The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is intensifying its efforts to support industrial starch stakeholders in Asia by providing expertise on maximizing efficiency in wet milling operations. Recently, Alexander Grabois, USGC Manager of Global Strategies and Trade, traveled to Taiwan and Indonesia to meet with local industry representatives seeking to manage broken corn within their wet milling plants and optimize production processes.
This initiative follows the Council's Third Annual Industrial Starch Conference held in June and builds upon a comprehensive industrial corn starch study. The study revealed that U.S. corn has two to four percent more starch extractability than corn from other origins, which can significantly impact a wet mill's yields and overall output.
"The findings from the study's lab and commercial results indicate higher starch yields, which can have a substantial impact on a wet mill’s productivity," Grabois said. "We have taken this opportunity to better understand the specific market challenges in Asia and Southeast Asia and show those already purchasing U.S. corn ways to maximize their production and earning potential."
The USGC's ongoing project focuses on gathering operational data from wet mills to supplement existing laboratory findings. By working directly with individual plants, the Council aims to provide expertise and insights on how to apply the study's information to improve efficiency. One key finding is that U.S. corn requires only 24 hours of steeping—half the time needed for harder endosperm corn—resulting in notable increases in output without the need for new equipment investments.
"Our studies show that by implementing simple processing changes, yields can increase by several additional percentage points," Grabois noted. "This, coupled with the higher starch yields of U.S. corn, can translate to multiple millions of dollars of additional annual revenue for wet mills."
As part of its efforts, the Council hopes to share techniques that further decrease steeping times for wet millers, enhancing productivity and profitability. By providing necessary tools and resources, the USGC seeks to help clients manage U.S. corn effectively, allowing them to maximize its potential.
"As we continue to speak with clients around the world, we hear about their experiences using U.S. corn and have found it to be of paramount importance to provide the necessary tools and resources so they can manage U.S. corn in a manner that will allow customers to maximize its potential," Grabois said. "It is a priority to work on changing the global perception around U.S. corn, while working with clients to manage the key issues they face."
The engagement in Taiwan and Indonesia underscores the USGC's commitment to fostering global partnerships and enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural products in international markets. By addressing challenges and sharing best practices, the Council aims to support the growth and efficiency of the industrial starch sector worldwide.
