Bühler Marks 10 Years of the African Milling School in Nairobi with Industry Leaders and Alumni

Credit: Bühler

The Swiss technology group Bühler has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its African Milling School (AMS) in Nairobi, Kenya, with a milestone ceremony attended by more than 100 guests, including industry partners, customers, alumni, and local stakeholders. The event highlighted a decade of contribution to workforce development in the milling and food processing sectors, as well as the graduation of 15 students representing seven countries.

Since its establishment in 2015, the African Milling School has trained over 1,600 millers from more than 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and India. Its mission has remained clear: to build a skilled workforce capable of driving productivity, enhancing operational resilience, and supporting the long-term sustainability of food and feed production amid evolving global challenges.

A Decade of Educational Excellence

AMS was founded in response to the growing demand for qualified millers in the region. Designed as a greenfield project, the school was strategically located in Nairobi due to the city’s connectivity, modern infrastructure, and accessibility for students across the continent. After nearly four years of planning, construction, and an investment of approximately CHF 5 million, Bühler opened the doors to its first dedicated training mill in Africa.

Since welcoming its first cohort of 24 apprentices, AMS has adhered to a rigorous dual-education model inspired by the Swiss vocational system. Students spend five months training in their home countries and one month at AMS, completing four structured modules over a two-year period. Mornings are focused on classroom learning, while afternoons are dedicated to hands-on practice, ensuring that knowledge translates directly into workplace performance.

“From the beginning, our aim was to deliver education that makes a real difference,” says Martin Schlauri, the first Head of the African Milling School. “Skilled operators form the backbone of efficient plants. Their expertise brings measurable improvement to the companies and communities they serve.”

Expanding Beyond Milling

What began as a school focused on traditional flour milling has grown into a diversified training institution. Today, AMS offers programs in feed milling, coffee processing, grain handling, baking technology, and plant-based proteins. Courses are available on-site, online, and in hybrid formats, with multilingual options to meet the needs of a wide and varied student base.

Over the past decade, AMS has collaborated with more than 200 companies while continually updating its curriculum to reflect the latest industry trends, technological advancements, and market requirements. Short courses and tailored on-site training programs have further expanded access for professionals unable to commit to the full apprenticeship program.

Education That Drives Real-World Impact

Graduates consistently highlight the value of AMS’s combined theoretical and practical learning approach. Sulaiman Al Saqri of Oman Flour Mills, a 2024 graduate, notes: “The Apprentice Miller Program opened my eyes to the full picture of flour milling – from technology to grain science. Theory and practice came together seamlessly, pushing me to grow and strengthening my confidence in daily operations.”

Companies partnering with AMS also recognize the transformative impact of the training. “The African Milling School is more than a training center – it is an engine for industry excellence,” says Sharuq Sokwalla, Managing Director of Grain Industries Limited in Kenya. “Our employees return with enhanced technical skills and the ability to optimize efficiency, maintain equipment proactively, and deliver consistent product quality. Bühler has been a true partner in our growth.”

The measurable results achieved by AMS graduates highlight the school’s contribution to food safety and security across the region. “Seeing students apply their knowledge to improve yields or reduce energy consumption shows the real value of our work,” says Priscilla Bakalian, who has helped shape AMS programs over the past three years.

A Global Network Supporting Regional Growth

AMS benefits from Bühler’s global education and innovation ecosystem, including the Milling Academy, Grain Innovation Center (GIC), and Swiss Feed Technology Institute (SFT) in Uzwil, Switzerland, and the Grain Processing Innovation Center in Kano, Nigeria. This network equips students with exposure to advanced milling technologies, digitalization tools, and AI-driven process optimization.

“Training is an investment, not a cost,” says Dario Grossmann, Head of Bühler’s Milling Academy. “Each AMS graduate returns to their company ready to drive measurable improvements in production and efficiency. That is the true measure of our success and the driving force behind our continued commitment to strengthening this educational framework.”

As Bühler commemorates 10 years of AMS, the institution stands as a catalyst for transformation across the milling and food processing industries. With its continued focus on innovation, capacity building, and accessibility, AMS is poised to prepare the next generation of skilled professionals critical to the region’s food security and industrial development.