EDITORIAL BestFlours No. 11/08 2 The art of flour improvement The longer you work in flour improvement, the more convinced you become that even the most advanced technical knowledge and the longest experience are not enough to do justice to flour as a raw material in every situation. There always remains a dark zone that has to be illuminated by artistic (innovative) means rather than by a technical approach. Sudden changes in circumstances are a common but totally unpredictable feature of this dark zone: deliveries that fail to arrive, or fluctuate; shortages in the markets for raw materials; short-term political decisions, and many other factors. And things won't be easier in future ... So it's all the more important for us to have at least one ear listening to our customers and both eyes on market trends. Our professionals are often on the spot doing just that: discussing with representatives of the relevant organizations, and with consultants, what our customers need and what we have to change or improve. Our widely travelled master baker Thomas Schramm has given BestFlours a detailed report on his experience. Our customers need information themselves in order to make their decisions. BestFlours aims to be a useful source of information on current trends and assessments. The following pages contain new insights from our own company and a report on the current international wheat market. And of course we want to give you the latest news about Mühlenchemie itself. What is going on at the old District Court building in Wittenburg is certainly unusual: the art of flour improvement referred to in the heading may even be topped by the art of flour packaging. You will find a comprehensive feature on the world's first flour sack museum on pages 18/19. But go a step further: come and see for yourself! We invite you most warmly to visit the flour art museum in Wittenburg. We wish you enjoyable reading. Dr. Lutz Popper Head of Research & Development