IDMA, the world’s largest exhibition for the milling machinery, grain, and pulses processing industry, welcomed over 10,000 professionals from 120 countries from May 2-4 in Istanbul. The bustling halls of the Istanbul Expo Center, hosting more than 300 exhibitors showcasing their cutting-edge technologies, provided visitors with three days of discovery, innovative solutions, collaboration opportunities, and the latest developments in the grain industry.

Over 10,000 professionals unite at world’s largest grain processing expo

Opening its doors for the 10th time, International Flour, Feed, Semolina, Rice, Corn, Bulgur, Milling Machinery and Pulses, Pasta, Biscuit Technologies Exhibition IDMA once again proved that it is the meeting hub of the global milling industry by the number and diversity of visitors. More than 10,000 people visited the 3-day event in Istanbul, which showcased the latest innovations in the milling machinery industry. Stating that the majority of the visitors were investors and professionals from 120 different countries, IDMA Chairman Kalkan said, “IDMA gathered the leaders of the world grain processing industry under one roof. Stakeholders from every corner of the world meet here to shape the future of our industry.”

Ahmet Güldal

Ahmet Güldal, General Manager of Turkish Grain Board (TMO), Dida Gardera, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture Trade of Indonesia, Haluk Tezcan, Chairman of the Turkish Flour Industrialists Federation (TUSAF), Igor Sviridenko, President of the Russian Flour Mills and Grain Enterprises Association, inaugurated the exhibition which was supported by more than 60 associations, unions and federations from various countries worldwide. Leading figures in the industry such as Zeki Demirtaşoğlu, President of the Association of Milling and Sector Machinery Manufacturers (DESMÜD); Suncica Savovic, Director of the Serbian Grain Association; Moulay Abdelkadir Alalaoui, President of the Moroccan Flour Industry Federation; Rodion Rybchinskyi, President of the Ukrainian Millers’ Association; Ülkü Karakuş, President of the Turkish Feed Industrialists Association (TÜRKİYEM); Aykut Göymen, President of the Turkish Pasta Industrialists’ Association (TMSD); Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bayram, Chairman of the TABADER Board of Directors; and Dr. Mahmoud Riyad, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Milling Association, graced the event with their presence.

Speaking at the event’s inauguration, TMO General Manager Ahmet Güldal commended IDMA for its substantial contributions to the industry, stating, “Turkey has achieved remarkable success in the agricultural sector. It holds the top position globally in flour exports, ranks second in pasta exports, and leads in feed exports within Europe. These achievements have significantly bolstered our country’s agricultural revenues. Alongside these sectors, which serve as pillars for our agricultural producers, we are delighted by the accomplishments of our milling machinery industry. I extend my gratitude to everyone who played a role in the success of the 10th IDMA Istanbul, which serves as a unifying platform for all stakeholders in the grain, feed, and pulses sectors.”

IDMA KEY TO STRENGTHENING GRAIN INDUSTRY

Addressing the opening ceremony, Indonesian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Gardera emphasized the pivotal role of agriculture in the Indonesian economy, stating, “We have yet to achieve our desired level of food security in Indonesia. We believe that technology will play a significant role in addressing food safety concerns. Exhibitions like IDMA showcase the latest technologies in this regard. Last year, IDMA was also held in Jakarta, making significant contributions to food safety and technology advancements in Indonesia. I consider IDMA crucial for enhancing the resilience of the grain processing industry.”

TUSAF Chairman Tezcan highlighted the significance of the Turkish milling machinery industry in Turkey’s ascent to becoming the world’s leading flour exporter. Tezcan emphasized, “As flour industrialists, our commitment to exporting flour globally remains steadfast. We prioritize research and development (R&D) and product development (P&D). These exhibitions serve as crucial platforms for us, shedding light on emerging technologies and paving the way for further advancements.”

A PERFECT MEETING POINT FOR THE GRAIN INDUSTRY

Sunčica Savović, Director of the Serbian Grain Association, commented: “IDMA Expo is one of the most significant events for grain processing industry having in mind new inovative solutions exhibited here which certainly push the grain processing industry forward. Held in Istanbul, it serves as an excellent meeting point for participants from both the European and Asian grain sectors, as well as from African countries. I would like to congratulate the M. Ali Kalkan and his team for their outstanding organization of this highly beneficial event.”

In his speech, Dr. Mahmoud Riyad, Secretary General of the Egyptian Milling Association, emphasized that IDMA is unique in its field and expressed pride in participating for the fourth time. He stated: “IDMA is the only international technology exhibition in the industry where you can showcase all the milling equipment and meet thousands of professional visitors. This is the largest fair of its kind in the world. It provides us the opportunity to see the latest technologies and connect with supplier companies.”

One of the important sector representatives who took the floor at the opening of the fair was Ülkü Karakuş, President of Türkiyembir. In his speech, Mr. Karakuş said, “As we open up to the world, we have the chance to observe the importance of the public, academia and industry working in cooperation in a much better way. In this context, fairs such as IDMA, which provide significant added value, are extremely important. I applaud everyone who contributed.” In his speech, Mr. Karakuş stated that Turkish milling machinery manufacturers make high-level production in terms of technology and said: “I am proud to say that you can export the latest technology products of the companies taking part in the exhibition to anywhere in the world with peace of mind. We are proud of the technology they use.”

Igor Sviridenko, President of the Russian Association of Flour Mills and Grain Enterprises, provided information about the Russian grain processing industry and thanked IDMA for its contribution to the cooperation between Turkish and Russian companies in the field of flour milling.

NEXT IDMA IN MOSCOW IN APRIL 2025

Ali Kalkan
IDMA Chairman

Drawing attention to the prestigious international names at the opening of the exhibition, IDMA Chairman Ali Kalkan stated that this highlights the global scale, importance, and appeal of the IDMA Expo. Underlining the significant role of IDMA in fostering high-value connections and partnerships within the grain processing industry, Kalkan said: “This exhibition, where industry leaders come together to exchange ideas, showcase the latest technologies, and discover new channels for growth, provides added value for innovation and progress.” He expressed his optimism for the future of the grain processing industry, citing IDMA’s ongoing commitment to excellence and its dedication to serving as the premier platform for industry advancement. In this regard, Kalkan announced that, following the successful completion of IDMA Istanbul, they will organize the 2nd IDMA Russia in Moscow in April 2025.