From November 1 to 6, 2009, ASAGA and the AOCS Latin American Section hosted the 13th Latin American Congress on Fats and Oils in Rosario.
Over 2300 people participated in the Technical Sessions, Short Courses, Plant Tours and Trade Show for the edible oil industry, which gathered more than 60 national and international companies.
 During the event, researchers from all over the world shared their technical and scientific knowledge and presented their new findings on aspects related to the oilseed sector, thus adding new topics to the academic program.
The Exhibition, as well, not only provided the ideal setting for business contacts and an excellent opportunity for personal networking, but also showcased the latest available technology in the fats and oil Industry.
The motto of the 13th Congress “Integrating knowledge to create value”, expressed our wish to pursue excellence in the fats & oils sector in Latin America through the exchange of knowledge.
Certainly, this spirit was clearly felt in the 13th LA Congress, where participants shared their learnings, were open to discussion and enhanced their knowledge with individual and group contributions, expressing their regional views but also having a global overview of the present and future industry scenario in Latin America.

More than 1500 people coming from Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Canada and USA attended the 11th Latin American Congress on Fats and Oils, hosted by ASAGA from November 13 to 17, 2005, in Rosario and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Schedule of academic activities featured Short Courses delivered in Rosario, and Conference Sessions held in Buenos Aires in the Costa Salguero Exhibition Center together with a Trade Exhibition including the participation of more than 70 companies from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Belgium.
Delegates participated in a river tour visiting crushing and processing plants in port terminals of Greater Rosario and were invited to social activities.
Attendees showed great interest, participating in the technical sessions, in discussions with speakers and in networking events, all of which provided the opportunity to acquire new learnings and update knowledge on technological and production aspects.
The organizers stressed the Latin American profile of the event, encouraging open discussions between representatives from the industry and the academic world.

Latin American Meeting for Industry Managers

Intensive lecturing program for top managers of companies in the Fats & Oils Industry.

Target Audience:
Managing Directors, Industrial Managers, Plant Managers, Production Managers, Marketing Managers,  Grain Trading Manager, R&D Managers, Quality Managers, Department Heads, advisors, consultants, researchers, technology and raw material suppliers.
The program, which covers important aspects of the fats and oils industry in Latin America, including basic services, quality and operational safety, is targeted at companies involved in oilseed crushing and refining, animal fat rendering, production of margarine, shortening and related food products.

Purpose:
To provide participants with modern management tools and an update of the industry outlook in an increasingly changing and demanding national and international context.
Speakers include prestigious well-known professionals. Far from being formal, lecturing sessions are interactive, held in the most beautiful landscapes in Argentina.

Seminar on Practical Application of NFPA Standards for Industrial Dust Explosion Risk Management in Solvent Extraction Plants.

Target Audience:
Employees working in engineering, maintenance, and operational areas in industrial plants. Industrial safety professionals, designers and engineers.
Edible oil Industry, grain storage and delivery, food industry involving processing of meals and other flammable dusts, chemical  industry involving handling of substances in powder form, sugar industry and others.

Purpose:
To enhance knowledge of dust and combustible vapor explosion management and prevention systems by applying NFPA standards

Course on Soybean Protein: Properties, Function and Application.

Target Audience:
Professionals and experts in soybean processing and texturizing, and formulation of food products and animal feed. Scientists, academics and advanced students in various disciplines, food technologists, chemists, biochemists, engineers.

Purpose:
The course provides the latest update on soybean protein structure, multiple functions and nutritional and technological applications. It also gives soybean processors new working tools relating the process with functional meals and other protein byproducts.
It offers the possibility to update formulations for food products and balanced servings as well as new methods to assess protein function.

Advanced Course on Oilseed Crushing

Intensive course on techniques and methods used in oil seed processing.

Target Audience:
Supervisors, middle managers, senior staff in general, department heads, coordinators and analysts.
 
Purpose:
To provide training on techniques and methods used in oil seed processing, principles and practices for the reception, cleaning, drying, conditioning and storage of grains, equipment and conveying devices used in preparation of raw material, fat extraction and later conditioning of extracted meal. To provide basic knowledge on industrial processes and operations, basic services, quality and operational safety.
Speakers include prestigious well known professionals.

Intensive Course for Supervisors in the Oil Industry

Intensive training for supervisors

Target Audience:

Purpose:

Course on Edible Fats and Oils Refining

Target Audience:
Employees working in edible fats and oils refinery plants.

Purpose:
To train employees working in edible fats and oils refinery plants on principles and practices related to unit operations in the different process phases: degumming, neutralization, bleaching and deodorization,  and to provide detailed information on equipment and chemical products used for product preservation.

Course on Small Scale Crushing

Target Audience:
Professionals, technicians, qualified plant operators and entrepreneurs interested in the start-up of new investment projects.

Purpose:
With this new course ASAGA targets at the segment of small crushers, a steadily growing sector. The event turned out to be very helpful for employees working in this type of facility, with a special focus on design and operational optimization.

Biofuels

Recent updates on biofuel development

Target Audience:
Managers, production and quality control staff and experts working in plants producing biofuels from fats and oils.

Purpose:
Training technical staff on new technological developments and standards in the field of biofuels produced from fats and oils.

Application of Edible Fats and Oils

Update

Target Audience:
Professionals working in the food industry: technologists, engineers, chemists, biochemists, teachers, researchers and advanced students.

Purpose:
To create a forum where participants can receive, update and share information on the various applications of edible fats and oils, evaluating functional aspects and consumer acceptance.

Lipids, Nutrition and Health

Updates by well-known experts on new developments

Target Audience:
Professionals working in the health and food Industry, teaching, research Nutrition, food legislation and specialized journalism.

Purpose:
To provide participants with modern health and nutrition tools that can be used in specific labor and academic contexts.

Safety and Environment

Updates on both fields

Target Audience:
Plant staff working in safety and environment, including plant managers, industrial managers, HS&E managers, supervisors, as well as researchers, members of government organizations and experts in the field.

Purpose:
To provide participants with experts update on Safety and Environment and on the latest regulations, standards and practices in the field so that they can apply this newly acquired knowledge in specific labor and academic contexts. To give participants the opportunity to share knowledge and information with experts and colleagues and thus stay current in a constantly changing field.

An Update on Quality in the Edible Oil Industry

Session focused on the concept of quality

Target Audience:
Quality personnel, including plant managers, industrial managers, laboratory heads, supervisors, people responsible for the transportation and storage of goods.
 
Purpose:
To provide attendees with an update on quality control, quality assurance and food safety, so that they can apply this newly acquired knowledge in specific labor and academic contexts.

Update on Animal Fat and Rendering

Biannual Update

Target Audience:
Animal fat renderers and processors in general (beef and poultry), meat processing plants, food industries using animal fat, pet food industries, government agencies and institutions, researchers, professionals, experts and students  with an interest in aspects related to poultry and beef byproducts.

Purpose:
To provide an update on the processing of beef and poultry byproducts (rendering) introducing topics related to food safety and issues challenging the industry at the domestic and global level, as well as aspects related to quality, raw material and fat and meal production.

Maintenance in the Edible Oil Industry.

Update on the latest developments in maintenance

Target Audience:
Industry maintenance staff, planners and designers.

Purpose:
To provide new concepts regarding maintenance organization and supervision, reinforcing knowledge on maintenance tasks required for industry-specific equipment.

Human Resources Management in the Fats & Oil Industry

Target Audience:
Managers, staff involved in employee recruitment and selection, hiring, training, HH.RR. management and related areas. Company Directors, industrial, plant and, production managers, marketing, R&D and Quality managers, heads of Department, advisors, consultants and raw material and technology suppliers in the edible oil and fats industry
.
Purpose:
Provide attendees with an updated overview of the tools available to successfully manage HH.RR, the only intelligent, living and creative resource that can help the organization face the challenges posed by a strong global competition.

Energy Optimization in the Fats & Oil Industry

Target Audience:
Production Managers, Heads / Supervisors, General Services and utilities staff and technicians working in fats and oils plants.

Purpose:
To provide an overview of the energy current and future scenario in our country and what industries can expect in the short and medium term. In addition, sessions include a detailed description of the consumption grid in each individual process and an explanation of how resources can be optimized through the application of different technologies.

Quality Assurance in the Edible Oil Industry

Target Audience:

Purpose: