OCPA Research Reviews
Ken Hough, Director, Research and Market Development
OCPA/Grow Ontario research on food-grade corn quality and grain drying/storage on track
This project, initiated last summer with financial support from OCPA, industry, and the Grow Ontario program is comprised of two components. The first, under the direction of Dr. Ralph Brown, School of Engineering, University of Guelph, focuses on grain drying research (improved energy efficiency and grain quality) and damp grain storage (for added profitability for wet-milling processors and farmers). The second component, led by Dr. Art Schaafsma, Ridgetown Campus, U. of G., emphasizes the development of quality-based markets for corn in the food sector, for dry-milling for grits, meal, and flour; and ‘alkaline-cooking’ for Mexican type foods and snacks.
Recent developments for the grain drying/damp storage component include:
a) A corn storage deterioration study was initiated to assess any changes in starch yield for wet-milling, and potential mold growth and mycotoxin development in moist (20-24 per cent) corn stored at cool ambient temperatures. Corn that has not been artificially dried generally has superior
wet-milling quality and better starch yield than dried grain. Information from this study, consisting of a controlled laboratory investigation and an uncontrolled study monitoring an on-farm moist corn storage bin, is essential to develop management guidelines for moist corn storage, and to assess any changes in grain quality or processing characteristics as a result of damp storage. By contributing to the overall objective of extending the period for delivering undried corn to Casco, corn producers will benefit from an assured local market, elimination of drying costs and some price advantage. However, moist grain storage is risky and requires better management practices to keep the grain cool and prevent deterioration.
b) A related project was initiated on damp storage extender chemicals to safeguard against mold growth in moist corn. Fungicidal chemicals, organic acids, formaldehyde and sulphurous acid have been used for feed grain preservation. However, industrial corn use has constraints on the presence of many compounds, so a separate study is necessary. An MSc. student (S. Lee) started this project in the fall 1997 semester.
c) Cooperative on-farm and commercial grain drying studies related to energy use and grain drying were conducted with owner/operators at two on-farm sites and one grain elevator location in the fall of 1997. The specific aspects being investigated included problems with condensation on the bin walls of a deep-bed stirred-batch dryer (a common dryer in southwestern Ontario) causing localized mold growth; minimizing heat loss from the bin walls during the first half of the fill with a rooftop dryer system with grain cooling in the bin below; and energy consumption/efficiency in a natural gas-fired commercial grain dryer. The collaboration of Union Gas on the latter project is gratefully acknowledged. Further studies with these and other on-farm/commercial dryers will be conducted this year.
Activities for the food-grade corn quality component of the project, initiated in September, consisted primarily of industry liaison and research planning, initiation and coordination. Input on desirable corn quality traits/targets/market needs, milling aspects, testing/analysis tools and procedures, potential sources/genetics and potential end markets was garnered through meetings with numerous industry contacts. Among them were food grade processors, corn breeders and seed company representatives, grain brokers and producers, from Ontario and the central/northern U.S. corn belt. Cooperation and interest from several Ontario corn breeders is excellent.
A short-term work plan for this portion of the project was developed in consultation with other project partners, including activities such as surveying Ontario food-grade corn crop for Fusarium mold and mycotoxins (about 25 samples collected out of Kent and Essex counties), establishing a collaborative project with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s grain quality lab in Ottawa to develop corn food quality testing parameters, and assisting with the establishment of the Guelph grain-storage research protocols. Further consultation and planning for this project will occur this spring.