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A webinar on “Research requirements of Food Industry” was organized by DST NU-TEC on July 24, 2020. The mandate of the webinar was to understand the R&D needs of the industry and how academic institutions could rise and contribute to address their issues. Key speakers from the food industry were Shri Giridhar Prabhu, Director, Achal Cashew Industries Pvt Ltd, Mr Sanath Kumar, Quality assurance incharge, Unibic Foods Pvt Ltd, Dr Pradeep Kenjilage, Director R&D, Cafe Coffee Day, Dr Harish Kinilakodi, General Manager, Ace Foods Pvt Ltd, and Dr U. V. Babu, Head R & D, Himalaya Drug Co. Prof. Dr. Iddya Karunasagar, Member scientific committee and chair scientific panel on antibiotic residues, FSSAI, GoI, emphasized the importance of food industry for the Indian economy and the changing landscape of consumer requirements for processed, ready to cook and ready to eat foods. Opening remarks was delivered by the Pro-chancellor, Mr. Vishal Hegde, who introduced the participants to Nitte group of institutions, Atal Incubation Canter, New Age Incubation Center located at Nitte Mahalinga Adyanthaya Memorial Institute of Technology (NMAMIT). He invited the industry to make use of every facility available at Nitte for the larger good of food technology. He assured that all help will be provided by the DST NU-TEC to solve their problems using the research facilities created at Nitte university and the expertise available. Dr Indrani Karunasagar highlighted the importance of research and innovation in the food industry for ensuring food security and nutritional requirements at global level as well as for domestic market. The key speakers elaborated on the research requirements in their respective industries and invited the scientists at TEC to help address their problems.

Highlights of industry opinion

“Simple innovation techniques bring a drastic change in the economy and such ideas should be driven by passion and commitment and can be based on need. The insect beetle, Tribolium castaneum, a common menace in cashew plantation, requires research attention to help the industry solve the issue”
- Shri Giridhar Prabhu
Director Achal Industries Pvt Ltd

"Detection of foreign bodies in products that specially arise from fragile packaging materials like plastics and threads is very much needed. The detection technique currently available focuses on metal detection”
- Mr Sanath Kumar
Incharge of quality assurance
Unibic Foods Pvt Ltd

"Lack of certified or accredited lab in Dakshina Kannada to obtain report in real-time basis is a major issue. An NABL accredited lab could help obtain the much-needed certification documents for the industry. There is need for internship training for students to enable them to have hands-on exposure and be industry-fit. Research focus could be on nutritional value in packaged food to fall in line with the changing trends in lifestyle and food choice”
- Dr Harish Kinilakodi
General Manager of Ace Foods Pvt Ltd


“There is a need for the development of rapid detection kit for analysis of pesticides, heavy metals, and other such contaminants. The development of digital sensors for sensory evaluation like consistency, aroma and taste, chicory percentage in coffee is urgently required. Production of biodegradable, eco-friendly packaging materials that can withstand various levels of processing is need of the hour”
- Dr Pradeep Kenjilage
Director R & D, Cafe Coffee Day

“Change in curriculum is necessary to bridge the gap between resource available in academic institutions and industrial expectations. Involvement of industrialist as visiting professors as well as involving industry to identify research problems and work on them could help in converting lab research into commercially viable product”
- Dr U. V. Babu
Head R & D, Himalya Drug Co

Video Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRHsYiR13zA

Event Date : 2020-07-24

Venue : DST NU-TEC

Last updated 2021-02-13 04:39:14