The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) and Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) will jointly establish a Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification Innovation, Research and Training (CEFIRT) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The centre will be established at the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (ITE) Hub at Bio 360 Life Sciences Park, Thonnakkal, under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) exchanged during the 85th CSIR Foundation Day celebrations in New Delhi.
The partnership brings together CSIR-NIIST’s scientific and technological expertise with TCPL’s experience in food products, nutrition and product innovation. The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in food fortification research, technology development and commercialization.
CEFIRT will focus on innovative fortification technologies for staple foods, including grains, salt, milk and edible oils. It will also explore protein-enriched, functional and specialised nutrition products.
The centre will provide a platform for collaborative research and development involving scientific institutions and industry. Its activities will include technology development, analytical testing, validation, scale-up, technology transfer and commercialisation.
A key focus will be ensuring the nutrient stability, safety, quality and bioavailability of fortified products, while also addressing consumer acceptability.
CEFIRT will additionally conduct specialised training and technical programmes for researchers, students and industry professionals, helping build expertise in food fortification and nutrition science.
CSIR-NIIST Director C Anandharamakrishnan said bringing scientific expertise and industrial capabilities together would help develop innovative, scalable and impactful solutions in food and nutrition.
TCPL Global Chief R&D Officer Vikas Gupta highlighted the role of industry-led innovation and collaborative research in developing food fortification solutions with wider societal impact.
The initiative also builds on the development of the CSIR-NIIST ITE Hub at Thonnakkal, which was inaugurated in February 2026. The hub is intended to facilitate the translation of scientific research into technologies and strengthen collaboration between research institutions, industry and entrepreneurs.
Through CEFIRT, CSIR-NIIST and TCPL aim to create a sustained platform for research, innovation, training and technology translation in food fortification, with a focus on nutrition, food quality and food security.