Malting barley is making waves as a major ingredient in the baking industry, it is claimed.
While British malt products have been used in foods for many years, new uses for them are leading to a sharp increase in sales for malting firms, according to Farmers Weekly.
Malting barley now constitutes the basic ingredient for many popular extracts, syrups, powders flours, flakes and blends, for use in the baking industry and the animal feed sector.
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Concerns have been raised that firms manufacturing biomass wood fuel will be facing a shortage of sustainable timber.
According to the Highland Council, interest in biomass power has increased sharply over the last few years and adequate preparations need to be made to ensure supply of wood, the BBC reports.
The issue is now due to be discussed at the local authority's land, environment and sustainability strategy group next week.
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The chemicals manufacturing industry needs to be assisted in meeting the government's carbon reduction targets.
According to the Confederation of British Industry, there is rightfully a strong commitment to decarbonising the UK economy, The Manufacturer reports.
However, CBI director general John Cridland says that the focus on eco-industries is unhelpful as other sectors, such as the chemicals manufacturers, are just as important to the whole process.
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Firms in the baking industry will be set to benefit from increased exposure to buyers at a new exhibition.
British Baker confirmed that the well-established biennial Foodex show will now incorporate a new Bakery@Foodex component.
The magazine suggests that there will be now more opportunities for baking firms, with companies given the chance to reach a wider audience and a more varied buyer base.
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Jobs in the chemicals manufacturing industry could be lost if the government proceeds with new carbon taxes, it is claimed.
A plan to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the UK will see a permit for one tonne of carbon dioxide rising gradually from the current price of £14.64 to £30 by 2020, the Liverpool daily Post reports.
Runcorn's Ineos Chlor chairman Jim Ratcliffe says this new "carbon floor" scheme, combined with similar directives from the European Union, will cost his factory £30 million a year at its top level, forcing it to close.
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The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is facing legal action after refusing to name firms in the chemicals manufacturing sector that have been producing toxic chemicals.
Environmental law organisation ClientEarth and watchdog ChemSec insist that the ECHA is violating European transparency laws in not naming companies that produce some of the 356 different chemicals considered to be of "high concern".
Vito Buonsante, toxics lawyer at ClientEarth, says that under REACH regulations, the public has a right to know which organisations are exposing them to substances considered hazardous.
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Chemicals manufacturing firms are facing up to the rising cost of imported commodities.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the cost of imported chemicals rose by 1.5 per cent from March to April 2011, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.2 per cent.
Overall, manufacturing firms experienced a rise of 2.6 per cent in the input index between March and April.
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A site in Ulverston, Cumbria is being considered for a new pharmaceutical factory, alongside similar locations in Irvine Scotland and Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Although a decision is not expected until the end of the year on the new development, locals in the regions concerned are no doubt hopeful that they will be chosen because of the potential for job creation.
The plant would be built by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and would take about five years to build. Once completed, it would be responsible for manufacturing drugs to treat illnesses.
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Brands and manufacturers that fail to adhere to their REACH obligations with regards to chemical products could face severe damage.
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services UK has called on companies using chemicals in manufacturing processes and products to consider establishing a REACH policy.
The firm's sales and business development director, Jonathon Thackray, noted that failure to establish a policy could make it difficult for businesses to respond to customers within the required time-frame.
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Funding has been agreed for four collaborative projects between firms in the chemicals manufacturing industry and biotechnology experts.
The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has provided £1.5 million of support to facilitate research and development into new, efficient and sustainable methods of energy and chemical production.
Albany Molecular Research (UK), Ensus, PML Applications and TerraVerdae Bioworks will lead the four projects.
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