CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru, celebrated the “One Week, One Lab” campaign from 3-7 July 2023 which was initiated with curtain raiser event held at CSIR-CFTRI on 20 June 2023. Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General (DG), CSIR & Secretary, DSIR unveiled the logo and released the brochure. Dr Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, CSIR-CFTRI welcomed the gathering and spoke about the “One Week, One Lab” programme. The Chief Guest and dignitaries launched the Recruitment Software developed by CSIR-CFTRI. DG, CSIR also visited various facilities, product displays and posters venues, and interacted with scientists.
In her address, the DG, CSIR, stated that CFTRI has developed and transferred over 700 technologies over the years. She also stated that the CFTRI-developed idli and dosa batter technology is not being recognised and is not paying royalties to the institute. Nonetheless, it's fine because people appreciate the institute when they eat food prepared using its technologies. “That is sufficient recognition for the institute's efforts,” she added. She stated that the “One Week, One Lab” initiative has been planned in such a way that the CFTRI's research achievements can be effectively highlighted.
The event served as a platform for showcasing the institute's cutting-edge research, technologies, expertise, and facilities in the field of Food Science & Technology. With a theme of "Celebrating Food Research," the campaign aimed to ignite the minds of young innovators, students, start-ups, academia, and industry, encouraging them to explore opportunities through deep tech ventures. The week-long campaign showcased the diversity and depth of CSIR-CFTRI research since 1950 and expertise in the field of Food Science & Technology through a series of sessions, panel discussions, interactive programmes, culinary show, open day, expo and poster presentation competition with a focus on "Research, Innovations, and Sustainability in Food Science and Technology." The competition was divided into different categories for participants to present their innovative work. Each day was dedicated to a specific theme, providing participants with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and a glimpse into the world of food science and technology. Besides, various products were also launched during the weeklong programme.
The inaugural event was celebrated on 3 July 2023. Shri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the 27th and current custodian of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysuru was the Chief Guest along with Guests of Eminence, including Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO of National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in the rank of Secretary, Govt of India; Chairman of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income as well as former Directors of CSIR-CFTRI Padmashree Dr Vishweshwaraiah Prakash & Distinguished Scientist CSIR and Dr SR Bhowmik; and Dr Sridevi Annapurna Singh, current Director of CSIR-CFTRI.
In the inaugural address, His Highness Shri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar emphasised the importance of innovation in nutritious and high-quality foods, particularly indigenous foods and praised CSIR-CFTRI's contributions to the nation. Dr Ashok Dalwai emphasised the need for the science of delivery rather than the science of discovery.
A poster session on innovation in food science and technology for "Start-ups" was held after the inaugural session, with 12 start-ups from across the country presenting posters along with their innovative food products.
There were two talks by eminent speakers including Dr Vishweshwaraiah Prakash and Mr Anand Chordia, Director of Technology and Innovation at Suhana Spices. Dr Prakash highlighted the importance of quality in the food processing process and the need for training to enter domains without compromising the basics. He suggested vertical growth in the field itself to improve agricultural produce yield. Mr Chordia spoke of his learnings in the Food Industry and the importance of reducing carbon footprint as well as the circular economy.
This was followed by investment pitches for food processing, featuring seven entrepreneurs and five investors. The event showcased diverse pitches ranging from product development to food packaging and millet-based innovations.
Another session focused on the start-up ecosystem, with six panellists discussing funding opportunities, mentorship, networking, and the role of incubators in supporting start-ups. They emphasised the importance of innovation, scalability, market readiness, commercialisation, and accessing resources. The government's role in supporting start-ups through funding programmes and policy initiatives was also highlighted.
The second day focused on "Women Self Help Groups and Farmer Entrepreneurship," inaugurated by Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO). She emphasised the importance of nutrition education in schools and the integration of agriculture, health, and climate change sectors to ensure holistic health. She also spoke about the importance of returning to traditional food practices, conservation of seeds, and promoting tribal income.
A culinary contest was organised on 4 & 6 July 2023, recognising Mysuru's diverse culinary dishes and promoting the institute's link to the Heritage City. The contests were open to all and featured two themes: traditional foods with modern twists or fusion foods, novel dishes with millets, and fireless cooking. The session titled "SHG/FPO focus," featured a keynote address by Mr Kurubur Shanthakumar, a prominent farmer leader, emphasising the empowerment of farmers as a key driver of national development and contributing to economic and societal well-being. The keynote speaker, Dr Anura V Kurpad, Head of Physiology at St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, emphasised the importance of holistic nutrition and the need to focus not only on proteins but also on fats as part of wholesome foods.
The final session focused on "Supplementary Foods for Women and Child Development," featuring esteemed panellists from diverse backgrounds. Poster sessions focused on Self Help Groups, were also presented. The third day aimed to engage students and the general public in the field of Food Science and Technology. It featured various programmes and sessions aimed at inspiring and educating the younger generation. The JIGYASA student-scientist connect programme included 97 students and 10 teachers from KVS. The programme was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr Chindi Vasudevappa, former Vice-Chancellor of NIFTEM, Haryana. Dr Sridevi Annapurna Singh interacted with the young minds and encouraged curiosity and scientific exploration. Innovative posters were displayed, showcasing the creativity and potential of the young minds.
A session on "Students Meet Scientists" featured experts who interacted with students, sharing knowledge and experiences, and fostering curiosity.
Another session focused on the "Eat Right India Movement," emphasising the importance of promoting healthy eating habits and food safety practices. Dr Sachdev Meenakshi, Chief Dietician, spoke on the importance of millet as a healthy and sustainable food source. Experts from FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) delivered a talk and interactive session highlighted the benefits of incorporating millets into the diet and their role in ensuring food security and nutritional well-being.
The day concluded with the "Eat Right Walkathon 2023," flagged off from the Main Building by dignitaries. About 500 participants, including staff and students, walked 2-3 km of the CSIR-CFTRI campus with slogans on millet importance and eat right habits.
The fourth day focused on the importance of millet in promoting sustainable and nutritious food. The event was lauded by Shri. Pratap Simha, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Mysuru-Kodagu constituency. Eminent experts including Dr Rekha Singhal, Chairman of Research Council, CSIR-CFTRI and Dr KSMS Raghavarao, former Director of CSIR-CFTRI, delivered insightful lectures on traditional foods and food engineering aspects, emphasising their importance.
The Food Expo, which featured nearly twenty stalls, showcased the diverse range of innovative solutions developed by CSIR-CFTRI in the millet sector. An MoU was signed between CSIR-CFTRI and Dr Jacqueline d'Arros Hughes, Director General International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), aiming to undertake joint research activities focused on value addition to dry land crops (millets and pulses), ultimately promoting food and nutritional security in dry lands.
The dignitaries inaugurated drones NAL Octa-Med and NAL Octa-Agri, created by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru.
The session “CSIR-CFTRI Licensee Meet” aimed at fostering collaborations and partnerships between CSIR-CFTRI and industry players in the food sector.
Panel discussions on millets were conducted, with participants from NGO-Sahaja India, students, faculty, and budding entrepreneurs discussing various topics related to millet research, entrepreneurship, and addressing nutritional challenges.
The academia-industry session was organised that focused on fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia and industry. The Culinary Clash event during the campaign showcased the versatility of millets in culinary creations.
The Millet Research, Product Development, and Entrepreneurship Exhibition showcased 30 innovative posters on millets, highlighting their potential in addressing nutritional challenges and promoting sustainable food systems. The Food Expo showcased CSIR-CFTRI Licensees' stalls, offering information on innovative technologies and their relevance to entrepreneurship. The two-day Open Day attracted around 8500 visitors, including school students and the general public, who enjoyed the exhibits.
The final day celebrated the contributions of CSIR-CFTRI alumni and the intersection of AI and food science, emphasising the importance of Ayurvedic food for holistic health. The event began with an alumni function of the MSc (Food Tech.) course of CSIR-CFTRI, where Dr Dilip Kulkarni, President of Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, was the Chief Guest. The Golden Jubilee and Silver Jubilee alumni of the MSc (Food Tech.) course of CSIR-CFTRI were honoured for their achievements, and Dr Dlip Kulkarni received the Outstanding Alumnus Award 2023.
The robots exhibited by Holoworld and Holosuit were inaugurated by Shri Jitendra J Jadhav, Former Director, NAL, Director, ADA & Programme, Director (Combat Aircraft), Ministry of Defence; Dr G Narahari Sastry, Director, CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat; Dr Sridevi Jade, Head, CSIR-4PI,; Dr Meenakshi Singh, Chief Scientist, Head, Technology Management Directorate; Dr C Janaki Associate Director, C-DAC and Dr Sridevi Annapurna Singh.
Dr RS Sodhi, former MD of Amul and President of the Indian Dairy Association, provided valuable insights into the dairy industry and its advancements. The next was the discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing in the food industry that focused on the challenges faced by the industry, AI techniques, and the need for AI-based technologies for food processing, smart farmer investment, and quality assurance. The panel also suggested initiating a nodal FT-AI Hub in collaboration with other CSIR, ICAR, and start-up industries.
A panel discussion on the application of Artificial Intelligence in Food Science and Technology focused on various aspects of AI, including its role in industry 4.0, food product categorisation, High-Performance Computing (HPC) facilities, natural language processing, and data intelligent utilisation. Dr G Narahari Sastry highlighted the need for AI algorithms and technologies for food sector empowerment and income generation. Dr Sridevi Jade highlighted the need for food product categorisation, while Dr C Janaki highlighted the need for high-performance computing facilities and natural language processing for labelling, grading, packaging, and supply chain management. The Ayush Ahaar session focused on the integration of traditional Indian medicinal practices in promoting health and well-being. The day also featured 17 posters showcasing research and innovations in alumni contributions, AI, and Ayurvedic food.
The valedictory function was graced by the presence of Chief Guest, Dr KV Rajendra, Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru, and Guest of Eminence, Mrs Shilpi Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru, Dr G Narahari Sastry, Director CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat and Dr Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director CSIR-CFTRI. During the valedictory function, a souvenir was also released by the dignitaries. A brief proceedings of “One Week, One Lab” was presented by Dr Prakash M Halami, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CFTRI. Four products were also launched.
