New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday called for strengthening research and development (R&D) in the country’s food processing industry with the Central Food Technology and Research Institute (CFTRI) playing a more proactive role.
“While basic agricultural research has a very strong and large institutional network in the country, there is little focus on the food processing sector,” Manmohan Singh said while inaugurating the 1st Conference of State Ministers of Food Processing Industries, organised by the ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI).

“I would urge agricultural universities, premier technological institutes and the private sector to actively undertake collaborative strategic research,” he said, adding that international collaborations in this field needed to be promoted.

Calling for a new National Food Processing Policy that would promote innovation and technological development, he said the CFTRI has to play a more proactive role in this.

“The Central Food Technology and Research Institute should play a more central and proactive role in promoting the knowledge base of the industry through greater public private partnerships in technology development,” Manmohan Singh said.

Reaching international standards of food safety and quality is another critical objective for India’s food processing industry, according to the prime minister.

Stating that this required a multi-pronged approach, he said: “The authorities should initiate a sustained campaign to educate consumers and promote quality assurance in industry. World-class food testing laboratories should be established in the country in both the public and private sector.”

Stressing on the need for harmonising India’s food standards with Codex Alimentarius, the collection of internationally recognised standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relating to foods, food production and food safety, the prime minister said: “There is no reason why Indian consumers should not demand and get products meeting the highest quality and safety standards in the world.”