Capable of drying, processing, conditioning, separating and storing oilseed rape, wheat and barley, the project is being developed by Future Grain Ltd, a consortium of local farmers and landowners.
Scheduled to be completed in time for the 2014 harvest, the facility has been shortlisted for a Defra REG grant. It is being supported by AtlasFram Group, the UK’s foremost farm inputs purchasing and crop marketing cooperative, together with independent merchant Dewing Grain Ltd, both of whom have been appointed as marketing partners.
“We regard this as a wonderful opportunity for farmers in Suffolk and Norfolk to invest in and benefit from what will be a state-of-the-art facility, at a fraction of the cost of constructing their own on-farm store,” stated Simon Thompson, a Director of Future Grain Ltd. He added:
“The average cost of constructing on-farm grain storage now exceeds £200 per tonne. For around half that amount Future Grain Ltd will provide its farmer-owners with a sophisticated processing and storage facility which will significantly enhance the value of their crops. The unit will help to shorten the supply chain and to provide better integration, traceability and transparency between the grower and the consumer. We have already had significant interest from local growers who are keen to invest because they understand the benefits it will bring to their businesses.”
AtlasFram Group and Dewing Grain will work with Future Grain Ltd in operating the store and marketing owners’ grain. The AtlasFram Group, which is based in Suffolk, has 1250 Members throughout the UK and operates its own Crop Marketing Division in conjunction with strategic partner ADM Direct, providing a comprehensive grain marketing service for its Members’ cereals, oilseed rape and pulses. Aylsham-based Dewing Grain Ltd, which will be responsible for managing the new store, offers a range of specialist marketing services, particularly for malting barley.
“This is an exciting project which we believe will be a great interest not only to our Members but also other growers in the region,” stated Richard Anscombe, Chief Executive of AtlasFram Group.
“Central storage of this type represents the way forward because it allows farmers to benefit from access to an approved, state-of-the-art facility at much lower cost than would otherwise be possible, with the significant benefit of being able to add value to their crops.”
Located on the former airfield at Beccles, the site has good road links and easy access to East Coast ports, Future Grain provide an on farm collection service, a 24/7 operation with a significant added value marketing opportunities.
