10th EuroFedLipid Congress, Cracow 2012: From science and technology to health

Abstract

Krzysztof Krygier On behalf of the scientific and organization committees we would like to thank all participants, presenters, and co-authors of the success of the 10th Euro Fed Lipid Congress in Cracow, Poland. The Congress was held in the Auditorium Maximum of the Jagiellonian University of Cracow, the oldest University in Poland. This location, in the center of the city, is within walking distance to all historical sights. Cracow is an old capital of Poland, full of fascinating historical and cultural places, such as the great Royal Wawel Castle, a place of great importance in Polish history. The motto of 10th Euro Fed Lipid Congress was From science and technology to health. The consumption of fats and oils can contribute to human health both positively and negatively. The Congress showed what is being done to improve all health aspects in the area of lipids and health. We have many very positive examples from farm (e.g., high oleic varieties for healthy frying) to fork (e.g., functional margarines without trans fats and enriched in stanols or sterols). And that is why our division of Health and Diseases is the largest among all 11 divisions. The Scientific Committee prepared a very interesting scientific program. The full programme of the Congress is available at the Euro Fed Lipid webpage (www.eurofedlipid.org/meetings/cracow). The congress was opened on Sunday September 23rd with the plenary lecture: “The Biotechnology processing revolution in fats and oils,” delivered by Chris Dayton from USA. Biotechnology is definitely one of the most interesting aspects of the future of fats and oils technology. The second lecture of the first day was DGF Normann Medal lecture: “Modern fats and modern mind: Mealtimes and mental illness” presented by Joseph R. Hibbeln also from USA. The European Lipid Science Award goes also to the USA to Daniele Pionelli, who presented the lecture: “Lipid-mediated signaling as a source of new medicines.” Florence Lacoste from France was awarded with the SFEL Chevreul Medal and presented a lecture on “Undesirable substances in vegetable oils: Anything to declare?” The winner of the European Lipid Technology Award this year was Frank Veldkamp from the Netherlands who presented the lecture “Filtration then and now, what is new?”, the last lecture given at the Congress, Wednesday September 26th. Practically all plenary lectures were connected with health, three of them directly. This area was strongly expanded during the Health and Disease sessions by scientists from the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University, who are also leaders of our Congress Organizing Committee. This issue of European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology brings four Highlight articles presented as keynote lectures at the Congress sessions including the Olive oil, Biotechnology, and Processing sessions. Furthermore, the session Lipids in Animal Science will be featured in one of the future issues of EJLST. In addition, like last year 1, also this year an online supplement with all Congress abstracts including both the lectures and posters will be published. Thus all Congress abstracts will be citable! The Euro Fed Lipid Congress was, as usual, a great opportunity to meet old friends and to make new friends and to discuss lipid problems, and of course not only that. The best opportunity to do that was the Congress dinner which was served in a very old, working Franciscan Church in the heart of Cracow. Another extremely interesting event was the excursion to Wieliczka, a very old and fascinating salt mine. On the other hand the trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest concentration camp in Third Reich, was a solemn occasion. We believe that more than 500 participants from around the world will have for a long time fantastic memories of the 10th Euro Fed Lipid Congress and of Cracow. Many thanks to the Scientific and Organization Committees and to the Euro Fed Lipid office. Our next Congress will take place in Antalya, Turkey in October 2013. Krzysztof Krygier Congress Chair