Population growth, climate change and political conflict are negatively impacting global food security. It is more important than ever to improve agricultural productivity and limit loss to make sure more of the food that is produced makes its way to the table. That’s where Cimbria comes in. Cimbria is a global leader in grain handling and storage, with millions of tonnes of capacity installed around the world. The brand offers conveying, drying, processing, optical sorting and storage solutions for grain, seed, feed, foodstuffs and other bulk products. The brand, which became part of the AGCO Corporation in 2016, also designs, manufactures, installs, and services complete turnkey solutions. For more than 75 years, Cimbria has helped customers turn their vision into reality. 

In an exclusive interview with our media group, Gary Rollinson, Vice President, and Managing Director of Cimbria, shares valuable insights into the significance of grain storage technologies and Cimbria's role in ensuring food security. Mr. Rollinson has over 34 years of experience in the agriculture industry. At AGCO, he’s also served as Global Purchasing Director and as Vice President of Challenger, EAME. In his current role, he oversees locations in Denmark, Austria, Italy, Kenya, and the Czech Republic. 

In the interview, he sheds light on the current state of the grain storage industry, the challenges it faces, and how Cimbria addresses them with innovative solutions. He also delves into the increasing demand for advanced grain storage systems and the role of interconnected systems and data analysis in enhancing post-harvest food safety. With an eye toward the future, Mr. Rollinson discusses emerging trends and advancements that Cimbria is actively involved in, including digitalization, automation, and sustainable storage solutions.

 The grain storage industry plays a crucial role in ensuring food security worldwide. It encompasses various processes and facilities designed to store harvested grains, protecting them from spoilage and preserving their quality. Proper grain storage helps bridge the gap between harvest seasons, ensuring a steady supply of grains throughout the year and reducing reliance on immediate consumption. By preventing post-harvest losses, the industry contributes to the overall availability and affordability of food, which is especially vital as the global population continues to grow. Therefore, the importance of our industry is extremely high and will continue to grow in the coming years.

The major challenges include pest infestation, moisture control, temperature management, and maintaining grain quality over extended periods. Cimbria addresses these challenges through innovative solutions. For example, we develop advanced grain storage systems equipped with temperature and moisture sensors, aeration systems, and automation technologies. These technologies help optimize storage conditions, detect, and mitigate issues promptly, and ensure the preservation of grain quality.

 

First, the growing global population and the subsequent need for increased food production drive the demand for efficient storage solutions. Second, the focus on reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring food safety has created a demand for technologies that can mitigate spoilage and maintain grain quality. The integration of interconnected systems and data analysis has become crucial for optimizing operations and improving overall efficiency in the grain storage industry. Lastly, the export/import markets are challenged by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The grain storage industry is providing the necessary solutions to improve the grain storage infrastructure and secure the food supply. We see several countries building up import and strategic grain storage capacity, also partly driven by Covid, as governments want to go from 90 days of reserves to 180 days of reserves. 

 

Cimbria is dedicated to ensuring safe grain storage practices and offers a range of services and solutions that address the various aspects of grain storage. We have extensive experience in pre-cleaning, gentle conveying, drying, monitoring and management to make sure grain is stored in the best condition. We provide advanced monitoring systems with real-time temperature, moisture, and gas levels in storage facilities. One such system is GrainVue from GSI, also a brand of AGCO. These systems help identify potential risks and enable prompt action. Furthermore, we also offer ventilation and aeration solutions that control temperature and moisture, preventing the growth of mold and pests and provide training and support services to assist customers in implementing best practices for safe grain storage.

Grain storage systems, including those provided by Cimbria, play a vital role in reducing post-harvest losses and preserving the nutritional value of grains. These systems employ technologies to monitor and control environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, preventing mold growth, insect infestation, and fungal contamination. By creating optimal storage conditions, grain storage systems minimize spoilage and maintain the nutritional integrity of grains, ensuring that they retain their quality until they reach consumers. In the coming years, it will be particularly important to further develop the systems to always be prepared for the latest circumstances. We are working on this every day. 

The integration of equipment sensors and data into a single platform offers significant benefits for post-harvest food safety. By connecting various sensors throughout the grain storage facility, data can be collected in real-time. This enables comprehensive monitoring of temperature, moisture, gas levels, and other critical parameters. The data can be analyzed to identify potential risks or deviations from optimal storage conditions. With this information, proactive measures can be taken to prevent spoilage, reduce the risk of contamination, and ensure the safety and quality of stored grains. We as Cimbria/AGCO are always looking at how to optimize the data information flow already from field equipment harvesting the grain until it reaches storage or processing facilities. 

 

Cimbria incorporates technology and innovation into its grain storage solutions to enhance efficiency and maintain grain quality. Our solutions include advanced automation systems that streamline operations, optimize energy consumption, and reduce manual labor. We integrate sensor technologies and control systems to monitor storage conditions and ensure precise control over temperature, moisture, and ventilation. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, our solutions enable more precise management of the storage environment, leading to improved efficiency and better preservation of grain quality throughout the storage process. 

Proper grain conditioning and drying are crucial for maintaining grain quality and preventing spoilage during storage. After harvest, grains often contain high levels of moisture, which can lead to mold growth, bacterial activity, and insect infestation if not addressed. Grain conditioning involves adjusting the moisture content to a safe level suitable for storage. Drying is a key component of this process, as it reduces moisture to an acceptable level. By removing excess moisture, proper conditioning and drying help prevent spoilage, preserve grain quality, and inhibit the growth of microorganisms, ensuring the longevity and safety of stored grains.

 

Cimbria’s grain storage solutions facilitate marketing flexibility and growth for farmers in several ways. Firstly, our storage systems provide farmers with the ability to store their harvested grains in optimal conditions, maintaining quality until they can be sold at the most opportune time. This flexibility allows farmers to take advantage of market fluctuations, ensuring better pricing and profitability. Additionally, our solutions enable efficient management of inventory, helping farmers effectively handle storage capacity, logistics, and supply chain requirements. By providing reliable and flexible grain storage solutions, we support farmers in maximizing their marketing opportunities and overall growth. We’ve been doing it since 1947. We combine the right technology with the right team to bring it all together. Our customers can feel confident because they have an expert at their side – helping them grow into the future. 

We are actively involved in monitoring emerging trends and advancements in the grain storage industry. Some notable areas of focus include digitalization and automation of grain storage processes, precision monitoring and control systems using IoT (Internet of Things) technologies, and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive analytics. We also keep a close eye on sustainable storage solutions, such as energy-efficient drying techniques and environmentally friendly pest control methods. By staying at the forefront of these trends, we aim to continually innovate and provide innovative grain storage solutions to meet the evolving needs of the industry. This opens a world of possibilities for new product and service offerings that address farming challenges well into the future. 

We do our best every day to make a significant contribution in all our areas. In the area of grain storage, there have been a few notable success stories in the recent past. We increased our presence in Egypt with an order placed for a huge silo complex in Port Said, the Egyptian city at the entrance to the Suez Canal. As Egypt’s population increases by 2.5 percent every year, there is a great need for safe storage complexes in the country: the huge new silo complex consists of eight silo bins with a capacity of 12,500 tons each and will be used for the safe storage of wheat. The 100,000-ton silo complex for Port Said will make an important contribution to safe food storage in Egypt. We are very proud of this project that will support a safe and sufficient food supply for Egypt’s growing population.

Furthermore, the port operator UMEX recently started operating its strategic Cimbria-designed fertilizer terminals at Romania’s Port of Constanta, one of the most important and traffic-heavy transshipment hubs for the greater Black Sea region. In the same port, it is worth to mention also the grain terminal that is currently under construction, which comprises two symmetrical facilities with 100,000 tons of storage capacity across eight separate silos. The terminal is designed entirely by Cimbria and equipped with an extensive range of grain processing technology to improve the port’s grain handling and storage capabilities to manage future growth.