Mysuru: The Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (AFST) in association with CSIR-CFTRI and DRDO-DFRL, Mysuru will be conducting International Food Convention from December 12 to 15. The event is a much awaited gathering of all the stakeholders in food science & technology-the academia, industry, researchers and entrepreneurs. This year the event is supported by MoFPI and FSSAI, the top food regulatory bodies in the country. Jitendra J Jadhav, Director CSIR-CFTRI called upon the experts to make use of the four-day conference to solve the problems by even interacting with foreign experts.
The event spread over 4 days from December 12 has the theme “Holistic Approaches for Start-ups, Human Resource Training for Agriculture and Food Industry.” Acronym to “HASHTAG”, the word defined to connect the young minds, entrepreneurs and leaders in food fraternity. The convention specifically aims at start-ups and the Human Resource Training in Food Science & Technology. In the technical sessions, about 8 keynote talks and 80 technical and scientific talks are planned from eminent international personalities in the field of Food Science & Technology. Dedicated sessions for the Education and Training, Food Safety & Security, Funding for setting up of the start-ups and research ethics in research publication, start-up success stories, a risk and swat analysis have been planned. Panel discussions/Academia/Industry/Entrepreneurs/Researchers conclave to deliberate the need to improvise the syllabus and training modules in food science as per the current trend and future needs of the food industry and research in new product development will be held and the outcome will be shared with the policy for implementation.
Dedicated poster sessions on specific themes of the event will be happening. This time, the posters are also invited from the R&D departments of the industry. The Food Expo is one of the highlighted parts of the event with about 80 industries exhibiting their products and services. Special pavilions are displayed from CSIR-CFTRI, DRD-DFRL and FSSAI. The mobile food testing van of FSSAI will be displayed. The expo will be open for general public on registration and by invitation.
Jitendra J Jadhav, Director CSIR-CFTRI, speaking after launching IFCON 2018 app, said, “The members of the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists are doing a lot of good work including fast track training, also working as regulator authority for food industry. They have done a lot of good work and they have to take it further more. The four-day conference will be a good gathering where international experts can also been seen. CFTRI and DFRL should take maximum benefit out of it to interact with foreign partner and few exclusive sessions should also be taken to solve problems.” He also mentioned that more than 2000 registrations were expected for the conference and 21 sessions will be held at three different venues.
‘CFTRI has a capacity for 15 start-ups’
“In association with Karnataka Science and Technology, we have started an incubation centre at CFTRI and the work on 15 to 18 various food processing start-ups is in progress. Gradually, we try to improve our capacity and at the same time, more start-ups at CFTRI”, added Jitendra.
‘Govt demands 35 ragi ball making machines for Indira Canteen’
The ragi ball making machine which was inaugurated by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda when Ram Rajasekharan was the director of CFTRI, is in great demand. Though CFTRI along with ragi ball making machine had offered dosa, idli and chapatti making machines, the state government requested CFTRI for 35 Ragi ball making machines each having capacity of 1500 to 2000 which will be set up at Indira Canteens across Bengaluru. The present Ragi ball making machine is having a capacity to produce 250 units.
‘Set up single window in website’
Jitendra called upon the members of the AFST to set up single window in their website so that those having any problem can post it and get it resolved. The association should form few committees to address these problems. If these issues are addressed, it will be great help for the country, he added.
‘Food processing centres at Maharashtra and Telangana’
Both Maharasntra and Telangana governments have requested for food processing units to be set up in their districts. Already, to start with, five such centres will be set up in the five districts of Maharashtra.
