Cost-effective and practical technologies need of the hour, says Food Processing Industry Joint Secretary

Cost-effective and practical technologies that could benefit small and medium food-processing enterprises was the need of the hour, according to Ranjit Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industry.

Addressing a function at the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) on October 1, to mark the inauguration of Fermenta – Centre for Excellence of Food Fortification and the Foundation Day celebrations, the Joint Secretary highlighted the need for scientifically sound, safe, stable, affordable, and scalable food fortification technologies, particularly for double and multiple-fortified foods. He emphasised the importance of addressing nutrient interactions, food matrix effects, stability, uniform distribution, processing losses, and bioavailability.

In his felicitation address, Dr. Ranjit Singh emphasised that the Centre brought together nutrition, technology, and scalability as key priorities for India’s food system. Highlighting the need for scientifically sound, safe, stable, affordable, and scalable food fortification technologies, particularly for double- and multiple-fortified foods, he stressed the importance of addressing nutrient interactions, food matrix effects, stability, uniform distribution, processing losses, and bioavailability.

Sustainability, energy-efficient processing, resource optimisation, waste valorisation, and environmentally responsible food manufacturing were important areas, with NIFTEM-T envisioned as a research, technology demonstration, and capacity-building platform, he pointed out.

K. Ramesha, Director, Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi, emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary research integrating artificial intelligence, sensors, electrochemistry, green technologies, and advanced materials. He identified food spoilage sensors, intelligent packaging, contaminant detection, food quality monitoring, waste valorization, circular economy approaches, and resource recovery as promising areas for future research. NIFTEM-T Director V. Palanimuthu were present.