The overall goal of the 2008 International Grain Quality and Technology Congress is to provide a global symposium on the technical, scientific and economic opportunities and challenges involved in creating and capturing value in the grain-based food, feed, fiber and fuel supply chains. The specific objectives of this Congress are to present current research-based knowledge and information on industry practice on:

• Characterization of quality attributes and measurement technologies to quantify agronomic, quality and end use traits of cereals, oilseeds and co-products within the food, feed, fiber and bioenergy complex.
• Best management practices, systems and technologies to maintain and assure the identity, purity, integrity, consistency, quality, biosecurity and marketability of cereals, oilseeds and co-products through the supply chains from production through harvest, handling, post-harvest, and processing operations, to final end use.
• Economic assessment of measurement technologies and management practices for creating and capturing value within the food, feed, fiber and bioenergy complex.

Background
In 1990 the University of Illinois together with NC-213 and several other organizations hosted Uniformity by 2000 - An International Workshop on Maize and Soybean Quality. Over 120 participants from 16 countries were in attendance. The objective of that workshop was to identify areas of international agreement on uniform definitions and measurement technologies of corn and soybean characteristics that determine quality. Since then many new scientific and technological advances in grain and oilseed production, handling and delivery have been made and new issues related to the definitions, measurement technologies, segregated handling practices, certification, tracing, and identity preservation of conventional and transgenic grains and oilseeds have emerged.

These changes formed the basis to bring experts from around the world together for the 2004 International Quality Grains Congress to review advances, study the issues and push the frontiers in the production, handling and delivery of quality grains and oilseeds. Over 200 participants from more than 15 countries were in attendance. The objective of that Congress was to provide a global symposium on quality-assured, traceable and biosecure grains and oilseeds for the 21st century. The specific objectives of the Congress were to present current research-based knowledge on: (1) Measurement technologies to quantify agronomic, quality and end use traits of cereals and oilseeds, (2) Best management practices to assure the identity, purity, integrity, quality and biosecurity of cereals and oilseeds through the supply chain from production through harvest, handling, post-harvest, and processing operations, to final end use, and (3) Quality management system approaches for the identity preservation, certification, trace back and biosecurity of cereals and oilseeds in the evolving global market place of differentiated products.

In 2005, a national round table entitled New Frontiers in Grain Quality Technology and Informatics was held for the purpose of reviewing the tremendous advances that have been made in grain quality testing and management, and to provide a roadmap for those involved in creating and capturing value from quality attributes. There were 138 participants from the US, Europe, and South America, representing 85 different businesses and organizations. The Congress involved panel discussions, case studies, breakout sessions, and industry tours, all focused on the subject of grain quality technology and informatics. Panelists and attendees represented all perspectives along the marketing channel including government regulators and market promoters. The 2008 International Grain Quality and Technology Congress builds on the success of these preceding efforts to bring together the leading scientists, engineers, economists, and professionals from academia, government and the agricultural and food/feed/fiber/fuel industry involved in the production, handling and utilization of cereals, oilseeds and co-products, and the manufacturing of grain-based foods, feeds, fiber and fuel from throughout the world.

Purpose
The need and timeliness of the 2008 International Grain Quality and Technology Congress exists because of the emergence of a global competition for grain to supply the rapidly increasing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel. Since 2004, the demand for corn-based fuel ethanol has sharply increased in the United States causing a sudden expansion in corn production and the associated post-harvest handling, storage, transportation and marketing system. In addition to meeting bioenergy needs, markets have been demanding differentiated products that require the traditional commodity-based production, handling and processing industry to adopt new technologies practices that will assure the purity, quality and biosecurity of cereals, oilseeds and co-products from seed to consumer. The importance of molecular biology in variety development has had a significant impact on the production, handling, marketing and delivery of cereals, oilseeds and co-products. Continuing expansion of markets for value added crops (developed through genetic engineering as well as traditional breeding) and co-products from the bioenergy complex requires rapid purity and quality detection technologies, and development and adoption of best management practices and quality management systems that are practically achievable, economically viable and fully accepted in the global market place. This Congress will present cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art knowledge and information on leading industry practices that address these issues through keynote, oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, case studies, breakout sessions, special topic workshops, and round table discussions. Commercial and educational tabletop exhibits, and a post tour into the U.S. Grain Belt to visit grain producers, handlers and processors as well as a biofuel plant will also be organized.

Participants and presenters at the 2008 International Grain Quality and Technology Congress will include the leading scientists, engineers, economists, and professionals from academia, government and the agricultural and food/feed/fiber/fuel industry involved in the production, handling and utilization of cereals, oilseeds and co-products, and the manufacturing of grain-based foods, feeds, fiber and fuel from throughout the world. Representatives from the agricultural and food/feed/fiber/fuel industry (including equipment, biotechnology and service suppliers; grain producers, handlers and processors; food and feed manufacturers; fiber and fuel producers), certification agencies, producer organizations, grain inspection services, universities, research institutes, and international trade policy groups from throughout the world are invited to participate.

Timeline