New Delhi (NVI): Food products made by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories are better than those available in the market as they are much more cost-effective, tastier, nutritional and without any side-effects, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
“All the machines and food products displayed here have been developed in the CSIR laboratories, especially those in Chandigarh, Mohali, Mysore, Palampur and during my visit to these laboratories in the last five years, I have closely seen every product being developed and have even tasted them,” the Minister said.
Dr Harsh Vardhan was speaking at the inauguration of an Exhibition of Technologies in Food Processing conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) jointly with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and CSIR here today.
The Minister thanked ASSOCHAM, MoFPI and CSIR officials and scientists for moving out of their respective laboratories to showcase the technologies developed by them at the exhibition.
He also said that such kind of events need to be conducted across the states, especially food processing hubs like Palampur and others.
Stating that massive research was underway across the country in plastics sector to find its alternate, the Minister said, “We saw at this exhibition that they have come up with an edible plate itself. Our laboratory had gathered all plastic waste generated across Dehradun and converted it into diesel, petrol, petrochemical and everything is possible through science.”
In his address, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Rameswar Teli said, “MoFPI provides 75 per cent subsidy to those setting up food processing industries in hilly regions and 50 per cent for those setting up in north-east regions of India.”
He further said that Department of Food Processing Industries was working towards promoting organic food consumption through various measures.
ASSOCHAM’s secretary general, Deepak Sood impressed upon the need to promote indigenous technology in the food processing sector, which is also the bedrock of small-scale food processing enterprises that are crucial to India’s development.
