USU PUBLIC RELATIONS - Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held the International Conference on Food Technology, Nutrition, and Sustainable Agriculture (ICFTNSA) 2021, Thursday (9/30) at the Main Building of the Faculty of Agriculture. This conference is a collaboration of three study programs at the Faculty of Agriculture, namely the Food Science and Technology Study Program, the Food Science Masters Study Program and the Animal Science Master's Degree Study Program with the Indonesian Food Technology Experts Association (PATPI), especially PATPI Medan Branch.

USU Rector Dr. Muryanto Amin when delivering his welcome speech at the international conference hoped that this event, which brought together experts in the food sector, would be able to produce food innovations of international standard.

“ICFTNSA 2021 is an opportunity to exchange ideas and research and knowledge. This conference is expected to be able to support the internationalization of campuses, especially in the field of food science and technology,” he said.

The Rector explained that USU is a campus located in an area with rich biodiversity. USU's Campus II in Kuala Bekala is also currently in the process of developing forestry and agricultural research.

"Looking at the resources we have, it is hoped that through this international seminar, local products of international standard will be created," he said.

ICFTNSA 2021 was opened by Prof. Dr. Aman Wirakartakusumah President Elect of International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) and Presiding Officer of International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST)

The Chair of the ICFTNSA Committee, Dr. Ir Hotnida Sinaga, MPhil who is also the Chair of the Master of Food Science Study Program, FP USU hopes that this conference can establish wider cooperation and can develop innovations in the fields of food technology, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.

"Bringing together scientists and academics as well as students as a forum to share knowledge and form collaborative networks in agriculture and food technology," he said.

This is also a form of implementation of USU's vision to become a university that has academic excellence as a barometer of scientific progress that is able to compete at the global world level, he added.

The activity was filled with keynote speakers from various countries, namely, America (Prof. Shyam S.Sablani from Washington State University), France (Prof. Claire Gaiani, University of Lorraine, Nancy, Lorraine, France, Thailand (Assoc. Prof. Santad). Wichienchot, Prince of Songkla University), Australia (Prof. Benu Adhikari, RMIT University, Melbourne) and Indonesia (Prof. Dr. Ir. Umar Santoso, M.Sc., President of the Association of Indonesian Food Technology Experts / PATPI).(©ULC)

Author: Bambang Riyanto - Humas

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Irsan Mulyadi - Humas