LENEXA, KANSAS, US — Today’s milling industry is facing a barrage of external forces — from artificial intelligence (AI) to climate change and heightened public health awareness. Millers will learn how these forces might impact the future of the industry and how to navigate these revolutionary changes during the keynote address at the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Annual Conference & Expo.
Peter Levangie, president and chief executive officer of Bay State Milling, will give the address at 7:30 a.m. April 17. The conference is planned April 16-18 in Salt Lake City, Utah, US.
Milling and allied trade professionals from around the world will gather for three days of education, networking and fellowship. Educational and technical programs will help millers improve yields, productivity, customer satisfaction and safety. Presenters are seasoned professionals in the field who have experienced the issues affecting millers first-hand.
“We’re looking forward to returning to the western part of the US for this year’s annual conference,” said Steve Matson, IAOM president. “We were scheduled to be in the West in 2020 before the pandemic hit and forced us to cancel. We know that it’s important to move the conference to different cities to make it more accessible for different groups.”
A virtual option is being offered this year, with access to all of the educational sessions and keynote address. They will be livestreamed and will also be available on demand after the event.
The in-person event also includes an expo, typically featuring more than 100 companies displaying milling and processing equipment as well as related services.
Like last year, registration will be open from 3-5 p.m. on April 15, before the Early Bird reception begins. On April 16, there will be a networking reception from 3:30-5 p.m. for the Women in Milling group, offered in a World Café format. This allows for discussion of topics at several small tables, like thoe in a café. Questions are being developed for each table.
The opening reception is that evening from 5:30-7 p.m. in the South Salt Lake Foyer of the Hyatt Regency.
During his keynote address, Levangie will examine several of the forces at play, including AI, plant genetics and flour diversity, public health and nutritional awareness, climate change and the growing sustainability imperative and shifting consumer preferences.
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and plant genetics will likely play a pivotal role in the future of flour milling. As it evolves, the real-time data analysis and predictive algorithms of AI can ensure consistent flour quality while reducing waste.
Levangie will conclude his presentation with some recommendations on how flour millers might prepare for and perhaps even thrive in this evolving environment, delivering flours that meet the demands of a changing world.
Educational tracks
As in past years, the event includes educational programming divided into different topics, including employee management, product protection, technical operations and facility management.
In the employment track, Mark Farmer, Grain Craft, will discuss the benefits of hiring military veterans while Jennifer Harnish, PHM Brands, will examine employee management and Susan VanKrevelen, Ardent Mills, will review mental health safety.
As part of the facility track, Brandon Bohle, Interstates, will discuss the anatomy of a cyber-attack, including system compromise, operations disruption and the recovery process. Attendees will learn about the challenges faced by the industry and the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures. Karl Von Knobelsdorff with Knobelsdorff Electric will discuss the benefits of a proper electrical maintenance program and avoiding unexpected downtime due to failing electrical apparatuses.
Lacey Young, General Mills, will examine a different approach to safety that covers the five principles of human performance. The presentation will include real-life milling examples.
Product protection sessions will focus on microbial transfer and cross contamination in milling facilities, presented by Scott Osborne, Mennel Milling Co., and Andreia Bianchini-Huebner, University of Nebraska. Eric Meyers, ADM, will cover how to level-up foggings and fumigations.
Technical operations will include a session on the impact of flow sheet management presented by Reed Cody, Bay State Milling. It will look at how managing the flow sheet can make or break a process, and the importance of regular updates and adaptability to evolving milling technologies.
Jay O’Nien, Bühler, will make the case for sustainability in the milling industry, providing an overview of key requirements from various stakeholders, including governments, companies and consumers. Jesse Snyder and Jeremy Gray of Amber Wave will talk about their Kansas facility that is producing wheat gluten, wheat-based ethanol and other coproducts. They will outline the planning, construction, troubleshooting and successes of the two-year project.
Additionally, Alex Young, General Mills, will talk about the science in the art of milling, highlighting a foundational system toolkit.
Educational programming concludes on April 18 with a miller panel moderated by Sunil Maheshwari, Siemer Milling Co.
Full details about the educational sessions can be found at https://www.iaom.org/annualmeeting/education/.
Special events
The Allied Trades Event will take place April 17 at Lake Effect SFC, across the street from the Hyatt.
Safety Award recipients will be recognized during the annual breakfast 7:30-9 a.m. on April 18. Facilities that have a zero recordable injury/illness rate and have one IAOM member are eligible for the 2023 IAOM Safety Award.
Later that evening, other award recipients will be recognized at the Annual Banquet & Awards Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner and the program that includes the passing of the gavel to the new IAOM president and presentation of the IAOM awards. Awards include the IAOM Milling Operative of the Year, which recognizes excellent performance by a miller. Established in 1986 by Milling & Baking News, sister publication of World Grain, the award will be presented to the practicing milling operative who has made the most significant contribution to the progress of a plant, a company and the industry from an operating point of view.
After last year’s popular curling competition, and the possibility of inclement weather, a new Cornhole Tournament will conclude the event. It will take place in Salt Lake AB at the Hyatt Regency.
