« The Experimental Mill represents a good example of efficient collaboration of a project with great economic potential between both the professionals of the cereal industry and the leaders of the public and private sectors within South West France.The Experimental Mill will promote the quality of French wheat within France and abroad. Together with the mill and our technological workshop on site, the employees within the industry will be able to experiment with new flours in order to fulfil the evolution of expectation of the consumer. This state of the art tool will also consolidate our position within the cereal industry. »

Created in 1906, the school became a College for the Milk Industry and the Food Processing Industry. It is part of Surgères's Centre for the food processing industry as is ENSMIC. It is a professional college, students can take a full range of training courses from vocational training certificate (equivalent of City and Guilds examination) to a degree. Further and sponsored education is also available.

This school is unique in its Research and Development Department mainly due to its technological workshopthat has strong links with the professionals of the food processing industry. In accord with these companies requirements, ENILIA combines with the industry to create new products, to create new applied research programs in fat products and to create new quality procedures, etc.

These teams are involved and committed to both youth achievement and companies research programs.

L'ENILIA has a specialist laboratory which further analyses the characteristics of products as well as working on the perception of the consumer.

Strengths :

• 2 rooms and 450 tastings per year
  
• 1,200 consumers involved (adults and children)
• A panel of experts and five permanent members of staff
• Further professional training proposed

All this for increased taste and quality !

Created in 1924, the College for the Flour-Milling and Cereal Industries (ENSMIC)movedmoved in 2006 to be part of the Centre of the Food Processing Industry already based in Surgères. It is the only institution in France which has training for specific diplomas in the flour-milling and cereal industries. One can gain these diplomas with either college courses or apprenticeships ! For example a BTS Industries Céréalières, a two year course, is the benchmark within the milling profession. At ENSMIC adult education courses are also available.

As part of the Centre of Rural Excellence, the school now has an upgraded technical workshop for milling and secondary crushing for both human consumption and animal feed. The Experimental Mill also brings an increased legitimacy in the teaching field. For the professionals of the cereal industry, it not only brings legitimacy but also further expertise.