According to the Asian Institute of Petroleum Studies Inc., the last six years have produced extensive data regarding biodiesel fuel qualities and environmental effects. The use of coco-biodiesel is particularly beneficial for the Philippines where there are a lot of old engines, it added. At a minimum 1-percent blend, coco-biodiesel helps restore engine efficiency and improves fuel combustion. Aside from more mileage per peso, cleaner air naturally follows. The result is lower maintenance and repair costs, prolonged engine life, and motorist driving satisfaction.

       Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) assistant secretary and executive director of CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) Fe Agoncillo-Reyes, said Russia is in the midst of upgrading its retail sector and that the country is investing $3 billion in renovating existing shopping facilities, including well-equipped modern food stores over the next 20 years. Moscow’s largest food retailers like Erekryostok, Seventh Continent and Ramstor plan to open as many as 20 stores. Given these emerging opportunities, she urged Philippine food exporters to consider the Russian market.

       BV Mehta, executive director of the Indian Solvent Extractors Association (ISEA) said if Indonesia follows Malaysia’s example of stopping its crude palm oil (CPO) exports and starts exporting its refined oil, India would seek other vegetable oils like soyabean oil. Mr. Mehta asked Indonesia not to switch its exports to refined palm oil as India's processing sector needs CPO to feed their plants, adding that there is no point for Indonesia to produce products which buyers do not need.

       Parry Dixon of Archer Daniels Midland, at the Canada Grains Council annual meeting last week in Winnipeg, said the new bio-economy will create some challenges as the renewable fuels sector integrates itself with the traditional agricultural markets. As demand for agricultural products increases for both food and fuel usages, he believed that trade and technology would provide the necessary solutions.

       France, the second largest producer of biodiesel in the EU after Germany has set a higher blending level target for biofuels. By the end of 2008, biofuels should account for 5.75% of all fuels used in the country and by 2010 it should be 7%. However, this can be achieved if the EU legislation on the ratio of biofuels than can be blended in the fuel would be relaxed. Presently, the legislation provides a ceiling of 5% for biofuels than can be directly blended with fuels.

       As France is working on a calorific value, the volume of biofuel used in normal fuel would actually need to be 6.6% to reach the 5.75% target. France has already notified the European Commission of the plan.

       Production of rapeseed-based biodiesel is beginning to take off in China, the world’s largest rapeseed producer. New advances in production techniques that would make rapeseed-based biodiesel competitive coupled with government initiatives to promote alternative fuels both in China and abroad have lifted demand.

       The American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Press announced the upcoming release of a new health, nutrition, and biochemistry book, Trans Fats in Foods, edited by Gary List, Nimal Ratnayake, and David Kritchevsky. The book brings together the latest information on the effects of trans fatty acids, health and nutrition, labeling, analysis, and food products, and is great resource for food technologists and dieticians.

       The book contents include 1) Trans Fatty Acids Effects on Cardiovascular Disease: Animal and Human Studies; 2) Trans Fats and Cancer; 3) Safety and Efficacy of Conjugated Linoleic Acid; 4) Metabolism of trans and cis Fatty Acid Positional Isomers Compared to Non-Isomeric Fatty Acids; 5) Ruminant Trans Fatty Acids: Composition and Nutritional Characteristics, 6) Consumption of trans-Fatty Acids in North America; 7) Zero/Low Trans Margarine, Spreads and Shortening; 8) Labeling of Trans Fatty Acids; 9) Analysis and Characterization of trans Isomers by Silver-ion HPLC.