05/11/2009 (Energy Industry News), Kuala Lumpur - Once again, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) will organize the International Palm Oil Congress (PIPOC 2009) this year. The industry event of the year will focus on palm oil as the powerhouse in the oils and fats market and advances in the industry, including the need to balance its growth in harmony with the environment for sustainable development.

The biennial event this time is themed "balancing ecologics with economics" will emphasise on the environment for the palm oil industry in tandem with the growing global concerns about environmental conservation and sustainable production in the agricultural sector.

PIPOC 2009 aims to discuss strategic research and development findings in all facets of the oil palm and palm oil industry, besides capitalizing on recent technology findings that will bring about changes to the oil palm and palm oil industry.

It also hopes to draw up strategies towards enhanced sustainability, competitiveness, automation, policies on chemical trade, market trends and trade challenges.

The four-day congress, which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 9th to 12th November, will be officiated by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, the Honourable Tan Sri Bernard G Dompok.

Tan Sri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who was the Malaysian minister of primary industries for nearly two decades from 1986 until 2004, will present a keynote address on "palm oil & energy: managing crisis".

Five plenary lectures will be presented on the first day by prominent personalities in the field.

The first plenary lecture will be delivered by MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid entitled "Sequencing the oil palm genome: the beginning", while the second plenary lecture will on “Visionary concepts in palm oil processing” by M R Chandran from Platinum Energy Sdn Bhd.

The third plenary lecture by Ronald P Mensink from Maastricht University in the the Netherlands will focus on "Trans Fatty Acids and Nutritional Implications", while the fourth lecture by Norman Ellard from Rohen Pte Ltd Singapore will be on the "Global Overview and Opportunity for Oleochemicals in the next decade." The final lecture will be given by Dr James Fry from LMC, United Kingdom on "Global Oils and Fats outlook - special reference to Palm Oil."

On 10th and 11th November, five conferences will be held concurrently including the " Global Economics and Marketing Conference", "Oleo and Speciality chemicals conference", “Food, Lifestyle and Health Conference, "Agriculture, Biotechnology & Sustainability Conference" and "the Chemistry, Processing Technology & Bio-Energy Conference."

On 10th November, an evening forum will be held on "Balancing ecologics with economics" which will be moderated by MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid with panelists comprising Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor, the former Director-General of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, who will discuss " Global Perspective on Forest Conservation and Biodiversity"

Dr Rosediana Suharto from Indonesia meanwhile will focus on "peat development vis-vis oil palm: is it really not sustainable?, while Dr James Fry will touch on "the Economic Development from the perspective of the palm oil vis-a-vis other oil crops.”

Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen, the vice-chairman of United Plantations Bhd will dwelve into "Balancing Ecologics and Economics from the perspective of social development" and Dr Lim Weng Soon on "EU directives and US Regulations: The Impact on Malaysia."

Meanwhile, a trade exhibition will also be held throughout the four-day congress to provide opportunities for delegates to view and discuss current technologies, state-of-the-art equipment and products related to the oils and fats industry, as well as provide networking opportunities for buyers and sellers.

A PIPOC 2009 Business directory will also be distributed to participants and exhibitors for free during the congress.

A series of technical tours to six different locations will be held on 12th November for congress participants including to the MPOB Research Station in Keratong, Segamat, Johor, a refinery at the Golden Jomalina Food Industries Sdn Bhd in Teluk Panglima Garang, Selangor, Sime Darby’s Biodiesel Plant at carey Island, Selangor, an oleochemical plant of Palm Oleo Sdn Bhd In Rawang, Selangor, the plantation and mill of United Plantations Berhad in Teluk Intan, Perak and All Cosmos Industries Sdn Bhd’s fertiliser plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor.