On April 11, 2025, a team of researchers from Saint Louis University (SLU), Baguio City, visited Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) to explore food processing facilities and technologies in Mindanao. The visiting delegation was composed of Dr. Richel L. Lamadrid (Project Team Leader), Mary Luz C. Fiangaan (RPh, MSc), Engr. Daphne C. Leal, and Dr. Joel G. Juvinal. They were warmly welcomed by SKSU President, Dr. Samson L. Molao.
The SLU team is currently implementing a project titled “From Trash to Treasure: Paving Pathways for Food Upcycling to Curb Post-Harvest Losses in the Vegetable Supply Chain of the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines.” Their visit aimed to observe food processing practices in the region and gather insights that could contribute to their ongoing research.
The immersive tour showcased SKSU’s coffee cupping laboratory, where Director Samuel Mors Hilbero introduced the science of coffee grading and gave the team a taste of the region’s specialty brews.
Director Cyril John A. Domingo, representing the Institute of Food Innovation and Nutrition (IFIN), walked the vresearchers through SKSU’s key facilities: the Shared Service Facility (SSF), the Complementary Food Processing Center (CFPC), and the Food Innovation Center (FIC). He also presented some of the university’s developed products—including chevon sausage, bungulan banana flour, and the bungulan loaf. The session was followed by a fruitful exchange of insights between the visiting team and SKSU staff.
The visit concluded with tour of IFIN-SKSU in Isulan, highlighting the university’s ongoing commitment to advancing food processing and innovation in Mindanao.
– Jose Amado Ds. Torreda
