I am delighted to share that we successfully organized the FOODI Info Day and Expert Workshop at Novotel Hotel, Future Park, Rangsit, Thailand. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all participants, speakers, consortium partners, donors, and my dedicated staff and students for their enthusiasm and active participation.
Event Overview
The Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Health (FINH) academic program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), in collaboration with fifteen consortium partners, co-organized the FOODI Info Day and Expert Workshop on “Smart and Innovative Processing Towards a Safe and Sustainable Food System.” The event was held from 29th June to 1st July 2022 at Novotel Future Park, Rangsit, and saw the participation of 75 attendees from 15 different countries.
Project Background
This event was part of the “Food Processing and Innovation (FOODI)” project, a capacity-building initiative approved under the European Framework of Higher Education (Ref. No. 598987-EPP-1-2018-1-MY-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP). Funded by EACEA under the Erasmus Plus Program, the project aims to develop capacity building for higher education in Southeast Asia (SEA), focusing on incorporating cutting-edge technologies and innovation management in food processing. The ultimate goal is to transform the local food processing sector into a driver of social and economic growth. The FOODI consortium comprises 16 institutions, including 6 from the EU and 10 from SEA. AIT is the first consortium partner to launch the academic program under the name of Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Health.
Event Highlights
- Welcome Remarks and Objectives: Prof. Anil Kumar Anal (Principal Investigator, AIT) delivered the welcome remarks and outlined the objectives of the info day and workshop.
- Project Overview: Dr. Rosmini Omar (Project Coordinator, Associate Professor and Dean, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia) provided a brief overview of the FOODI Project.
- Opening Remarks: Mr. Laurent Lourdais (First Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand) delivered the opening remarks, sharing the EU’s vision, particularly the farm-to-fork strategy.
Expert Workshop and Panel Discussion
The final day of the expert workshop featured a panel discussion on “Future Foods: Emerging Trends, Safety Issues, Policy Implications, and Potentials.” Moderated by Ms. Tina Rodvong, the panel included:
- Dr. Rosmini Omar (Associate Professor and Dean, Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia)
- Dr. Warapa Mahakarnchanakul (Director of Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Kasetsart University, Thailand)
- Dr. Michelle Miccio (Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Italy)
- Prof. Dato Dr. Jamil Hamil (Rector, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia)
- Prof. Anil Kumar Anal (Professor, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand)
The panel provided valuable insights into emerging trends and issues in the realm of future foods.
Acknowledgements
I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Your support and participation have been instrumental in fostering discussions and innovations that will shape the future of food processing and sustainable food systems.
