A NEW building that houses state-of-the-art food processing equipment and innovative products in agriculture and other allied sciences was launched Jan. 6 as part of the highlights of the 37th foundation anniversary of MMSU.

Dubbed Science and Technology (S&T) Park and Expo Center, the building is located alongside the Batac-Paoay road and is mandated to cater to the growing demand for MMSU technologies to be commercialized. It also serves as venue to transfer basic and applied technologies developed by the university to those who may want to engage into food processing as a business venture.

Since the center functions as site for development learning experiences for young entrepreneurs, it is expected to help spur socio-economic development as it showcases technologies being developed by the university and those of private entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of these technologies.

During its soft launching, visitors had a glimpse of the information booth of the Department of Tourism, the extension and R&D products of MMSU in the fields of microbiology, ceramic, and plant products such as horticulture and bonsai plants.

The agriculture group, headed by CAFSD dean Artemio B. Alcoy, set up booths that showcased processed food products, fresh organic fruits and vegetables, farm inputs such as bio-organic fertilizer and pesticides, and some value-added farm products.

Food products displayed for sale were processed meat, mutton, powdered products, seaweed and fish products, marunggay ice cream, rootcrops, marunggay, dragon fruit, and mango products. There were also organic wines and spirits, soaps, and sweet sorghum products.

The COE, too, displayed the state-of-the-art ceramic water filter, while the Bamboo Development Project presented its various e-Kawayan products.

Judges selected the best-tasting and most innovative products including those with the best packaging. The best booth was also given a cash prize. (See related story on page 8.)

Meanwhile, DOST-I has donated some highly-industrialized equipment for the operation of the Food Innovation Center, one of the component projects of the S&T Park.

To ensure the smooth operation of the park, DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo has designated Assistant Secretary Ma. Lourdes P. Orijola as its program leader because of her expertise in technology transfer. She has started leading in the commercialization of food and innovative materials produced at MMSU using biological and non-metallic resources found in Ilocos Norte.

Orijola’s special detail in the university provides overall supervision for the conduct of the S&T Park’s activities in line with the production of community-based and high value meat products in the countryside for rural empowerment.

Aside from these functions, Orijola leads in the development and implementation of business and marketing strategies; facilitate university-industry interaction for the transfer of advanced technology developed by the university; provide assistance and advice to the project staff for the development, patenting, and marketing of industry-related products and technologies; conduct technology trainings and seminar-workshops for the project leaders and staff; and review materials prepared by the project and study leaders for publication.