DSM and Bühler today announced the opening of Wuxi NutriRice Co. Ltd, a production facility operated in a joint venture between them. This facility, the first commercial scale production of its kind in the world, produces NutriRice, nutritional enriched rice kernels to be mixed with natural rice produced via a patented process that protects the stability of the nutrients while at the same time ensuring high bio-availability and good taste.

Wuxi NutriRice Co. Ltd. will market the enriched rice kernels (NutriRice®) to rice millers and retailers to introduce the concept and benefits of NutriRice enriched rice to consumers.

The newly opened facility will start production as of August 2007. It will start with limited capacity, which is sufficient to enrich approximately 80,000 tonnes of rice. As it is the first facility of its kind, it is primarily intended for market development and it is anticipated that the capacity will be increased in the coming years.

The project is a result of the joint research efforts of the two companies combining
€8-billion revenue DSM''s over 70 years experience in nutrient formulation and Bühler''s advanced technology in grain processing and food extrusion.

The Netherlands-headquartered DSM develops, produces and sells worldwide innovative products in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals with end-markets and applications in human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E).

Bühler is a global leader in the supply of process engineering solutions, especially production technologies for making foods and engineering materials and is a leader in mechanical and thermal process engineering such as grinding, blending and mixing, thermal treatment and shaping for processing cereal grains and foods, producing and upgrading engineering materials, and for die casting.

"The long-term partnership in research into ingredient processing technologies between Bühler and DSM is the foundation of the success for our joint venture in Wuxi," said Stephan Tanda, member of the managing board of directors of DSM. "The company will carry out further research in the field of rice enrichment to better fulfill the nutrient and health needs of the people worldwide.

"The project is again a step forward in DSM''s strategy Vision 2010 – ''building on strengths'', contributing to the pillars market-driven growth and innovation and increased presence in emerging economies, whilst at the same time it is an example of sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship," Tanda adds.

The need for enriched rice in China
Over the last few decades, the health and nutritional status of the Chinese population has improved significantly. Although great improvements have been made, the problems of nutritional deficiency and imbalance still exist. Micronutrient deficiencies such as nutritional anaemia and Vitamin A deficiency are still common even in urban areas.

As a staple food, rice provides a high percentage of the daily caloric intake of the Chinese population. However, since many of the nutrients in rice are lost during the rice whitening and polishing process, milled rice has relatively low micronutrient content in comparison to un-milled rice. The traditional rinsing of rice is another challenge to rice enrichment since vitamins and minerals can potentially be washed off.

In response to these hurdles, the NutriRice process offers the unique possibility to efficiently encapsulate multiple micronutrients inside the rice kernel. Nutrients such as vitamin A and B as well as Iron and Zinc can be chosen for inclusion. Due to the patented process in which micronutrients are encapsulated into the rice kernel, NutriRice shows superior physical stability with excellent retention of vitamins and minerals during storage, washing and cooking.

In addition to this, NutriRice kernels can be adapted to the shape and length of regional rice varieties, making it acceptable to consumers whatever their cultural or regional preference.

In addition to the production of enriched kernels, Wuxi NutriRice Co. Ltd. expects to continue research in rice and rice product enrichment with the aim of rolling out the NutriRice concept not only in China but also around the world. By producing a range of enriched rice formulations, Wuxi NutriRice will offer consumers greater choice and retailers unique products that will provide them opportunities to differentiate in the marketplace.

"Wuxi NutriRice Co Ltd. can make use of Buhler''s multiple years of experience and legendary high precision extrusion technology to guarantee this unique customized kernel quality," outlines Dieter Voegtli, president of Bühler China.

Combating micronutrient deficiencies
"As a responsible corporate citizen with extensive worldwide experience in the nutrition field, DSM is committed to improving public health in China", says Weiming Jiang, president of DSM China.

Since 1995, DSM has partnered with international organisations such as the United Nations World Food Program, UNICEF, the International Life Sciences Institute as well as Chinese government affiliated organisations such as the ''centre for public nutrition and development and the ministry of education to contribute to the improvement in people''s health via development of a staple food fortification program. The government flour fortification program in China supported by DSM represents the company''s commitment to public health.

"Vitamin enriched foods have been proven easy and convenient ways of attaining nutritional balance. Staple food fortification programs are able to cover a large segment of the population and are sustainable over time," adds Professor Yu Xiaodong, director of the ''centre for public nutrition and development of China. "Rice enrichment, in addition to flour fortification, will greatly contribute to China''s plan to improve the overall nutrition intake of its citizens."