Voluntary Union: Alan Mortimer Speaking During An IUfoST Dialogue At The 11th ASEAN Food Conference At The Rizqun International Hotel.

Brunei Hosts ASEAN Food Conference

Bandar Seri Begawan - The 11th ASEAN Food Conference kicked off in Brunei yesterday, opening the way for food scientists and stakeholders in the region and the rest of the world to volley their ideas and seek solutions to challenges faced in this field.

More than 700 participants have registered for the three-day conference, including over 400 participants from 31 countries and 300 from Brunei Darussalam.

Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar was present to officiate the opening of the conference at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

Brunei Darussalam's Committee of Science and Technology (COST) Chairman Dato Paduka Hj Abd Rashid Hj Abd Rahman said that the global environment has changed significantly over the past two years, with significant effect on food production.

"We have witnessed and felt the impacts of severe food shortages, unprecedentedly high commodities prices, the effects of climate change, the worst financial crisis and currently the global economic slowdown," he said.

"In view of these volatilities and uncertainties, the need to secure sustainable and continuous global food supply have been further emphasised."

Dato Rashid, who is also the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Development, said that Association of Southeast Asian Nations has to enhance its investment in research and the international food community to you with all its technical and scientific opportunities," stated the email.

Alan Mortimer, IUFoST Past President (2003 to 2006), explained that the union is a voluntary, non-profit country-membership organisation set up with the primary intention of linking the world's food scientists and technologists.

It currently boasts a membership list of over 70 countries, as well as 200,000 food scientists.

IUFoST aims to strengthen food science and technology's role in helping secure the world's food supply and eliminate world hunger by delivering programmes such as distance education, workshops and integrated food systems targeted to these needs.

"The trouble is some countries are so poor that there is no food science. Some people cannot afford to grow crops and people have to eat grass," said Mortimer.

Apart from being invited to put forward a paper on food science solutions to food security issues for the G20 meeting later this year, IUFoST has also convened an International Expert Panel on Food Safety.

"Food safety is the most basic thing of all. Eating food is always a balance between making it taste right and making sure it is safe to eat," he said.

"If we all just went out to the garden and picked a banana or kill and boil a chicken right away then there would be no problems, but when we start to freeze, chill or preserve things, then there is a chance that bugs could go in and cause problems," added Mortimer.

He explained that this was particularly relevant these days as people in urban areas rarely grow their own food.

"You go to the supermarket and expect everything to be correct and safe, but this is not the case," he said.

Another aim of IUFoST is to promote the advancement of global food science and technology through its education programmes, workshops, regional symposia and through IUFoST's International Academy of Food Science and Technology.

This aims together are expected to foster the worldwide exchange of scientific knowledge and ideas through the biennial World Congress, IUFoST, three scientific journals, an online journal and regular Scientific Information Bulletins (SIBs).

Brunei has its own Association of Food Science and Technology (BDAFST) set up to promote food science and technological knowledge, as well as research and development within the food industries.

It also aims to function as a platform for the exchange of technological information at both local and international levels and technological training and workshops for the food industry while supporting government policies in strengthening food quality and safety. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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