The Faculty of Natural Resources and the Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, have participated in the ERASMUS+ project entitled “Universities as key partners for the new challenges regarding food safety and food quality in ASEAN (AsiFood).” Asst. Prof. Dr. Chutima Tantikitti, Associate Dean for International Relations and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Natural Resources, has been actively involved as a coordinator for PSU since the formation of the consortium. AsiFood Project, funded by the European Union (EU) in the framework of Erasmus+, Key Action 2 (Higher Education Capacity Building), has started since October 2015 and will end in 2018. The objectives of the AsiFood are to enhance the relationships between universities and professional stakeholders, bring the “Training Methodology within partner’s universities, raise the teachers’ capacity, and strengthen the relationships between EU and ASEAN universities in the areas of food safety and food quality.

          The 13 members of project include AGREENIUM, Montpellier SupAgro (France), University of Natural Resources and Life Science Vienna (Austria), Liege University (Belgium), University of Pisa (Italy), Kasetsart University, Prince of Songkla University, Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), Institute of Technology Cambodia, Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia), Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Nong Lam University (Vietnam).

          The AsiFood project activities are composed of seven work packages (WP): WP1: Preparation, WP2 & 5: Development of relationships with professional, WP 3 & 4: Development and modernization of curricular related to food safety & food quality, WP7: Dissemination and training. The Kick-off Meeting together with the First Steering Committee was held during 7-11 March 2016 at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam. The Second Steering Committee was conducted on March 3, 2017 at Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to report the progress of project activities by all work package leaders and the universities member.

          The key activities that Prince of Songkla University is involved in are the AsiFood Technical Workshop on “Module Design” in Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam during 22-23 June 2016, surveys and data analysis for professional/stakeholders in Food Production and Food Processing areas concerning food safety and quality aspects, and organization for the meetings with stakeholders to discuss and give suggestions on the survey results. The project also provides short-term training in the fields of food safety and quality in the food production system for PSU teaching staff at the participating EU partners.