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“Strict enforcement, penalties against erring FBOs key”
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Monday, 01 July, 2024, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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 Food processing is a sunrise sector. But food adulteration has been an area of concern. There is need for a concerted effort on this front to thwart food adulteration practices in India, said Dr Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM-K (National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management- Kundli), in an email interaction with Nandita Vijayasimha. Excerpts:
How do you view the scene for food adulteration in the country?
This is indeed one of a major area of concern for both the industry as well as the consumers. According to a report published by FSSAI in 2019, the adulteration rate was as high as 28%. The main reasons for the high rates of food adulteration in India are economic considerations, lack of proper storage and handling practices, low consumer awareness and inadequate implementation and enforcement of food safety regulations. Continued improvements in regulations, technology, strict compliance and consumer awareness are key to mitigate this issue. Efficient and affordable rapid detection kits will not only help the Food Safety Officers, food labs but also the consumers which will instil confidence in the consumers about what they are consuming.
The recent incidents have marred India’s image due to food adulteration in spices. What kind of stringent measures need to be taken?
Regular surveillance of food products drawn, especially from local markets produced by the unorganised sector, MSME and organised sector and analysis of especially contaminants and adulterants by FSSAI notified labs followed by use of AI and statistical tools to arrive at the commodities showing more adulteration and contamination is the need of the hour. This will help in reaching to the bottom of the problem, so that effective steps could be taken up to prevent such incidents in future. All the FSSAI notified labs in the country must upload all their test reports on INFoLNET and FSSAI may create a cell which will carry out the analysis of such reports helping in the root cause analysis.
Surveillance can be used as a tool for ensuring strict compliance and may lead to stricter enforcement. Strict enforcement and penalties against the erring FBOs (Food Business Operators) and the labs is the key to improving the food safety management in the country. Investment in advanced technologies for testing and detecting adulterants in spices and other foods by food manufacturing companies and strict adherence to compliance is the key to resolving such issues.
Without robust quality assurance mechanisms throughout the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to processing, storage and distribution of spices, this issue would be hard to resolve. We also need to collaborate with international agencies and organisations to learn from global best practices in food safety. The repercussions from this incident will create a strong resolve among all stakeholders to create a system where there is zero tolerance for any type of adulteration. The Government should increase support for funding research in developing rapid food adulteration methods and kits and also to develop technically feasible and cost-effective disinfection strategies. There is a need to work on an integrated approach involving the food regulator, academic & R&D organisations and food industry and also convene regular stakeholder consultations involving the consumer and retail organisations, FPOs, traders, etc. to improve the food safety ecosystem in the country.
How would you describe the current scene for food technology and processing in India?
We are witnessing a dynamic and interesting scenario in India’s food processing space where traditional Indian culinary is teaming up with technology by way of innovations in digitisation, packaging, fortification and new product formulations. Food processing companies are leveraging technology to provide unique solutions, such as digital catering platforms and efficient food delivery services. Advancements in modern food processing machines are enhancing productivity and product quality in various sectors under food industry.
What are the visible trends in this space?
The key innovations driving the food tech industry in India are that farming practices are revolutionising through precision agriculture, using drones, IoT (Internet of Things) devices, and AI algorithms to enhance crop yield and quality. It is transforming food production through automation and robotics enabling efficient handling of repetitive tasks, improving food safety, and reducing production costs. It is enhancing food safety through innovations, such as sensor-equipped food packaging and AI-powered food inspection systems, nano-technological applications in development of rapid detection kits for contaminants and adulterants.
Blockchain technology ensures transparency and traceability in the supply chain, from farm to table, enhancing food safety and authenticity. Also, AI-driven algorithms optimise delivery routes and predict customer preferences, enhancing the customer experience and convenience.
There is a visible trend towards healthier food options and wellness-focused meal plans. There is efficiency in food production and delivery through cloud kitchens. The use of renewable energy sources in food processing, efficient supply chain management for perishables and integrated cold chains are being explored by the food industry. There is development of food processing machinery which can mitigate the effect of climate change through reduced Green House Gas (GHG) emissions is fast catching up. These innovations are transforming the food tech industry in India, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and customer experience, and driving growth in the sector.
What are the challenges encountered by this sector?
The food technology sector in India faces several challenges, including limited adoption of modern technologies in production as well as processing has hindered the growth of this sector. Inadequate cold storage and transportation facilities, is leading to substantial post-harvest losses in perishable foods.
Highly fragmented supply chain leads to inefficiencies and increased costs. Safety concerns are prevalent as food processing and handling practices often lack modern standards. Infrastructure bottlenecks at farm level leads to lack of mechanisation, high seasonality, perishability, and poor efficient supply chain.
Post Harvest (PH) losses start in the production catchments and hence primary and secondary processing at the farm gate level or at production catchments can significantly reduce the PH losses.
The stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards applied by developed countries impede the exports of processed foods, making it difficult for Indian food processing companies to compete globally. Small- and medium-sized enterprises in the food processing sector often face difficulties in accessing credit and financing.
Coming to NIFTEM, could you give us a peek into the activities and which are the courses in demand?
NIFTEM-Kundli was set up as the apex institute to serve the country’s food processing sector. It offers academic programmes, conducts research and is engaged in various outreach activities related to food technology and entrepreneurship. It also offers business incubation services through an incubator which is a Section 8 company. The institute houses five pilot plants with manufacturing facilities and a state-of-art FSSAI notified primary and referral food testing laboratory with huge investment in plant, machinery and equipment. The institute offers B. Tech, M. Tech, MBA and PhD degree programmes in food technology and management which get good response from students pan-India.
How efficient is the campus selection at the institute?
The institute has a dedicated Corporate Resources Division (CRD) which works tirelessly to connect students to the industry for internships and final placements. Almost all the reputed companies from the food sector including the supply chain companies, e-commerce companies and food processing machinery manufacturers visit the campus annually for selecting students from both the UG and PG courses including MBA. Since inception, NIFTEM Kundli has recorded impressive placement figures in terms of students placed as well as packages offered and has now acquired the status of the most sought after food institute in the country.
In your opinion, which are the areas that need solutions for food start-ups to focus?
Most of the food start-ups are venturing into the area of making the supply chains for perishables more effective, such as providing solutions for increasing shelf life of the perishables, better packaging solutions, etc. Blockchain technology and use of AI and IoT in distribution and managing logistics, development of on-farm quality evaluation and processing systems for fruits and vegetables are generating a lot of interest among the start-ups. Many start-ups have shown interest and are finding opportunities in the area revolving around plant-based proteins and alternate proteins. Nutraceuticals and millet based products, vegan and gluten-free products offer remarkable opportunities for the start-ups. Agri-food residue management where a lot of waste generated on the farm and side streams generated during different processing activities are being converted into value-added products or packaging materials or other useful materials is another good opportunity for the start-ups. The pet food segment is also generating a lot of interest among the start-ups, probiotics and health supplements is a fascinating area to work with and have a lot of potential for the start-ups.
Is India’s food technology and processing sector facing talent dearth?
As is with many other sectors, there may be a gap between the skills demanded by the industry and those possessed by fresh graduates. The food processing industry demands innovation in areas such as food safety, preservation, packaging, and processing techniques. This requires a workforce equipped with advanced skills and knowledge, which is often lacking. To address this, NIFTEM Kundli is striving towards regular updates in curriculum, industry collaborations, and various training initiatives to promote skill development in food processing.
Where does India stand globally in food technology and processing?
India ranks 16th in the exports of processed food products in the world and ranked 7th in the world in agricultural and processed food exports in 2022-23. Currently, the food processing level in India is at about 10%. By 2025-26, this sector is expected to reach US$535 billion and growing at compound annual growth rate of 15.2%. The total FDI received in the food processing sector from Apr 2000 till Mar 2024 was $12.58 billion. India's exports of processed food was Rs 62,563 crore during 2022-23.
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