Ziemann Holvrieka and partners receive project funding

How can production systems in the food industry be made more efficient? Automation is often the only solution. Ziemann Holvrieka is now contributing its engineering know-how to the virtASI project. Its goal is to make digitalisation of process engineering faster and simpler. The Bavarian Research Foundation is providing support with a grant of some 703,000 Euros.

Plant engineers and plant operators in the food industry are facing steadily rising prices for raw materials and energy. They also have to deal with increasing complexity and shortages of skilled labor. Moreover, variable market demands are creating problems for producers by requiring greater product variety and reducing lifecycles. The remedy for these problems is automation, because it ensures flexibility and efficiency. Automation also accelerates the development and commissioning of production facilities.

In order to promote faster and simpler digitalisation, Ziemann Holvrieka is participating in a project led by the Chair of Brewing and Beverage Technology at the Technical University of Munich. The project, known by its German abbreviation virtASI (virtual facility planning, simulation and commissioning), is being supported by a grant of approximately 703,000 Euros from the Bavarian Research Foundation. “The purpose is to facilitate automated, model-assisted, virtual engineering in the food industry 4.0 based on modular planning data,” says Tobias Becher, Head of Technology, Research and Development at Ziemann Holvrieka. “Our solution, ‘Module Type Packages’ (MTP), is making a substantial contribution to establishing a standard for automation.” The other participants in the project are the simulation service provider SimPlan from Munich and the technology company Gimbio from Freising.

As the first company in the industry, Symrise is sourcing Hibiscus verified at Gold level of SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA). Symrise has committed itself to promoting sustainable agricultural practices in multiple crops and regions, including in its hibiscus supply chain. Its focus lies on working conditions and the sustainable use of water and soil. This brings the company one step closer to achieving its goal of sourcing all strategic biological raw materials sustainably by 2025.

The SAI verification audit took place in December 2021. Now, Symrise can offer the first sustainable hibiscus in the industry. This represents an important milestone in the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. The plant grows in arid regions and its cultivation requires extensive manual labour. Both the harvest and the separation of seed from calyx for the plant’s reproduction happen by hand.

Symrise sources its hibiscus from the Egyptian region of Aswan. The company has been working with its well-established local partner El Mahaba for over 25 years. Thanks to this long-term cooperation, Symrise has gained direct access to the raw material’s source and can make use of the established practices. It can also identify opportunities that help secure sustainable supply chains. The use of a modern extraction process for the raw material results in an enormous reduction in water consumption and simultaneously increases the yield of the rich hibiscus colour.

Program supports farmers in the region

Symrise wants to use the program to address the needs of the next generation of hibiscus farmers by further advancing its holistic and collaborative approach. The company is involving more farmers in its program and is networking more closely with its customers, thereby increasing the positive effects that the partners can achieve together. “Our collaboration with El Mahaba and the local farmers supports those directly involved and the entire region. In addition, the sustainable cultivation of hibiscus that we promote conserves resources and thus contributes to climate protection,” says Laurence Briand, Sustainable Development Manager at Symrise.

Verified hibiscus promotes the quality of many products such as cosmetics and beverages

To fulfill the criteria for verification and maintain them continuously, independent third parties audit the farms every three years. They ask the farmers and operating groups to evaluate and grade their social, environmental, economic, and general management practices.

With the sustainable cultivation of hibiscus, Symrise is continuing to pursue its goal of sourcing 100 percent of its strategic biological raw materials sustainably by 2025. As part of this goal, the company wants to generate added value along the entire supply chain and expand the portfolio of sustainable raw materials for its customers.