Moisture control is a key factor in ensuring the final feed is palatable, retains its nutrients, and is consistent. (Image source: Hydronix))

One of the big challenges in the animal feed industry is the number of different formulations that can be produced by a single plant

For each batch, it is essential to ensure that the quality of the product is correct so that the animals are fed a balanced nutritional diet optimised for their type and stage of development. For this reason, moisture sensors are often used in conjunction with a control system that manages the formulation parameters. Controlling and measuring the moisture enables the correct calibration for each of the different formulations.

Moisture control is a key factor in ensuring the final feed is palatable, retains its nutrients, and is consistent. Benefits of this include:

• Improved nutritional consistency
• Reduced spoilage and waste
• Improved shelf life
• Optimised pellet durability
• Increased plant efficiency
• Reduced process downtime

Where to measure moisture

Effective moisture control of the entire process requires the installation of online moisture measurement sensors in several different positions: 

1. Measurement between raw intake and storage silos allows unsuitable incoming materials to be managed.
2. Ensures raw materials are correctly proportioned, compensating for varying moisture levels in stored material.
3. Drying or Conditioning may be necessary in hot and/or wet climates to increase the moisture of materials for milling, as dry material increases breakage and dust.
4. Measurement in the mixer allows the addition of water to ensure material is sent for conditioning and extrusion/pelleting.
5. The measurement at the input of a dryer can be used as a process variable for feed-forward control.
6. Measuring at the output of a dryer enables feedback control from the setpoint error.
7. Measuring at output of cooler prior to packing/storage allows control of cooler parameters and a final quality control check prior to storage. 

The Hydro-Mix XT sensor is recommended to be installed in the mixer end wall to ensure the mix has the correct moisture, is mixed homogeneously, and is ready for the next process stage.

Animal feed comes in all shapes and sizes and has many different formulations. Moisture measurement is a vital element of the plant to ensure the efficiency of the process and provides precise process variables to the control system that can use stored calibration data for different formulations. Moisture measurement is also important for a quality controller to ensure the feed is palatable, retains its nutritional value and has a suitable shelf life. 

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The project is designed to validate wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis as a rapid and affordable approach to drug development. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Wamego-based company, Tritica Biosciences, along with three other partners have joined hands to work under Boston-based Ginkgo Bioworks, on a million-dollar project aimed at exploring the potential of the wheat crop in transforming drug development

The project is designed to validate wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis as a rapid and affordable approach to drug development. This powerful innovation introduces a new method of biomanufacturing that has broad applications across various sectors ranging from food to pharmaceuticals.

The ARPA-H project, known as Wheat-based High efficiency Enzyme and API Technology (WHEAT) is one of the first initiatives within ARPA-H’s Scalable Solutions Office, which aims to transform the health by improving the speed, scale and access to medical treatments.

The project aims to boost domestic manufacturing of critical medicines by producing them when and where they are needed. Many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are currently affected by fragile global supply chains, and reshoring biomanufacturing will help stabilise the supply of critical, life-saving drugs.

According to a news release from Ginkgo Bioworks, WHEAT’s innovations will include post-translational modifications to establish a foundation suitable for producing biologics. 

“By harnessing the power of wheat based cell-free systems, we’re planting the future of medicine, helping to make production more efficient, flexible and localised,” said Dr Chris Miller, founder and CSO, Tritica Biosciences. 

Value Line Steering system marks a significant step toward more sustainable, efficient, and profitable farming practices. (Image source: Topcon Agriculture)

Global leader in precision farming technology, Topcon Agriculture has announced the launch of its Value Line Steering solution, aimed at increasing accessibility of precision farming for small and medium-sized farming operations

Advanced autosteering capabilities will now be available to a wider range of farmers and provide an affordable and easy-to-use solution compatible with a broad variety of tractors, including front-wheel-steer models and those compliant with ISOBUS-UT standards. Its simple design allows users unfamiliar with high-tech farming equipment to quickly adopt the system.

Moreover, the Value Line Steering solution enables older tractors to operate at sub-5 cm accuracy levels previously reserved for new, high-end machinery.

"With diesel, fertiliser, and chemical costs all rising, it's more important than ever to maximise efficiency," said Aaron Freeman, a fourth-generation farmer from Koolunga, South Australia. "The Value Line Steering system saves resources, reduces overlap, and boosts profitability."

CNH and x-Farm, an Italy-based agri tech company, have partnered to develop a pilot project in Uzbekistan as part of the Drops of the Future initiative. (Image source: CNH)

CNH's two key brands, Case IH and New Holland, continue to lead the way in advancing precision agriculture with the launch of innovative technologies and initiatives that aim to help farmers tackle water scarcity

CNH and x-Farm, an Italy-based agri tech company, have partnered to develop a pilot project in Uzbekistan as part of the Drops of the Future initiative. The project aims to demonstrate how precision technology and data from their machines can help farmers boost productivity and save water. The Drops of the Future initiative that has been set up by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), empowers young professionals through innovation and collaboration and helps tackle water scarcity in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

OSCE is focused on addressing a wide range of security-related concerns that include economic, environmental and human aspects. For the very first time, the organisation is working with private companies on the topic of water, agri-food production and energy to increase environmental efforts around water use, while improving production efficiency.