Develop affordable, sustainable food packaging technologies: DRDO scientist

Dignitaries and scientists at the CSIR-CFTRI Foundation Day celebrations in Mysuru on Monday.

Developing sustainable, affordable and effective indigenous food packaging technologies and reducing food losses from farms to consumers should be priorities for strengthening India’s food security, experts said at the 77th Foundation Day celebrations of the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru on Monday.

R. Kumar, Centre Head, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBT), DRDO, Mysuru, who was the guest of honour, highlighted the need to reduce dependence on imported packaging technologies and conserve foreign exchange through indigenous innovation.

He also drew attention to the substantial losses of food commodities at various stages between agricultural fields and consumers’ plates, and called for concerted efforts to minimise wastage.

The institute celebrated its Foundation Day along with World Food Day 2026 on Monday, with former Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Nirmal Kumar Ganguly as the chief guest.

In his address, CFTRI Director Giridhar Parvatam called for innovative and impactful technologies that deliver tangible benefits to society. Highlighting the institute’s research in millets, functional foods and food safety protocols, he urged scientists, staff and young researchers to look beyond conventional research metrics and focus on outcomes that benefit society.

He also identified climate change as a critical challenge requiring priority attention and sustained technological interventions.

Delivering the Foundation Day lecture, Dr. Ganguly spoke on the biomodulation of the gut microbiome through faecal microbiota transplantation as a therapeutic strategy in preclinical animal models of multiple sclerosis. He also discussed the role of neuroactive molecules influenced by gut microorganisms and the growing significance of gut microbiome research in exploring treatments for neurological disorders.

The institute’s annual report for 2025-26 was released on the occasion. Employees who made outstanding contributions during the year were felicitated with appreciation certificates.