UNAND and Philippines Researcher Collaborate on West Sumatra Local Food Study

A professor from the Faculty of Public Health at Andalas University (UNAND), West Sumatra, Prof. Helmizar, is conducting research in collaboration with Pierangeli G. Vital, a researcher from the University of the Philippines Diliman, to study local food from the Minangkabau region. The collaboration focuses on developing functional foods based on dadih, a traditional fermented milk product. The research team is developing various innovations, including studying the probiotic content of dadih and processing it using spray dryer technology to produce dadih powder. This approach not only extends the product’s shelf life but also maintains its essential characteristics as a fermented food. The resulting powder is then used as a base ingredient for developing various functional foods, such as nutritious bread and complementary foods, utilising other local resources like sorghum, sweet potato, corn, and soybeans. As part of the downstream process of the research results, UNAND is also developing a mini plant or teaching factory for functional foods. This facility serves as a learning centre and a product development hub, ensuring that the innovations do not stop at scientific publications but can progress towards production and utilisation by the community and industry. The international collaboration is expected to strengthen research quality and open opportunities for knowledge and experience exchange, providing broader benefits for society.