“Students of the Study Program, especially the Food Technology Study Program, please draw knowledge from both speakers, so that students can later apply that knowledge,” was the opening remark from Dr Jabosar R.H. Panjaitan, Secretary of the Department of Process and Industrial Technology, Sumatra Institute of Technology (ITERA), at the Studium Generale event organized by the ITERA Food Technology Study Program.
The Studium Generale was themed “Flavor and Seasoning to Create Happier and Healthier Lives”. It was held online on Wednesday, 16 November 2022 from 13.00 WIB to 15.40 WIB. The event, which was also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the ITERA Food Technology Study Program, was attended by 186 participants who were lecturers and students from various universities, including Sumatra Institute of Technology, Universitas Mataram, Universitas Katolik Santo Thomas, Universitas Al-Azhar Indonesia, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Universitas Udayana, Polinteknik Negeri Fakfak, and others.
The speaker at this Studium Generale was Mr. Bakti Kumara, Senior R&D Manager, PT. Indesso Aroma. “The challenge in the industry is how to deliver to clients and consumer goods companies a flavor that is created to be authentic and also provides a memorable experience when consumed, so that the marketed product can sustain on the user side,” said Bakti Kumara. “Flavor is part of a seasoning formulation, ready to be used in food products, both food and beverages,” Bakti continued. Bakti also stated, “One example case in the use of umami and savory taste is that it gives a good mood to babies.”
In addition, the event also featured Dimas Rahadian Aji Muhammad, S.TP, M.Sc., P.hD., a lecturer in the Food Science and Technology Study Program, Universitas Sebelas Maret. He explained flavor and seasoning in relation to sensory quality, preservation, mood, and health. Dimas explained that one of the many ingredients in Indonesia is cocoa, which has a very high bioactive content and provides many health benefits and is called a Functional Food. It was also explained that besides cocoa, there is also a local product, cinnamon, which has very beneficial functional content. Both speakers are involved in the development of flavor and seasoning in Indonesia, in both the industrial and academic spheres.
The event, which lasted 150 minutes, was closed with a discussion and question-and-answer session with several questions, one of which concerned the difference between order activation value and aroma extract dilution analysis when characterizing a flavor or the volatile components that most influence a flavor.
As is known, Studium Generale is a mandatory requirement for students of the Sumatra Institute of Technology (Itera). Therefore, PSTP Itera regularly organizes this activity.
