With an acknowledgement of the global food crisis issues and the strong intention of enhancing availability and safety of world food supplies, the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the School of Agro-Industry at Mae Fah Luang University organized the Thailand’s Annual International Training Course (AITC) 2017 on “R&D in postharvest and processing technology for food security” from 20 November – 3 December 2017 at MFU.
Throughout the 19 years of operation, the School of Agro-Industry at Mae Fah Luang University has been in the forefront of this region in accumulating knowledge, conducting research related to agro-industry and applying new technology for security and safety of food and humanity throughout the supply chain.
This course aimed to provide knowledge in postharvest and processing technology for agricultural produce, and to enhance the skills in improving food security, in adding value to agricultural products, and in performing effective management of agricultural trade, quality measurement and quality control. The course also served as a stage for participants to share knowledge on how to manage agricultural produces after harvest to reduce avoidable losses during storage and transportation and how to select appropriate technology to maintain food security. Above all, this programme was also expected to promote collaboration, facilitate communication and foster a professional network among participants.
Twenty-one participants from ASEAN member countries and FEALAC member countries were offered a series of intensive contents through lectures and workshop on Postharvest and Processing, practices in laboratory and study visits in the Northern region of Thailand, which were complementary to the knowledge they had obtained from the lectures.
Overall, the participants acquired with an insightful knowledge and useful skills in postharvest and processing technology during the two-week training course. The success of this training programme will be shown by the valuable contributions of the trainees to their own countries and through the enhanced food security of the world in the future.
