Center of Excellence in Fats and Oils (CEFO
Basic information
Centre of Excellence in Fats and Oils (COEFO) founded on 29 March 2014 by the Naresuan University Council and operated under the Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment with 30 members from various disciplines. With reorganization in October 2023, the centre consists of 16 members from Naresuan University and 2 members from Chiang Mai University and has been operated under Naresuan University Science Park.
The COEFO vision is to become a center of knowledge in science and technology of fats and oils in Southeast Asia.
The COEFO missions are to:
1. Produce potential research outputs and outcomes for commercial applications or publications.
2. Build a strong network with academic institutions, industrial and public organizations at both national and international levels.
3. Promote a production of graduate students and researchers with expertise in fats and oils.
4. Provide specialized academic consultancy and technology transfer to both private and government agencies in order to promote Thailand as a leading exporter of fats and oils and its co-products, especially rice bran oil, as well as organize the international conferences.
5. Provide analytical services for agricultural and food products and develop quality control protocols for fats and oils and its co-products to meet the international standards.
6. Promote research and development of oils from new potential plants and herbs.
COEFO is an academic platform in utilizing fundamental knowledge, high throughput research and innovation through cooperative services with academia, government and entrepreneurial sectors at national and international level to strengthen fat and oil industry endowed with production quality and standardization, with commitment in continued serving the value chains of fat and oil production with graduates and researchers for well-being.
Focus Areas
The COEFO members have been working closely and productively with national and international companies on a range of issues concerning value addition of co-products, new products and ingredients development, process improvement, analytical methods development, etc. of plant oils and related products. In addition, we have been annually co-organizing the international conferences in fats and oils, as well as offering the academic services worldwide.
Research Highlights
– Extraction of phytochemicals from plant oils and its co-products such as γ-oryzanol, vitamin E, polycosanol, protein, lecithin, dietary fibers, oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides, etc.
– Healthy food products from fats and oils and its co-products
– Various types of vacuum fried snacks and extruded products
– Plant based snacks and foods
– Food supplements from plants oils and natural bioactive ingredients
Partnership
– Rice bran oil companies in Thailand such as Kasisuri Co., Ltd., Thai Edible Oil Co., Ltd., Surin Bran Oil Co., Ltd., Siam Crystal Rice Co., Ltd., Medifoods (Thailand) Co., Ltd., etc.
– Rice mill companies in Phitsanulok, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Sukhothai provinces, etc.
– International Association of Rice Bran Oil (IARBO): member countries are Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Thailand & Vietnam.
– National government organizations such as Rice Department, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, etc.
– International Universities such as Tohoku University, University of Reading, Wuhan Polytechnic University, National Pingtung University, Universiti Sains Malaysia, etc.
– National Universities such as Chiang Mai University, Mahidol University, Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen University, Rajabhat Pibulsongkarm University, etc.
Publications National & International
According to the annual report of CoE 2023
Key Contact Person
Name Associate Professor Riantong Singanusong, Ph.D.
Work Address
1. Centre of Excellence in Fats and Oils, Naresuan University Science Park, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, Thailand 65000
2. Department of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, Thailand 65000
Email riantongs@nu.ac.th
Website https://scipark.nu.ac.th/
https://www.agi.nu.ac.th/Depart-AgroIndustry/en/