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21st International Oil Palm Conference

 

📅 September 23 to 25, 2025
📍 Cartagena de Indias Convention Center, Colombia

Adapting and Growing: Towards a Sustainable Future in the Palm Oil Agroindustry.

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Agenda

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MODULE

Field visits
Value: 300.000 COP / 100 USD

*Please note that the workshop has an additional cost and is not included in the International Conference registration.
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm
Visits 1
Cartagena Refinery, the largest industrial and refining complex in the Colombian Caribbean and the second-largest company in the country.
Schedule: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location:Cartagena, Mamonal Industrial Zone, Kilometer 10, Cartagena – Pasacaballos Road.
Value: 300,000 COP / 100 USD

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9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm
Visits 2
Esenttia, a leading company in sustainable resource management, production for the agro-industry, and circular economy
Schedule: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location:Esenttia, Cartagena, Mamonal Industrial Zone, kilometer 8
Value: 300,000 COP / 100 USD

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9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm
Visits 3
Efficient management of the OxG hybrid and water resources in oil palm cultivation
Schedule: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location:Palmar de La Sierra Experimental Field, Km 64, Santa Marta – Aracataca road
Value: 300,000 COP / 100 USD

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MODULE

Opening Ceremony of the 21st International Oil Palm Conference and Opening of Expopalma 2025, Getsemaní Auditorium

(Sept. 23)
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Opening Address
Nicolás Pérez Marulanda – Executive President, Fedepalma
9:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
Opening Address
General Director, Fedepalma
10:20 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Inauguration of the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
11:00 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Plenary 1: Palm and Vegetable Oils price outlook 2025-2026
Dorab Mistry – Director, Godrej International Ltd
11:40 a.m. to 12:00 m
Q&A Session
12:00 m to 2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Plenary 2:  Sustainable nutrient management in agriculture-food systems
Xin Zhang – Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
2:40 pm to 3:20 pm
Plenary 3:  The role of agriculture in global efforts to reverse biodiversity decline
Lynn Dicks – Professor, University of Cambridge
3:20 pm to 4:20 pm
Q&A Session
3:40 pm to 4:20 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
4:20 pm to 5:00 pm
Plenary 4:  The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Applications in the Productive Sector
Arun Sundararajan – Professor, University of New York
MODULE

MODULE 1: Crop Management, Biotechnology and Oil Palm Breeding

Session 1 (Sept. 24):
Advances in the Sustainable Cultivation of the OxG Interspecific Hybrid
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Topic:  To be confirmed
Speaker: To be confirmed
9:40 a.m. to 10:05 a.m.
Topic: Nutrition and Water Management in Hybrids
Speaker: Nolver Arias – Agronomy Program Coordinator, Cenipalma
10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Topic: Pest and Disease Management
Speakers: Anuar Morales – Pest and Disease Program Coordinator, Cenipalma
Greicy Sarria – Plant Pathology Lead, Cenipalma
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Q&A Session
10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Topic: Shared Value Towards Hybrid OxG Productivity: Synergy Between Human Talent, Innovation, and Technology
Speakers: Edgar Ignacio Barrera – Head of Experimental Fields
11:40 a.m. to 12:05 a.m.
Topic: Sustainable Intensification in Hybrid Production
Speaker: Mauricio Mosquera – Validation Unit Coordinator, Cenipalma
12:05 pm to 2:00 pm
Q&A Session
12:20 pm to 2:40 pm
Lunch
Session 2 (Sept. 24):
Technology for the Sustainable Production of Palm Oil
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Topic: Regenerative agroforestry designs for oil palm-dominated landscapes
Speaker: Alain Rival – Senior Project Manager SouthEast Asia, CIRAD
2:40 pm to 3:05 pm
Topic: Integrating crops and livestock in oil palm: benefits and challenges
Speaker: Maja Slingerland – Associate Professor, Wageningen University & Research
3:05 pm to 3:30 pm
Topic: Replanting strategies and technologies for sustainable oil palm production
Speaker: Jing Zhao – Agricultural Economist, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Q&A Session
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
4:30 pm to 4:55 pm
Topic: Effect of Temperature on Pollinators
Speaker: Jean-Pierre Caliman – Directeur Smartri chez, PT SMART TBK
4:55 pm to 5:20 pm
Topic: Implementation of information systems and precision agriculture tools in oil palm crops
Speaker: Sim Choon Cheak – Head of Plantation Research & Advisory, Sime Darby Plantation Research
5:20 pm to 5:40 pm
Q&A Session
Session 3 (Sept. 25):
Breeding and Biotechnology
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Topic: Precision Breeding Through the Use of Genomic Selection
Speaker: Iván Ayala – Breeding Leader, Cenipalma
9:40 a.m. to 10:05 a.m.
Topic: Accelerating the Development of New Oil Palm Cultivars Using the Genomes of Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleífera
Speaker: Rajinder Singh – Biotechnology and Breeding Director, MPOB
10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Topic: Selection Methods for Developing Drought-Tolerant Oil Palm Cultivars
Speaker: Jean-Pierre Caliman – Directeur Smartri chez, PT SMART TBK
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Q&A Session
10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Topic: Strategies to develop disease-resistant varieties
Speaker: Sébastien Tisné – Researcher, PALMELIT-CIRAD
11:40 a.m. to 12:05 pm
Topic: Breeding for the Management of Bud Rot
Speaker: Tristan Durand-Gasellin – CEO, Palmelit
12:05 pm to 12:20 pm
Q&A Session
12:20 pm to 2:00 pm
Lunch
Session 4 (Sept. 25):
Pest and Disease Management
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Topic: Integrated management of Ganoderma in oil palm plantations in Malaysia
Speaker: Mohd Hefni Bin Rusli – Head, Plant Pathology & Biosecurity, MPOB
2:40 pm to 3:05 pm
Topic: New RNA-Based Fungicides
Speaker: Jonatan Niño Sanchez – Professor, Universidad de Valladolid
3:05 pm to 3:30 pm
Topic: Advances in the Management of Leaf-Cutting Ants
Speaker: James Montoya Lerma – Professor, Universidad del Valle
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Q&A Session
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
4:30 pm to 4:55 pm
Topic: Development of Bioproducts for the Management of Insect Pests and Diseases
Speaker: Martha Isabel Gómez Álvarez – Research Ph.D Senior, Agrosavia
4:55 pm to 5:20 pm
Topic: Agricultural Epidemiology – Lethal and Non-Lethal Diseases
Speaker: Gustavo Mora Aguilera – Professor, Senior Researcher, and Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Plant Health, Colegio de Postgraduados
5:20 pm to 5:40 pm
Q&A Session
MODULE

MODULE 2: Processing and Added Value

Session 1 (Sept. 24):
Productivity in Palm Oil Mills – Processes and Quality of Fruit and Oil
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Topic: AI-Based Smart Palm Oil Mill
Speaker: Surendran Kuranadan – CEO, AIREI
9:40 a.m. to 10:05 a.m.
Topic: Oil segregation by quality during the extraction process: benefits for yield and market diversification
Speaker: José Santiago Bolaños – General Director and co-founder, Kolibrie Energy
10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Topic: Pollutant Mitigation: The Numar Group Experience in Costa Rica
Speaker: William Silva – Palm Oil Mill Responsible, Grupo Agroindustrial Numar S.A.
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Q&A Session
10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Topic: Effluent Evaporation and POME Oil Recovery in Palm Oil Mills
Speaker: Amol Hukkerikar – Senior Global (CTO & Projects) – Evaporation Systems, Alfalaval
11:40 a.m. to 12:05 pm
Topic: To be confirmed
Speaker: To be confirmed
12:05 pm to 12:20 pm
Q&A Session
12:20 pm to 2:00 pm
Lunch
Session 2 (Sept. 24):
Processing of High-Oleic OxG Hybrids
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Topic: Processing the Hybrid: A Solution Within Reach
Speaker: Jesús García – Processing Program Coordinator, Cenipalma
2:40 pm to 3:05 pm
Topic: Alternative Technology for Processing the OxG Hybrid in Conventional Palm Oil Mills
Speaker: Bismark Toscano García – Oil Palm Mill Manager, Grupo DANEC Ecuador
3:05 pm to 3:30 pm
Topic: Experiences in Managing Interspecific Hybrids
Speaker: Maria del Pilar Noriega – Research Director, DAABON
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Q&A Session
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
4:30 pm to 5:20 pm
Topic: Panel on OxG Hybrid Processing
Speaker: Diego Sánchez – Operations Director of Palm Oil Mill, Palmeiras Colombia S.A.
Miller Rodríguez – Director of Industrial Processes, Hacienda La Cabaña, S.A.
Javier Dueñas – Oil Palm Mill Director, Guicaramo
5:20 pm to 5:40 pm
Q&A Session
Session 3 (Sept. 25):
Circular Economy Aspects in Palm Oil Mills
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Topic: Circularity Model of Oil Palm in Colombia
Speaker: Nidia Elizabeth Ramirez -Head of the Biorefinery and Sustainability Division- Cenipalma
9:40 a.m. to 10:05 a.m.
Topic:  To be confirmed
Speaker: To be confirmed
10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Topic:  Tertiary Effluent Treatment Systems in Palm Oil Mills: Alternatives for Regulatory Compliance and Circularity
Speaker: Nelson Rodríguez – Scientific Researcher III, Cenicafé
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Q&A Session
10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Topic:  Biogas Capture and Valorization for Multiple Uses in Palm Oil Mills
Speaker: Soh Kheang Loh – Head of Energy & Environment Unit, MPOB
11:40 a.m. to 12:05 pm
Topic:  Life Cycle Analysis of SAF Production from Palm Oil in Colombia
Speaker: Claudia Bulgueroni – Team Lead Climate strategy & carbon market, Meo Carbon Solutions
12:05 pm to 12:20 pm
Q&A Session
12:20 pm to 2:00 pm
Lunch
Session 4 (Sept. 25):
Health and nutrition and alternative uses of palm oil
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Topic:  Effects of Palm Oil on Human Health – Myths and Realities
Speaker: Pedro Nel Rueda – Consultant in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology
2:40 pm to 3:05 pm
Topic:  Use of High-Oleic Palm Oil for Frying
Speaker: Francisco Castellanos – Professor, Universidad de Caldas
3:05 pm to 3:30 pm
Topic:  The Power of Naturally Vitamin A and E-Rich High-Oleic Palm Oil
Speaker: Bertha Forero – Independent consultant
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Q&A Session
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
4:30 pm to 4:55 pm
Topic:  Phytonutrients Extracted from OxG Palm Oil: State of the Art and Future Possibilities
Speaker: Bernay Cifuentes Vanegas – Associated professor, Universidad de La Salle
4:55 pm to 5:20 pm
Topic:  Industrial Use of Elaeis guineensis and OxG Oil Blends – Impact and Applications
Speaker: Mónica Cuellar – New Business Manager, Fedepalma
5:20 pm to 5:40 pm
Q&A Session
MODULE

MODULE 3: Sustainability

Session 1 (Sept. 24):
Climate Change, Regenerative Agriculture, and Agri-food Systems
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Topic:  Transforming Landscapes: Rethinking Palm Oil for a Sustainable Future
Speaker: Brigitte Baptiste – Rectora, Universidad EAN
9:40 a.m. to 10:05 a.m.
Topic: Regenerative Agriculture
Speaker: Mauricio Castro – Director of Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock Strategy for Latin America, The Nature Conservancy
10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Topic: Measuring biodiversity and ecosystem service responses to oil palm management
Speaker: Michael Pashevich – Research Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Q&A Session
10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Topic: Food Systems – Challenges and Opportunities for the Oil Palm Agroindustry
Speaker: João Campari – Global Leader for Food & Agriculture, WWF
11:40 a.m. to 12:05 a.m.
Topic:  The roles of oil palm crops in global responses to climate change, environmental sustainability and food security
Speaker: Speaker: Denis Murphy – CEO, Oleatech Ltd
12:05 pm to 12:20 pm
Q&A Session
12:20 pm to 2:00 pm
Lunch
Session 2 (Sept. 24):
Human Rights, Well-being, and Market Access
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Topic:  Responsible business conduct and human rights in the oil palm sector
Speaker: Pravin Rajandran – Head of the Grievance Unit, RSPO
2:40 pm to 3:05 pm
Topic:  Topic: Second Survey on Direct Employment in the Colombian Oil Palm Sector
Speaker: Arturo García – Project Manager, Econometría
3:05 pm to 3:30 pm
Topic:  Transforming Smallholders Well-being Through Effective Farm Management
Speaker: Kamalrudin Mohamed Salleh – Group Leader for the Market Development Research Team, MPOB
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Q&A Session
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
4:30 pm to 5:20 pm
Topic:  Panel on Sustainability, Markets, and Regulatory Trends
Moderator: José Roberto Montenegro – President Agroamérica Tropical Oil Holding Corporation
Panelists: Sergio Talocchi – Sustainable Chains Senior Manager, Natura&Co Latam
Two additional panelists to be confirmed
5:20 pm to 5:40 pm
Q&A Session
Session 1 (Sept. 25):
Global Market Outlook for Oils & Fats
9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Topic:  Palm Oil Performance in 2025 and Outlook for 2026
Speaker: Julian Mc Gill – Managing Director, Glenauk Economics
9:40 pm to 10:05 pm
Topic:  Palm and laurics market outlook
Speaker: Sathia Varqa – Managing Editor, Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics
10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Topic:  Global market and trends for soybean, soybean oil and soybean meal
Speaker: Wohlenberg, Emerson – Consulting Director Agribusiness, S&P Global Commodity Insights
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Q&A Session
10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
Session 2 (Sept. 25):
Uses of Palm Oils in Animal Feed for the U.S. Market
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
Topic:  Panel: Uses of Palm Oils in Animal Feed for the U.S. Market
Panelists: Chi Chen – Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota
Jim MacDonald – Professor and Graduate Chair, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Allison Jun Taguchi Kawaoku – Graduate Research Assistant, University of Georgia
12:05 pm to 12:20 pm
Q&A Session
12:20 pm to 2:00 pm
Lunch
Session 3 (Sept. 25):
Biofuels: Global Outlook and Strategies for a Sustainable Future
2:00 pm to 2:40 pm
Topic:  Global Outlook on Biofuels
Speaker:  To be confirmed
2:40 pm to 3:30 pm
Topic:  Biofuels Panel Discussion
Panelists: Claudia Bulgheroni – Team Lead Climate strategy & carbon market, Meo Carbon Solutions
Douglas Phillips – Manager Life Cycle Evaluation, IATA
Two additional panelists to be confirmed
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Q&A Session
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Visit to the 2025 Exhibition and Poster Presentation
Session 4 (Sept. 25):
Challenges and Opportunities in Creating Value for Palm Oil
4:30 pm to 4:55 pm
Topic:  To be confirmed
Speaker:  To be confirmed
4:55 pm to 5:20 pm
Topic:  Key Developments in the world oleochemical market
Speaker: Caroline Midgley – Director of Biofuels and Oleochemicals – Agribusiness, Global Data
5:20 pm to 5:40 pm
Q&A Session
MODULE

Conversational Artificial Intelligence: Practical Tools in Oil Palm

Value: $260.000 COP / 75 USD
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*Please note that the workshop has an additional cost and is not included in the International Conference registration.
9:30 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction to Generative AI
Speakers: Robert Castellanos (Fedepalma, Colombia) and Carlos Bojacá (Cenipalma, Colombia)
9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Fundamentals of Prompt Engineering: Theory and Practical Exercises
Speaker: Robert Castellanos (Fedepalma, Colombia)
10:50 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Snack
11:00 a.m. to 12:15 pm
Use of Big Data Techniques and Concepts for Processing / Practical Exercises with a Generative AI Developed for Palm Oil Mills
Speakers: John Britto Micheal Joswa (AIREI, Malaysia) – Carlos Cordeiro (FIT, Brazil)
12:15 pm to 1:00 pm
Generative AI Tools for Statistics and Academic Production in the Oil Palm Sector, Applied Activities
Speakers: Robert Castellanos (Fedepalma, Colombia) y Carlos Bojacá (Cenipalma, Colombia)

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