Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
August 10, 2009
Rice processing industry
representatives gathered for their annual industry alliance
meeting at the University of Arkansas Aug. 5 and 6 to review
research they support in the Rice Processing Program of the
University of Arkansas
System's statewide Division of Agriculture.
"We conduct research to improve the efficiency of current
processing operations and to help the industry develop improved
processes and products," said Terry Siebenmorgen, University
Professor of food science and director of the Rice Processing
Program.
Processors from several rice-growing states and other countries
participate in the program. Those with operations in Arkansas
include Riceland Foods, Producers Rice Mill, Busch Agricultural
Resources, RiceTec, Mars Foods, Kelloggs and Riviana Foods.
Equipment suppliers GSI, Buhler and Perten Instruments are also
heavily involved in the program.
"The program aims to enhance the quality and value of rice and
rice products," Siebenmorgen said.
Rice is the most valuable Arkansas crop. The state's farmers
planted about 1.4 million acres of rice in 2009 and will produce
nearly half of all the rice grown in the United States. They
will receive about $1.5 billion for the crop, and processing and
marketing of consumer products will multiply the value added to
the state's economy.
Maintaining the high quality of Arkansas-grown rice requires
close attention to the environment and practices before and
during harvest, during handling of harvested grain and in the
rice mill, Siebenmorgen said.
A major research focus is managing grain moisture content at
every stage, Siebenmorgen said. Other topics include quality
components of different rice varieties and hybrids, methods of
quality assessment, milling technology and cooking and
nutritional studies.
Three keynote speakers addressed sustainability issues related
to profitability for producers, environmental and energy
impacts, and meeting consumer needs and desires.
Jessica Lundberg, board chair of Lundberg Family Farms in
Richvale, Calif., described the family's organic rice business.
The market for organic foods is growing at a rate of about 10
percent a year, Lundberg said. Organic food consumers want to
feel good about products they buy, not only in their perception
of health and nutrition, but also in their perception of
environmental and social impacts, she said.
Darrin Nutter, a University of Arkansas mechanical engineer,
reported on a "life cycle analysis" of energy used in the dairy
industry. Nutter is a leader in the nationwide project to
document energy use at every stage of milk production.
Nutter said dairy industry leaders have used the data to
identify ways they can reduce energy use to lower costs and the
amount of carbon they add to the environment. The life cycle
analysis results were presented at a dairy industry meeting this
spring co-sponsored by the Division of Agriculture's Center for
Agricultural and Rural Sustainability.
Jennifer James, a Jackson County rice farmer and chair of the
USA Rice Federation's Sustainability Task Force, said the rice
industry must be proactive in addressing environmental and
energy issues.
"We are working with university researchers to develop a
science-based program of best management practices for
sustainability," James said. It is in the best interest of the
U.S. rice industry to have a pro-sustainability profile, she
said. |
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