General information

Presentation - Organizers - Other activities - Unpublished works

The world market for oils and fats is currently facing unexpected facts, which are offering oil palm new business opportunities and the possibility of generating structural changes in demand. Such circumstances must be made the most of by the agribusiness in an effective way so as to assume with high credentials the strategic role it must play, given oil palm satisfies the highest percentage of vegetable oils needs in the world.

One of these facts is related to the growing concern of consumers about their health, particularly in sophisticated markets such as that of the United States, where food containing trans is being rejected, which are fatty acids not contained in palm oil, and in the case of other vegetable oils, they are formed in the process of partial hydrogenation.

On the other hand, the interest in every single society for environmental topics, added to the energy crisis, exercise more pressure on the search for fuels different than oil, which make evident the existence of a huge potential market for biodiesel, which is environmentally friendly and can be produced from palm oil.

As a matter of fact, to tackle with success the opportunities offered by the palm oilseed complex, the analysis of competitiveness, productivity and production costs regains special importance, topics that need to be present in the minds of oil palm entrepreneurs of the entire world, particularly in the agenda of Latin Americans, who have a vast field of action to improve in those areas and to take a more leading role. Moreover, the competitive disparity among different oilseeds, the heterogeneity in terms of oil palm production costs and the different progress of actors in the world scenario are all factors that must be considered. These are situations that must be thoroughly clarified, aiming at outlining an adequate course of action by different public and private entities committed to the sector’s development. Specially, the Colombian oil palm sector faces the challenge of maintaining and consolidating a regional leadership and of the growth dynamics observed in recent years, together with sound and modern sector institutions.

Thus, the International Oil Palm Conference, Expopalma and the Business Matchmaking Forum, events organized by Fedepalma and Cenipalma, become the ideal scenario for oil palm growers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, industrialists, technicians, economic analysts, public officers and for all those people interested in this sector, to acquire knowledge, make contacts and businesses, share ideas and interact with distinguished speakers and rethink about the course that the oil palm agribusiness should take under current circumstances.

The 15th version of the International Oil Palm Conference will be held September 19 – 22 in Cartagena, it will consist of three modules, which will take place simultaneously and will encompass the following: 1) Cultivation, convergent technologies and sustainability, 2) Processes, uses and nutritional factors of palm oil. 3) Economics markets and trade. Keynote lectures of general interest will be offered, the modules will count on national and international speakers and unpublished works and simultaneous translation will be offered in English and Spanish. Up...

Organizers

Fedepalma
National Federation of Oil Palm Growers
Is a private non-profit organisation which aims to promote the oil palm industry and through this contribuye to the agricultural development and progress in Colombia

Carrera 10 A No 69 A – 44
Telephone: 57 1 313 86 00 Fax: 57 1 211 3508
e-mail:iiopc@fedepalma.org
Bogotá DC, Colombia
www.fedepalma.org www.fedepalma.org

Álvaro Campo-Cabal, Dr.rer.nat.
Director of Fedepalma Training and Corporation Development Program
General Coordinator of the 15th International Conference 2006

Cenipalma
Oil Palm Research Centre
Responsible for doing research and transfering technology related with the oil palm sector with emphasis on cultivating, palm oil extraction and uses of the palm oil.

Calle 21 No. 42C - 47
Telephone: 57 1 208 8660 Fax: 57 1 368 1152
e-mail: iopc@cenipalma.org
Bogotá DC, Colombia
www.cenipalma.org www.cenipalma.org

Pedro León Gómez-Cuervo, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Cenipalma
Academic Coordinator of the 15th International Conference

Organizer Group
Jens Mesa Dishington
Pedro León Gómez Cuervo
Álvaro Campo Cabal
Fabio Zuluaga Álvarez

Official agency of the event
Gema Tours Ltda.
Calle 67 No. 6 -60 Office 404
Telephone: 57 1 3465025 Ext. 111, 114
Fax: 57 1 2126146
Bogotá D.C.- Colombia

Contact:
Ivonne Carleo
gerenciabog@overgematours.com.co

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Other activities

• Pre-conference technological visit
18 - 19 September, 2006
A visit has been scheduled to the Experimental Field Palmar de La Vizcaína of Cenipalma, located in Barrancabermeja (Santander), to learn about the different experiments being carried out on genetic material, management of Colombian varieties and materials introduced from Malaysia and Angola, biological control, among many other aspects. There is the possibility of visiting a plantation of that same area to learn about cultivation problems, their management and the operation of a milling plant.

Contact:
Leonardo Rey-Bolívar M.Sc.
lrey@cenipalma.org

• Welcoming Cocktail Party
Registrations for the event will start on Tuesday, September 20 as of 2:00 P.M. and a cocktail party will be offered to registered participants, speakers and exhibitors at the Convention Center Cartagena de Indias.

• Closing Diner Party
A diner party, at one of the walled city’s historical sites has been scheduled, in which participants may enjoy typical food, Colombian folklore and life music.

• Social Activity for Companions
The official organizing agency for the event, Gema Tours Ltda. will be in charge of offering a tourist program for companions to visit and enjoy the city of Cartagena de Indias and the nearby islands. For more information, please contact Ivonne Carleo at

Mayores informes con:
Ivonne Carleo
gerenciabog@overgematours.com.co

Presentation of unpublished works

The 15th International Oil Palm Conference is an excellent opportunity to present unpublished works in the topics related to each module. Those interested are invited to present abstracts and articles and to contact the person in charge of each module, taking into account the following deadlines:

The papers presented during the International Oil Palm Conference will be published in the event’s proceedings, as articles related to the special edition to be published in the Palmas magazine of Fedepalma.

Contacts for submittal of articles:

Module 1:
María del Pilar Triana-Novoa
mtriana@cenipalma.org

Module 2:
Jesús Alberto García-Nuñez
jgarcia@cenipalma.org

Module 3:
Álvaro Silva-Carreño
asilva@fedepalma.org