The Malaysian Institute of Food Technology (MIFT) and the UK's Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), the independent body food technologists and scientists, have agreed there would be " substantial merit in direct collaboration".
Although they hastened to emphasise that in no way did the agreement "detract from the role of IUFoST, or from the direct relationships that each of our institutes has with other national food science and technology bodies."
On behalf of the Malay organisation Mardhiyah Hanim Mohd Rafdi will liaise with the IFST, and chief executive Helen Gay Wild will represent the UK body.
On a punctual basis the IFST provides food scientists with information, advisory and policy statements, for general information and guidance, as well as to express 'expert professional interpretation and opinion, on important food-related issues'.
In light of this, last week the IFST published its policy statement on ethical and professional practices for the sensory analysis of foods.