Abating post-harvest losses through innovation and technology: CSIR
As part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ commemorating 75 years of independence, the CSIR – Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, organized a webinar on ‘Innovations and advancements in food protection and grain storage.’
The webinar covered five study areas ranging from stored grain protection to insect infestation, including grain storage management, insecticides, and insect toxicity, hermetic storage technology, insect pest management, and fumigation technology.
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The webinar was opened by Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru. The head and staff members of the CSIR-Food CFTRI’s Protectants and Infestation Control Department were present.
Presentations were given by experts in the subject of integrated pest control from the scientific and industry domains. In her inaugural talk, the CFTRI Director discussed the country’s current predicament in terms of post-harvest management of food systems, as well as the need for quick action in the present situation.
Technology in food safety
Prakash M. Halami, Head of the FPIC Department, discussed current innovations and advancements in the field of foodgrain protection, such as grain ATMs, silo bags for grain storage, and the importance of hermetic storage technology. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, delivered an invited talk on reducing food loss and waste through the use of technology solutions for protection and storage.
S. Senthil Nathan, a Tamil Nadu academic, also talked. Praveen Gupta, Country Manager of GrainPro Ltd., discussed the need for hermetic technology as a long-term solution to post-harvest problems.
S. Subramanian, Principal Scientist, Division of Entomology, ICAR (Indian Agricultural Research Institute), New Delhi, addressed in detail the problems and potential involved with stored goods pest management in India. S. Rajendran (retired scientist, CSIR-CFTRI) discussed the relevance of fumigation technology in food safety. The webinar focused on the current research and technology improvements in food protection and safety that the world is witnessing.
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Opportunities
The webinar also gave young Indian scientists and students working in scientific labs and institutes the opportunity to interact with the professionals who presented lectures during the event.
The significance of food safety and security in the context of the Indian population, as well as implementation strategies, were discussed. The webinar was attended by 138 people in total.
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