Professor Sarim AI-Zubaidy, President, UTT (right) receives a sample of one of the products prepared by students of UTT's Food Science and Technology programmes.

THE UNIVERSITY of Trinidad and Tobago's (UTT) annual Food and Research Showcase, which was hosted by students of UTT's Food Science and Technology programmes, was held at UTT O'Meara Campus on Wednesday 4th July, 2018. This year's theme, "Local to Global: Advancing Food Security One Food Step at a Time", encouraged students to showcase their innovativeness and creativity through the development of new food products utilising locally produced fruits and vegetables.

As the local and global food and beverage industry changes to meet consumer demands, students of UTT's Food Science and Technology programmes are required to have an enhanced knowledge of food processing as well as packaging and distribution techniques in a highly commercialised and competitive environment. Robust health and safety regulations also place emphasis on the critical factors of food quality and safety requirements.

In his Opening Remarks, Professor Sarim AI-Zubaidy, President of UTT, lauded the students' display of visionary thinking and innovativeness in the development of novel food products. Professor AI-Zubaidy also noted the importance of agriculture and food production, both as career and entrepreneurial opportunities, as these can lead to increased wealth creation, food security and food safety within Trinidad and Tobago.

This Showcase also featured the official launch of the Centre of Expertise in Food Security and Sustainability (CEFSS). As the Caribbean region grapples with an increasingly large food import bill and food insecurity, the CEFSS will develop a food security and sustainability model that will not only support primary agricultural producers and small-scale food processors, but also facilitate the emergence of value-added, agro-processing industries along the food chain. Through strategic collaborative arrangements and training initiatives, the CEFSS will provide the basis for strengthening personnel and institutional capacities.

With the need to diversify the local economy through the agricultural sector, UTT is well poised to provide the requisite human resource and training to fulfill this need and in so doing advance local food security, making the idea of self-sustainability a reality.