Vet varsity highlights future of meat industry

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Ludhiana, November 11

The international symposium and seventh conference of the Indian Meat Science Association on new horizons for augmenting meat production and processing was held at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana.

The aim was to ensure nutritional security, food safety and environmental sustainability. The event was inaugurated by the Department of Livestock Products Technology, in collaboration with the Indian Meat Science Association. Dr Manish Kumar Chatli, organizing secretary and head of the department said more than 200 scientists, academicians, researchers and postgraduate students across the world attended the conference.

Dr Harpreet Kochhar, chief veterinary officer for Canada and associate vice-president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was the chief guest. Dr Simrat Sagar Singh, dean, Postgraduate Studies, addressed the gathering on behalf of Dr AS Nanda, vice-chancellor, GADVASU. Dr JS Sidhu from the University of Kuwait, spoke on ‘Capacity building in food sector’ and Dr Thota threw on ‘New horizons for augmenting Indian export ensuring nutritional security, food safety and environmental sustainability’. Dr VV Kukkarni, president, Indian Meat Science Association, discussed about the status, challenges and prospects of the Indian meat industry.

Memorandums signed

Two memorandums were also signed with the Raja Food and Kansal Agro Food for value addition of egg products with special emphasis on egg paneer. A compendium and CD of lectures was released by dignitaries and officers of the university —Dr SS Singh, Dr JPS Gill, Dr Parkash Singh Brar and Dr BM Naveen.

Awards conferred

The IMSA Lifetime Achievement Awards 2016 were conferred on Dr Sushil Kumar, Dr John Abraham, Dr Shanmugham, Dr TRK Murthy, Dr Nagendra Sharma, Dr Kondaiah and Dr BN Kowate. The Innovative Entrepreneurship Award was conferred on Mohit Raja. Dr Chatli said the conference was aimed at brainstorming and presenting future strategies related to scientific slaughter with animal welfare, hygienic processing, packaging, preservation, food safety and quality assurance programmes.