Miller Magazine Issue: 134 February 2021

60 INTERVIEW MILLER / february 2021 activities in several countries including the USA. Could you please provide us with some brief back- ground information on your consulting services? I have an integrated and holistic approach in my con- sulting activities. I like to determine with the company management measurable objectives, especially in the medium and long terms. Follows working plans and eval- uations. Presently I do consult mainly for the milling in- dustry in Central America and Colombia. Could you give us some information about the Co- lombian flour milling industry? The Colombian flour milling industry is a matured and consolidated sector. In the past 2-3 years, its volume has grown at higher a rate because of exports of flour to Venezuela. Colombia imports around 2 million tons of wheat mainly from the USA, Canada and Argentina. An- nual per capita consumption is 36 kg. Basic flour usage is 70% bread, 16 % dry pasta/noodles, 10% cookies and crackers and 4 % other. What are the major challenges facing Colombia’s milling industry? As in most countries, the financial net margins in Co- lombia’s milling industry are extremely low. The compa- nies can continue and survive is because of a combina- tion of volume, integration and diversification. Exchange rates and logistics cost play a determining factor in the milling operation. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the grain market in your country? The COVID-19 pandemic affected slightly the con- sumption, especially in last April, May and June. Nowa- days consumption is coming to normal levels. How is the market predicted to develop in the fu- ture? Most of the companies in the milling sector are esti- mating around a 2% volume growth in 2021. This is a quite stable situation. You have over 35 years of experience in the mill- ing industry and agribusiness. What exciting devel- opments do you see happening in the grain milling industry? I wish consumers appreciated the greatness of wheat. Naturally grown and with many healthy components es- pecially if consumed whole. End the mistaken and false war against gluten. See wheat products as part of more food preparations. What kind of changes have you experienced in the grain industry in recent years? In recent years, each day the grain industry has a new risk and/or the increase of actual risk. Massively pro- duced food products have each day new and tighter regulations. In addition, functional specifications are less tolerant. More technology needs to the introduced in all the logistic and production stages. Could you tell us flour consumption patterns in Co- lombia? Basic flour usage is 70% bread, 16 % dry pasta/noo- dles, 10% cookies and crackers and 4 % other. Annual per capita consumption is 36 kg., compared to 100 kg. of rice. Is there any change in eating habits in recent years? There are extensive studies about the change of eating habits, like takeout food, fast food but in Colombia, the cost of alternative foods is very influential. What developments have been observed in the Co- lombian flour market recently? The flour market has concentrated mainly on offering new and good appealing final products to the consumer. What are your future targets in your operating mar- ket? The food consumption in Colombia is very sensitive to price. Rice is the number 1 carbohydrate-based product consumed. Most of the flour mills need to continue in- creasing their volume (market share), integrating with other cereal operations (corn, rice), and need diversifi- cation. Is there anything you would like to add? I think Colombia with its approximate 50 million in- habitants is a very interesting country to both invest and have a commercial exchange.