The ICAR-CIFT (Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology) located in Kochi will be hosting a national technology workshop titled ‘Indian Perspective on Food Safety, Security, and Standards’ on June 7 and 8. Renowned as a premier research institute in the field of harvest and post-harvest fisheries, ICAR-CIFT is organizing this two-day workshop in collaboration with the Society of Fisheries Technologists India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and the India section of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International.
The workshop will commence with an inaugural session on June 7 at 9:30 a.m., inaugurated by Jagdish Fofandi, the national president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India. It will primarily focus on the Indian perspective concerning food safety, food security, and standards, delving into three key sub-themes: food preservation, fortification, and value addition; novel foods and nutraceuticals; and food safety, standards, and risk assessment.
Industry thought leaders will conduct a plenary session, and industry sponsors will contribute to a technical session. The workshop is expected to attract approximately 400 participants, including scientists, academicians, policymakers, and students from India and abroad. The event will be conducted in a hybrid mode, offering both physical and virtual attendance options. The program will feature research papers and poster presentations on relevant topics.
Given the growing emphasis on food processing, value-addition, and product safety in domestic and international markets, the workshop holds significant policy relevance and impact on the food industry. The discussions and findings from the conference will be valuable for emerging food and agribusiness sectors as well as food product trade. George Ninan, the Director of ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, emphasized the workshop’s relevance in these areas.