DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 June) – Eighty-five prototypes of new technologies that are used for food production have been developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XI under its Food Processing Innovation Center (FPIC).
Sheryl Napoco, science research specialist at DOST XI told reporters Tuesday that they need buyers for the inventions of researchers and scientists in the Davao Region to be used in food processing for commercial purposes.
The inventions include vacuum fryer, coconut spray dryer, freeze dryer, water retort, and vacuum packaging machine.
Napoco said they have received inquiries from Singapore, China and Thailand for the spray dryer that can turn coconut water into powdered juice. The dryer was developed by a pool of researchers from the DOST 11.
“As it converts the liquid feed into powder, it is now easy for transport and has a longer shelf life,” she said.
But she said the invention cannot be produced yet on a commercial scale because nobody has shown interest to buy it.
The FPIC is currently housed at the Philippine Women’s College (PWC) in Davao City, with co-partners from DOST XI, Department of Trade and Industry, city government of Davao, and the Food Processors Association of Davao.
The facility is said to be Good Manufacturing Practices-compliant.
It boasts of fabricated equipment by DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute as part of its High-Impact Technology Solutions program to hasten the production process and improve food and packaging quality and enhance product marketability and durability.
The P5.3-million FPIC was first launched on May 15, 2014 in Davao Region before it was rolled out in Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, and Caraga Regions, Napoco said.
She said the DOST hopes to operationalize the FPIC in all regions across the country before end of this year.
She said DOST XI provides P50,000 to inventors who wish to pitch for their innovative ideas.
The FPIC provides common service facility for food innovation, micro toll processing, and packaging to food technology faculty and students of PWC of Davao and MSME food processors.
It provides food testing, information, packaging and labeling design, consultancy and advisory services to assist food processors conform to local and international standards, and organizes trainings and seminars on food processing and food safety.
It is envisioned to become a leading “hub for innovations, technical support services for the food industry in the region transforming concepts into products.” (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
