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The role of standards in local trade
Producers of grain will have a number of uses for their produce; as food for the family or livestock, for seed, or for sale. The trade of grains can cover a large area entailing a variety of end usages. A number of end-users would benefit from the uniformity of supply associated with the use of grain standards, such as the commercial producers of food products e.g. beverages, baked products and animal feed, or the procurers for food security reserves. It is difficult to judge whether the setting of standards for these varied uses can best be carried out by the relevant industry rather than a government regulatory body, or a combination of the two. Whatever method is used to formulate the standards, it gives a clear message of quality requirements to producers, and it should provide a more uniform and regular supply for the end users.
Given that the formulation of standards is the best system for providing information to grain producers and end-users, they should be based on factors which both consider important and which are easily recognisable and unambiguous. The selection of grades must allow clear steps which can be easily differentiated and represent a clear change in value and end-use. Standards should be built on those characters that can be accurately and uniformly measured, and interpreted. To assist this process, terminology must not be difficult to understand.
Above all standards should be sources of information intelligible to all and serving a clear function in the production and utilisation of grain.