PRODUCT PROFILE Potato starch is starch extracted from potatoes. The cells of the root tubers of the potato plant contain starch grains (leucoplasts). To extract the starch, the potatoes are crushed; the starch grains are released from the destroyed cells. The starch is then washed out and dried to powder. Potato starch is essential as a universal binding and food thickening agent. Leveraging on potato starch production and producing modified potato starch that is specially customized for various applications in food, textile and paper manufacturing industries. Product characteristics Appearance - powder a clear white colour Surface of starch granules app. 30 ha/g Specific density app. 1.55 g/ml Specific heat 1.22 J/g Bulk weight of starch 80% DS app. 0.7 g/ml DS of moist centrifuge app. 0.6 g/ml Brightness (MgO2 = 100%) app. 95 % Size ranges between 5 and 100 ?m Applications Starch and modified starches have a broad range of applications both in the food and non food sectors. The largest users of starch in the EU (30%) are the paper, cardboard and corrugating industries. Other important fields of starch application are textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, construction and paints. In the medium and long run starch will play an increasing role in the field of “renewable raw materials†for the production of biodegradable plastics, packaging material and moulds. The powder has very consistent as the major raw materials are available in house with very good quality. The best value provided by the modified starch over native starch is the reduction in downtime and improvement in paper quality. Additional benefits offered by the modified starches are improvement in wastewater discharge quality with charged starches, elimination of chemical and equipment for on site conversion of native starches, reduction in labor costs due to the simplicity of cooking and using modified starches etc. Global demand Starch, one of the most present biomaterials has witnessed significant developments over the years. After witnessing a temporary dip in growth in the year 2008 and 2009, the world market for starch, by consumption is expected to recover and register healthy growth to reach 80 million metric ton by 2015. The Global starch market is likely to get respite from deceleration in its market growth, with growth poised to receive a new lease of life in the next few years, thanks to the growing consumption of liquid starches and modified starches. The modified starch market is projected to be the fastest growing segment over the period 2007-2015. The US represents the largest geographic market for starch, having accounted for a share of about 51% in the total volume of starch consumed in 2009. Given the countrys large per capita income, the demand for starch in the US has been steadily on the rise. Asia Pacific represents the fastest growing market over the period 2007-2015. Growing employment opportunities, and subsequent increase in per capita income over the last few years, particularly in China and India, have been driving the growing demand for starch in the region. The demand of the product in the market is immense and therefore its market position is splendid. Hence it is an excellent field to venture.