AGRANA Glossary

Group of states in the African, Caribbean, and Pacific region, which have finalized a special agreement with the European Union on developmental cooperation. Through a preference agreement, the EU has granted a privileged access to domestic market and the possibility of duty-free imports of sugar to the majority of the colonial states of France and Great Britain (currently 79 AKP-countries) from 1975.

Bio-energy is defined as the energy, which is acquired from biomass, in which the energy is saved in chemical form. In this, different forms of energy such as heat, electrical energy and fuel for combustion engines are included. Solar energy, which can be chemically connected by plants with the help of photosynthesis, forms the basis for bio-energy.

In case of bio-gene fuels (also: bio-fuels, bio-propellants), it deals with fuels in liquid or gas form, which are manufactured out of biomass (such as plant material or residues of plants). Output material is raw material such as grains, sugar beets or wood. Bio-gene fuels are used for the operation of combustion engines. Bio-gene fuels, bioethanol and biodiesel are the most significant economically, which are also mixed into fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel.

Bio-stabilizers are used at AGRANA instead of chemical biocides such as for example Formaldehyde, for combating microorganisms in the sugar production process. For use in the sugar production, natural bio-stabilizers are developed based on hops and resin. So, here it concerns with products of herbal origin, which have already been used for many years in food production.

Bioethanol is a fuel manufactured by the zymosis of biomass containing carbohydrate (renewable carbon carriers). It has a percentage of alcohol of at least 99 volume percent at its disposal and is de facto water-free. Bioethanol is predominantly acquired out of sugar or grain types containing starch in Europe, due to the climatic conditions. With regard to fossil energy carriers, bioethanol is CO2-neutral and distinguishes itself in its physical characteristics from those of gasoline. Thus, an adjustment of the engines is required for utilization in undiluted form.

Biogas contains methane as combustible component, which is manufactured through the zymosis of biomass in biogas facilities and is used for the generation of bio-energy. Biogas can be acquired from fermentable recycling material that contain biomass, such as sewage sludge, bio-waste or food wastes, farmyard manure (liquid manure, dung) or also from energy crops that have been planted specifically for this, i.e. renewable raw materials.

It is what covers the organic substances that are generated through plants or even animals. The basis for the formation of biomass into solid, liquid and gas form is especially the photosynthesis, employed by plants, in which solar energy is stored through the release of oxygen from water and carbon-dioxide.

The processing period for agricultural raw material, which can normally be stored only for a limited period of time.

Carbocalk is a lime fertilizer, which develops within the scope of the sugar acquisition in the cleaning of the raw syrup. Due to its highly reactive surface, carbocalk is a fertilizer that takes effect very quickly and is suitable for all cultures.

In distinction from bioethanol of the first generation, ethanol manufactured from herbal cellulose substances is defined as cellulose-ethanol. Like the conventional ethanol-fuel, cellulose-ethanol is also produced through zymosis. After distillation and drying, ethanol can finally be used as fuel. The production of cellulose-ethanol is still in the developmental phase.

It is seen today as an important greenhouse gas. It is because of a chemical connection made between carbon dioxide and oxygen. The gas, which is neutral in colour and smell forms less than 1% natural content of air and is produced during the combustion of substances containing carbon dioxide as well as during breathing.

In order to make the greenhouse-effect of different greenhouse gases comparable and consequently to make it hummable, their greenhouse potential (Global Warming Potential) is used. It indicates the contribution of different gases to the heating of the earth’s atmosphere in the form of an equivalent volume of CO₂. The greenhouse effect of a kilogram of a gas is expressed in this as a multiple (“equivalent factor”) of the greenhouse effect of a kilogram of CO₂.

Under coloured juice concentrate, all fruit juice concentrates are included, except apple juice concentrate and concentrates made from citrus fruits. Among them you find cherry juice concentrate, black currant concentrates, etc.

Corn (maize) starch is made of starch acquired from corn (maize) and is used especially in the production of food (e.g. pudding) but also for technical uses, such as for example in the paper production or in the sector for cosmetics.

These help to protect indigenous products against cheap imports from third countries (exterior protection). The basic customs-duty for sugar is a fixed amount. In addition, in the import of sugar within the context of the protective clause of the so-called additional customs-duty is lifted up as variable tariff rate.

Countries or regions, which consume more sugar than what they produce themselves, and must cover their needs through sugar import. In the course of the return of quotes, in Europe this concerns countries such as Ireland, Italy or Portugal, but also Hungary and Romania.

Fuel with 10% content of water-free bioethanol and 90% content of conventional petrol.

See SuperEthanol E85.

The term “Emerging Market” is used frequently in the financial sector and describes an upcoming market. Especially the countries of the second world (such as for example China or India) are described as the so-called emerging countries, which have left their prior status of a developmental country and are on their way to the status of an industrial country.

Generally signifies the release of disturbing factors into the environment. A typical example for this are the gas-forming contaminants from cars.

Enzymes (earlier also: ferment) are protein molecules which accelerate chemical reactions as catalysators and, for example, break up starch into dextrose molecules. This way they play an important role in the fermentation (zymosis) (See fermentation).

Ethanol is a clear, slightly combustible liquid. It is often defined colloquially as alcohol. Ethanol is especially known as drinking alcohol, probably as a part of the semiluxury food such as wine or beer. Especially in recent times, ethanol has acquired great importance – apart from the food production industry – as bio-fuel in the form of bioethanol (See bioethanol).

The EU-Bio-Fuel guideline of the European Parliament and the recommendation dated 26 March 2009 regulates the use of bio-fuel or other renewable fuels (for example wind and solar energy, geothermics, or hydropower) in the transport sector. The EU-Bio-fuel guideline document specifies the part of the renewable fuels for the total fuel consumption in energy percents, however, it doesn’t specify how (the mixing of bio-gene with fossil fuels or the use of alternative fuels) these targets can be reached. According to the guidelines the genie fuels are: bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, bio-methanol, biodimethyl ether, bio-ETBE, bio-MTBE, synthetic bio-fuels and pure plant oil.

Within the scope of life cycle analysis, the allocation of greenhouse gas emissions can be carried out on bioethanol and its by-products with the so-called substitution methods or the energy allocation methods. The substitution method is suitable as per the specifications of the EU for political analyses. The energy allocation method is to be used for regulatory purposes as well as for individual record of producers and fuels.

See sugar regime.

With the issue of export licenses, the EU-Commission ensures itself the control over the export of EU-quota-sugar and the adherence of the WTO-export restrictions with regard to quantity and quality.

See customs.

The term fermentation (zymosis) is understood in bio-technology as the conversion of biological material through the addition of enzymes (ferment), however, it requires the help of cultures from bacteria, mushrooms and cells.

Certain vehicles are defined as FFVs, which can be operated with SuperEthanol E85 (a fuel mixture made of up to 85% bioethanol) and Super petrol, or any desired mix rate. They can, therefore, be used regardless of the existence of a SuperEthanol E85-gas station network. FFVs distinguish themselves only to a small extent from the conventional petrol engine. They have additionally a sensor at their disposal, which measures the corresponding mix-rate from the bioethanol and Super petrol in the vehicle’s tank. The vehicle’s electronics then adjust the engine control unit to the optimum values.

Forms the basis for fruit juice drinks and will be sold to the industry that produces fruit juice and beverages. The water taken carefully from the pressed fruit juice will be added to the concentrate for the manufacture of the end product for consumption, finally again in the same quantity. The result is high-value juice with 100% fruit content.

Fruits of high quality are prepared in liquid form or in the form of pieces, and kept in good condition thermally, so that they can be further processed, especially in dairy products or for the ice-cream industry or the industry for baked goods.

See non-quota-sugar.

It’s the legal basis for the supply of sugar beets and its payment. It is negotiated between the associations of the beet farmers and the companies producing sugar.

Basic material consisting of fructose. Used as an ingredient in the production of food (yogurt) for example as substitution for fat and to improve the taste, the texture and the feeling in the mouth or for the manufacturing of fructose.

Isoglucose is a liquid product based on starch, which is converted to sugar, which corresponds to 42% of sweetness of sugar in the fructose content, and therefore is used as sugar substitute. The fructose content can be raised through further stages of process up to 55%. Isoglucose is manufactured from grains, especially from maize.

The list of the Least Development Countries (LDCs) includes the poorest and least developed countries in the world. LDCs may introduce their produced goods with the exception of weapons (Everything but Arms [EBA-Agreement]) without the reduction of quantity and duty-free into the EU. There was an import quota for sugar through to the 30 September 2009.

See sugar marketing year. See marketing year for grains.

Begins in July and ends in the subsequent year in June.

The EU-sugar market regulation provides a minimum price for sugar beets. This is applicable for the degree of delivery and a certain standard of quality. In case of deviating qualities, additions and deductions are made.

Sweet, dark-brown by-product of the sugar manufacture, similar to syrup. The fluid contains probably also 50% sugar, which can, however, not be further crystallized. Molasses are used predominantly in the manufacture of yeast, alcohol, or also as supplement to cattle fodder

See starch.

Defined in accordance with the sugar regime the particular sugar, which exceeds the production quota. This can be marketed as industry sugar (Non-Food) for the generation of products predominantly in the chemical or in the pharmaceutical industry (used for the generation of yeast, citric acid and vitamins), exported into third countries or carried forward to the next sugar marketing year.

In the course of the widening circle of the EU, the obligations of the EU come into play, to guarantee to certain countries that produce sugar, to accept sugar at guaranteed prices. The main part is allotted to the LDCs and ACP-countries.

The production levy for sugar quotas is € 12 per tonne and can be procured from the SMY 2007|08 up to 50% from the sugar beet farmers. For isoglucose the amount is 50% of the output applicable for sugar. It is an administrative contribution to the EU.

See sugar quota.

See sugar quota.

The particular sugar which is generated and marketed in the course of a sugar marketing year within the scope of the allotted production quota.

Defines the particular sugar beets which are necessary for the fulfilment of the production quota for sugar.

Raw sugar is a semi-finished product of the sugar cane, or also of the sugar beet, in which the sugar crystals are not yet completely released from the adhering non-sugar material, which gives it its brown colour.

The reference price fixed in the EU-sugar regime for EU-quota sugar is served through the deflection of the minimum price for sugar beets and does not have any immediate effects on the market price, which is determined by supply and demand.

The term “refining” defines in general a technical process for cleaning, processing, separation or concentration of raw material. In the case of sugar, this means the de-coloration of brown raw sugar (from sugar cane or sugar beet) through repeated recrystallization.

Fund which is financed from the sugar regime restructuring levy of the EU-sugar producers. Its means are being used within the EU in the context of the sugar regime with the goal of producing market equilibrium in the EU through the output of quota sugar production.

Payment to companies producing sugar out of the EU-restructuring fund which give back quotas continuously and voluntarily within the context of the restructuring.

Smoothies (in English smooth = fine, sleek) are puree-like fruit drinks with an especially high content of fruit. In distinction to fruit juices in the conventional sense, in the case of smoothies, the whole fruit, including its skin and cores, are processed. Smoothies are based, therefore, only on fruit pulp in order to achieve an especially creamy consistency.

See sugar market regulation

Starch is an organic connection and one of the most important reserve materials in the plant cells. In our latitudes, starch is mainly acquired from corn (maize), wheat or potatoes. In order to acquire starch, the parts of the plants containing starch are cut into pieces and, subsequently, the cleaning out of the starch takes place. Through filtration and centrifugation steps, the extraction of the starch takes place. The last stage is, finally, their drying. Native starch presents as white powder.

The so-called starch corn (maize) or also the soft corn (maize) is one of the oldest corn (maize) types. It is well suited as direct food product, because it can be ground easily due to its floury nutritive tissue. The starch corn plays an important role as raw material for industrial evaluation.

Substitution comes from the Latin word “substituere”, which means “replace”.

Sucrose, generally known as crystal sugar, is a twofold-sugar (Disaccharide), which consists of up to half of the dextrose (glucose) and fruit sugar (fructose). There is sucrose in the sugar beet as well as in the sugar cane.

Sugar is extracted in Europe from the sugar beet. In sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, sugar cane is the main source for sugar production. “Sugar” is mostly understood as household sugar, i.e., sucrose; besides this, however, there is also another series of sugar types, such as for example, glucose, fructose or milk-sugar. They all count as nutrient groups of the carbohydrate.

The sugar beet is an agricultural culture plant, which serves exclusively in the manufacture of sugar from sugar beet. The sugar beet consists of the beet head and the root body. Sucrose, which is extracted in the sugar factory, is preserved in the root body.

A sugar juice that has been thickened and cleaned to approximately 70% to 75% dry substance, which shows a brown coloration as well as a tough consistency. Concentrated juice is produced at the end of the vaporization stage, before the actual crystallization comes about in the cooking apparatus in the sugar factory.

Sugar that has been acquired from sugar cane, which is chemically identical to sugar beet.

The particular process is defined as extraction, in which sugar is dissolved out from the sugar beet slices with the help of hot water. End product of this extraction is raw juice, which contains approximately 98% of the sugar contained in the sugar beet.

The set of regulations of the EU existing from 1968 for quotas and customs helps the general market organization for sugar and for ensuring indigenous sugar production.

The sugar marketing year of the European Union begins respectively on the 1 October and ends on the 30 September of the subsequent year. This reference period is applicable for all regulations of the EU-sugar market.

In the sugar production process from the sugar beet, raw juice is extracted from the sugar beet slices, which are cleaned in several stages and finally thickened so long, until sugar crystallizes from it. Through recrystallization, sugar is cleaned, so that you get clean, white crystals. These crystals have a sucrose content of approximately 100%. With that, sugar is a highly pure food product and has almost unlimited preservation.

Within the context of European sugar market regulation, a production quantity for sugar and isoglucose is fixed for every EU-member state that produces sugar. This quantity is again broken down to the producing companies and is fixed as production quota. With that, the production is limited and surpluses are minimized.

Annual payment of the sugar producers in the EU with reference to the production quota for the financing of the EU restructuring funds in the scope of the EU-sugar regime (over a time period of three years): July 2006 to September 2008.

An environment-friendly fuel, which contains 85% bioethanol with the rest being petrol. bioethanol is extracted out of raw material, which contains sugar and starch (such as for example probably wheat, maize, triticale as well as concentrated juice of sugar beet). In order to be able to use E85 as fuel for automobiles, the so-called FFVs are needed (See Flexible Fuel Vehicles).

See sugar beet thick juice.

The sugar export regulated through permits in third countries defines the export of sugar to countries outside the EU. The export licenses necessary for this are distributed by the EU to the sugar producers (See export licenses).

The grain type Triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye and therefore combines the characteristics of both these sorts, with reference to taste as well as also to content. Triticale is used due to the high content of starch as well as also as energy grain for the production of bioethanol.

This term is understood as the residue of distillation, which contains protein, fats and minerals. Vinasse is either dried or used in liquid state as dung, in bio-gas facilities or as cattle fodder.

Waxy corn (maize) distinguishes itself through starch grains with a high content of amylopectin. With 70% to 80%, amylopectin accounts for the main constituent of the natural herbal starch, such as in corn (maize) or potato starch, and is used in food production technology especially as stabilizer and thickening agent. Like starch corn, the waxy corn also plays an important role as row material supplier for the industrial utilization.

Since autumn 2000, sugar, among other products, may be imported in limited quantities dutyfree from the former Yugoslavia countries to the EU. The EU has also made corresponding free trade agreements with Croatia and Serbia.

Corn (maize) that is fresh from harvest is also defined as wet corn (maize).

Household sugar is defined as white sugar, which is extracted through crystallization and centrifugation.

The World Trade Organization with its office in Geneva, in which 150 member states negotiate the liberalization of the world trade.