Multifarious uses of Starch and its Derivatives. Maize Starch Industry – an overview. Future of HFCS in India. Use of starch in manufacture of bio-degradable plastics. Growing industry-specific corn (farmers). PPP Forums.

Source : N.C.G.A.

Products from Corn and its uses Starch (Industrial and Food use)

Corn Syrups (Industrial and Food use)

Dextrose (Industrial and Food use)

Co-products

Maize Starch Industry – an overview Growth of Maize Starch industry has doubled in the last 5 years in terms of grinding capacity of Maize Maize starch, in its basic form  point of saturation In some products, the Statutory permissible limit of usage of starch is still very low in India compared to the permissible limits in other American and European countries, which our govt. should consider and thereby make necessary amendments in the permissible limits. “Malls” / “Departmental Stores” culture has taken over the age-old next-door “Baniyaa” culture.

Change in Consumer Behaviour with respect to habits & patterns of food consumption. Packaged / ready-to-eat food is the order of the day due to ready OTC availability. Due to opening up of the FDI in Retail sector, more international players (eg. Walmart, etc.) likely to penetrate the Indian Market. Increase in requirements of modified and value-added starch products i.e. its derivatives, in the packaged food industry. Maize Starch Industry – an overview (contd.)

Future of HFCS in India High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) mainly used in Aerated drinks world over. In India, it is sugar, due to cheap pricing of sugar. Around 3 yrs back, sugar prices shot up drastically  Increase of prices in Aerated drinks, as also Beer. Enquiry made by manufacturers of Aerated Drinks and Beer, as to an alternative of sugar. Beer industry substituted sugar with High Maltose Corn Syrup (HMCS) and Dextrose, both derivates of Maize Starch. Manufacturers of Aerated Drinks yet to substitute sugar with an alternative. THEREFORE, potential growth of use of HFCS forseen in immediate future.

Manufacturers of Aerated drinks and Beer, to give a serious thought and negotiate the feasibility of the use of HFCS instead of Sugar, with the Manufacturers of Maize Starch and substitute sugar with HFCS. The Government should earmark a minimum %age of HFCS instead of sugar in the manufacture of Aerated drinks and Beer. Future of HFCS in India ( contd. ) SUGGESTIONS :

26/7/2005 – Heavy rains  City of Mumbai flooded, heavy human loss. Reasons : Water clogging in the drainage pipes, due to two reasons 1) Use of concrete/tar overall. 2) Non-bio-degradable plastic in the sewage pipes, preventing drainage of water. Result : Ban on use of plastic bags. Use of Starch in bio-degradable plastics

Use of Starch in bio-degradable plastics (contd.) SUGGESTIONS : Manufacture of bio-degradable plastic, instead of a total ban. Use of Maize starch to create polyactic acid polymers and processing it further into sustainable versions of fibres and plastics.

Growing industry-specific corn (farmers) In USA, 3-4 types of corn available i.e. industry-specific types. In India, Corn is Corn – no such segregation done due to ignorance on the part of farmers. Type of corn available is not standard on every purchase, due to different types of hybrid seeds used for growing corn. Results in loss of recovery of starch and increase in cost of production.

Suggestions : Hybrid Seeds’ manufacturers to educate the farmers as to the industry-specific types of seeds, with respect to the content of starch, etc. Farmers to start using industry-specific seeds to grow respective corn for better yields, fetching better prices to them. Growing industry-specific corn (farmers)

PPP Forums A fantastic platform to bring the farmers and the manufacturing industries together. Such Forums create and/or enhance the understanding of farmers as to the requirements of various industries, where corn is used. Such Forums allow farmers to directly communicate with the manufacturing industries. Such Forums create and facilitate direct sale of corn by the farmers to various industries using corn. SUGGESTIONS : To hold more of such Public Private Partnership (PPP) Forums. To create more awareness of such forums. To encourage farmers to attend and participate in such forums

Overall Advantages Increase in consumption of Maize due to the increased use of Maize products and also check on the pricing of Sugar. Increased growth of Maize by the farmers. Increase in the profits and Standard of Living of farmers due to use of industry-specific seeds, as also direct selling to the manufacturing industries. Reduction in production costs by the Maize Starch Industry due to better recovery by using industry-specific corn, as also by direct purchases from the farmers. Increase of profits of the Maize Starch Industry. Passing over part of the savings made to the customers and/or end-users, thereby reduction in the cost of Maize products. An overall WIN-WIN situation.