Scientists to draft roadmap for food industry

About 25 food scientists from India and abroad and 250 participants representing academia, industries and R&D institutions will deliberate on preparing the country's food industry to face the global competition in international trade in post-WTO regime, at a two-day symposium in Mysore.

To be held on December 19-20 at the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), they also aimed at motivating the food processing industries to adopt food safety and quality assurance mechanisms, such as TQM, including ISO-9000, ISO-14,000, HACCP, GMP and GHP.

The symposium also enabled the food industry to adhere to stringent quality in hygiene norms, enhance product acceptance by overseas buyers and keep the Indian industry technologically abreast of international best practices.

Briefing on the deliberation of the symposium on, "Emerging and novel food processing technologies," in collaboration with the McGill University of Montreal and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Calgeri, Canada, DFRL Director A S Bawa said on Monday the food experts will also explore the recent applications in pulsed electric field.

Describing the symposium as the "most comprehensive and ambitious undertaking on the subject of emerging technologies, as it covers the most relevant novel technologies applicabale to food processing," he said it will provide an update on emerging technologies as well as vision for the future.

Other issues to be taken up during the discussions comprise irradiation and high pressure technologies, food microbiology, and modern thermal and non-termal operations to prevent the occurrence of food borne pathogens, extending the shelf life of foods, and improving safety, quality and nutritional value of food products.

The symposium will come out with recommendations to improve the food processing industry and steps to encourage entrepreneurs to take up quality food products, Bawa said at a press meet.

The government is actively encouraging investment in agro processing industries to reduce wastage and encourage value addition. This requires polices and plans for improvement of food processing infrastructure including upgradation of technology and enforcement of quality standards, promoting investment in food processing, thus assisting in domestic market and export growth.

A strong and dynamic food processing sector plays a significant role in diversification of agricultural activities, improving value addition opportunities and creating surplus for export of agro-food products.

The symposium assumes significance of in the background of these," Bawa added.