It used to be that the Latin America Region (district) met during IAOM’s global Conference & Expo each year. That changed in 2009, when IAOM’s leaders decided to hold the Latin America meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
From 2009-2014, the IAOM meeting was scheduled to coincide with the annual Latin American Millers Association (ALIM) meeting – usually just before the ALIM meeting at the same or nearby venue.
Starting in 2016, the Region’s leadership decided to move its annual meeting to the first quarter of the year. In doing so, IAOM Latin America became a standalone meeting. Since that move, IAOM’s Latin America Region has shown an increase in attendance and interest.
Earlier this month, milling professionals from throughout Latin America met in Panama City, Panama, for a three-day conference. Built into the event were networking opportunities, as well as plenty of educational sessions. Millers from the region shared their experience and knowledge with the group in presentations on installing an air make-up system for controlling moisture in dry conditions and on incorporating sustainable development objectives and social responsibility into their work.
And before the conference, Enzo Galluzzo from the Latin America Milling School in Venezeuela (ESLAMO) gave a full-day workshop on mill process audit and optimization.
The weather was beautiful and the conversations were warm. The group is excited about preparing for its meeting next year in Bogotá, Colombia.
