Miller Magazine Issue: 153 September 2022

63 COVER STORY MILLER / SEPTEMBER 2022 As one of the three most important grain crops that helps to fulfill food needs all across the globe, rice plays a key role in the food security of the world. It is a critical source of food for more than 3 billion people annually. Therefore, managing rice processing into more sustainable applications has critical importance for future food security. Rice is one of the most widely cultivated staple crops globally because it can be grown under a range of diverse conditions. It is crucial for food security, particularly in devel- oping countries. Rice is a staple food for more than 3.5 bil- lion people. It is estimated to provide more than one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans. As the global population continues to grow, rice will continue to be a key source of calories around the world. In the 2020/2021 season, the total global rice production was about 510 million tons. Global consumption and residual use in 2022/23 is projected at a record 519.2 million tons. And global rice trade in the calendar year 2023 is projected at a record 54 million tons. China, India, Indonesia, Bangla- desh, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam are the top rice-pro- ducing countries. Rice constitutes a high portion of the total planted area in South, Southeast, and East Asia. In both Asia and Africa, it is primarily a smallholder crop. Managing rice processing into more sustainable applica- tions has critical importance for future food security. Rice processing involves several milling stages to produce edi- ble final products. The milling process is the most important step in rice production because it determines the nutritional, cooking, and sensory qualities of crude rice. As crude rice goes through the milling process, byproducts are generated, such as bran that have been shown to exhibit beneficial im- pacts on human and animal nutrition. In the following articles, rice processing technologies are discussed in detail. Rice Milling