IAOM MEA hosts inaugural feed milling forum in Dubai to advance regional animal nutrition

UAE –The International Association of Operative Millers Middle East and Africa Region (IAOM MEA) hosted the first-ever Feed Milling Forum from May 6 to 8, 2025, in Dubai. 

The groundbreaking event brought together technical millers, global suppliers, and industry leaders with a shared goal: to elevate the future of feed production across the Middle East and Africa.

Organised under the theme “Where Animal Nutrition Meets Excellence,” the forum focused on delivering high-quality, science-backed solutions to improve animal health, feed efficiency, and overall productivity in livestock production. 

With the region’s animal feed market projected to exceed US$32.96 billion by 2029, the forum arrived at a critical time to inspire innovation and investment.

The three-day event featured a robust agenda covering key areas such as feed formulation, production technology, operational excellence, automation, and logistics. 

It served as a collaborative platform for stakeholders to address existing challenges while showcasing advancements in feed milling science and technology.

Key presentations address different issues in feed milling 

Among the key speakers was Dr. Zahid Aslam, a visionary in animal nutrition and business growth based in the UAE, who delivered the keynote address on critical considerations in feed formulation and production amidst evolving industry demands.

Presentations on animal nutrition science included topics such as the fundamentals of safe feed storage by Martin Schlauri, Chairman of the IAOM MEA Education Committee, and the role of the digestive system in nutrition, presented by Priscilla Bakalian, Head of the African Milling School at Bühler in Nairobi.

Technical insights into infrastructure and design were provided by Wim Delameilleure of Silo Construction & Engineering (SCE), who explored the return on investment potential of square silo designs in modern feed mills.

Production and process innovation were also central themes. Bühler’s Senior Instructor, Alex Ammann, addressed critical techniques for moisture control and homogeneity testing in feed plants. Ivan Harjacek of Andritz Feed & Biofuel delved into the digital transformation of feed milling, highlighting tools such as AI, digital twins, and model predictive control.

Additional technology-oriented sessions featured Hamid Farahmand, formerly of AMANDUS KAHL, who discussed expander and pelleting technologies tailored to poultry and ruminant nutrition, and Zeki Demirtasoglu, Founder of Bastak Group, who outlined strategies for quality control in feed manufacturing.

Automation and logistics take centre stage 

The forum also tackled automation and logistics. Abdul Raouf Mahmoudi from ASM Process Automation presented strategies for enhancing efficiency through integrated automation. 

Priscilla Bakalian returned to share best practices for ensuring safety and security in the feed supply chain, while Stanko Milutinov of IFFCO Animal Nutrition highlighted the importance of premix and micro-nutrient precision.

Regional feed ingredient developments were covered by Mansour Al Suwaiyeh, Feed Plant Manager at Abdul Aziz & Saad Al-Moajil Group in Saudi Arabia, who presented on the country’s growing barley flaking industry.

The forum’s success was made possible through the support of leading partners in feed milling and technology, including Alapala, Altınbilek, KAHL, ANDRITZ, ASM-Process Automation, Bastak Instruments, Bühler, IMAS, SCE (part of BRIAM), STATEC BINDER, and TANIS Milling Technologies.

As IAOM MEA continues to expand its educational and technical programming, the Feed Milling Forum 2025 stands as a defining initiative in advancing knowledge exchange and innovation for a rapidly evolving industry across the Middle East and Africa.

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