This chapter reviews the recent trends in grain process engineering with a focus on aromatic rice varieties widely grown and consumed in Southeast Asian countries. The various processes involved in grain processing include drying, pre-storage treatments, post-harvest value addition such as parboiling and artificial ageing, aroma enhancement, cooking, and processing. Shrinkage, bulk density, particle density, and bed porosity are the major physical property changes that take place during the drying process. Among several drying techniques commonly used in drying particulate materials, fluidized bed drying has caught much attention due to its potential advantage over fixed bed drying. It is considered as a more economical drying method, and lower shrinkage is experienced in this method, probably due to case hardening at high temperatures and changes in visco-elastic properties occurring during the drying process. A heat disinfestations system can be designed and developed with the balance among heat doses, insect mortality, and deterioration of grain quality. Gamma irradiation can be an effective alternative technology because of its ability to kill and sterilize insects in infested rice grains. The successful application of irradiation to control stored product insects has been reported. Although immediate kills are required to reduce grain loss, the use of irradiation is limited by its effect on grain quality.
