Businesses who are looking to upgrade and innovate their food and beverage (F&B) products but lack the resources or technical know-how can now leverage the newly launched Food Development and Innovation for Enterprises (FOODIE) initiative.
A collaboration between Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), FOODIE will utilise UTB’s Centre for Research on Agrifood and Technology (CrAFT) – Brunei’s first and only Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) research facility focusing on agriculture, food science and nutrition.
FOODIE will initially run pilot phases with businesses from DARe’s Elevate, a consultancy programme that develops five-year roadmaps for businesses to grow with monitoring and support.
The initial collaboration and feedback has been promising, with CrAFT having significantly extended the shelf-life of a business’ sambal (chilli paste) products.
Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and DARe Acting CEO Daniel Leong said during FOODIE’s launch on Wednesday that their collaboration with UTB came after they consulted with businesses on the relatively high costs and technical expertise required for product research and development (R&D).
In principle, FOODIE makes F&B product R&D more accessible – with fees set at approximately $800 per month, for which the business will receive a dedicated research team comprising of UTB students and graduates.
“Many businesses have expressed significant challenges in expanding due to lack of technical knowledge in product R&D, as well as high costs associated with the purchase of lab equipment and materials for R&D activities,” said Leong at the launch held at the Design and Technology building in Anggerek Desa.
“The vast facilities and expertise offered by UTB’s CrAFT will assist in linking industry needs to resource capabilities provided by IHLs and provide food enterprises with technical solutions in product R&D such as shelf-life extension, alternative packaging materials, use of natural preservatives and assessment of nutritional benefits in F&B products.”
Meanwhile CrAFT’s Director Dr. Syazana Abdullah Lim is hopeful that their collaboration will spur greater innovation and technology adoption amongst local businesses.
“These innovations include new products and services, processes, and creative ways to interact with customers. Furthermore, intense R&D will allow businesses to make decisions that are backed by science,” she said.
“We also hope that F&B companies are open to and embrace new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) to support their long-term growth through this R&D programme.”
Businesses that are not a part of Elevate can also inquire directly about participating in FOODIE through DARe or UTB.
Established in 2018 to develop solutions to agrifood challenges, CrAFT connects UTB researchers to agrifood organisations as well as academic and government institutions at local and international levels.
Elevate has conducted two cycles since its launch in 2020, helping promising businesses move beyond the early stages of their growth, especially in reaching new markets locally and abroad. Guided by DARe, Elevate participants develop individual growth roadmaps over a three to six months period, and are connected to funding, training and mentoring options.
