Dr. Ruel M. Mojica, assistant professor and chairman of the Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, presented a research paper at the 2009 International Agricultural Engineering Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand on 07-10 December 2009. The main objective of the conference was to provide a forum for discussion and information transfer of current developments, achievements and practical applications in all areas of agricultural engineering. The four-day conference brought together faculty members, scientists, researchers and agricultural engineering practitioners from different countries worldwide.
Titled “Participatory Development, Evaluation and Optimization of a Microcontroller-Based Mechanical Coffee Roaster for Small-Scale Roasting”, the paper investigated the combined influence of time, temperature and initial moisture content of beans to the product quality of coffee. It also explored respondents' perceptions about the roasting technology. The paper abstract was published in the conference proceedings.
Mojica is the only Filipino participant in the conference. His travel was made possible through the support of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the South East Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
A member of the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) and World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET), Dr. Mojica is now the fourth Filipino member of the Asian Association for Agricultural Engineers (AAAE).
