Equinom Proposes New Methods for Sesame Trade
Seed breeding specialist Equinom’s expansion of its modern cultivation methods into the global market is changing the paradigm on production and trading of sesame. They are meant to increase profitability and market stability, but also to bring more flexibility for growers, food companies, and grain holders.
As part of its broad sesame development plans, Equinom has signed new long-term contracts with major grain handlers and international food companies to grow and commercialize its smarter sesame varieties in Africa, South America Europe and the rest of the world. Results so far include the introduction of a fresh influx of land now dedicated to the cultivation of sesame totaling 100K acres worldwide to meet burgeoning demands. Newly emerging growers in the US and Australia are eagerly adopting the cultivation of sesame locally.
Under the plan, traditional growers are realizing the benefits of Equinom’s non-GMO seed varieties to scale up production and broaden existing locations for growth.
“The world sesame market is currently worth almost USD10bn. We are dramatically developing the entire sesame value chain,” Gil Shalev, CEO and co-founder at Equinom, stated.
Equinom’s smarter varieties also enable farmers to generate more accurate and pre-defined yields. This leads to more precise profit forecasting and assessments that greatly facilitate the execution of prospective contracts, providing all partners — grain handlers, farmers, et alia — with a safety net, by keeping supplies and prices stable.
“The sesame industry is, by nature, prone to fluctuations and that makes it difficult for key parties in the supply chain to meet pledged output quotas. Our solution removes a lot of the risks associated with yield inconsistencies and grants stakeholders a new sense of assurance. Even in times of crisis — such as with the current COVID-19 pandemic — food companies can rely on a secured supply of sesame. Right now, amid the outbreak, it’s ‘business as usual’ for Equinom. We are currently drafting new work plans to propel the industry despite the challenging border closures and transportation hurdles,” explains Shalev.
Equinom’s breeding methods are proving to be instrumental in boosting access to high-value sesame. They are already transforming sesame into a lucrative cash crop for all stakeholders along the supply chain including farmers, traders, and food manufacturers, and new players are unlocking its vast potential. Traditionally, the food companies were levied with most of the risks. Equinom’s know-how and capabilities divide any such risk between all stakeholders giving all players greater flexibility.
Through leveraging a combination of cutting-edge computational science and natural breeding, Equinom has been able to develop sesame with high-yield capabilities and superior nutritional profiles. It can easily be tailored to a variety of innovative and commercial products, including baking, confectionery, tahini, oil and flour. These encompass parameters of oil concentration, protein load, flavor, and sensory qualities contributing to more uniform products. This has been a game-changer for food manufacturers, allowing them to reap the benefits in the form of consistent supplies of sesame that meet their specific application needs.