#ЕУзаТебе

BUCKWHEAT WITHOUT TOXINS

Buckwheat Max: a locally developed solution for safe grain processing

Safe food begins with quality processing. This is the value to which Popadić Komerc, a company from Kragujevac, has been dedicated for more than two decades, building its position as a reliable processor and supplier of cereals and grain-based products on the domestic market. Their production process, from the selection of raw materials to final distribution, is based on the commitment to ensure that every grain is safe, healthy, and nutritious for the final consumer.

In a world where food safety is of greater importance than ever, Popadić Komerc has developed an innovative solution that introduces a new standard in grain processing. With the support of the Innovation Fund and the European Union, Popadić Komerc presents Buckwheat Max, the first machine in Serbia that enables safe processing of buckwheat and eliminates the risk of toxin contamination. Such separation of the husk from the grain, without damage and health risks, has not been possible so far in industrial practice.

Experience in working with buckwheat, a grain known for its health benefits, led the team at Popadić to an important discovery: its husk often contains toxins from the Datura plant, which naturally grows nearby. Conventional technological procedures often allow these toxins to come into contact with the grain, which poses a risk to consumers' health.

The answer to this challenge is Buckwheat Max, a specialized machine that brings an entirely new approach to buckwheat preparation to the domestic market. Instead of traditional methods, Popadić Komerc is the first in Serbia to apply a combination of silicone rollers and air sieves, enabling the separation of the husk and the grain without compromising quality.

“What is innovative about this machine is that the buckwheat husk is separated from the grain in such a way that the toxins do not come into contact with the healthy grain. For the first time in the buckwheat processing industry, we are using such a mechanism, which enables a completely new and safer method of processing,” says Zoran Popadić, the founder of the company.

A team of engineers and technologists worked on detailed research of the process to ensure that the final product meets the highest food safety standards, while preserving the natural nutritional values of buckwheat. Thanks to this solution, the company has gained new opportunities to expand its product range.

Today, the company regularly supplies institutions and hospitality facilities across Serbia, introducing buckwheat as a valuable and healthy ingredient into everyday nutrition. With its new technological capacities, it also plans to produce buckwheat flour and ready-made buckwheat products, with the ambition to position itself on the international market.

“The Innovation Fund provided significant support for this project. Primarily financially, which is especially important because the processing and all other equipment is very expensive, innovative, and had not previously been available on our market, and secondly by recognizing our idea as unique and innovative,” adds Popadić.

Popadić Komerc continues to build its success story towards innovation and sustainable production, setting higher standards in grain processing and proving that it is possible to combine tradition and modern technology in service of healthier choices for all of us.