Gentle Rice Separation Technology for Smallholder Milling

Project Information

GREATMILLING

Grant agreement ID: 736007

DOI

10.3030/736007

Project closed

EC signature date 18 July 2016

Start date 1 August 2016

End date 31 January 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

KOOLMILL SYSTEMS LIMITED
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GREATMILLING (Gentle Rice Separation Technology for Smallholder Milling)

Reporting period: 2016-08-01 to 2017-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Of the 750 million tonnes of paddy (raw rice) harvested each year, 60 million tonnes will not make if from Field to Fork. Milled, this would provide enough rice for 300 million people for a year in Asia, in Africa 1.2 billion people. Antiquated post-harvest processes including milling cause this loss and 180 million tonnes of the recovered milled product is damaged during processing lowering its value. Koolmill has pioneered a disruptive, low loss, low power, scalable and accessible cereal milling technology that significantly reduces this avoidable loss and damage; delivering more food and at a higher quality from the existing rice harvest. With ~1 million under-performing milling units in the three largest rice producers alone, the current global market is ~$16.67 billion. The projected 70% increase in rice demand would suggest that this will grow to ~$28.4 billion by 2050.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The feasibility study confirms the global need, significant business opportunity and identified key risks. Koolmill has the IP protection in place, freedom to operate and will submit a Phase 2 bid to fund establishing pilot mills in the EU, develop a new accessible business model, scale and extend the scope of the technology.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The feasibility report confirms that none of the current state of the art technologies match the innovation level of Koolmill. Uniquely, Koolmill is being developed to offer patented non-destructive low power milling to all millers regardless of size or location. Koolmill is a step-change in technology; it can therefore be concluded that Koolmill goes beyond the current state of the art. An internationally award winning technology that has been independently validated by several external Government and commercial assessments, clearly demonstrating excellence, impact and with the ability to deliver. The expected outcomes economically, environmentally and socially are globally significant with the technology contributing to addressing 16 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). Delivering more food and a higher quality from existing rice harvest, this disruptive technology will transform a global industry that feeds 3.5 billion daily, improve income and health outcomes at an individual level whilst having a measurable impact on GDP at a macro-level.

koolmill.jpg