Miller Magazine Issue: 156 December 2022

76 ARTICLE MILLER / DECEMBER 2022 Jenny Dal Zotto Product Management & Marketing of the Segment Oat Bühler Group Molinera Itata chose Bühler as a partner on the path to becoming an internationally repu- table name in oat processing with its new manufacturing plant in Chile, which will adhere to the world’s strictest quality parameters. Molinera Itata: Tradition and world-class technology in oat processing Molinera Itata is a family business with unique expertise in the production and processing of oats. It was founded in 1999 in Chile and is located in the city of Carmen, in cen- tral-south Chile, where cereals with distinct characteristics have been grown for centuries. The company stems from the union of a family of farmers and a family of industrialists, who together dreamed of an oat processing plant with the highest international standards. “Ten years ago, we started a very simple project intended to make the most of the great yield of superior-quality oats from this region. Little by little we added knowledge, visiting other countries and getting to know the available technolo- gies. The project forced us to think big, envisioning a modern, automated plant that could accommodate future growth and would guarantee a safe final product with excellent quality,” explains Armando Berdichevski, General Manager of Itata. EXPORT POTENTIAL The market potential is enormous, with a wide range of products from in natura (semi-finished) items to final con- sumer products such as oat flakes, oat flour, and diverse new products like oat-derived alternatives to cow milk. The global trend for oat consumption is increasing every year at rates of more than 5%. In addition to advanced technical competence in the cultivation and processing of the grain, Molinera Itata has the advantage of being located close to one of the main ports in the country. This facilitates the ex- port of about 95% of their production, making them one of the main exporting companies in Chile. “Our goal is to reach more developed international con- sumers, expanding our current presence in markets that are knowledgeable about the consumption of oat and its derivatives, like North America. We are also looking to conquer traditional markets, such as Europe, and inno- vative ones, like the Asian market,” says Javier Heredia, Executive Director of Itata. PARTNER FOR THE FUTURE AND FOCUS ON INNOVATION According to Heredia, “We chose Bühler because it is an internationally reputable company. Working with them means gaining access to holistic concepts and building rela- tionships with a long-term business vision. We work together and receive constant advice. We found Bühler’s profession-