PAU food scholars win top honours at International conference on agri, vet sciences

Three scholars from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have won the top honours at the 12th International Conference on ‘Agriculture & Veterinary: Transformative Approach, Research & Innovations Forum’, jointly organised by Goa College of Agriculture, Goa; University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, this month.

Karnika, PhD scholar, was conferred the Best Oral Presentation Award for her paper, co-authored by Sonika Sharma, Shikha Mahajan, Shaveta Batta and Bishav Mohan, titled “Integrating Nutrigenomics into Precision Nutrition: A Timely Approach to Mitigate Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors”. She was also honoured with the Young Fellow Award during the conference. Her major advisor, Dr Sonika Sharma, shared that the nutrigenomics research, a collaborative effort between the PAU and DMC&H, Ludhiana, demonstrated that individuals with the high-risk FTO gene variant could significantly reduce their predisposition to obesity and cardiovascular disease through tailored diet and lifestyle interventions, underscoring the promise of precision nutrition in addressing genetic vulnerabilities.

Another PhD scholar, Shrishti Joshi, received the Best Oral Presentation Award for her research, co-authored by Sonika Sharma, Shikha Mahajan, Shaveta Batta and Bishav Mohan, titled “Microwave Roasting of Nigella sativa: Enhancing Nutritional and Functional Properties for Food and Nutraceutical Applications”. She also earned the Young Researcher Award at the event. Her advisor, Dr Shikha Mahajan, said that the work on Nigella sativa underscored its potential as a powerful functional food ingredient with natural health-promoting properties.

Further, Dr Tamanna Saini, Research Assistant in the department, won the Best Oral Presentation Award for her study, co-authored with Sonika Sharma, Shikha Mahajan, Deepika Vig, and Vaishali, titled “A Cross-Sectional Study on Dietary, Lifestyle Behaviours and Psychological Distress Patterns among School-Going Adolescents in Punjab State”. The study forms a part of the ICSSR-funded project “Impact of Screen Timing on Nutritional Status and Psychological Distress among School Children: A Digital Detox Model”.