Twelve of the world’s largest food companies have pledged to reduce trans fat in the global food supply, to align with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of phasing out industrially-produced trans-fats (iTFAs) by 2023.

The City of London has decided to ban junk food in adverts on its public transport system in efforts to tackle childhood obesity, Olive Oil Times reported on 20 March.

Used cooking oil (UCO) is being utilised in a maritime biofuel pilot project involving a group of Dutch multinationals and Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk, the world’s largest container ship and supply vessel operator.

Indonesia has asked India to cut its tariff on refined palm oil to 45% and has offered market access for Indian sugar in exchange, the Indonesian trade ministry said on 23 February.

The European Commission (EC) is urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to change its rules under which liquid effluents can be discharged from marine ‘scrubbers’ into the sea.

Vegetable oil prices, including those for palm oil, are set to rise by US$50-100/tonne by June, according to LMC International chairman James Fry.

The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) has signed an agreement with Brazil’s Port of Itaqui to promote the shipment of grains and other cargo through the canal, World Grain reports.

EU biodiesel imports nearly tripled in 2018 compared to 2017, when anti-dumping tariffs on the fuel from Argentina and Indonesia were suspended, according to Germany’s oil and protein plants association, UFOP.

Turkey’s oilseeds production in 2019/20 is forecast to remain at 3M tonnes despite government efforts to boost output, according to a 1 March Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Indian consumer goods company Patanjali Ayurved has increased its bid for bankrupt edible oil business Ruchi Soya, the Financial Express reported on 13 March.

Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas company PTT Plc has agreed to buy 100,000 tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) to produce biodiesel for export in a move to shore up prices and use up surplus stock, the Bangkok Post reported on 14 March.

Brazilian commodities giant, the Amaggi group, and the world’s big four ‘ABCD’ agricultural traders could make a joint bid to operate a road connecting Brazil’s oilseed belt to northern ports, while also considering an investment in a parallel railway, Reuters reported on 11 March.

Calyxt Inc, USA, announced the launch of a gene-edited high oleic soyabean oil for the US market which will be sold to the food service industry for frying and salad dressings, as well as sauce applications.