IUFoST at Fi Vietnam 2015

Delia Rodriguez-Amaya

With the theme Ingredients for success – Connecting food product developers with consumers, the Food Ingredients Vietnam 2015 International Conference was held on Thursday 21 May 2015 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  It was co-organised by the Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFoST), IUFoST and UBM, with the support of the Federation of the Institutes of Food Science and Technology in ASEAN (FIFSTA) and the Saigon Technology University (STU).

IAFoST fellow Prof. Luu Dzuan, VAFoST Executive Vice-President, chaired the Organising Committee, with Ms Luu Mai Huong, Dr Hoang Kim Anh and Ms Nguyen Ngoc Minh Chau as members. IAFoST fellows Dr Delia Rodriguez-Amaya and Dr Aman Wirakartakusumah were speakers, lecturing on Update of processing effects on carotenoid composition and bioavailability: Implications for food quality and human health and Global Food Safety Curriculum – IUFoST’s initiative to address food safety, respectively. VAFoST president Prof. Ngo Tien Hien spoke on Implementing food safety in food ingredients. The Chairman of the ASEAN Food Conference 2015, Mr Marty Panganiban, gave an update of this conference, the largest food science and technology event in Southeast Asia. Ms Darunee Edwards, member of the IUFoST Governing Council, Dr Win Win, President of the Food Science and Technology Association of Myanmar (FoSTA-Myanmar), and Dr Phan The Dong, VAFoST’s chair of the Academic Committee, were session chairs.

(Left to Right) Darunee Edwards, Aman Wirakartakusumah and Luu Dzuan

The Conference was preceded by a student competition in food product development, hosted by the Faculty of Food Technology, STU. Each group of three to four students received 50 US dollars from UBM to develop a product in one week. There were 43 entries, out of which 20 finalists were selected to receive $50 each. In the end, 15 successful groups presented their work and were judged by a Panel of Judges, which included Delia Rodriguez-Amaya (chair), Marty Panganiban, NGO Tien Hien, Mr Tran Trong Vu and Mr Ly Truong Chien (STU-FoodTechnology’s industry advisors). The winning products were non-fried instant pumpkin noodles and dragon fruit essence as first and second place, respectively. Tied in third place were Zozo vegetable wrap and passion fruit candy. The judges were impressed by the products developed, especially considering the limited funding and the short time.

Marty Panganiban and Delia Rodriguez-Amaya

The International Conference was held in conjunction with the FI Vietnam 2015 Exhibition, held on 20-22 May,  with 155 exhibitors from 28 countries. The main products of interest were beverages, bakery products, flavorings, dairy products, food supplements, confectionary, meat and poultry products, cereals and convenience foods and ready meals. The Exposition had 4,444 visitors from 37 countries while the International Conference had 196 attendees.

(Left to Right) Marty Panganiban, Win Win Kyi and Luu Dzuan 

As part of the Vietnamese Visiting Professors Program, Prof. Rodriguez-Amaya lectured at the Saigon Technology University (150 students) and the University of Technology and Education (HCMC) (100 students) on Update on carotenoids as food colorants and precursors of aroma compounds.

Prof Delia Rodriguez-Amaya is an Emeritus Researcher and Professor at University of Campinas (Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP), Sao Paulo, Brazil, and President (2014-16) and Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology; e-mail: dramaya2012@gmail.com