After an intensive ten-month training period, 18 experts on feed technology have been awarded the diploma from the renowned Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT). 
 
18 participants, 16 men and 2 women, from 15 countries took part in their 35th diploma course from February to October 2018. All 18 participants received the coveted diploma. The top student was a participant from Israel.

During the ten intensive months, the students gained in-depth knowledge about feed production, both in the context of private study and in attendance phases.

"They now rank among the experts in their field," said Marcel Scherrer, President of the SFT.

Alongside the growing demand for efficient feed technologies, the demands presented by customers and end consumers, as well as legal regulations, are constantly presenting feed millers with new challenges. "The training at the School of Feed technology provides the best possible basis to surmount these challenges in the future," said Scherrer.

During ten months of training a broad field is covered – from the bases of individual process steps, plant design, animal nutrition, feed safety to the new sensor technologies as the basis for digitalizing the industry. With their training, the graduates are now qualified to undertake management responsibilities and to further develop the industry successfully.

A special distinction was conferred upon Shimon Elmaliah, the top student of the year at the graduation ceremony.  Shimon, who is an agronomist as well, comes from Israel and has already worked for a long time for a feed additive manufacturer. He contributed his many years of experience successfully and willingly shared it with his fellow students. Shimon achieved a mark of 5.76, an outstanding attainment for which he received the traditional pewter plate.

The "Feed Production Engineer" diploma course took place in 2018 for the fifth time. The aim is to allow participants to complete the training in parallel with their occupational duties, hence the structure of the program. Between the teaching blocks in Switzerland the course participants have to work on topics themselves and submit evidence of achievement, whereby 21 subject areas are involved. During both intensive courses the students sat a total of 14 written exams. The highlight and conclusion of each individual block is the two oral exams in the core subjects before a panel of experts.

The SFT operates as a non-profit association and is recognized as a further education and training establishment by the Association of Swiss Feed Manufacturers (VSF). The SFT provides professionals from the feed industry and related industries with expert knowledge relating to the production of animal feed. Successful completion of the specialist course provides graduates with the capacity to understand all modern processing technologies and processes in a compound feed plant and to apply them appropriately in practice. 

The next course in compound feed technology will start in January 2019 in Germany.