Oils and Fats
34th Practical Short Course
Advanced Technologies in Oilseed Processing, Edible Oil Refining and Oil Modification
Novotel Ghent Centrum, Ghent, Belgium
June 1 & 2, 2026
This 1.5-day short course will bring together industry experts from around the world offering practical information on oilseed and oil processing and quality issues and how to integrate these in downstream products. The program is directed at plant engineers, chemists, technicians, managers, and superintendents.
This is a unique opportunity for new plant personnel and for those who are experienced to meet experts in the field to discuss current problems and learn how to enhance their operations. The course material will also serve as a useful reference for processors, product formulators, chemists and technicians as well as business managers familiar with oils & fats processing, and the production of finished products.
Target Group
Decision makers such as technicians, equipment manufacturers, product formulators, plant engineers, processors, chemists and sales and marketing specialists.
Registration Fees
Short Course
EARLY BIRD - By May 7, 2026
US$ 945/-
REGULAR Registration - After May 7, 2026
US$ 1145
Optional CREVETEC Program & Visit
REGULAR REGISTRATION
US$ 600/-
Academic and Student rates on demand. Group registration rates: 10 % off for three or more; 20% off for five or more.
Full Registration includes access to all presentations, lunch and coffee breaks; prices in EUR; trip will be organized and charged separately.
Online registration OR download the registration form, fill the form and send by e-mail to Aquafeed Email registration
Ghent – Travel & Visit Information
Hotels in Ghent
Speakers
Josef Barbi, President, E.S.E. & INTEC, U.S.A.
Jorge Bello, Global Technical Service Manager Clay Catalyst, EP Engineered Clays, U.S.A.
Wim De Greyt, R&D and Innovation Director, Desmet, Belgium
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Wim De Greyt graduated in 1988 as Engineer in Food Technology from the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences at the University of Ghent, Belgium. He obtained a PhD degree at the same University in 1998 with a study on ‘Effect of Physical Refining on Selected Minor Components in Vegetable Oils’.
He worked as Research Assistant at the Department of Food Technology & Nutrition from the University of Ghent from 1989 until 1998. Later he joined Extraction De Smet where he worked first as R&D project leader and from 2000 as R&D Manager. Early 2024, he was appointed as R&D director at Desmet and since beginning of 2026, he is also the Innovation director. He is managing all R&D activities in the 3 Innovation Centers of Desmet situated in Belgium, France and Malaysia.
He is (co-) author of more than 55 scientific papers and known as presenter at international conferences and workshops. He is a member of the American Oil Chemist Society since 1996 and was from 2009 till 2024 also chairman of the Processing Division of EuroFed Lipid. In this position, he was a Member of the Scientific Committee of the several EuroFed Lipid conferences and most recently the ISF conference that was organized in Rosario (Argentina) in 2025.
Yannick Farine, Industry Manager Biofuels & Bioenergy, Krohne, Belgium
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Yannick Farine serves as the Industry Manager Biofuels & Bioenergy at the company of Krohne, specializing in process instrumentation for challenging application across the biofuels value chain.
He has held various local and international roles within the company, bringing seven years of experience in process instrumentation to the edible oil sector.
He is driven by solving complex technical challenges and translating them into practical, value-driven solutions that deliver impactful results to the customer.
Véronique Gibon, Consultant, Artemis Lipids, Belgium
Kevin Jobling, Sales & Business Development Manager – Crush, Europa Crown, U.K.
Andrew Logan, Regional Business manager, Alfa Laval, Sweden
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Dr. Stefan Neufield, Sr. Technical Application Manager, J. Rettenmaier & Söhne, Germany
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Dr. Stefan Neufeld is a Senior Technical Application Manager in the Filtration Business Unit at JRS (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne), a global leader in cellulosic filter aids and adsorbents. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Würzburg, Germany, and has nearly 25 years of international experience in process and filtration optimization for vegetable oils, animal fats, biodiesel, and related feedstocks.
Dr. Neufeld specializes in product development and the application of cellulosic filter aids and adsorbents to improve efficiency, reduce processing costs, and enhance sustainability in industrial filtration processes.
Dr Antonios Papastergiadis, Sr R&D Engineer & Laboratory Manager, R&D, Desmet Belgium
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Antonios Papastergiadis is the Manager of Desmet Innovation Center – Oils and Fats in Zaventem Belgium. After obtaining a PhD degree from the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University in 2014 he joined Desmet R&D and in his current role, he leads applied research activities in the field of oils and fats.
His professional interests include improving process efficiency and sustainability, investigating the physicochemical properties of oils and fats, and developing innovative approaches to mitigate environmental and process contaminants in edible oils. He is also a frequent speaker at international conferences and symposia.
Bent Sarup, Vice President, Oils & Fats Systems Global Sales, Alfa Laval, Denmark
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Bart Scholten, Group Business Development Manager, Envirogen Group, Netherlands
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Bart Scholten is the Group Business Development Manager at Envirogen Group, with a strong focus on the vegetable oil market. With 30+ years in the filtration of vegetable oils, Bart has held different technical and business development roles, including setting up the new standard for vertical pressure leaf filters.
Patrick Schürmann, Application Manager Sales, Teamlead Oil&Fat Processing, GEA Westfalia Separator Process, Germany
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Patrick SchürmannScheuman is the Application Sales Manager and Team Lead for Oils and Fats Processing within the Renewables segment at GEA’s Separation Business Unit. He oversees global activities related to oil and fat processing, working closely with international teams to deliver tailored, end-to-end solutions—from process design and engineering to installation and commissioning. His expertise covers key processing steps including neutralization, degumming, and integrated system solutions.
Patrick holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from FH Münster, as well as an MBA from WWU Münster. Since joining GEA in 2017, he has developed extensive experience in renewable resources and oil and fats processing, and currently leads global application sales in this field.
Kevin Shadlock, Global Sales & Business Development Manager – Specialty, CPM Crown Iron Works, U.K.
Benjamin Sleiman, Sales & Business Development Manager – Liquids, CPM Crown, the Netherlands
Dr. Roland Verhé, Professor, Ghent University, Belgium
Speaker Companies
Sponsors
Media Partners
Program Details
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PROGRAM
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Day 1: Monday, June 1, 2026
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8:55
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Opening Remarks
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9:00
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Mechanical Pressing of Oilseeds : Pre-press and full press cake quality, David de Schaetzen, Desmet, Belgium |
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Session 1: OILSEED EXTRACTION and PROTEIN PROCESSING
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9:30
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Oil Seed Preparation and Dehulling, Mr. Kevin Jobling, Europa Crown, U.K. |
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10:00
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CPM Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™; Mr. Kevin Shadlock, CPM Crown Iron Works, U.K.
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10:30
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Coffee/Tea Break
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11:00
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Protein Concentrates and significant synergies when incorporating with Monarc, Mr. Kevin Shadlock, CPM Crown Iron Works, U.K.
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Session 2: FUNDAMENTALS OF EDIBLE OIL PROCESSING & MODIFICATION
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11:30
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Review of Degumming and Refining Technologies, Mr. Andrew Logan, Alfa Laval, Denmark
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12:00
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GEA Advanced Degumming with Enzymes: when Sustainability meets Efficiency , Mr. Patrick Schürmann, GEA Westfalia Separator Group, Germany
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12:30
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Lunch Break
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14:00
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Pressoil Clarification and Lecithin Production – The Secret´s in the Process, Mr. Patrick Schürmann, GEA Westfalia Separator Group, Germany
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14:30
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New Significant Innovation in Oil Refining, Mr. Benjamin Sleiman, CPM Crown, the Netherlands
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15:00
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Filtration of Edible Oils: Options, Optimization, and Economy, Mr. Bart Scholten, Envirogen Group, The Netherlands
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15:30
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Coffee/Tea Break
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16:00
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Introduction to the Deodorizing Process, Antonios Papastergiadis, Desmet, Belgium
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16:30
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Latest Developments in Deodorization to Minimize Heat Induced Contaminants, Mr. Andrew Logan, Alfa Laval, Sweden
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17:00
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Edible Oil Refining : it is (Not) All about Contaminant Mitigation, Dr. Wim De Greyt, Desmet, Belgium
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Session 3: NEW TECHNIQUES IN OIL PROCESSING AND REFINERY OPTIMIZATION
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17:30
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Comparison between Conventional and Newly Developed HVO Pre-treatment Process, Mr. Patrick Schürmann, GEA Westfalia Separator Group, Germany
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18:00
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End of day 1
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Day 2: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
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Session 3: NEW TECHNIQUES IN OIL PROCESSING AND REFINERY OPTIMIZATION (Cont'd)
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9:00
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Fractionation: A Cutting-edge Modification Process for High Value Food Products, Mrs. Veronique Gibon, Artemis Lipids, Belgium
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9:30
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Conversion of Edible Oils into High Quality Food Products, as Margarines, Shortenings and Other, Mr. Josef Barbi, E.S.E. Intec, U.S.A |
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10:00
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Advancing Measurement Reliability in Edible Oils: Four Critical Challenges Solved, Mr. Yannick Farine, Industry Manager Biofuels & Bioenergy, KROHNE, Belgium
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10:30
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Coffee/Tea Break
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11:00
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Innovative Bleaching and Dry Degumming, Dr. Stefan Neufeld, J. Rettenmaier & Söhne, Germany
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11:30
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New Developments in Vegetable Oil Bleaching, Mr. Jorge Bello, EP Engineered Clays, U.S.A.
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12:00
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TD-NMR Combined to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Process Control, TBC, FIT - Fine Instrument Technology, Brazil
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12:30
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Lunch Break
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14:00
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New Pathways for the Production of Renewable Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Dr. Roland Verhe, Ghent University, Belgium |
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14:30
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Micronutrients Recovery and Concentration from Deodorizer Vapor/Distillate, Dr. Bent Sarup, Alfa Laval, Denmark |
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15:00
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End of Program
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Cancellation policy:
Cancellations have to be sent by fax or e-mail to the organizers; please ask for confirmation.
- Cancellations received up till 30 days before the event, will be refunded at full price minus bank costs and extra 50 EUR handling cost.
- Cancellations up till two weeks before the event, will be refunded at full cost minus bank costs and extra 100 EUR handling cost.
- No refund is possible later than two weeks before the event
- Registrations are always fully transferable by sending a fax or e-mail indicating the name change.
Course Details
Level
All
Instructor
Multiple Industry Practitioners and Food Scientists
Duration
2 Days
Type
In Person
Location
Novotel Gent Centrum
Goudenleeuwplein 5
Parking : Hoogpoort 44
B-9000 Ghent (Belgium)
Tel +32 (0)9 293 9002
Fax +32 (0)9 224 3295
E-mail H0840@accor.com
Accomodations
A limited number of rooms have been blocked for the 34th Oils and Fats Practical Short Course at Novotel Gent Centrum, Ghent, Belgium with preferred rate. Please contact the hotel directly for room reservations.
Ghent - Travel & Visit Information
Hotels in Ghent
Contact Us
Belgium: +32 476 46 07 98
USA: +1 979 739 5682
Email: info@smartshortcourses.com
www.smartshortcourses.com
