The 7th International Postharvest Symposium (7th IPS) was held in the Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 25-29 June 2012.
Bearing the theme “Postharvest for Wealth and Health,” the 7th IPS featured sessions on preharvest effects; physiological and molecular mechanisms; physical and chemical treatments; postharvest pests and diseases; antioxidants, bioactive compounds and health; low temperature storage; CA/MA and minimal processing; omics and physiological disorders; engineering and mechanization; quality, safety and security; handling and packaging; consumers and marketing.
There was a total of oral 147 presenters and 364 poster presenters.
The 7th IPS is jointly organized by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) in cooperation with the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), Jabatan Pertanian, The Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority, Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang, Johor Corporation, The University of Nottingham, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureal, Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board, Tourism Malaysia, and Universiti Kembangan Malaysia.
“The fresh horticultural crops industry is faced with tremendous growth and market demand, both for the local and export markets,” said the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister HE Tan Sri Dato’ Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin during the opening ceremony. “Fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers are highly perishable and need to be properly handled. Postharvest losses translate to human hunger and financial losses,” he added.
“The sharing of knowledge and the successful transfer of postharvest technologies in this Symposium will lead to an increase in productivity, product quality for health enhancement and higher economic returns for farmers and industrial player globally,” said Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry HE Datuk Seri Noh Omar.
Other VIPs in the opening ceremony included MARDI Director General Datuk Dr. Abd. Shukor Abd. Rahman, UPM Vice Chancellor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Radin Umar Radin Sohadi, the Chair of the Commission Quality and Postharvest Horticulture of the ISHS Dr. Sirichi Kanlayanarat, 7th IPS Convener Abdullad Hassan, and The Chairman of the 7th IPS Main Organizing Committee Tengku Ab. Malik Tengku Maamun.
Dato’ Dr. Masri Muhamad, MARDI Director General for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, Chaired the plenary session. The keynote papers were “Postharvest for Wealth and Health” by Shoiw Y. Yang, USA, “Interdisciplinary team-work for providing global citizens with a safe, adequate and healthy diet” by Mark Failla, USA, and “ISHS Commission on Quality and Postharvest Horticulture” by Siricai Kanlayanarat of ISHS.
Workshop sessions were held on postharvest technologies in developing countries; managing chilling injury; antioxidants bioactive compounds and health promoting substances, and emerging technologies – from concept to reality.
Posters were presented both in hardcopy and e-poster formats.
A technical tour was held on 27th June 2012.