Miller Magazine Issue: 134 February 2021

48 MILLER / february 2021 SUPPLY CHAIN OVERVIEW Wheat is one of the most important type of crops in the world. Its ease of adaptation to the soil is the main factor for its spread to several ar- eas of the world. According to FAO’s report, the global wheat trade in 2017 reached 754.8 mil- lion tons. Russia exports of wheat amounted to 30 million tons, US 26.5 million tons, Europe 25 million tons (www.fao.org ). Proper cultivation of grain includes the use of Good Agricultural Practices (GMPs) to minimize contamination in the field, during harvest, drying and transport to storage. Proper sampling and test- ing of the grain as it leaves the field and enters the supply chain, ensures that standards for heavy metals, agro-chemicals and mycotoxins are ob- served. Moreover, grain is tested for foreign mate- rials and microbiological hazards. Reaching the first storage area, GMPs and HAC- CP plans are in place to ensure that the grain is not contaminated during transport, storage and milling. Milled grain shall be stored in cool and dry places Easy access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food makes a major contribution in sustaining life and promoting good health. Unsafe, risky food ingredients can cause hundreds of diseases. Food can be contaminated at any point of the production, distribution and preparation processes and everyone along the production chain, from producer to consumer, has a role to play in food safety. Quality Assurance systems (QA) are in place along the supply chain to reassure that each ingredient is safe and traceable. Old and new challenges on grain and flour QA systems Vasilis Sotiroudas Food Safety Specialist vasilis@centaur.ag