WSU trains Philippine executives in food safety management

Filipino delegates with WSU’s Shyam Sablani, Jane
Payumo, Reza Ovissipour and Prema Arasu
.
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University’s expertise in food safety and track record of success in international collaboration have helped land a grant to train senior food executives from the Philippines for two weeks at WSU Pullman, through Sept. 21.
“It is our hope that the program will stimulate improvements in cold chain management in the Philippines, leading to agricultural produce of higher quality, reduced food losses, increased food availability and better economic returns – in addition to fostering new friendships and international collaborations,” said Shyam Sablani, assistant professor in the WSU Department of Biological Systems Engineering (BSysE).
 
A cold chain is a series of storage and distribution activities that maintain a given temperature range. It is used to help extend and ensure the shelf life of food and other products.
 
Sablani and Jane Payumo, international research coordinator in the WSU Office of International Programs, developed the program together with other WSU experts from BSysE, Food Science, Horticulture and the Office of Intellectual Property Administration. The integrated program melds lectures, technical instruction, laboratory observations, industry visits and “hands-on” experience in postharvest management, cold chain and postharvest procedures relevant to food safety and reduction in food losses and waste.
 
“WSU International Programs is committed to working with faculty in identifying strategic partners and developing programs that support collaboration, research and knowledge transfer,” said Prema Arasu, vice provost of WSU International Programs and a mentor of the visiting fellows.
 
The Philippines is considered one of the economic stars in Asia, with an annual gross domestic product averaging 5.5 percent to 6 percent resulting from strong domestic consumption and government spending. The archipelago nation was the 33rd largest export market for the U.S. in 2011. 
 
A Cochran Fellowship Program (CFP) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Services (USDA-FAS) is funding the program: “Cold Chain Management for Food Safety Quality for Developing Economies and Emerging Markets.”
 
“This training program will expand our linkages with the USDA-FAS and CFP, as well as the private sector in the Philippines, to promote more opportunities in research and learning for our faculty, staff and students” Arasu said.
 
The Cochran Fellows are senior executives from companies that are members of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines, Inc., a multisector organization that plays an increasingly vital role in development of the supply chain for chilled and frozen food products. Companies that participated include: Big Blue Logistics, Integrated Commissary Center, Inc. (KFC Philippines) and Frabelle Cold Storage Corporation.
 
 
Contact:
Jane Payumo, WSU International Programs, 509-335-8367, jane.payumo@wsu.edu