Bühler celebrates 10 years of the African Milling School in Nairobi

The Swiss technology group Bühler marked the 10th anniversary of its African Milling School (AMS) in Nairobi, Kenya, with a ceremony that brought together more than 100 guests, including customers, alumni, and local partners. The event celebrated a decade of advancing skills in the milling industry and the graduation of 15 students from seven countries. Since 2015, the AMS has trained more than 1,600 millers from over 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and India. In a complex and high-pressure environment, developing a skilled workforce of millers has been essential to drive productivity, strengthen operational resilience, and secure the future of food and feed.

Founded in 2015 in response to customer demand for skilled professionals, the AMS was Bühler’s first-ever dedicated training mill in Africa. The school was designed as a greenfield project in Nairobi, chosen for its accessibility, modern infrastructure, and strategic location for students from across the region. After four years of intensive planning and construction stages and an investment of around CHF 5 million, Bühler opened the doors of this unique center combining state-of-the-art facility, practical and theoretical education, and a highly skilled teaching team.

Since its first class of 24 miller apprentices, the AMS has maintained a rigorous dual-education model inspired by the Swiss system: students spend five months in their home country followed by one month at the school, completing four modules over two years. Mornings are dedicated to classroom instruction, afternoons to hands-on practice – an approach that ensures students can immediately apply their skills in their workplaces.

“When we started the African Milling School, our focus was on education that truly makes a difference: training millers to optimize productivity and maximize yield,” says Martin Schlauri, the first Head of the African Milling School. “Skilled operators are the backbone of efficient plants, and through proper education, they can deliver tangible results for their companies and the communities they serve.”

Over the past years, the AMS has evolved beyond traditional milling. Today, it provides training in feed milling, coffee processing, grain handling, baking technology, and plant-based proteins. Courses are available in multiple languages and formats – on-site, online, and hybrid – making education accessible and adaptable.

Education for impact

The milling industry is undergoing a period of reshaping – continuously challenged by external pressures such as climate change, a shortage of skilled labor, increasing demand for finished products, and ongoing supply chain instability. In this complex environment, training and a skilled workforce of millers are essential to drive productivity and secure the future of food.

Over the past decade, the AMS has hosted more than 1,600 students from more than 30 countries, collaborated with over 200 companies, and continuously adapted its curriculum to meet the evolving demands of the milling and food industries. Short courses and specialized on-site training now complement the main curriculum, making education accessible to professionals who cannot commit to the full two-year program.

Theory and practice came together

Sulaiman Al Saqri, from Oman Flour Mills, completed the program in 2024. “The Apprentice Miller Program really opened my eyes to the full picture of the flour milling industry – from technology to grain science,” says the alumnus.  “It helped me improve how I operate and troubleshoot in the plant every day. What I liked most was how theory and practice came together – you don’t just learn concepts; you see them in action. It was an intense program with a lot to take in, but it pushed me to grow and gave me confidence in my work.”

Every year, Sharuq Sokwalla, managing director of Grain Industries Limited in Kenya, sends a group of employees from the company to the African Milling School to further develop their skills. “The African Milling School is more than a training center – it’s an engine for industry excellence,” says Sharuq Sokwalla. “Our teams return from the AMS not only with stronger technical skills but with the confidence to optimize efficiency, maintain equipment proactively, and deliver consistent quality. Bühler has been more than a supplier to us; they’ve been a true partner in our growth and success.”

The skills gained at the AMS have a clear impact across the industry. “What drives our team of teachers is the difference we are making in advancing food safety and security. When students apply their knowledge back in their mills – improving yields or reducing energy consumption – the ripple effect and potential savings are significant,” says Priscilla Bakalian, who has played a key role in developing the African Milling School over the past 3 years.

This impact is exactly what Bühler aims to achieve. “The African Milling School is more than an educational institution – it is a catalyst for transformation,” says Dario Grossmann, Head of Bühler’s Milling Academy in Uzwil, Switzerland. “We empower individuals with knowledge, confidence, and a sense of ownership that enables them to achieve tangible results in their companies and communities.”

A global learning network

The AMS has grown with the strong support of Bühler’s global education and training network, which includes the Milling Academy, the Grain Innovation Center (GIC), and the Swiss Feed Technology Institute (SFT), in Uzwil, Switzerland, and the Grain Processing Innovation Center, in Kano, Nigeria. Together, these institutions provide comprehensive training and hands-on experience, preparing the next generation of experts to operate advanced milling technology, adopt new digital solutions, and implement AI-driven processes.

“Training is an investment, not a cost,” says Dario Grossmann. “Every AMS graduate returns to their company ready to make a measurable impact on production, efficiency, and society. That is the true measure of success – and the reason we continue to strengthen this education ecosystem.”