Cooperation
Now both partners enjoy finding opportunities to create value from co-products for feed and potentially in the future food as well. When asked about the main change in the 20 years Muntons has been working with Duynie, Muntons’ general manager procurement Mike Norfolk refers to a mind shift. “It’s about understanding the value of co-products and promoting it as a source of value instead of looking at it as waste you need to get rid off ”, he says. “Muntons went to great lengths for this attitude change”, responds Lee Kirk, procurement manager at Duynie. “We supported this for instance by taking people from Muntons to the farms, explaining them the process of valorising co-products.”
Solving a logistical nightmare
“Also the quarterly meetings our teams in sales, procurement and quality management have with Duynie, increase awareness on the importance of co-products”, says Mike Norfolk. “Treat it the right way, transport it and process it to create sustainable value: this perception has been a massive step forward.” This change happened at the background of strong growth. Mike Norfolk: “In two decades we increased from a volume of 3,000 tonnes to 22,000 tonnes. From ad hoc shipping of co-products, Duynie now helps us solving the logistical nightmare of two to three loads a day!”
Calling Duynie
Swift removal of co-products from the Muntons premises is key for the continuity of operations. “Clearing the factory to keep it running is important”, says Lee. “To us there are no limits of what we can do.” “True!”, says Mike Norfolk. “I recall two recent incidents where due to sudden overabundance of co-products we called Duynie and they immediately solved our problem. That’s logistic flexibility, just like the silo sensors of Duynie that we installed to control stocks of malt grains. Beyond logistics, much added value of working with Duynie also relates to their innovative co-product processing.”
Creating circular value
Malt residual pellets, barley screenings, white and black malt grains and occasionally barley dust and out of date finished products are Muntons’ co-products Duynie processes. “All co-products go into feed, except the black malt grains whose sour taste animals don’t like. These are digested to create green energy”, explains Lee. “In the future we will investigate protein extraction for use in petfood and human food like meat alternatives. When our R&D succeeds, this also increases the value we provide to suppliers like Muntons. That said, we don’t of course let down our farmers who can remain confident of the availability of enough co-products for animal feed. The manure will also be used on the farms that supply Muntons, so we remain focused on creating circular value.”