10,000 tonnes of storage in 20 and 50 tonne Cocoons. This was after MoFA has successful results with a batch of 20 tonnes shipped earlier. The present shipment has greatly enhanced Ghana's food security on the district level. GrainPro is providing technical and extension assistance for the installation of the Cocoons. The Cocoons will store maize, sorghum, and millet. This is the first batch of a multimillion order being a part of a national program to improve food security in Ghana. |
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"Grain Tech" in Lahore, managed by Mr. Faisal Hassan has been appointed as exclusive distributor for Pakistan. Grain Tech has already sold several G-HF units for the organic basmati sector. A demonstration was given with a 50 tonne Cocoon loaded with food security wheat. The demonstration was attended by representatives of the private and government sector. |
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The provincial Government of East Rwanda has received 140 more Cocoons of 50 tonnes to enhance the grain sector in this region which borders Tanzania and Burundi. The Cocoons are used for storing corn, sorghum, and beans. With this order, more than 20,000 tonnes of food grains will be stored in Cocoons by the private and government sector in Rwanda. GrainPro trained local personnel in the use of Cocoons for a period of 3 months. |
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Quality improvement of cocoa beans
Cocoa beans, historically, were shipped from the
production areas in the tropics to the consumer countries to be
processed into cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and liquid. But things are
changing: more cocoa processors tend to set up their plants in the
countries of origin, thus, saving on transport and labor cost. However,
these facilities demand large stocks in order to operate continuously
and in order to avail of lowest possible market prices. Tropical
conditions are unfavorable to long term storage of a sensitive and high
fat containing commodity like cocoa beans; moisture content of the air
(sometimes up to 90%) and high temperatures have their impact on rapid
infestation and a steep increase in moldy kernels, causing an increase
in free fatty acids in the processed cocoa butter. GrainPro has been
collaborating for the last year with two large cocoa processors in
Africa and Asia on modified atmosphere storage of cocoa beans, the major
results being that:
An additional benefit is that the moisture content of the stacks can be easily controlled and discussions on weight loss of stacks have become a part of the past. With GrainPro’s modified atmosphere storage technology, cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers can now offer a better "green" product and reduce their quantity and quality loss of raw materials substantially. |
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Cocoa beans and hermetic storage Both in Ghana as well as in Indonesia, GrainPro is collaborating with major cocoa processors on the improvement of cocoa bean storage. Under tropical conditions, insect damage is substantial and hard to control while above critical moisture contents cause molds and increase in free fatty acids. Modified atmosphere created by oxidation and enzymatic lipase enable control and elimination of all storage pests and prevent mold development. Results till now are promising and may revolutionize the way expensive cocoa beans have been traditionally stored. For more information contact us. |
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Though most of the corn produced in the world is used for animal feeds, increasing amounts of this commodity are going to the ethanol and starch industry. Both industries use a "wet" process for the extraction of their products, bringing the corn to a moisture level of about 30%. Since in many regions of the world corn is harvested at 30% moisture content and subsequently dried to 14% in order to be able to store it, a technology enabling storing corn at any moisture content higher than 14% would save a lot of energy. In addition, drying reduces the starch content of corn. GrainPro is now evaluating a technology to store high moisture corn with one of the world's leading starch companies, using the hermetic storage principle. High concentrations of CO2 should prevent mold development in the corn, provided these concentrations will be effectively contained in an hermetically sealed environment and the temperature of the commodity is suitable. Thus, GrainPro and its researchers are trying to advance a technology that will reduce energy costs and will save on fuel. |
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In a detailed study on 9 months of storage of hybrid rice seeds conducted by the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) and Philrice in the Philippines, cold storage, air conditioned and hermetic storage were compared on performance and economical feasibility. Results show univocally that Cocoons performed best and at the lowest cost. |
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