We’re making Bio-Products – Ethanol, Bio-Diesel, and others. We must meet minimum quality standards in order to sell these primary products. That’s where we focus our attention – and we should! If a tank of Ethanol does not meet spec, then we’ve got a big problem.
As for the By-Products, most of us take the attitude of “we just get what we get.” While that may be true, to some extent, the “quality” of that product will have some influence on the price we can command in the marketplace. The American Oxford Dictionary defines quality as, “The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind.” For feed Co-Products, the “similar things” for comparison are not just other like Co-Products – for example, we are not just comparing DDG/S from two different ethanol plants; we are comparing our DDG/S to all other feed ingredients, such as soybean meal, corn, sunflower meal, and so on. Even between two sources of DDG/S with the same Crude Protein and Fat values, there can be dramatic differences in monetary value based on “quality.”
In order to determine these differences, you need a consultant that has a good knowledge of Chemistry (and Nutrient Analysis), to be sure; however, quality goes much, much deeper than a simple Nutrient Profile. Your consultant must be an expert at making determinations of factors affecting quality – AND, he must be able to translate those results into usable data. At a minimum, he must be an expert at statistical analysis and interpretation. Without a clear understanding of your Co-Product Quality along with good supporting data, you have no real idea of its value and you are just at the mercy of the marketplace. The takeaway? Your end-user customers are continually evaluating the quality of your co-products. You should do the same.
Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have experts in feedstocks, like agricultural waste, algae, biogas, co2, construction waste, cooking oils, energy crops, fermentation waste, forest products, glycerin, hemp, lignin, municipal solid waste (MSW), palm waste, railroad ties, sludge, solid recovered fuels, and wood waste. Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s premier bioeconomy consulting group, with over 150 highly qualified experts serving in all these areas. Take a look at our experts and the services we provide. Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters. For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full-service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.
