Union minister for science and technology and earth sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan has unveiled a sequence of research outcome initiatives at the CSIR-CFTRI in Mysuru. These include the project for establishing an integrated sugarcane juice processing and bottling unit at its campus.
The two tonne per day plant will be commissioned in 90 days which will be ‘Drive-in Plant’ for sugarcane farmers of the nearby region.
The institute has developed and patented a technology for bottling sugarcane juice with four months of shelf life which has been commercialised by over 20 odd entrepreneurs. The beverage which is natural with multitude of health benefits has the potential to dominate the emerging wellness market.
The unit has taken shape under the rural development programmes of CSIR and soon such a unit will be replicated in association with farmers’ cooperatives and self-help groups (SHGs) in other sugarcane growing regions.
Dr Vardhan also released carbonated fruit juice products based on grape, apple and pomegranate with 20% fruit juices. Earlier prime minister Narendra Modi had asked multinationals to mix their carbonated drinks with fruit juices to help fruit farmers of the country. Now the laboratory has come forward with a viable process which can help the country towards ‘Yellow Revolution.’ CSIR is committed to transform India as a global hub for wellness foods.
Currently India processed only 2.2% of the total production which is far less compared to USA, the Philippines and China. Almost 35% of fruits and vegetables are wasted because of the lack of processing and storage capabilities. This research outcome has immense possibilities in the consumer segment, said the minister who tasted the carbonated drinks and other products which are ready to enter the market very soon.
The minister also inspected the facilities at the first nutraceuticals incubation centre of the country being set up at CSIR-CFTRI along with an entrepreneurs cell.
The Nutra-Phyto Incubation Centre & Common Instrumentation Facility (NPIC-CIF), established in collaboration with Karnataka government, would facilitate discovery and development of new products and innovative technologies. There will be labs, pilot plant facilities, analytical testing and safety studies where entrepreneurs, SHGs and SMEs can use.
Dr Vardhan said that government will support the entrepreneurs in all possible ways to market their products. Currently CSIR-CFTRI researchers are now focussing on sharing technologies to reach the general public.
As Make in India aims at increasing the current level of food processing of 10% to 25% by 2025, linkages with R&D are crucial for the industry for transforming the country as an emerging hub for future growth, according to him.
India’s share for nutraceuticals is less than 1% in the global market. Large number of nutraceuticals are imported and expensive. More concern is also about unproven health claims and benefits of these products. “This proposed centre is expected to give a boost in taking the traditional and non-traditional nutraceuticals into global market with proven scientific evidence,” he said.
The minister also inaugurated the Centre for Food Nanotechnology and the ‘Make in India Food Pavilion’ at CFTRI campus. The former would accelerate the applications of nanotechnology in food that have relevance in the food industry and consumer market at large. “CSIR-CFTRI can play a significant role in developing advanced processes and products for nanodelivery of food bioactive compounds with improved stability and bioavailability via nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes or biopolymer based nanoparticles,” he said.
