HIGHER education institutions (HEIs) have a crucial role in achieving food security and economic development, particularly in the post-pandemic era, Glenn Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), said. At the 3rd International Food Research Conference (IFRC) held at the Palm Garden Hotel in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Gregorio said the conference was anchored on the theme "Sustainable Food Industry through Science, Technology, and Innovation." Organized by Searca and the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Gregorio said IFRC 2024, which attracted over 200 participants from 26 countries, allowed food researchers to exchange insights and discuss their findings and innovations centered on food. "It covered sessions on food analysis, food safety and quality, food biotechnology, food chemistry and biochemistry, food security and sustainability, food packaging and shelf life, automation and digitalization, and novel and green technologies, among others," he said. At the food security and sustainability session, Gregorio presented "Transforming the Landscape of Agricultural Research and Development in HEI: A New Chapter of Innovation and Resilience." He emphasized how the Covid-19 pandemic revealed the link between supply chains and people's consumption patterns. "There's an urgent need to redefine agricultural systems as food systems [and that] the universities must take the necessary steps to achieve the development targets and ensure that food security aspirations are being met and will continue to be met in the future," he added. He called on HEIs to produce graduates with transformative mindsets who can navigate complex social issues and drive positive change both now and in the future. "Universities should harness research and innovation to develop new crop varieties, livestock breeds, and agricultural technologies, including water management, pest and disease control, weather forecasting, postharvest management, and food safety," Gregorio said. Gregorio outlined key priorities for transforming agricultural research and development in HEIs, which include creating an enabling environment for faculty and researchers by establishing interdisciplinary and multi-research centers. He also stressed the need to incentivize scientific productivity beyond mere publication by valuing the "5Ps": people, partnerships, patents, products and profits. While highlighting the importance of retraining faculty and researchers on intellectual property, patents, technology transfer, incubation and entrepreneurship, Gregorio pointed out the significance of increasing faculty and research grants in fostering industry and community engagement across the agricultural supply chain. The Searca director accentuated the need to reframe and adapt research projects in response to crises.
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