The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has provided some P1.9-million assistance to the Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (NMSCST) to scale up and strengthen its engagement in food innovation and research in Misamis Occidental.
The DoST-Misamis Occidental recently handed over a check amounting to P1.9 million to the NMSCST to pursue a project dubbed “MSMEs Improved Services and Operations for Competitive Communities thru Food Innovation Convergence (MISOCC-FIC).”
According to the DoST, the project seeks to capacitate the NMSCST to assist micro-small and medium enterprises "to innovate their food products for enhanced market competitiveness.”
It cited that the State college has been the pioneering Higher Education Institute (HEI) in Misamis Occidental that engages in food innovation and research.
The project funding is expected to be used for the purchase of the spray dryer and vacuum fryer equipment, developed by the DoST-Metals Industry and Development Center (MIRDC).
The DoST explained that the Spray Dryer technology turns liquid food to solid, lengthening the shelf life of various beverages and other food products. While the vacuum fryer deep-fries food inside a closed system under reduced pressure making the final products crunchy with low fat and moisture content, it said.
NMSCST president Dr. Herbert Glenn Reyes welcomed the MISOCC-FIC project, saying that it will not only benefit their institution, but also the whole province of Misamis Occidental.
“This project will be a great help for the MSMEs in the province and for the NMSCST and its students. It will serve as one of the institution’s income-generating projects and more food products will be innovated,” he said.