Researchers and students address food security issues

The Conference on Food Security was organized for the first time in Mongolia on October 16 in observation of World Food Day.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MFALI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Mongolian Food Producers Association NGO. According to L.Bayartulga, the Secretary of MFALI, the conference will be organized annually.

“Regularly organizing a conference on food security is important for recognizing the contribution of students, researchers and scholars to food security development and creating opportunities to reflect study results in policies. It’s significant for supporting the partnership between government agencies and research organizations, defining food security trends, training experts, and improving interrelation between sectors,” L.Bayartulga stated.

A total of 33 academic papers were shared at the conference by students and researchers from the Mongolian University of Life Sciences (MULS), its affiliate institutes, Mongolian Academy of Science’s Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, National Center for Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, and Ider Univeristy in Dornogovi.

Student from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology of MULS Ts.Bat-Erdene won first place for his Study on Opportunities for Producing New Eco-Friendly Products with Food Waste. He was followed by a joint presentation on the Study on Determining Tartrazine Contents in Soft Drinks by National University of Mongolia’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences students M.Otgon-Ujin and A.Nomin. The special prize went to S.Selengesuren, a student from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, who shared a kinetics study on the formation of b-lactoglobulin protein in acidic environments.

As for researchers, the first prize went to “Food Related Challenges and Solutions” presentation by PhD G.Lkhagvaa of the School of Industrial Technology of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, and the second prize went to PhD Ts.Odbayar from the same school. His speech focused on controlling and regulating the public food consumption.

Certificates and cash prizes were handed by the acting Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

During the conference, participants agreed to award internships, employment, or scholarships to promising students and researchers who participate in the conference in coming years.