Food Value Chain Training Course in Partnership with Universiti Putra Malaysia 2023

The 2^nd Food Value Chain Training Course in Partnership with Universiti Putra Malaysia under HRD Project – Phase 3 was successfully organized from 29 May to 19 June 2023. The activity was implemented in hybrid mode with a Zoom platform hosted by the Department of Agribusiness and Bio-Resource Economics of Universiti Putra Malaysia. The Program was attended by 42 (forty-two) students from the Department of Agribusiness and Bio-Resource Economics. A total of 7 (seven) lecturers with noted expertise in Food Value Chain (FVC) from Japan’s public and private sectors were invited and shared their knowledge and practical know-how based on their broad experience in FVC-related fields.  The curriculum was arranged based on consultation between UPM, MAFF Japan, Japan Food Journal, and the Project. It was composed of knowledge on cutting-edge Food Value Chain-related topics; (1) ICT/Smart Agriculture, (2) Food Packaging, (3) Food Processing/Manufacturing, (4) Supply Chain and Logistics, (5) International Trade and Food/Agriculture, and (6) Sustainable Agriculture and Start-Up. The 1^st day of the lecture discussed the improvement of agricultural productivity through innovation and mechanization especially how advanced technology could support the sustainability of agricultural production as well as the important role of food packaging technology in improving the Food Value Chain. The Program was enriched with a field visit to the AEON Perishable Center on the 2^nd day of the lecture to provide students with a more comprehensive outline of the Food Value Chain in actual circumstances. The 3rd-day lecture discussed food processing and manufacturing in supporting the food service business as well as logistics and its technology as part of the important component in the Food Value Chain.  On the final day, the lecture focused on examples of sustainable food and agriculture management as well as international trade in cooperation by Malaysia and Japan. A workshop session was included in the curriculum to stimulate the students’ critical thinking and allow them to discuss and comprehend the current situation of their countries, including challenges and solutions, through skills and knowledge introduced by experts during the lecture. The students were requested to summarize their understanding of the topic given in the Program and share their perspectives looking at the current situation in Malaysia.