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FAIR-CT97-3884
CTVO-NET: Chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils |
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Proposal No: | FAIR-CT97-3884 |
| Date Prepared: | September 1999 | |
| Source: |
Final Conference 2000 Progress Report March 1999 1998 Workshop Proceedings |
Summary
Introduction
The European Commission and several Member States have realised the importance of the chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils and support research and development activities in the whole production and processing chain. However, European oils have only a minor share of the current industrial utilisation of natural fats and oils. To find new market outlets for these oils in existing and new applications, requires a better co-ordination of research efforts and more exchange of information on a European level. The project, a concerted action, will assist in obtaining a clear picture of the state of the art in different non food applications of vegetable oils, defining the prospects for European oils, the requirements of industry and future research needs.
Objectives
The CTVO-net has the following objectives:
Activities
The main activity of CTVO-net are workshops for different applications of vegetable oils in the chemical-technical sector. The following sector groups consist of experts from universities, research institutes and industry:
All workshops cover the following aspects:
This is achieved by presentations on national and EU funded R&D projects, and by presentations from industries describing their needs. When appropriate presentations on non technical questions (e.g. legislation related to waste disposal, biodegradability or genetic modified organisms) will add on the more technical aspects. The results of the workshops are summarised in short working papers, which are disseminated to all experts active in the network and other interested persons. This information is also available on Internet, and is communicated to the FAIR Concerted Actions NF-2000 and IENICA. Workshops are linked where appropriate.
Progress
In total, 248 experts from 22 countries have registered with CTVO-net. 42 % come from industry (including one third from SMEs). In the reporting period, 7 workshops have been held, one in each of the sector groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and two in sector group 5. The proceedings of the following workshops have been disseminated on paper and via Internet.
Results
To make an intense discussion possible, the workshops are relatively small (25 - 30 participants). They take place in different, easily accessible places in Europe. The results of the workshops are summarised in short working papers, which are disseminated to all experts active in the network and other interested persons. This information is also available on Internet, and is communicated to the FAIR Concerted Actions NF-2000 and IENICA.
A CTVO-net press release has been published in German and English. An article on CTVO-net appeared in an international Italian scientific journal (La rivista italiana delle sostanze grasse, May 1998).
The CTVO-net flyer has been disseminated and 248 persons from 22 countries have formally registered to CTVO-net. Most registrants come from Germany, France, UK and Spain, with interest from Southern Europe and the candidate countries in Eastern Europe. All sector group attract interest of registrants, with the highest interest in the sector groups on new applications and on lubricants. Registrants come from industry and academia; 42 % industrial registrants, one third of them SMEs, is an indicator that the work of CTVO net is significant for industry.
The first seven workshops had in average 27 participants (range from 20 to 42). As for the registrants in total, also for the workshops the strong industrial participation is significant. Interest in attending the workshops depended on topics, dates and venues. The proceedings of six of the seven workshops are annexed; the proceedings of the workshop on lubricants are in the process of finalisation. All proceedings include conclusions for the respective sector.
At the project start, the main dissemination activities were based on the mailing of the CTVO-net flyer, the press release in German and English, an article on CTVO-net in an Italian journal and the ACTIN newsletter with broad distribution in the UK and other European countries. CTVO-net description and activities were put on the FNR website (http://www.dainet.de/fnr). The website is linked to the websites of the project partners ACTIN, SSOG, CPRO-DLO and TEKNIKER. Links exist also to the NF-2000 site and IENICA.
During the first twelve months of the project, CTVO-net was present at the following conferences, seminars and symposia.
The co-ordinator presented CTVO-net in an EU bulk chemicals workshop in November 1998.
Conclusions
CTVO-net has improved communication between industry and the research community in the sector of chemical-technical applications of vegetable oils throughout Europe. It has been very successful in bringing together experts from different parts of the production and processing chains for vegetable oils. This interdisciplinarity has been beneficial for ongoing research projects and for the definition of future research needs.
CTVO-net has highlighted the need for future research to support the wider use of vegetable oils by industry, e.g. lipid metabolism and environmental assessment/life cycle analysis.
CTVO-net has identified non-technical issues that are hindering the wider use of vegetable oils by industry, e.g. the negative perception of GMOs in certain Member States, EINECS and the need to register new chemical compounds prior to commercialisation.
Future activities
The second series of workshops has already started, with one workshop held in the sector group on by-products on 22 January 1999, and one in the sector group on surfactants and cosmetics, held on 1 and 2 June 1999 on the topic of cosmetics. Other workshops are under preparation, the next being held on 22 June 1999. In year 2 of the project also the preparation of the final conference will start.
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