On 10 June 2026, researchers, innovation organizations, industry representatives, and policymakers from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Bangkok for the WAITRO Regional Symposium: From Agro Resources to Global Markets: Scaling Innovation in Sustainable Food Processing. Organized by TISTR Thailand, WAITRO’s Regional Focal Point (RFP) for Asia and the Pacific, the symposium provided a valuable platform to exchange knowledge, strengthen regional partnerships, and explore new opportunities for collaboration in sustainable food processing and innovation.
The event aimed to strengthen collaboration among WAITRO members, increase engagement across the regional network, and raise awareness of WAITRO initiatives and opportunities. It also showcased new features of the WAITRO website, including Funding Opportunities & Calls and Share Projects, News & Events, encouraging members to connect and engage more actively across the global innovation network.
Advancing Regional Collaboration Through Knowledge Exchange
The symposium brought together experts from active WAITRO member organizations, including CSIR (India), Nanjing Tech University (China), BRIN (Indonesia), SIRIM (Malaysia), and TISTR (Thailand). Representatives from NFI Thailand, CSIRO Australia, and the ASEAN COSTI Sub-Committee on Biotechnology and Food Science also participated, creating opportunities for dialogue between research organizations, government representatives, and industry stakeholders.
Presentations highlighted a wide range of innovations in sustainable food processing, including biotechnology, circular bioeconomy, biomass valorization, functional foods, advanced processing technologies, and commercialization pathways. While each organization shared its own expertise and experiences, the discussions reflected a common ambition: transforming scientific knowledge into sustainable solutions that strengthen food systems and create value from agricultural resources.
Shared Priorities for Sustainable Food Innovation
Across the programme, several common priorities emerged. Speakers emphasized the importance of:
- Transforming agro-resources into high-value products through science and innovation.
- Advancing sustainable food processing and circular bioeconomy approaches.
- Strengthening regional collaboration in research, technology transfer, standards, and commercialization.
- Leveraging biotechnology, digital technologies, and advanced processing to improve food security, competitiveness, and access to global markets.
- Expanding regional networks and collaboration to accelerate sustainable food innovation across Asia and the Pacific.
Together, these discussions demonstrated the growing commitment of organizations across the region to developing innovative, sustainable, and market-oriented food systems through international cooperation.
Strengthening the WAITRO Community
Beyond the technical sessions, the symposium also highlighted new opportunities for engagement within the WAITRO network. Together with SIRIM Malaysia, TISTR introduced participants to new features on the WAITRO website, including the Funding Opportunities & Calls and Share Projects, News & Events sections, encouraging members to exchange knowledge, promote their activities, and identify new collaboration opportunities.
Participants also received updates on the upcoming WAITRO Summit 2026, while interviews with speakers and members captured valuable feedback on regional collaboration and future WAITRO activities. A promotional video featuring highlights from the symposium is currently being prepared for publication through TISTR and WAITRO communication channels.
Looking Ahead
The symposium further strengthened collaboration between TISTR, WAITRO members, and regional stakeholders while expanding WAITRO’s visibility through its partnership with Informa Markets, reaching more than 100 participants from academia, industry, government organizations, and the private sector across the region.
The event generated new networking opportunities and identified promising areas for future collaboration in sustainable food systems, food technologies, and processing innovation. Feedback from participants also provided valuable insights for future regional engagement activities.
Building on the success of the symposium, Informa Markets expressed its interest in continuing the collaboration by hosting WAITRO-related sessions or activities during future events. Together, these outcomes reinforce the value of regional engagement in strengthening partnerships, promoting knowledge exchange, and advancing innovation for more sustainable food systems across the Asia-Pacific region.
