To increase knowledge and awareness regarding the development of upstream sector in food industry, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Institut Teknologi Bandung Student Chapter (AIChE ITB SC) held a nationwide Grand Seminar entitled “Food Industry Enhancement through Upstream Sector Development.” This Grand Seminar was held for Chemical Engineering and Food Technology students in Indonesia and other ASEAN countries on Saturday, 11 February 2017, at Aula Timur ITB, Bandung.

The Grand Seminar began with a welcoming speech from Elvina (Chemical Engineering 2013) as the Project Manager of Grand Seminar, Windy Wijaya (Chemical Engineering 2013) as the president of AIChE ITB SC Executive Board 2016-2017, and Dr. IDG Arsa Putrawan as the Head of Chemical Engineering Study Program ITB. Invited Speakers of this Grand Seminar included food industry practitioners, such as Darmanto Setyawan (Head of Manufacturing South of East Asia of PT. Greenfields Indonesia) and Wakhyu Priyadi Siswosumarto (PT. Perkebunan Nusantara X) as the speakers of the first session. The speakers reviewed the development of food industry in Indonesia. One of the topics in this session is sugarcane biorefinery. In his exposition, Wakhyu who is a Chemical engineering graduate, elaborated current Indonesia’s sugar industry and the potency of enhancing sugarcane biorefinery in the production of bioethanol, bioavtur, and steam raw material and electricity generator.

The second session was presented by Yusra Egaanti (the director of food product standardization, Food and Drug Monitoring Agency) that discussed the standart and legal of food industry in Indonesia. The final session was presented by Prof. Dr. Yazid Bindar and Dr. Made Tri Ari Penia Kresnowati (Lecturer and researcher at Chemical Engineering, ITB) with discussion topic “the role of Chemical Engineering students in intensification of food industry through development of upstream sector.” Various kinds of processed food are currently developed in Chemical Engineering, ITB, such as fermented cassava (FERCAF), chocolate, and peuyeum flour. Both the speakers encourage seminar participants to seek other kind of food product development so the upstream food sector is constantly developed and create potency for export and massive employment.

Overview of the AIChE ITB SC

AIChE ITB is a non-profit professional organization that represents the interest of various chemical engineers in the world with background in industry, government, and academic. As the one and only Student chapter in Indonesia, AIChE ITB SC enhances its members by giving solid basic in professional capability and connection with Industry before entering chemical industry. Regular activities include community service to high schools, Infographic launch of AIChE activities, and recent scientific review of chemical industry.