On June 25^th 2021, the School of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) organized the launching event of project titled “Multi-disciplinary network platform to assess value chain opportunity for plant-based protein by upcycling food wastes and improving food safety”. The project is granted by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the Global Challenges Research Fund framework.

The project targets to minimize losses and contamination across the agri-food value chain, while enhancing resource efficiency by processing wastage to develop a variety of protein-rich products. Participating in the project are universities and industries in UK, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, including the Natural Resources Institute - University of Greenwich (UK), School of Biotechnology and Food Technology - HUST, University of Natural Sciences – VNU (Vietnam); Royal University of Agriculture of Cambodia, Loikaw University (Myanmar) and International Potato Center. The project also benefits from valuable experience of leading enterprises in agro-food processing including Minh Duong Joint Stock Company, Lam Son Sugar Joint Stock Company and Mitr Phol Group – Thailand.

On behalf of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vice President – Assoc. Prof. Huynh Dang Chinh conveyed his gratitude to the Global Challenges Research Fund for their valuable support in tackling food wastage and food safety. He also congratulated to the Natural Resources Institute – University of Greenwich and the colleagues at the School of Biotechnology and Food Technology for winning this project. “The newly established network from this project will hopefully provide success in creating a high value chain of protein and improving the safety of Agri-food products” – he said.

During the meeting, all partners introduced their organizations and expressed their expectations in this collaborative project. The kick-off meeting also included the introductions of 04 team leaders in charge of the project’s main activities including: (i) Value Chain Analysis, (ii) Food Engineering, (iii) Food Safety and ( iv) Food Waste.

Partners of the project

For more detail, please visit the official website of the network: //sbft.lookbr.com/gcrf2021/