The Complementary Food Processing Facility (CFPF) in Kidapawan is set to mass produce another kinds of healthy and nutritious research-based products especially formulated for children.
Located at Brgy. Magsaysay, CFPF is a collaborative project of the LGU-Kidapawan and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the DOST XII and the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) to combat malnutrition in 40 barangays of the city.
A team of researchers/ trainers conducted face-to-face Technology Transfer Training on the production of DOST-FNRI-developed complementary food technologies among workforce of the LGU-Kidapawan CFPF on September 27-28, 2022.
From producing Rise Mo or Rice-Sesame Mongo baby food blend only, the facility will also soon be producing in volume Rice Mongo Curls and Rice Mongo Instant Blend.
Rice Mongo Curls according to DOST-FNRI contains 120 kCal and 3g protein per 30g which is enough to meet 12% of recommended energy and 12% recommended protein intake (RENI) of 1 to 3 year-old children.
Instant Blend Rice Mongo, on the other hand, contains 24g carbohydrates, 4g protein and 110kCal energy in which a 30g pack is enough to meet 15% of recommended energy and 27% of protein recommended for 6months to less than 12 month-old children.
Both product line expansion are comparable to commercially-available products in terms of packaging and acceptability but relatively low-cost and with better-nutritive value as per studies conducted by DOST-FNRI.
DOST XII and DOST-FNRI provided all the equipment at the Kidapawan CFPF. In close coordination with Ms. Melanie Espina, City Nutrition Action Officer and in-charge of the facility, Provincial S&T Director Michael Mayo assured that DOST will continuously provide technical assistance.
“The full operationalization of the facility will be a great help in the overall recovery of not only Kidapawan City but also neighboring towns in North Cotabato Province from health and nutrition crises brought about by the previous natural calamities [earthquake and flood] and the pandemic,” DOST XII Regional Director Sammy Malawan said at the launching ceremony of the CFPF last year. With the successful conduct of tech-transfer training as travel restrictions eased-up, the facility is expected to intensify production.
DOST-FNRI team namely: Engr. Eugenio Ramirez, Engr. Jayson Tagaroma and Mr. Ulpiano Florida also paid courtesy visit to Mayor Pao Evangelista who is determined to further strengthen feeding and outreach programs as well as other nutrition intervention activities of LGU-Kidapawan. ####
