Hüseyin KAYABAŞ: "I believe that organic feed milling will create a decent market throughout the world. Because, our activities indicates this. Currently, we establish three plants at a time in Nigeria. Besides, we are now in the process of making agreements with some firms in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia. All of these move us step by step to become a brand in this field."
Although not known sufficiently in feed industry yet, there is a growing interest in organic feed milling which utilises natural wastes as the feedstock. The waste from food factories, restaurants, sea and partly from homes are, sort of, recycled at these mills and processed in the production of animal feed. Both the fact that the production of compound feedstocks is limited and therefore the said feedstocks pose a substantial economic burden and the need to process the wastes and the fact that some wastes are more valuable in terms of nutritional value, as against the compound feed increases the interest in organic feed milling and it seems that it will still continue to increase.
Currently, Hüseyin KAYABAŞ, Manager of GPS Ascom Makine, who has focused on this business and founded organic feed plants for feed factories states that a significant demand is being generated in this regard especially in Europe. Stating that they aim to dominate the world market in this domain, KAYABAŞ replied the questions of our magazine, about organic feed milling, technologies and the growth in the world market.
Dear Kayabaş, you carry out activities in organic feed milling. Could you please explain us, what is organic feed milling?
Organic feed mills that utilize natural wastes as the feedstock involve a process comprising of 5-8 stages differently from other mills. We can list these steps as cleaning, grinding, cooking, dosing, palletisation and drying. The system runs within these process groups. However, some differences may be observed, although not very often.
What kind of feedstocks is used in organic feed mills? What are the advantages and gains of using these feedstocks? Do the feeds produced from these feedstocks have any distinctions? In general, what kind of animals consume?
Organic feed mills mainly use the wastes from food factories, restaurants, sea and partly from homes. For example; many food, plant and seafood waste such as fruit peels and pulp, vegetable wastes and leaves, fish and other sea products, mussel shells, fig and olive wastes, etc. can make up the feedstock for organic feed production.
The biggest gain is that these products once dumped as rubbish can be used to feed many animals thanks to this recycling system. Moreover, the fact that these wastes are made up of natural products allows the animal to benefit more from the feeds produced from these products, as compared to other feed. That is to say, they have high nutritive values. For instance, a chicken/hen feeding on compound feed for a while grows 300-400 gr more and has a more delicious meat as against compound feed when it consumes organic feed in the same period of time.
The feed made of natural wastes can usually be consumed by a number of animals such as chicken, snail, turkey, quail, calf/cow, cat and dog, etc.
You create technologies that process these feedstocks and establish turnkey plants? Well, how are these feedstocks are processed, which technologies do they require? Can you take us through the technologies to be included in an organic feed mill and their specifications?
First of all, these feedstocks composed of natural wastes go through a cleaning process and cleared of any impurities inside. They are thus turned into a feed that can be consume animal. Every feedstock cleared of any impurities should be stored separately. Then, these feedstocks are taken into grinding process. The feedstock ground here are stored separately again and then dosed according to the feed production type they will be used for particular animals. Following the dosing, the feedstock conveyed to the palletisation section are palletised in a way to be consumed by animals and subjected to drying process as the final process. Organic feeds now ready after drying are packaged, ready for shipment. But, a cooking process is also applied for the feedstock to be produced for fish varieties, as an additional process.
What is the difference of the technologies used in organic feed mills from other compound feed technologies? What can you tell about their functional properties and costs?
In fact, some parts of the system used in organic feed mills is identical to those used in compound feed mills and can be set up in full automation. There are some differences particularly in cooking, drying and dosing processes. Palletisation operation in organic feeds is performed in smaller sizes and carried out in the form of powder in some types of feed. In addition, organic feed plants are founded in smaller capacities and at lower budgets in comparison to compound feed plants.
I guess using unused waste products makes significant contributions to sustainability and correct use of food sources, which are the topics of today. This must increase the interest in your mill. Could you tell us a bit about the interest in these mills and the approach? What can you tell about the reactions you get and the installations you have made?
Of course, this system is not very common in the world at the moment, but it is getting popularity day by day. The plant we established in Aegean Region made impression and we received positive reactions. It makes us happy when these plants are appreciated. Now, there a lot of firms that wish to invest. We provide the firms with necessary information in line with our knowledge and experience, tell about these plants and discuss the pros and cons.
How popular are these technologies at the moment? Are there any other firms operating in this field? If any, what is the difference of the technologies you developed, from their alternatives?
Great majority of this world is unaware of this line of business, only a few European countries have these technologies and facilities. I can say that we are in the same league with them, in terms of technology; we have even more pros as against them. Because, there is much more waste variety to be processed in Turkey, so we can design our technologies accordingly. And, this moves us one step ahead.
How do you see the future of organic feed milling? In what regions do you think the interest will increase more in the following years?
I believe that organic feed milling will create a decent market throughout the world. Because, our studies indicate this. Currently, there is a huge demand from abroad, particularly from Europe, for organic feed and organic feed plants. It is for sure that there will be a lot more demand from Aegean and Mediterranean region in Turkey, where feedstock is abundant.
Now, can you tell us about your future targets and projects as regards this subject? What is your objective in the world market in this regard?
We continue our R&D studies about the technologies of organic feed milling non-stop and our primary objective is to bring the energy costs down to lower levels.
I have already mentioned that the demand for organic feed milling in the world is getting higher and higher. We aim to have the control over the market. We have been working intensively in this respect. Currently, we establish three plants at a time in Nigeria. Besides, we are now in the process of making agreements with some firms in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia. All of these move us step by step to become a brand in this field. Our technologies attracted intensive attention in both the fairs we took part in or at the firms we visited, and in same places, we have seen the astonishment of those who have never seen these systems before.
Lastly, what would you like to add on organic feed mills?
First of all, I advise those who are willing to establish this system to think about the locations where the natural wastes are abundant. That is, it is a huge advantage to establish these plants at the locations where the feedstock is abundant. For instance, the food factories in Turkey are obliged to bring their waste feedstocks to the organic feed mill that we established in accordance with the permit obtained from the Ministry. In this case, the feedstock comes free. You can also turn them into fuel/wood, as well by removing any rubbish and any other material such as hay/straw which will not become feed from the incoming feedstock and palletising them. The system has such an advantage for the investor, as well. Besides, it is possible to set up the system at low-cost figures.