PhilMech, DOST collaborate on food heating technology

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and a technology unit of the Department of Agriculture have agreed to work out ways to effectively heat food products through a process called Ohmic heating.   In Ohmic heating, electricity is made to pass through food to kill pathogens and microbes.   “I hope this will herald a remarkable working relationship between the PhilMech and DOST, both of which both have capable scientists that can undertake joint research and development,” said Executive Director Rex L. Bingabing of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).   Bingabing credited the Bio-Processing Division of PhilMech for the research work on Ohmic heating.   PhilMech and DOST signed a prior agreement to share resources to further research in techniques related to agricultural engineering; postharvest pest and disease management and agricultural economics and agribusiness management, among others.   These agencies also agreed to look into research that will help increase the volume of coconut water exports by helping farmers recover more coconut water.    At present, only 10 percent of coconut water is recovered from farms for processing, packaging and export.   Bingabing said that other agencies like the Philippine Coconut Authority will also have participating roles in the application of Ohmic heating to pasteurize coco water.   PhilMech said it had initial talks with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to improve the collection coco water from farms. — ELR, GMA News