DAY 1: Improving US-SSA Business Relationships

2008 INTERNATIONAL SHEA BUTTER CONVENTION

Improving US-SSA Business Relationships

October 2,3 and 4 2008

Airport Crown Plaza Hotel

Atlanta, GA, USA

Day 1:

Part 1: Quality is a byproduct of Shea Industry Infrastructure

Part 2: Facilitating US-SSA Business Relationships

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM		Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Convention opening and Welcome address
	Guest speaker to be named

Friday Morning Sessions

8:30 AM 9:00 AM

The State of the Shea Butter Industry; evolving patterns

Friday Morning Sessions

9:00AM to 12:00 noon		Understanding the International Language of Shea Quality
This session is designed to discuss, quality, the single most important issue globally confronting processors, sellers, and buyers in the international markets. We will explore what role the SSA infrastructure plays on the quality of Shea Butter produced and how the inefficiencies of SSA infrastructure interrelate to the Shea Butter processing equation. Specific attention will be paid to post extraction quality issues affecting the storage and transportation of the finished product. This session will provide participates the necessary background to overcome current quality hurdles that historically plaqued the quality of shea production transportation and storage out of sub Sahara Africa.
9:15 to 9:30			What is quality?
	What are the physical properties defining quality
	What are the chemistry properties of defining quality
9:30 to 10:30		Pre extraction and Processing
	Review of current quality problems when processing Shea Butter
	Review of what poor infrastructure problems can cause with quality of shea butter production.
	What basic infrastructure is required to modernize processing of shea butter
	How to manage Shea Butter Quality during each step of processing
	How to Prepare Shea that meets the minimum International Standard
10:30 to 11:30	Post extraction
	Should every batch of Shea Butter be laboratory tested?
	What is the major Microbial Contaminations seen In Shea Butter?
	How to manage Post Extraction Quality?
	What is the ideal storage environment?
	How to Prevent Rancidity post extraction?
11:30 to 12:00	Different Grades for Different Industries
	Review of Quality of Shea Butter required for Chocolate/confection industry
	Review of Quality of Shea Butter required for personal care industry
	Review of Quality of Shea Butter required for soap makers, candle makers
	Review of Quality of Shea Butter required for industrial and other users
	Understanding the various quality Grades of Shea Butter
	Which grade(s) of Shea Butter is not fit for human use


12:30 to 1:30	Lunch

Friday Afternoon Sessions

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Gables Room

How to Improve and Enhance U.S.-SSA Business Trade Relationships;

Panel Discussion with Several SSA Shea Butter Manufacturer’s

To be named

Friday Afternoon Sessions

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM

Gables Room

Facilitating U.S. - SSA Private Sector Relationships thru Shea Trade not Aid

We will explore the impacts that can be made by the US Government fostering the existing relationships of US SSA Businesses and by creating inroads for “Shea Trade capacity building” in America. Our focus will be Trade not aid for SSA. Questions that will be explored include;

How Shea Butter serve as a backbone for increased trade between SSA and the Global community at large?
How Shea traders represent the best candidates to further commercial exchange between USA and SSA?
How the US Government can help US Businesses by direct investment in “capacity building” of US Shea trade; and thru demonstration projects devoted to Shea purchasing - syndicates
Should the US military and other governmental agencies using petroleum based industrial and personal care products; be given mandate or show preferential consideration of purchase of comparable Shea based products
How will the creation of FDA specifications for unrefined Shea entering the US further facilitate trade with SSA?
What are the current standings of the FDA on the use Shea butter in chocolate manufacturing
We will review the perceptions of chocolate consumers and review the Pros and Cons of Using Shea Butter in Chocolate Manufacturing in the US and North America.

American Shea Butter Institute

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