EUROPE – The Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has announced a long term partnership with Thailand based tapioca starch producer, General Starch Limited (GSL), to distribute the range in Europe as well as the Middle East and Africa.

The agreement gives ADM exclusive distribution rights of the GSL modified tapioca starch products, which it will sold under the ADM brand in a second phase of the partnership.

The product range also includes modified tapioca starches for industrial applications such as textiles and adhesives, or for wet-end applications to substitute the cationic potato starches.

The specialty tapioca starches are non-GMO and provide excellent viscosity with a clean neutral flavor profile.

They can be used as thickening, texturing and stabilizing agents or as alternatives to the modified waxy corn and potato starches in dairy desserts, cream fillings and canned or frozen foods.

We are very excited to expand our European portfolio with another raw material, which will generate great opportunities and new developments supported by our Starch Lab in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Johan Schrijver, Sales Director Starches EMEA.

This partnership puts ADM in a position to develop innovative customer solutions through a broad range of starches, each with unique properties and showcases our commitment to become one of the leading starch suppliers in EMEA.

In July, ADM introduced a new line of specialty tapioca starches and tapioca maltodextrin ingredients in partnership with Vedan International.

The tapioca maltodextrin range is non-GMO and is available in an organic version while tapioca modified starches are also non-GMO.

This is an expansion of its starches portfolio, used in dressings, sauces, bakery fillings, ice cream, yogurt, soups, bakery, beverages, meat and dry sausage to enhance stability, mouthfeel and control viscosity.

In the same year, ADM reached an agreement to acquire Rodelle Inc., a premium originator, processor and supplier of vanilla products.

The acquisition which included an equity stake in farmer cooperative in Madagascar, saw expansion of ADM’s vanilla capabilities.