ADM’s Mohammed Sarwar’s degree in chemical engineering has led him to a career at the cutting edge of energy conservation in the milling industry – and a role mentoring the next generation of millers.
For a new dad with a four-week-old baby, Mohammed Sarwar sounds remarkably chirpy as he describes the complex nature of his job as a carbon reduction technologies engineer with ADM.
But then so far there have been very few sleepless nights with daughter Sofia – and more importantly, perhaps, 29-year-old Mohammed loves his job.
Indeed such is his passion for the milling industry, he now combines his role developing and driving ADM’s carbon reduction and net zero strategies with being a tutor on UKFM’s renowned distance learning programme, helping to train the next generation of young, ambitious millers.
“Following my degree in chemical engineering, I was looking for a career that would allow me to apply my knowledge and problem-solving skills to improve the way we provide products to the wider population,” he says.
“The opportunity to apply my skills and help drive the transition from old to new, and traditional practices to innovative practices, consequently driving the business and industry forward is what drew me into the career.
“The flour milling industry allowed me to gain a broad range of experience. And if I can do my bit to help others to achieve their goals, then I’m more than happy to do so.”
Mohammed has been with ADM for six years, and in that time has had experience of a range of hands-on roles including production manager and interim site manager.
“It was more than I expected,” he says. “I was given exposure and responsibilities across the whole milling operation and allowed to drive initiatives and ideas from concept to reality.
“I don't believe I would have had the same level of exposure and opportunity to develop in other industries or businesses.”
Now based at the Knottingley facility, he is one of the team tasked with driving down the company’s carbon footprint across the board.
“Ever increasing costs, particularly energy costs are a major challenge,” he says. “Solutions to improve the energy intensity in a sustainable manner need to be accelerated so that the UK industry can remain competitive.”
Mohammed believes the major challenge facing the industry right now is the need for innovation.
“Most of the milling industry is still operating with the same technology and equipment from many decades ago,” he says. “This does not help with improving the mill performance and achieving the best in class, health and safety, environmental and food safety requirements.”
We are grateful to everyone involved, though the most common reason heard for being a tutor or examiner is that “they wish to give something back to an industry that has done so much for them”.
Their input, together with that of UK Flour Millers’ staff, ensures that the programme remains up to date and fit for purpose, aspiring to the same characteristics as the association itself: professional, reliable, important, modern, and efficient.
If you would be interested in becoming a tutor or examiner, or assisting the development of our training resources in other ways, please contact our newly-appointed Training Manager, Steve Faerber.
Vacancies do not arise all that often but there will be a need to appoint one or two new examiners over the next year or so.
