Flour Milling in Australia. The Australian flour milling industry has changed considerably since the 1870s, when more than 500 flour mills were operating

The Australian flour milling industry has changed considerably since the 1870s, when more than 500 flour mills were operating, powered by steam, water or wind.

Mill ownership has evolved from small family concerns to large diversified companies. Those remaining in the industry have extended their operations into fields such as stockfeed milling, bakeries, household flour, packaged cake mixes, pasta and biscuit production, starch, gluten and glucose manufacture, and livestock production. Australian owned companies produce the majority of the flour milled in Australia.

The decline in the number of flour mills operating in Australia has been largely due to the application of new technology. It is no longer feasible for each town to have its own mill to supply the local population. Another important factor was the steady loss of export flour markets in the Asia/Pacific region when countries in these areas set up their own mills following World War II.

The total domestic market for flour products has experienced steady growth under the influence of rising population.

Currently, around 1.75 million tones of flour are milled for domestic human consumption each year. Use of flour for industrial purposes, such as starch, gluten and their derivatives, has increased significantly in recent years and now amounts to about 460,000 tones a year.

III. Answer the questions.

1. How many mills were operating in the 1870s?

2. What can you say about the development of mill ownership?

3. What companies produce the majority of the flour milled in Australia?

4. What were the factors of the decline in the number of flour mills in Australia?

5. How much flour is milled currently for domestic human consumtion in Australia each year?

6. How much flour is used for industrial purposes per a year?

IV. Find English equivalents.

Мукомольная индустрия; расширили свою деятельность; компании австралийских собственников; уменьшение в количестве; из-за введения новой технологии; больше не возможно; обеспечивать местное население; постоянное снижение экспортных рынков; создать свои мельницы; под влиянием возрастающего населения; для местного людского потребления; использование муки для промышленных целей.

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