KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Oil Scientist's & Technologist's Association (MOSTA) will be organising the 6th Oils and Fats International Congress (OFIC 2006) from Sept 11-14 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

Launched by MOSTA in 1994, the event had been providing up-to-date information on the science and technology, marketing scenario and mega trends of all oils and fats including palm oil and palm kernel oil.

MOSTA will make sure that OFIC 2006 will cover all aspects of the oil and fats industry, its president, Tan Sri Dr Augustine S.H. Ong told Bernama recently.

This year's OFIC, he said will be divided into four interesting modules namely Business on Oils and Fats and Marketing (BOFM), Bio-Energy (BE), Food, Nutrition and Health (FNH), and New Technologies and Commercialisation (NTC).

Ong said the FNH module should enable manufacturers and consumers to make better choice on fats as global consumers are increasingly becoming health conscious.

He said the industry is faced with many challenges given the common perceptions and issues surrounding oils and fats.

Thus, the scare surrounding trans fatty acids and the need to replace hydrogenated fats is important to manufacturers and consumers, Ong said.

"This module is geared to provide state-of-the-art updates for the food manufacturers and the nutritional and health professionals."

Ong said a team of specialists with a combined expertise of more than 100 years will debate on these issues and provide focus and directions to the industry.

Themed "Changing Scenarios for Oils and Fats", OFIC 2006 will be opened by Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui on Sept 12.

Among the key speakers are P.K. Basu, chief economist from Khazanah Nasional Bhd; Dr Wolfgang Rupilius, a German Independent Consultant; Prof AJS Benade of South Africa; and Dr Marc Kellens, DE-Smet Technical Director of Belgium.

Ong said OFIC 2006 has been designed for those involved in the oils and fats industry including planters and plantation managers; millers and processors; refiners and end-product producers; quality assurance personnel and process engineers and traders; and investors and financiers.

Graduates are also encourage to participate. In conjunction with OFIC 2006, MOSTA will organise a two-day satellite workshop named "Lipid & Fatty Acids: Chemistry, Analysis & Technology" on Sept 8 at PWTC.

"The science and technology of oils and fats have advanced greatly in recent years and the satellite seminar will cover all aspects of oil and fats," said Ong who is also the chairman of OFIC 2006 organising committee.

"Our industry is growing... it is about RM30 billion and the manpower is also increasing. There will be recruitment of new graduates and the course is timely," Ong said.

Dr Marcel Lie, former professor of chemistry at the University of Hong Kong, will be one of the key experts at the workshop. He will present a paper on "fatty acids and lipid structure as well as some unexpected experiences in the introduction of palm diesel into a new market niche."

As for this year's exhibition, Oils and Fats International Asia (OFI Asia 2006) will be held for three days from Sept 12 also at PWTC.

OFI Asia 2006 is a new name for Oils and Fats Technology Exposition (OFTEX).

It is organised by DMG World Media (UK) Ltd and participation will be from established international and local equipment manufacturers.

"To date, about 30 organisations have signed up. It is an exposition which should not be missed by equipment and services supplies and producers of the oils and fats industry," Ong said.

Among the international companies which will participate are Andritz Singapore Pte Ltd, DNR Process Solutions Pte Ltd, Harburg Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmBh, Lipico Technologies Pte Ltd and Schneider International GmBh.

Those interested and need more information on OFIC 2006, OFI Asia 2006 and the Satellite Workshop should contact the secretariat at 03-7118 2062, fax 03- 7118 2063, email secretariat@mosta.org.my or visit www.mosta.org.my.

-- BERNAMA