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AOCS Protein and Co-Products Division
Newsletter February 2008

AOCS ANNUAL MEETING SPECIAL

Message from the PCP Division Secretary/Treasurer

As we progress toward the 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle, we can reflect on 2007 as a time of significant change in our industry, with special interest on the part of the fats, oils and related co-products industry. Developing world economies, and the increasing use of oilseeds and grains for fuels as well as feed and food, are having a significant impact on many aspects of our food supply and utilization of co-products. There are significant increases in the world prices of soybeans as well as protein-containing food products from animal agriculture. These are putting considerable economic pressure on the world's ability to supply safe and nutritious food products to meet the dietary needs of the planet. Developing new ingredient technologies and commercial products from the co-products of these industries is crucial to the future success of these industries and their ability to positively affect our quality of life. While the challenges are daunting, the opportunities for our division's membership to be helpful in resolving these issues are equally great. As a result, the need for technical professionals within our industry who can help meet these challenges and solve this problem has never been greater. We encourage all PCP Division members to seek out those colleagues who are not AOCS PCP Division members that may have interests in our industry, and encourage them to join. The influx of new ideas and talent will help foster innovation needed in our industry to meet these challenges.

We encourage all members to actively participate in the upcoming annual meeting, including the technical program and the PCP Division dinner. As Keshun mentioned, we plan to emphasize challenges facing the aquaculture industry to meet the increasing demand for proteins and other feed ingredients necessary to support healthy growth and optimized production of key aquaculture species. In addition, a tour of a local NOAA aquaculture research institute is being considered and, if finalized, will be communicated in upcoming newsletters. Above and beyond the AOCS meeting, Seattle will offer our members excellent opportunities to experience one of the great U.S. cities, at a particularly good time of year. Members can get information about Seattle at a number of web sites. One that has been useful to me in anticipation of the meeting is http://www.visitseattle.org, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau. I encourage you to take full advantage of the trip to the Emerald City and the Pacific Northwest.

Finally, as our division closed out 2007, our 25th year as one of AOCS's technical divisions, I am pleased to report that we are in sound financial condition with a positive balance of over $20,000. While we strive to keep a strong, positive financial balance for our division, we are open to suggestions from our members in 2008 on how to best use our funds to help advance our division's role in the industry. Feel free to contact me or the other PCP Division Board members with suggestions. I can be reached at pkerr@solae.com.

Best regards,
Phil Kerr
Secretary/Treasurer
AOCS, Protein and Co-Products Division

Also in this newsletter:

AOCS 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle May 18-21

Message from the Chair, by Keshun Liu

Brief Bio of the Invited Speaker for Annual PCP Division Dinner and the Outline of the Speech

New Board Members, by Mila Hojilla-Evangelista

AOCS Offers Expanded Career Center

Welcome New Members

AOCS, 2710 S. Boulder, Urbana, IL 61802-6996 USA