Research should reach people through food tech partnerships: Minister

Mysuru: Research and development should not remain confined within the walls of laboratories and libraries but must reach the people in a meaningful way, said Union minister for science, technology and earth sciences Jitendra Singh.He was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru on Friday.Addressing scientists, entrepreneurs and students, the minister emphasised that food technology institutions must build direct engagement with farmers and establish strong partnerships with entrepreneurs.He highlighted the crucial role of micro, small and medium enterprises in shaping the future economy. He also suggested that collaboration between sectors such as space, sports and food technology could open new opportunities, particularly in developing specialised nutrition like space-grade food and high-performance sports nutrition.He proposed that research institutions under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research collaborate with management institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management to provide business guidance to emerging startups.Call to develop nutritious, pre-packaged mealsThe minister also noted the growing demand for convenient "carry-home" food products, especially among working women and young professionals with limited time for cooking. Research institutions, he said, could meet this demand by developing nutritious, pre-packaged meals.N Kalaiselvi, director general of CSIR, encouraged CFTRI to focus on developing sports- and space-specific foods. Jitendra Kumar noted that India's traditional food practices, when combined with scientific research and entrepreneurship, could trigger a major transformation in the food sector.CFTRI director Giridhar Parvatham was present.