What an incredible trip it has been for Dr Hazel Khoo, ED SIFBI, Dr Raffael Osen, Head of SIFBI’s Food Process Engineering and Ms Hui Jie Tey, Regional Director of Southeast Asia from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) in Bangkok 🇹🇭!

The #SEA2023 Agri Food Roundtable, jointly organized by Thai Wah Public Company Limited, Temasek, Rethink Events, proved to be an exceptional industry event. It provided an intimate setting where numerous industry experts from the Southeast Asia region gathered to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities in the agrifood space, in the drive for a greener future. The conference featured notable themes and an impressive line-up of speakers who offered invaluable insights, shared success stories, and presented cutting-edge innovations to spark new ideas and partnerships.

During the trip, our team had the privilege of visiting the innovative hubs SPACE-F and FoodInnopolis, which are at the forefront of technology, sustainability, and food convergence. At Space-F, we witnessed ground-breaking advancements in foodtech, including alternative proteins, novel food and ingredients, and smart manufacturing - a glimpse into the future of the agri-food industry!

We were hosted by FoodInnopolis Director, Dr Akeanong Jangbua, who introduced us to a thriving ecosystem of food entrepreneurs, startups, and researchers dedicated to shaping the future of food. Passionate individuals on this collaborative platform were actively engaged in research, development, and innovation, aiming to create sustainable food solutions, explore alternative protein sources, and minimize food waste. It was truly inspiring to witness the diverse projects and initiatives aimed at creating a more sustainable and inclusive food system, both locally and globally. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the teams at Space-F and FoodInnopolis for their warm hospitality and for sharing their invaluable knowledge and experiences with us.

Concluding our journey, we had the opportunity to visit renowned universities at the forefront of the food innovation industry. We would like to express our gratitude to Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, and National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) for graciously hosting us and offering an awe-inspiring learning experience in food science and innovation. Our knowledge and capabilities exchange in food processing with the faculty members, researchers, and students was truly enlightening and insightful. We are grateful for the connections made and eagerly look forward to future collaboration opportunities!