14 September 2019 – TWO academic staff from the Food Science and Technology (FST) programme area under the School of Applied Sciences and Mathematics (SASM) participated in the ASEAN Symposium on Development of High-Value Added Food Products at Bangkok International Trade and Exhbition Centre (BITEC), Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand. The event was held from 11 to 13 September 2019 and organised by the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) as part of the three-day Food Ingredient Asia (FiAsia) 2019 Exhibition.
The symposium commenced with an opening ceremony and welcoming speeches by Deputy Governor of R&D Group for Bio-Industries, TISTR, Mr. Sayan Tanpanich; and Director of Expert Centre of Innovative Health Food (InnoFood) TISTR, Mrs. Pattra Ahmadi Pirshahid. The symposium then proceeded with a keynote presentation on “High value products from agricultural waste” by Asst. Prof. Dr. Kamonchai Cha-aim from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
During the symposium, representatives from each ASEAN countries shared their experiences on developing and increasing value of food or food-related products in several aspects such as raw material preparation, production process and technology, packaging and application, as well as their market and trends.
The academic staff that represented UTB and Brunei in the symposium were
Yang Mulia Dr. Aida Maryam Basri, who presented her research on the use of local medicinal plants for functional food products; and Yang Mulia Dr. Masmunira Rambli, who focused her research on the nutritional and functional properties of underutilised shellfish. Also present at the event was Yang Mulia Hjh Siti Raihani binti Hj Abdul Hamid, Senior Agricultural officer from Agriculture and Agrifood Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, as Brunei’s focal person under the sub-committee of ASEAN member states of Food Science and Technology (SCFST).
As part of the event, the ASEAN representatives also had the opportunity to visit TISTR research centres comprised of the Food Innovation Service Plant (FISP), Innovative Centre for Production of Industrially-used Microorganisms (ICPIM) and Algal Excellent Centre (ALEC). The centres provide analytical services, testing, calibration, inspection, certification of quality management system, training and consultancy services that help to support commercialisation and to enhance competitiveness among SMEs, entrepreneurs and industries.
The symposium aimed to share and exchange relevant information and promising technologies on potential natural resources and by-products for value-added production of convenience foods, functional foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements; as well as to promote collaborative network among ASEAN researchers on the development of high value-added food products.
