Manila, Philippines

When it comes to drying grain, maintaining the right kernel temperature is crucial to ensuring the final product meets high-quality standards.

Overheating the grain during the drying process can lead to irreversible damage, affecting the overall quality. Studies have shown that even kernel temperatures as low as 60°C (140°F) can significantly harm the grain’s quality. This is why many buyers of grain, especially those dealing with specialty crops, insist that their suppliers use lower drying temperatures to prevent heat damage.

Traditional dryers often struggle to maintain uniform drying conditions. In these systems, while some grains are exposed to temperatures that do not exceed the critical threshold, many others are subjected to temperatures far beyond what is ideal. This inconsistency can result in significant quality issues, including heat damage, stress cracks, and a decrease in test weight. Unfortunately, lowering the drying temperature to avoid this damage comes at a cost: it negatively impacts the dryer’s efficiency and capacity.

However, NECO dryers address these challenges by offering a solution that delivers consistent and even drying throughout the grain batch. With their innovative design, NECO dryers ensure that each kernel receives the same level of exposure to the heated air, preventing overheating and preserving the grain’s integrity. This process results in higher-quality grain with fewer stress cracks, no heat damage, and better test weight, all while maintaining optimal drying efficiency.

The Science Behind Grain Drying

Grain is typically dried by passing heated air through it, allowing the air to flow around each kernel. Because the air starts with low humidity, it has a strong capacity to absorb moisture. As the air flows through the grain, it absorbs moisture from within the kernels, and the evaporative cooling effect reduces the temperature of the wetter kernels. This process helps ensure that the grain doesn't heat up too quickly, preventing potential damage.

However, as the grain becomes drier, less moisture evaporates, and the temperature of the kernels rises closer to the temperature of the heated air. In traditional dryers, especially crossflow dryers (often called screen dryers), this process leads to uneven drying. Grain in the centre of the drying column is exposed to heated air for an extended period, resulting in over-drying and overheating. Meanwhile, the grain on the outer edges of the column remains under-dried due to inadequate exposure to the hottest air. This inconsistency not only compromises grain quality but also reduces the efficiency and capacity of the drying system.

How NECO Mixed-Flow Dryers Offer a Better Solution

NECO's mixed-flow dryers tackle these issues head-on by constantly moving the grain past a series of unique hot air ducts. This ensures that every kernel is exposed to the hottest air at different points throughout the drying process, promoting even drying across the entire batch. The continuous movement of the grain, combined with the gentle mixing, helps prevent overheating and ensures that no kernels are exposed to excessive heat for too long.

Additionally, the design of the NECO dryer improves airflow through the grain, enhancing both drying efficiency and capacity. The even exposure to hot air ensures that all grain is dried uniformly, with none of it being over-dried or under-dried. As a result, kernel temperatures remain consistently low, preserving grain quality, reducing stress cracks, and eliminating heat damage. The outcome is a higher-quality product with improved test weight, making NECO dryers an ideal choice for farmers and grain processors who value both efficiency and superior grain quality.

NECO’s innovative drying technology offers a more effective, consistent, and efficient way to dry grain. With uniform exposure to heat, these dryers eliminate the risks associated with traditional systems, ensuring that every batch of grain meets the highest quality standards.

In a major step toward sustainable agriculture and climate innovation, Tanmiah Food Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading poultry producers, has joined forces with Strataphy, a pioneer in geothermal cooling technology, to establish the Middle East and North Africa’s first geothermal-cooled poultry farm.

The groundbreaking pilot project will be located at Tanmiah’s Shaqrah Facility, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey toward agricultural decarbonization.

The partnership was announced during the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA) Forum on November 4, 2025, under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Mansour Hilal Al Mushaiti, Vice Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Zulfiqar Hamadani, CEO of Tanmiah Food Company, emphasized that innovation and sustainability form the core of Tanmiah’s long-term vision.

“This partnership with Strataphy transforms our climate goals into real-world action,” Hamadani said. “Geothermal cooling not only supports our sustainability objectives but also delivers operational efficiency and aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

The new system will use Strataphy’s geothermal cooling technology, which taps into the Earth’s naturally stable underground temperatures through shallow boreholes. This provides a continuous, energy-efficient cooling solution—reducing dependence on conventional HVAC systems, cutting power consumption, and lowering carbon emissions.

Implemented under Strataphy’s Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) model, the project eliminates upfront costs for Tanmiah. Instead, it turns cooling into a predictable operational expense, with Strataphy managing system design, drilling, installation, and ongoing maintenance. The service model guarantees long-term performance and cost savings while reducing the environmental footprint of poultry production.

According to Ammar Alali, CEO of Strataphy, the collaboration represents a new era for clean technology in food production. He said, “In hot climates, poultry cooling can be a major energy drain. Our geothermal solution turns that challenge into an opportunity for sustainability and efficiency,” Alali explained. “This project proves that Saudi Arabia can lead the world in low-carbon agricultural innovation.”

The Shaqrah initiative is the first phase in Tanmiah’s broader plan to decarbonize its operations nationwide. Insights from the pilot will guide future geothermal deployments across Tanmiah’s network, potentially reshaping poultry farming economics throughout Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

Muhammad Abbas Khan, Chief Strategy Officer at Tanmiah, added,“We’re proud to pioneer a solution that’s both economically viable and environmentally responsible. This initiative redefines how energy is used in food production and sets a benchmark for sustainable farming in arid regions.”

With cooling accounting for over 70% of Saudi Arabia’s building energy use, geothermal technology offers a scalable path to energy efficiency and food system resilience supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions for sustainability and innovation in agriculture.

Uganda’s coffee sector has recorded a significant milestone after local exporters clinched trade deals worth US$3mn during the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The event, held from 5–10 November, saw Uganda’s coffee take centre stage as four prominent exporters — Meg Rae Coffee, Kwezi Coffee, Inspire Africa, and Elgon Coffee — showcased both green and roasted varieties. Their participation was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), which coordinated the national pavilion under the theme “Agriculture–Tourism–Prosperity.”

Uganda’s stand quickly became one of the busiest in the agricultural hall, drawing interest from commercial buyers, roasters, retailers, and global logistics companies. Officials from MAAIF also held strategic engagements with Chinese traders and took part in discussions on digital innovation in the coffee value chain and import policies for developing economies.

A key highlight from the Expo was the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Cotti Coffee, currently the world’s fastest-growing coffee retail chain with more than 7,500 shops across 28 countries. This partnership marks a transformative step for Uganda as it opens a direct link between Ugandan coffee farmers and one of Asia’s most dynamic consumer markets.

The MoU, signed between MAAIF and Cotti Supply Chain (Anhui) Ltd, focuses on promoting Uganda’s coffee brand throughout China and internationally. It includes provisions for joint marketing campaigns, farmer training initiatives, technology transfer, and investment in value addition  particularly in post-harvest handling and agro-processing to enhance quality.

In a statement, MAAIF emphasised that the partnership aims to “redefine how the world experiences Ugandan coffee,” ensuring farmers benefit from better market access and global visibility. Cotti Coffee executives praised Uganda as a reliable partner renowned for quality beans, ethical sourcing, and ideal growing conditions.

Uganda’s coffee exports to China have already surged by 190% in 2025, with beverages made from Ugandan beans trending across Chinese cafés and social media platforms. As China’s coffee market is expected to exceed US$45bn by 2030, this collaboration offers Uganda a powerful gateway into one of the world’s fastest-growing coffee economies.

Uganda was represented at CIIE by 28 exporters from the coffee and wider agricultural sectors. The government continues to invest heavily in coffee production through seedling distribution, farmer training programmes, irrigation expansion, research, and global branding.

Under the new partnership, Uganda’s identity will feature prominently in Cotti Coffee advertising across major Asian cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore. This visibility is expected to drive export earnings, create new employment opportunities, and strengthen ties between Uganda’s rural farming communities and millions of coffee lovers across Asia.

GEA has introduced an innovative water-saving solution for its DairyRotor T8600 and T8900 milking systems, designed to reduce freshwater consumption by up to 30% while maintaining high standards of cleaning performance and hygiene.

This new feature is part of GEA’s commitment to sustainability and can be applied to both new installations and retrofitted to existing systems, helping farms of all sizes improve their resource efficiency.

Efficient Water Use with Recycled Post-Rinse Water

The core of this advanced water-saving solution lies in the reuse of post-rinse water for the subsequent pre-rinsing process. By integrating this function, GEA has developed a system that not only cuts down on freshwater use but also ensures that the milking equipment continues to be thoroughly cleaned. The system includes the installation of an additional collection tank that stores the post-rinse water, which can then be fed back into the pre-rinsing cycle.

GEA offers two versions of this solution to suit different farm setups:

Pump Solution: A pump actively transfers water into the rinse tank, ensuring efficient circulation of reused water.
Gravity Solution: A space-saving, passive system that uses an elevated container to collect and reuse water, without the need for moving components.

Both solutions are supported by advanced valve and pipe technologies, ensuring that water is directed into the reuse cycle safely and effectively. It’s important to note that only fresh water, free from cleaning agents or disinfectants, is suitable for reuse.

Sustainable Milking with TÜV Validation

As part of GEA's "Add Better" portfolio, this new feature is TÜV Rheinland-validated, ensuring it meets high standards of sustainability and resource conservation. TÜV is a leading global provider of independent testing and certification, adding credibility to the water-saving benefits of this system.
Ideal for a Wide Range of Farms

This water-saving solution is suitable for farms of all sizes, particularly those in areas where water is either scarce or expensive, or where stringent legal requirements for resource conservation are in place. Farms facing economic pressures can also benefit from the reduced operating costs, all without compromising cleaning quality.

Additionally, GEA offers the flexibility of retrofitting the system to existing group parlours and DairyRotors, such as the washer Sinetherm, Compass Plus, and RCU-Washer of the DairyRotor T8900 with Dematron control. For both new and existing systems, an optional heating element is available to provide an energy-efficient pre-rinse cycle with preheated water, further enhancing resource efficiency.

Integration with GEA DigiTron for Seamless Farm Management

The new water-saving solution is fully compatible with the GEA DigiTron control unit, introduced earlier this year with the DairyRotor T8600. DigiTron offers precise control over the milking process at the animal level, providing easy operation, robust hardware, and straightforward maintenance. When connected to GEA's central DairyNet software platform, the system allows for comprehensive analysis of milking, cleaning, and maintenance processes across the farm. DigiTron is highly scalable, making it suitable for a wide range of farm sizes and automation levels.

GEA’s new water-saving solution is a game-changer for dairy farmers looking to reduce their environmental footprint and operational costs. By making the most of available resources and ensuring effective, consistent cleaning, it offers a sustainable and efficient way to improve dairy operations.