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Food Security

POLYPROPYLENE — FLEXIBLE PACKAGING & THE COST EFFECTIVENESS IN FOOD PACKAGING.

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■ – DANGOTE’S Petrochemical plant is designed to produce 77 various high- performance grades of polypropylene.
■ What is flexible pack ?
■- Substantial amount of foreign exchange will be saved by manufacturers.
■ Local production of various packaging nylons for Pure water, Bread, Cookies etc.

……@WufasAgronet, we are Food Security Advocates.
✅Earned “FAO” Top Fan barge.
✅Member NAAJ, IFAJ & AFAN.

Polypropylene and Polystyrene ( from petroleum crude cracking) are raw materials for synthetic fibres and plastics given birth to a host of other new products from construction materials , pet bottles, flexible packaging materials to household plastic containers.
Investigations revealed that DANGOTE’S $2bn Petrochemical plant with annual capacity of about 900,000 mt is designed to produce about 77 various high performance grades of plastics and others, this is part of the endeavour to upgrade the standard of the business of flexible packaging in Nigeria. Positioned to cater for the demands of plastic processing down – stream industries not only in Africa but globally.
• Nigeria currently import plastic raw materials from the Asian countries of China, Japan, S.Korea etc, mostly without petroleum products.
Flexible packaging revolution is all around us . Ignoring it could mean ignoring potential business opportunities.

WHAT IS A FLEXIBLE PACK. ?
A laminate or in other words , a combination of layers of polymers , metal foil and paper. The layers are specifically chosen depending on the product to be packed and then bonded together using sophisticated adhesives. Thus we have laminates that can be designed to package everything from foodstuffs, cosmetics to surgical equipment and protect them from environmental and physical harm.

To understand the life enhancing properties of flexible packs consider the host of degrading elements a product must survive : Moisture, Oxygen , Bacteria, Fungi , pests and other atmospheric gases. They spell disaster for just about any food product.
● Various grades of nylon will be available for packaging of pure water, bread, biscuits and other items.

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF FLEXIBLE PACKAGE.:
●AROMAS– there are two kinds – the ones that escape from packs as in oil spices or even soaps thus devalue the product per se and the unpleasant ones that enters a pack and are absorbed by the product as in the case of Chocolate and Tea. In both cases the right polymer layer coupled with a careful selection of printing inks and adhesives – erects a barrier against product degradation.
● CHEMICAL MIGRANTS
These are usually of printing inks used in providing information on food flexible packages , these are blocked off( the inks) preventing contact with the food by the polypropylene used for making the flexible package.
●SUNLIGHT- It’s lethal for products like edible oil. Because of the ultra violet rays in sunlight turns oil rancid in an incredibly short time.
● WITHSTANDING PHYSICAL (Strength)ASSAULT ON PRODUCTS
Ensuring that a flexible pack and it’s contents will remain intact over jolting journey of 500km on rough potholed Nigerian roads.
● REALISING MARKET POTENTIAL THROUGH PACKAGING.
Take a look at the typical cornèr store . Notice the brightly package instant soups and noodles, the colourful refill packs. Spices , Peppers currently there’s the colourfull flood of products you see that didn’t exist a few years back that are bringing out the change and growing buying power of average Nigerian.
● THE CONVENIENCE LEVEL.
Consider some old products that have quitely reappear in exciting new flexible packs.overnight these products have turned from cumbersome to convenient and from conventional to modern, capturing a market nobody knew existed.

OTHERS FUNCTIONS are :
• The New Product Level. Products are noticed.
• The New Market level. Different sizes are made possible
• Distribution Level. Ease of distribution
• The Economy Level-the sheer cost difference between flexible packs and other forms of packaging.
• Product Packaging and consumers Appeal.
• Flexible Packaging and the Aesthetics of products.
• The Gloss that goes more than skin deep.
• Consumer Security on the Surface production ingredients and other regulatory facts.
• Return-on- investment packaging. – Increases packaging/ production speed, Protective properties that meets products shelf-life requirements, Versatility to enter new markets and generate profits and competitive appeal value. Amongst many others.
The advantages of flexible packaging over conventional form of packaging range from basics like protecting your products from the external environment to unusual advantages like creating markets where they didn’t supposedly exist.
Hitherto, raw materials from polypropylene are imported. With scarce foreign exchange for manufacturers to import raw materials.
This challenge will be taken careof with the advent of DANGOTE’S Petrochemical plant.
● Flexible packaging retains the aesthetic power to attract consumers to brands , more importantly making it all possible cost effective method of reproducing the protective properties of tins, cans and jar is found. .
An effective products packaging solutions require a committed honest and integrated technical and marketing approach.

THE FLEXIBLE PACKAGING REVOLUTION is creating best selling products in shops shelves. In Coffee refill, wafers, in instant noodles etc. Entering new markets consolidating old ones , generating product ideas that wouldn’t have been possible a short while back.
Flexible Packaging Revolution is transforming the global market.

RECYCLING OF PLASTICS MATERIAL IS KEY.

At WufasAgronet, we are Competent and Reliable Food Technologists , into Human Capital Development Consultancy. Training the teeming youthful population. Unemployed and underemployed graduates the Ethics of Food Processing technology enhancing International Best Practices and Global Competitiveness in Packaging,Preservation,Quality control, Water treatment etc .
Our contact email : wufasagronet@gmail.com .

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Food Security

SECURITY PATHWAYS IN RELATION TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY OF A NATION.

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Good governance is predicated on ensuring the actualisation of the various security architecture of a Nation. The political barometer is also monitored through the efficiency of the security pathways which are :
INTERNAL SECURITY, INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION. , FOOD SECURITY, HEALTH ,EDUCATION, ELECTRICITY, TRANSPORTATION AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.
.
All the above are the essential security systems that can produce and provide QUALITY POPULATION through good and quality SUPERVISION

✅NATIONAL Security of life and properties is the (numero uno) number one responsibility of the Head of government be it President, Head of state and others. The mandate to secure life and property is paramount , they control and command the apparatus of security such as adequate Policing, effective Armed forces- Army for protection against external or internal aggression. Customs / Immigration for vigilant boarders patrol to prevent smuggling and immigration control amongst many others . Equipping them with weapons, Aircrafts, Vehicles, Boats etc.
For effective surveillance. In tackling the menace of bandits and kidnappers who have taken over the forest prohibiting farming activities . Armed Forest Guards / Rangers should be introduced.

INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION.
The entire world is in information age.
The constitution clearly stipulate that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinions and to receive as well as to impact ideas and information.
However, it is the opinion of this writer that freedom be guided with secured intent to prevent abuse that may result in conflicts and war through hateful and unguided utterances.
The most acceptable form of communication is such that promote humane, responsible and patriotic reportage upholding the concept of discipline and promoting values nationally and internationally.
A lot of opportunity mostly untapped abound for investment in Information and communication like Print, Electronic and ICT media.
For industrial growth, information through advertisement, publication and social media is vital for public awareness.

FOOD SECURITY
Whether one eat to live or live to eat is a matter of semantics the bottom – line is Food is the main sustainace of bodies and souls. The importance of food cannot be over emphasised . knowing this fact of life has made the developed world to appropriately plan for provision of quality food for their citizens. Provision of food is prioritize in their national agenda. It is on this note that the United Nation’s clarion call to others in the world to emulate the culture of Sustainable Food Security ensuring the Tripple A(s). of AVAILABILITY, ACCEPTABLITY and AFFORDABILITY. ( UN 2030 food security agenda) of good quality food for the underdeveloped countries who are import dependent on basic food items such as Rice, Sugar, Dairy , Beverages etc .
Presently, Nigeria is revolutionising agrioprenuerial activities, it’s hoped that the present policies on agriculture will not be Summersaulted. The Maputo declaration on allocation of minimum 10% of the country’s annual budget must go to agriculture. Food must be made a constitutional right for all. The authority must take time to support Micro and Small scale Agroprenuerails activities to adapt to climate change. Agroprenuerail activities is the surest way to lift hundreds of millions out of hunger, poverty, conflict and deaspiration.

HEALTH CARE
Health is wealth – Primary Health care delivery must be taken to the grassroot levels, while Rural Health care moblisation be made available and effective all must be well equipped with vaccines, drugs, consumables and other biologicals.
— Ensure maintenance of standard by private sector through effective monitoring.
— Tapping into Herbs Processing , local medical herbs be Researched into by National Institute of Pharmaceutical RnD. In Collaboration with Fed Mins. of Science and Technology.
— Integration of alternative medicine into health care.
— Health insurance scheme must be intensified on .
— Stemming of illegal importation of smuggled fake drugs and illegal drug manufacturing in the country.

EDUCATION
A Society, Community and Nation is as good as the percentage of her literary population. The various levels of education are Primary , Secondary and teriary education 6-3-3-4 .Education must attract appropriate budget at all time. Education is being administered by Public and Private participation at all levels. The special education must receive attention by provision of special equipment such as braille machine, audiometer etc.

ELECTRICITY
To the chagrin of the unsuspecting consumers and Contrary to claim of the generation companies that generation capacity has improved to 7000 MW , the actual has been fluctuating between 2500 -3500 MW.(April 2019)
The idea of mono grid must be jettison while the legislation be relaxed to accommodate Private participations in generation. While effort must be intensified on the Green Bond of #10.97bn raise in December 2018. for financing of SOLAR energy.
Industrial development is unachievable without steady supply of electricity. A green belt of
Industrial Parks on Green energy is recommended in all the States of federation.this will sustain industrial activities that will promote growth.

TRANSPORTATION
This sector is an indispensable catalyst for stimulating economic, social, political and strategic/defence development of a Nation. All the National Development plans must accord the transport sector very high priority. In the formulation of National Transport policy, there must be defined objectives such as economic efficiency and coordinated development plan.
All forms of transportation system are embraced in Nigeria. Motor ,Railway transportation, inland waterways, aviation terminal and handling facilities seaports, airports and riverports including other ancillary facilities.
The administration of Transportation is vested in both Fed. Ministry of Works and Housing (Fed. Highways – Interstate roads Construction and maintenance) and State Ministry of Works/Transport (interstate roads while LG is responsible for Urban and Rural roads Construction and maintenance.
Aviation Ministry for Civil Aviation, Airports Development Management and Metrological services.
Internationally, the railway system is more affordable and relatively saver the frequency in Nigeria must be upgraded not scanty show up as is now the case.

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH
The economic growth rate ( 2019) is 2.1% ,this development is not unconnected with the dismal performances of the various indices above. eg the manufacturing growth rate is presently less than 7% although the Fedreral government set a 10.6% goal in 2017.which was to be driven by SME. Productivity is the only stimulant for Industrial growth. Farming output is barely about 22% mostly subsistence. .about 55% of work force is absorbed by agriculture. The major farming communities in North East, Middle belt downwards to the southern section are being sacked either Boko Haram terrorist or Pasteuralist /Farmers conflicts and banditry.
The various activities as enumerated in this writeup are all depended on Food security system. FOOD SECURITY MUST BE IN THE FRONT BURNER TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. IN OTHER SEGMENTS.

CONCLUSION
— FOOD Security issues must be in the front burner of government’s agenda. Since it encompasses all other activities.
— The effectiveness of other parasatal must be ensured through adequate supervision.
— TO PREVENT IMMINENT DANGER OF FAMINE. Forest Guards (armed) must be appropriately deployed to secure the large expanse of the forest for Farming activities.
— Indigenous Reserch and Development on local Technology be improved on.
— Electricity generation from Green Energy source should be encouraged in the Industrial parks.
— Food Security system must be made a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT for all the citizenry.

At WUFAS AGR0Net, we are Competent and Reliable Food Processing Technologists ,into Human Capital Development Consultancy. Centering on ETHICS of Food Processing Technology. Training on industrial food processing (General Manufacturing Principles ) to the teeming youthful population, startups and other Food handlers. We are seeking Collaboration and Strategic partnership with corporate bodies, NGOs and others
Interested in Food Security.

Contact: 08157784430, 08034064270.

Emails wufasagronet @gmail.com

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Food Security

BIO-ETHANOL DISTILLATION PROCESS.(using molasses)

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✅—– by (WUFAS AGR0Net fmr. Factory Mgr.Nig. Yeast & Alcohol Manu.co.Ltd. (NIYAMCO).
Ethanol Distillation plant Bacita kw.state )

ALCOHOLS .
Portable Ethanol production using molasses is a product of (anaerobic ) fermentation , the process brings about multiplicity of products such as Methanol, Ethanol(C6H5OH ), Butanol, Penthanol and other higher Alcohols. Distillation is a process of specificity each of the Alcohols have their flash or boiling points at which they’re separated in the distillation column.

MOLASSES PREPARATION .
Molasses is a very viscose syrup a waste product of crystalline sugar from sugar manufacturing plant. It consist of about 80% sucrose and other metallic ions eg ferrous, calcium, magnesium, Mercury etc. with caramelised sugars.
At the plant the viscose molasses is charged into a large mixing vat with enough water to bring down the viscosity to the desired ( brix) or density usually from about 40deg.brix to 14deg brix. Then heat is applied to about 80 deg.cent. while agitation continues. the solution is treated with sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and Urea an ammonium salt. While the acid form the sulphate salt of the metallic ions and precipitate the ammonia serves as nutrients for the yeast during fermentation. At the desired density the solution is transferred into the fermenter through plate heat exchanger that cools the molasses solution to ambient temperature. While simultaneously the solution is pitched with yeast from the cold yeast vat.

CASSAVA is another potent source of Ethanol fermentation by degradation of the polysaccharide into simple sugars. — Comprehensive details in our journal.

FERMENTATION
The fermenter is of stainless steel and double jacketed. (For temperature control ). Fermentation is left for about 8-10hr till the density comes down to ( 6 + or -2 )
The yeast is then purged via the centrifuge back to the cold storage awaiting the next operation. While the fermented wort goes to the wort Buffer Stock tank ready for distillation.

YEAST .
The Yeast is propagated by BUDDING process. While the yeast room is kept clean at very low temperature.

QUALITY CONTROL
The quantity of alochol in the fermented wort can be determined prior to distillation in the laboratory as would be explained the journals.

DISTILLATION
Distillation is the separation of components of a solution based on their volatilities. (Dalton’s law)
The material for distillation is charged into the batch or continuous column equipped with the followings :
— Overhead vapour line.
— A condenser
— A condensate receiver
— Gravity separators
— Steam is admitted through perforated pipe at the bottom.
The performance of the plate column is based on Material balance, Energy balance and Phase equilibrium .
Hence Total Material .Balance is represented by the equation
F=D+B
F— Feed
D— separated vapour
B—-Bottom product.

Factors influencing plate efficiency for satisfactory separation are:
— Adequate operation of the plate.
— Adequate and intimate contact between vapour and liquid is very essential.
–Avoid excessive foaming or entrainment.
— Avoid poor vapour distribution.
— Avoid short circuiting or weeping.
— Avoid liquid dumping.
All these lower plate efficiency. Plate efficiency is a function of Mass transfer between liquid and vapour.
At 80deg.cent boiling point of Ethanol it will separate out and the condensate cooled and sent to the stock tank given Potable Ethanol of about 97%. While the higher Alcohols Methanol, Butanol, Penthanol etc are received in another stock tank these combination is called Industrial Alcohols. Used as solvent industrially.

The above is a brief elucidation of the distillation process which is frothy with illustrative linearity equations. For further interest contact us for full details.

At WUFAS AGRONET, WE ARE COMPETENT AND RELIABLE FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGISTS INTO HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY IN FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY PROMOTING GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS AND INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IN FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY .WE SEEK COLLABORATION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAKE HOLDERS IN FOOD SECURITY SUCH AS WORLD BANK, USAID, NGOS. IN training the teeming youthful population in productive ventures of Food Processing Technology.

Contact : 08034064270, 08157784430.

Email, wufasagronet@gmail.com

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Food Security

FOOD SECURITY AND IT’S ATTENDANT GLOBAL CRISIS – WORLD BANK GROUP REPORT.

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✅ The World bank had given analytical database information on Food Insecurity.
✅Food Insecurity cannot be localized to the leadership of any country.

….. @WufasAgronet, we are competent and reliable Food Technologists into Human Capital and Value Chain Development Consultancy.

The latest Food Security Update is now available here: http://wrld.bg/NZ9C50UsKBg
Uh
Highlights:

➡Domestic food price inflation remains high in many low- and middle-income countries. Inflation higher than 5% is experienced in 68.8% of low-income countries, 46.7% of lower-middle-income countries, 33% of upper-middle-income countries, and 10.9% of high-income countries.

➡ Since the last Update on November 15, the agricultural, export, and cereal price indices closed 12, 25, and 1 percent higher, respectively. A sharp increase in cocoa and coffee prices drove the increase in the export price index.

➡In the Market Monitor for December 2024, the Agriculture Market Information System notes that global wheat, maize, rice, and soybean prices are lower than in 2023. This reflects a relatively stable global market for the current marketing season, although uncertainties linger.

➡In the November 2024 edition of its biannual Food Outlook, FAO indicates that global food production is experiencing diverse trends across commodities. Declines are projected for wheat, maize, and sugar, whereas outputs of dairy, fisheries, meats, oilseeds, and rice are expected to grow.

➡According to the WFP’s 2025 Global Outlook, an estimated 343 million people are acutely food insecure across 74 countries where WFP operates—10% more than in 2023.The latest Food Security Update is now available here: http://wrld.bg/NZ9C50UsKBg

Highlights:

➡Domestic food price inflation remains high in many low- and middle-income countries. Inflation higher than 5% is experienced in 68.8% of low-income countries, 46.7% of lower-middle-income countries, 33% of upper-middle-income countries, and 10.9% of high-income countries.

➡ Since the last Update on November 15, the agricultural, export, and cereal price indices closed 12, 25, and 1 percent higher, respectively. A sharp increase in cocoa and coffee prices drove the increase in the export price index.

➡In the Market Monitor for December 2024, the Agriculture Market Information System notes that global wheat, maize, rice, and soybean prices are lower than in 2023. This reflects a relatively stable global market for the current marketing season, although uncertainties linger.

➡In the November 2024 edition of its biannual Food Outlook, FAO indicates that global food production is experiencing diverse trends across commodities. Declines are projected for wheat, maize, and sugar, whereas outputs of dairy, fisheries, meats, oilseeds, and rice are expected to grow.

➡According to the WFP’s 2025 Global Outlook, an estimated 343 million people are acutely food insecure across 74 countries where WFP operates—10% more than in 2023.

AT WUFASAGRONET, We aren’t the author of the above we are only making the report available to the grassroots.

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