Thammasat University‘s graduate students have won first place in the irradiated food innovation contest. Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) together with Food Innopolis and Thammasat University, hosted the irradiated food innovation contest for undergraduate and graduate students under the theme of improving local Thai food with nuclear technology.
The “Ready-to-eat: Rice Noodle and soup” is the work of “Shine”, the winning team of master’s degree students in M.S., specialized in Human Resources Development and Food Innovation Products (New-gen curriculum) Thammasat University. The team has won first place in the graduate students round and received 30,000 baht in cash prize, a trophy, and certificates.
The advisor of the winning team “Shine” was Asst. Prof. Dr. Bootsrapa Leelawat, and the members were Rattanan Tilokkul, Sayamol Peuksee-on, and Natcha Rattanaluechakul.
This is the first “the undergrad and grad students’ irradiated food innovation contest” of 2020 which is held by TINT, under the theme improving local Thai food with nuclear technology and was held on September 15.
In the final round, Mrs.Nangnoi Wetayapong, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI) presided over the event. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thawatchai Onjun, the Executive Director of TINT, Dr.Hannarong Shamsub, the Executive Deputy Director of TINT, and other honorable judges also participated in this competition at the UNICORN SPACE at the 22nd floor, Amarin Plaza.
Mrs.Nangnoi said that “We will use nuclear technology to preserve our local food, making them have a longer shelf life. This is to prove that nuclear technology can be used in food preservation and could be the key innovation in sharing our food with the world which makes us one step closer to become the world’s kitchen.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thawatchai said that “This contest will trigger the development in food innovation to create innovation for our country. Radiation technologies used in the project are preserving and sterilize. This will take our local food to new markets and eventually the world’s market. This year there were 19 teams in the competition. Next year we will be holding a larger event since all the contestants’ ideas are very good and have the potentials to turn into business ideas.”
TINT and other departments in the MHESI will work together to connect the products with the market. For example, how the winning innovation like rice noodles and sticky rice will be connected to the market. “Ready-to-eat: Rice Noodle and soup” is the winning innovation in the contest for graduate students. The two organizations will try to connect that with stores like 7-11, other department stores, and even the one outside of the country.