Mysuru: In a collaborative effort to enhance rural livelihoods and promote sustainable development, the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR), in association with CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), organized a two-day “Technology Showcasing and Networking Meet” at CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, from September 19-20, 2024. The event aimed to highlight CSIR-CFTRI’s cutting-edge food and millet technologies and their potential to create opportunities in rural areas.
The primary focus of the event was to demonstrate the food processing technologies developed by CSIR-CFTRI to stakeholders from rural communities, industry professionals, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. These technologies are designed to improve food processing, agricultural productivity, and food security, with an emphasis on creating economic growth and livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
The event provided a platform for showcasing innovations in cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish processing. The networking meet aimed to foster collaborations, technology adoption, and commercialization of these innovations for the benefit of the food industry and rural communities.
The inaugural session was graced by esteemed speakers, including Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director of CSIR-CFTRI, Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director of CSIR-NIScPR, Sam Cherian, Chairman of Schevaran Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., and Prof. Virendra Kumar Vijay, National Coordinator of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), among others.
In her address, Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh highlighted the pivotal role of CSIR-CFTRI in addressing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in India. She emphasized key technological innovations such as infant food derived from buffalo milk, automated machines for traditional foods like dosa and chapatti, and nutraceutical research. Dr. Singh also highlighted CSIR-CFTRI’s role as the nodal food testing laboratory in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), with over 550 tests developed to ensure food safety.
Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal from CSIR-NIScPR discussed the institute’s collaboration with UBA and VIBHA, focusing on creating rural business opportunities using CSIR technologies to reverse migration trends by fostering rural growth. She also shared several success stories that have emerged from this joint initiative.
Day two of the event featured a networking session moderated by Dr. Ashutosh Inamdar, where participants had the opportunity to interact with CSIR-CFTRI scientists and explore avenues for deploying food and millet technologies. Discussions centered on processing technologies for fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices, with a focus on pepper, turmeric, and ginger.
An interactive session with representatives from the banking sector, including the Union Bank of India and State Bank of India, Mysuru, provided valuable insights into funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups in agriculture. Participants learned about funding schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Enterprises (PM-FME), and Retail Asset Credit Centre (RACC), which can support the adaptation of food technologies in rural enterprises.