DFRL Technology Day a crowd-puller

Mysuru: Defence Food Research Laboratory  (DFRL) Director Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, inaugurated the Technology Day products display exhibition organised as part of the National Technology Day that is being celebrated across India, here this morning at its premises in Siddartha Layout.

This day is being commemorated in memory of the anniversary of Shakti, the Pokhran nuclear test held on May 11, 1998. It glorifies the importance of science in day-to-day life and motivates students to adopt science as a career option, said the Dr R.K. Sharma.

The inauguration of exhibition was followed by signing of MoU for technology transfer of 10 product/process with three companies — Universal Foods, Mulki (Ash Gourd juice), Sri Arihant Industries, Bangalore (millet dosa mix, millet chapatti mix, millet roti mix, millet jamoon mix, sweetened milled mix, spiced millet mix) and Schemecken Agro Food Products, Chennai, (process for bacterial cellulose production, nata in fruit juice and ginger beverage).

There was an enthusiastic response from students and the public as they lined up to see the various edible food products on display that the DFRL with its innovative technology is producing for the Armed forces who at high altitudes are not getting hot food due to freezing of food packets in icy environments.

Edible cutlery, films and food pouches

Spoons, forks, soup spoons, ice-cream sticks and bowls that were on display were particularly attracting the attention of the young minds as all these items on display were edible. According to the DFRL scientists, the ingredients used in making the edible cutlery and edible films are normal food components. They can be made to impart taste and texture using different flavours and colours with food ingredients of plant origin.

While the edible cutlery items have a shelf life of 18-24 months, the edible films have a shelf life of around nine months at room temperature.  The edible cutlery can be preserved with little precaution, and hence are suitable in all climatic conditions and remote areas.

The ready-to-eat products by MTR, instant foods, nutty bars, mango juice powder, mutton crunchies,  dehydrated chicken cubes, mutton and chicken bars, edible hydrogel with coloured flavour (with water content), biodegradable plastic were all on display.

DFRL Scientist A. Ramakrishna who delivered the Technology Day Oration on “Design and Development of food engineering systems for Armed Forces at high altitudes,” speaking to Star of Mysore said, “the Army personnel deployed in altitudes and icy environments are not getting fresh wholesome curd in their regular menu. Therefore DFRL-DRDO has developed a system for making fresh curd at very low electrical energy successfully at high altitudes and at sub-zero temperature.” He revealed that they were successful in making Fresh Curd Maker after failing for 30 times and it took two-and-a-half years. There was good response from the armed forces for this product which was tested for one-and-a-half years.

Some of the students told Star of Mysore, that they found the visit to the expo very useful as they could also now think of it as a career choice.

Assistant Director  Gopal Krishna Sharma, Dr A.D. Semwal, Dr M. Talmurugan, Dr M.C. Pandey, Dr D.D. Wadekar, Dr Fahad Khanum, C.R. Vasudeesh, Renukumari and others were present during the inauguration.