Mysore/Mysuru: Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, has stressed the need for a balanced diet for the growth of individuals.

She was speaking after inaugurating Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST)-sponsored six-week Technology-based Entrepreneurship Development Programme (TEDP) on “Food Technology” organised by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and Institution Innovation Council of GSSS Institute of Engineering & Technology for Women (GSSSIETW), Mysuru, here recently.

Briefing on the growth of India in food sector, Dr. Singh stressed on the importance of food technology in today’s world and gave an insight on the processing technologies available at CFTRI. She also advised the students to update themselves with the advancements in  recent technologies.

The main objective of this programme was to train potential entrepreneurs with graduation and diploma background. Fifty persons are participating in this programme. They are provided with hands-on training in indigenous technologies development with R&D institutions which were available for commercial use.

Eminent resource persons from CFTRI, Defence Food & Research Laboratory (DFRL) and other Government sectors were handling topics including entrepreneurship, scheme of assistance, project selection and its pre-feasibility, soft skill development, consolidation of business idea, business plan preparation and technical training.

Dr. S. Padmashree, Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) and Principal Investigator of this programme, who welcomed, briefed the activities of this six-week TEDP and its importance. Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, DST Observer and CEO, DERBI Foundations, Bengaluru, spoke on the recent innovations in food technologies. Yeshaswi Nag, Mentor, Atal Incubation Centre, JIT, Bengaluru, who was chief guest, explained the entrepreneurial opportunities available in food technologies.

Vanaja B. Pandit, Hon. Secretary, GSSSIETW, briefed about the importance of event and its impact to participants for achieving professional excellence in food technology.

Dr. M. Shivakumar, College Principal, highlighted the achievements of the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and Institution Innovation Council such as MoUs signed by GSSSIETW with MSME-sponsored Incubation Centre and Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) Ranking and 4 star rating given by Ministry of Education for the entrepreneurial and innovation activities.

Dr. P. Raviraj, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), proposed a vote of thanks.