The agreement between Unimills, a European subsidiary of the Golden Hope Plantations Berhad (GHPB) and the Dutch research firm, is designed to help the company maintain its leading edge in the supply of tailor-made vegetable oils.
With NIZO food research as research partner, Unimills believes it can offer effective innovative power as co- developer of new food products that fit in a healthy lifestyle.
It said that the agreement should boost innovation projects in the areas of margarines, spreads, bakery, spray-dried products and ice cream resulting in shorter lead times and higher success rates than before.
The formal signing ceremony will take place on 29 June 2006 at the premises of NIZO food research in Ede, Netherlands and will be witnessed by the board of directors of Golden Hope along with political delegations of Malaysia and the Netherlands.
Along with the signing ceremony, a Unimills 'Health and Progress' seminar will be held for its customers on 'Co-development of new food concepts based on healthy oils and fats'. The seminar will be followed by a unique opportunity to visit the largest food grade pilot plant in Europe where the application possibilities of NIZO food research will be demonstrated.
"Unimills aims to excel as a co-developer of food products and wants to be the preferred supplier of tailor-made vegetable oil based ingredients. This agreement provides the food customers of Unimills unique innovative power,"said Alexander van der Klauw, general manager of Unimills.
"It combines the rich science based expertise of our R&D people on fat physics, chemistry and processing with the famous food innovation expertise and state-of-the art food application facilities of the Food Valley organisations led by NIZO food research.
The Netherlands is the home of the Food Valley, a unique international-oriented innovative region with a strong profile in agrifood, life sciences, genomics, nutrition and health. It employs about 10,000 scientists active in food and agro sciences employed at more than 50 organisations in technological development and related businesses.
Ad Juriaanse, CEO of NIZO food research, said that the agreement confirms the group's strategy of establishing long-term co-operations with its partners in order to drive and realise market innovations.