The Masters programme in Chemical Sciences with emphasis in Food Safety of the Faculty of Science at the Autonomous University of Chiriquí in Panama, in addition to exhibitions, videos and a radio address, held its 3rd annual Conference on Chemical Residues In Food, Their Impact On Food Safety And Security. The event was held on 7 June to mark World Food Safety Day.

The conference heard five speakers on "Chemical Residues in Food, their Impact on Safety and Food Safety" under the overall theme of “Food standards save lives”.

Dr Silvia Guerra spoke first, on contributions made to the agro-industrial sector by the Dr Maximiliano de Puy Laboratory at Cooleche RL (the milk producers services cooperative of Panama). Dr  Emeris Quintero from the Plant Health division at the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) followed this with a talk on progress in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and food safety in Panama.

Following a break, Dr Javier Castro Rosas from the Institute of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico addressed the question of why food safety is important, Alexander Rodríguez from MIDA spoke on “the rapid bioassay technique in fruits, grains and vegetables” and Dr Audino Melgar from the Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Panama (IDIAP) gave a talk on “Perspectives of research laboratories and services in agricultural innovation in Panama.”

The event was open to anyone seeking “to raise awareness among the Panamanian population, about the inherent care in food production, from the field, processing, cold chain, in order to bring to the consumer's table a safe food, to contribute to better health.”

Photo © UNACHI