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KENYA
UNION OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KUFoST)
On 20th July 2002, there was a one-day Food Safety and Quality Management
Symposium, held in Nairobi, Kenya. This was just before the start
of the Information Technology for Advancement of Nutrition in Africa
(ITANA) conference. Following this symposium, a need was realized
to establish an adhering body to the International Union of Food
Science and Technology (IUFoST). This initiative to form the Kenya
Union of Food Science and Technology (KUFoST), stemmed from a need
to form an organization which would together with key stakeholders,
advocate for high quality, safe and nutritious food products in
the market, through advocacy and capacity building. The organization
among other things brings the academia closer to the industry. Indeed
it is academia-led with membership across the board.
Its major objectives
are to:
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act as
an advocate for a scientific approach to food issues and create
an environment where food science and technology are key development
issues;
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bring topical
food science and technology issues to public discussion;
-
develop
partnerships with and link local and international food science
and technology-, as well as related organizations;
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provide
technical expertise and assistance to interested parties in
policy formulation, research and programming in nutrition, food
science and technology; and
-
mobilize
the government, NGOs, the private sector, donors and other stakeholders
to increase resources allocated for sustainable food science
and nutrition programs.
The office
bearers are:
| President |
Prof.
Ruth K. Oniang'o |
| President-
elect |
Prof.
G.M. Kenji |
| Vice President |
Dr. Ciira
Kiiyukia |
| Secretary |
Mr. Oiye
Shadrack |
| Assistant
Secretary |
Ms. Anne
Wangalachi |
| Treasurer |
Mr. Joseph
Mutuku |
| Assistant
Treasurer |
Mr. Mungai
Kagunya |
| Public
Relations Officer |
Ms.
Angela Mwaniki |
KUFoST and
the Kenya Coalition for Action in Nutrition (K-CAN), which is affiliated
to International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), will work
together to ensure a holistic approach to food issues. Having spearheaded
the formation and affiliation of K-CAN to IUNS, Professor Oniang'o
accepted a request by Kenyan food scientists to do the same for
them. KUFoST is looking forward to attending and participating in
the IUFoST Congress XII in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Submitted by
Shadrack Oiye, Secretary, KUFoST
For more information, contact: Shadrack Oiye [oiyes@yahoo.com]
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