ASAGA celebrates 20th anniversary

International News on Fats, Oils and Related Materials : INFORM, Oct 2009 by Dubinsky, Eduardo

In the same year as AOCS' 100th anniversary, ASAGA (Asociaci�n Argentina de Grasas y Aceites; Argentine Society of Fats and Oils) observed its 20th anniversary. ASAGA's 35 past and present board members shared a dinner in Rosario City on September 18, 2009, to celebrate this anniversary (see below).

During the celebration dinner participants watched a video with highlights of ASAGA's history and interviews with the current and first presidents. There was also a Tango Show with live music and singers, and, finally, very emotional words from Jorge Baldi (current president of AS AGA), as well as other members from the Board. Participants received a gift as a souvenir.

ASAGA is an association that brings together institutions, companies, and people who are interested in the technical and scientific aspects of fats and oils and related products. Its foundation is closely linked to the history of AOCS' Latin American Section (LA-AOCS). In 1988, LA-AOCS was formed during an AOCS meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. One year later, the Argentine LA-AOCS' delegate, author of this article, gathered a group of professionals and scientists related to fats and oils. This initiative led to the creation of a local society. Since its beginning, ASAGA received AOCS' support, allowing the society to publish the Spanish versions of AOCS articles in ASAGA's magazine AaG (Aceites y Grasas). This magazine first appeared in 1990 and is recognized as one of the most important technical magazines in its field. One of ASAGA's goals is to participate in collaborative work with other societies like AOCS, including SBOG (Sociedade Brasileira de �leos e Gorduras) from Brazil and CORCHIGA (La Corporaci�n Chilena de Aceites y Grasas) from Chile.

Annually, ASAGA conducts an important educational program that includes seminars and courses on crushing, quality control, maintenance, and health and nutrition. Every two years, a managers' meeting of the fats and oils industry takes place, in addition to courses on refining and rendering of animal fats. Attendees come from all Latin American countries to participate in high-level lectures from well-known local and international experts.

This year ASAGA is holding the 13th Latin American Congress on Edible Fats and Oils (November 1-6). The chairman of the congress is Hector Autino, the current president of LA-AOCS (for an interview with Hector Autino, see inform 20:261-262 and 283284). The Latin American Congress is organized every two years in different countries in the region and is one of the most important technical events in Latin America. ASAGA had also organized two other successful Latin American congresses: one in Rosario in 1992 and the other one in Rosario and Buenos Aires in 2005.

For more information on ASAGA and the 13th Latin American Congress, visit www.asaga.org. ar and www.congreso.asaga.org.ar/ eng/index.aspx.

inform Contributing Editor Eduardo Dubinsky, of Eng.E. Dubinsky & Assoc-Technical Consultants (Buenos Aires, Argentina), can be reached via e-mail at edubinsky@ciudad.com. ar.