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Call for Expressions of Interest – Association Management Opportunity (February 7, 2022)[pdf]

Education and Training

Education, Training and Independent Study

In many respects, milling is an art, demanding of mill production workers a detailed understanding of the unique operational characteristics of each mill, coupled with the knowledge of how each stage in the manufacturing process transforms unprocessed cereal grains into ingredients that will meet the end use performance requirements of further processors and consumers.  This requires that a portion of training for milling industry employees take place on the job.  Depending on the position tasks and responsibilities, secondary and post-secondary studies are required.  Basic and advanced qualifications for some milling industry production jobs can be acquired through short courses and correspondence courses. 

There is no formal program of study in grain milling offered by any university or community college in Canada.  However there are a number of training and education opportunities available to milling industry workers and individuals who have an interest in joining the industry.  These are offered and managed independently by organizations in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom.  Among these are the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI), International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM), the National Association of British and Irish Millers (NABIM) and Kansas State University (KSU). 

Cereals Canada / Canadian International Grains Institute - CIGI

Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, CIGI is now part of Cereals Canada and offers a mix of classroom and hands-on training and examination, taking advantage of the Institute’s state-of-the-art milling, baking and noodle/pasta manufacturing facilities located in the heart of Canada’s grain industry.   

CIGI has historically offered resident short courses at an introductory and more technical level with a focus on wheat milling.  In recent years, CIGI’s technical expertise and involvement with the advancement of other grain and oilseeds subsectors has positioned the Institute to deliver training courses in primary and further processing of a broad range of cereal grains and oilseeds.  For additional information, please visit www.cigi.ca.

UK Flour Millers

As a trade association, UK Flour Millers sits at the heart of the industry. Our role as a representative body for the industry includes collating and sharing the collective view and position of our members. As the 'industry voice', we speak on behalf of our members to government, policy makers, the media and other stakeholders.

https://www.ukflourmillers.org/

IOAM – International Association of Operative Millers

IAOM is a bi-national (Canada-US) milling professional association that offers a program of independent study by correspondence.  Developed and reviewed by industry experts, the IAOM Correspondence Course in Flour Milling is comprised of eight units encompassing all aspects of flour milling from wheat cleaning, basic milling principles, storage and grain handling to milled-grain product additives, plant management and mill mechanics.

IAOM also offers resident milling courses in cooperation with Kansas State University’s Grain Science & Industry department and the International Grains Program (IGP).  Two of the courses are offered each quarter during back-to-back weeks. The courses are conducted on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

For additional information on IAOM training resources and programs, please visit www.iaom.info.

KSU – Kansas State University

KSU offers undergraduate programs leading to degrees in milling, bakery and feed science and management.  The university also offers graduate programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in grain science.  KSU welcomes students from outside of the U.S. 

For additional information, please visit www.grains.ksu.edu.

Cereals and Grains Association

Cereals & Grains Association is a global, nonprofit association of nearly 2,000 scientists and food industry professionals working to advance the understanding and knowledge of cereal grain science and its product development applications through research, leadership, education, technical service, and advocacy.

https://www.cerealsgrains.org/

Studies in Food Science at Canadian Universities and Colleges

A number of Canadian Universities and Community Colleges offer courses of study in food science and food safety that are of possible interest to individuals interested in pursuing a career in grain milling and grain-based foods further processing.  Program and organization links are listed below.

University of British Columbia:  www.you.ubc.ca  

University of Guelph:  www.uoguelph.ca
University of Manitoba:  www.umanitoba.ca 
University of Saskatchewan:  www.usask.ca
Memorial University:  https://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/programs-and-courses/sciences/