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MoFPI seeks proposals for R&D programme in food processing sub-sectors
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Wednesday, 20 September, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI) has sought proposals from institutions for a research and development (R&D) programme in various categories and sub-sectors related to food processing.
According to the ministry, the R&D proposals in the processing sector should look at product and process development, preservation techniques and technologies, packaging, storage and handling, distribution, value addition and standardisation of additives, among other activities.
The guidelines stated that the ministry would support research proposals, preferably of an applied nature with commercial value resulting in the development of innovative products, processes and manufacturing practices, which lead to the development of the food processing industry in India.
MoFPI has invited proposals from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), government institutions, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories, etc.
An official with the ministry said, “This is being done with a focus on the enhancement of production, quality, consumer safety, public health and trade of the processed food.”
“All universities, IITs, Central and state government institutions, government-funded organisations, R&D laboratories and CSIR-recognised R&D units in the private sector can participate in the programme,” he added.
SMEs and farmers
The guidelines stated that preference would be given to those R&D project proposals which are beneficial for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and farmers, and are intended towards its commercialisation.
“There should be an industrial partner associated with the project. The R&D projects would be carried out in collaboration with the industrial partner, who will take up or commercialise the outcome of the project,” they added.
“However, this condition of having an industry partner in the project, may not be applicable, if MoFPI chooses to direct the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), Thanjavur, the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Sonepat, or any other public body to undertake a specific research in public interest,” the guidelines added.
The grants include lump sum provision upto Rs 1 lakh for travel allowance (TA) and daily allowance (DA) for project-related travel, including survey, data/sample collection, etc. and institutional charges equal to 10 per cent of the project cost, subject to a maximum of Rs 3 lakh for non-academic institutions and Rs 5 lakh for academic institutions.
Arpita Mukherjee, professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER),said, “We did a survey-based study and found that the level of R&D in the Indian food processing sector is low.”
“This is because a majority of the players are in the unorganised sector and their scale of operation is small,” she added.
“For example, in packaging India needs technologies, such as freeze-thaw technology, deep-freeze technology and vacuum packaging, among others,” Mukherjee said.
“There is a need for good packaging to reduce aflatoxin and other contamination. Packaging technology, such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), can help to increase the shelf life of perishable food products, such as fruits and vegetables. India also needs eco-friendly packaging technology,” she added.
Mukherjee said, “In case of storage units and warehouses, there can be R&D on alternative energy uses, such as solar-powered cold storage units or battery-operated trucks.”
On the possible impact of these R&D programmes on the food processing industry, she added, “While many of these already exist in other countries, R&D in India can help to reduce the cost of the products and customise the products to Indian conditions.”
“If the R&D is commercialised, it will help the sector to become more modern and reduce wastages,” Mukherjee said.
However, she also cautioned about and highlighted the need for gap analysis along with the studies.
“The bigger problem of such schemes are that they are implemented without gap analysis. The gap analysis helps to identify what technologies are currently available, what are the main issues and where there is a need for R&D and new technologies,” Mukherjee stated.
“Only supporting R&D may not lead to benefits for the food processing sector, unless the industry considers the research to be useful and there is commercialisation of R&D,” she added.
“One of the main issues in India is the lack of commercialisation of R&D. Further, there are gaps in the policy itself,” Mukherjee said.
“While the policy talks about value addition, standardisation of additives, colouring agents, preservatives, pesticide residues, etc., with a focus on the enhancement of production, quality, consumer safety, public health and trade, about 51 chemicals which are banned in developed countries are used by farmers in India,” she added.
Mukherjee said, “Even countries such as Bhutan have banned these chemicals. If banned chemicals are used in the fields, what can the food processing sector do?”
“Last, but not the least, the grant amount is low, and it is almost impossible to undertake any good quality R&D in that amount,” she added.
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