Experts highlighted the importance of food safety, sustainable farming, and global collaboration to ensure nutrition, public health, and food security at the International Conference on Food Science and Nutrition organised at Stella Maris College.

At the concluding session of the two-day conference on Thursday, Sanu Jacob, Director of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said that one of the key priorities of the Indian government was to ensure food safety, as access to nutritious food contributes to a healthier, productive population.

He said that it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure the quality of food in all stages, from production to consumption. In food production, there was a need for proper food handling and preservation, and for measures to prevent food contamination, he added.

Highlighting the relation between food and various disciplines, including agriculture, biochemistry and sociology, he encouraged students to explore diverse careers in food safety and related fields. The conference featured Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute; Shobhana Kumar, Joint Director, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Government of India; Imbenzi George, Honorary Consul General of Kenya, British Columbia, Canada, among other experts.

It dealt with an array of topics, including the multidimensional role of food, nutritional benefits of traditional food practices, the role of Ministry of Commerce and Industry in promoting food exports and educating farmers on quality standards, and the link between food safety, human rights, and climate change.

Read Comments