|
|
|
FACS Newsletter 2/2003 Report on Fifth Asia Pacific Food Analysis Network
Analytical Conference
Dr Pieter Scheelings
Coordinator, Asia Pacific Food Analysis network
5 ¨C 8 November 2001, Melia Purosani HotelYOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
The 5th Analytical Conference of the Asia Pacific Food Analysis Network (APFAN), which was held from 5 to 8 November in Central Java, Indonesia. As the Co-ordinator of APFAN, it was my privilege and honour to open the conference and welcome the local dignitaries and delegates and, at the conclusion of the conference, close the formal proceedings. A copy of my opening and closing remarks are attached as Appendix 1 and 2.
An overview of the technical program and some of the key papers are noted in my concluding comments on the conference.
APFAN is a network of food scientist primarily from the Asia Pacific Region. Its membership currently stands at around 500. It is registered as a Project of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS) and its aim is ¡°to serve the needs of food analysts in developing countries and thereby promote food safety and good nutrition. This aim is primarily sustained through the running of practical workshops, international conferences and specific training programs. APFAN has had a strong link with Queensland Health Scientific Services (QHSS) with Graham Craven a founding member of the network. All workshops and most training fellowships have been held at QHSS with major financial support coming from the Crawford Fund and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR).
The Yogyakarta conference was the fifth international meeting of APFAN members and all conferences have been held in the Asean region. This conference has been in the planning stage for several years under the very able organisation of Dr Julia Kantasubrata. It should have been the most successful but for the 11 September terrorist attack on New York which put overseas travel for many people on hold. As a consequence, conference registrations were down around 40% from expectations with few registrations from outside Indonesia. As the conference was partly underwritten by the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), it was financially and logistically impractical to defer the conference to a later date.
The Yogyakarta conference was also expected to be last for Dr Howard Bradbury, Co-founder of APFAN and Co-ordinator for the first 10 years. To celebrate this occasion, a painting of Dr Bradbury had been commissioned handing over the APFAN baton to myself as the current Co-ordinator. As Dr Bradbury was unable to attend due to concerns about safety in Indonesia, I accepted the painting on his behalf and it has now been passed on to him in Canberra. A copy of the painting is included in the report.
Yogyakarta is located in central Java and is recognised for its many Buddhist temples scattered around the district. Many of these temples date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. We were fortunate to be given a guided tour of some of the Borobudur temples by one of the local conference committee members.
The Conference provided an opportune time for APFAN to hold an Annual General Meeting which was attended by 18 members. The key items for discussion related to the report from the 5AC organising committee presented by Dr Julia Kantasubrata and planning for the next practical workshop 8AW and the 6th Analytical Conference which has tentatively been planned for Malaysia in 2004. A copy of the minutes will be posted on the APFAN web page.
Finally, I would like to thank all those who worked so hard to make 5AC a success, FACS for their funding support, LIPI for hosting the conference and Queensland Health Scientific Services for continuing to support my role as Coordinator.
|
 |
¡¡
Back
to FACS Newsletter
TOC(2003/2) |
