The University of Santiago de Chile (Usach) hosted the international seminar “Sustainable Food Production: Advances in the Processing and Quality of Drought-Tolerant Crops, Plant Proteins, and Food Waste.” The keynote was delivered by Dr. Paul Michalski, a distinguished associate researcher from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Monash University (Australia).
This academic event was organized by Dr. Carla Arancibia, head of the Food Engineering program, in collaboration with the Food Properties Research Laboratory (Inproal) and the Department of Food Science and Technology (DECYTAL) of the Faculty of Technology. The partnership highlights Usach's commitment to integrating global expertise into its academic programs.
During his presentation, Dr. Michalski detailed breakthroughs in sustainable production, the processing of drought-tolerant crops, plant-based proteins, and the recovery of food waste. These pillars are currently driving the global transformation of the food industry and represent critical areas for scientific innovation.
Beyond the conference, the visit served a strategic purpose: to explore synergy between Monash University and DECYTAL. Dr. Michalski toured the specialized laboratories in the Eduardo Morales Santos Research Building, evaluating Usach’s experimental lines to establish future joint research projects and international cooperation agreements.
Reflecting on the impact of these global networks, Dr. Carla Arancibia noted: “This visit is an invaluable opportunity to showcase our institutional strengths. By engaging our academics and PhD students in Food Science and Technology, we foster a dialogue that enriches our research and elevates the international profile of the University of Santiago.”