Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Cargill to Create New Sweeteners and Starches in Middle East

Cargill and Agri-Business Firm Arasco to Take Foothold in Middle East Market

By , Farms.com

Cargill has said that it plans on developing new sweeteners and starches as part of a partnership in Saudi Arabia with another agri-business company – Arasco.

The joint venture is subject to regulatory approvals, however if the deal does go through, Cargill will own 20% and Arasco will have an 80% stake.

The move is a strategic one, as the Middle East is growing and is considered the highest growth area in the food and beverage industry worldwide.

The deal would acquire Arasco’s corn milling plant that’s located in Al Akarj with the goal to triple production to produce starch-based products aimed at countries in the Gulf.


Trending Video

Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.