Bühler India partners with NUTRIHUB, IIMR to drive innovation in millets processing

Swiss technology firm, Bühler India has announced a strategic collaboration with Nutrihub. Nutrihub is the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India supported Technology Business Incubator hosted by the Indian Institute of Millet Research, ICAR – IIMR, Hyderabad.

The collaboration seeks to advance millet processing technologies and enhance the industrial application of millets in India. IIMR conducts strategic research to increase productivity of millets and their diversified utilization at a national level.

India produces approximately 19-20 million tons of millet annually, yet only about 2 million tons are processed on an industrial scale. Bühler India, in collaboration with Nutrihub-IIMR is committed to tackling the challenges in millet processing, focusing on extending shelf life, enhancing flour properties, and increasing processing yields.

A key part of this initiative is researching the most effective grinding methods to achieve superior product quality at Bühler’s Application Center and Analytical Laboratory. The Application Center fosters collaborative partnership between industry experts and partners, featuring six process lines and over 30 machines to conduct comprehensive product and machine trials. Meanwhile, the Analytical Laboratory performs detailed physical, chemical, and quality analyses of grains to ensure superior product quality, reinforcing our commitment to advancing grinding techniques.

Speaking about this collaboration, Shashidhar Subramanya, head of Corporate Technology, Bühler India said, "We are committed to fostering innovation in the food processing industry, and millets hold immense potential for the future of food. This collaboration with Nutrihub-IIMR brings together our expertise in processing technologies with the institutes' in-depth knowledge of millets. We are confident that this partnership will yield significant advancements in processing solutions, making millets more accessible, nutritious, and enjoyable for consumers around the world."

Dr. B Dayakar Rao, chief executive officer, Nutrihub, IIMR said, “This collaboration is part of a larger strategic alliance between Bühler and Nutrihub, ICAR-IIMR, aiming to revolutionize millet processing worldwide. The collaboration focuses on researching the effects of different milling technologies on major millets and specifying milled millet fraction requirements for various end user product applications. By improving the efficiency, quality and versatility of millet-based products, this research opens new markets and applications for millets’ processing & value addition worldwide.”

With the mission and vision of IIMR to transform millets cultivation from subsistence farming to go global through cost-effective and environment-friendly production, processing, and value addition technologies and supply chain networks, this partnership exemplifies a long-standing relationship dedicated to aligning Bühler's cutting-edge technology with the specific needs of industrial millet processing.