Amity Institute of Food Technology (AIFT), Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, is organising the International Conference, the 5th AMIFOST on "Food Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future" from 29th March, 2022 to 31st March, 2022, in Hybrid Mode.
The Conference aims to provide a platform for ambitious new actions, innovative solutions and plans to transform food systems and leverage these shifts to deliver progress across Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main objectives of the Conference are to raise awareness of food systems with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), transform food systems, particularly in the wake of a global pandemic, strengthen the food system framework to achieve the 2030 SDGs agenda, and motivate and empower stakeholders who support food systems transformation by developing improved tools, measurement, and analysis.
Explaining about the Sustainable Food System during the Inaugural Session, Chief Guest, Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, CSIR, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, averred, “A Sustainable Food System delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental factors to generate food security and nutrition are not compromised. Also, this Food System is profitable throughout, since it brings broad-based benefits to the society and has a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment.”
Highlighting the Food losses, she further added, “Agricultural products wasted exceed 750 billion USD which is equal to the GDP of Switzerland. In India, 40% losses are due to fragmented systems and inadequate supply chains. Therefore, the challenge is to increase the productivity, expand agricultural land and new varieties of crops as a lot of waste /by-products are generated in food processing. This can be achieved through integrated processing, reducing wastage, recovery of value-added products, providing better nutrition and focussing on personalized nutrition which is better suited as per lifestyle, genetics and health status.”
Addressing the gathering, Dr Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, said, “Amity University is a research-driven University and major research work has been done in various fields which has led to finding ground-breaking solutions to the problems of today’s world. Through this Conference, we aim to bring a huge transformation in the area of Food Sustainability and address the challenges by looking for new opportunities and formulating and implementing research-led strategies.”
Addressing the gathering during the Inaugural Session, Prof. (Dr.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, stated, “Food sustainability is a challenge today and various initiatives are being taken by countries across the world to ensure sustainable production of food. There must be least wastage of food and post-harvest technologies must be developed to maintain the freshness and increase the shelf-life of food. The conference aims to provide a platform for ambitious new actions, innovative solutions to transform food systems and leverage these shifts to deliver progress across Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
During the three-day Conference, technical Sessions on “Sustainable Green food processing technologies”, “Technologies for Food safety and quality analysis”, “Climate change and sustainable food production” and “Valorisation of food by-products and food waste”, will be held, amongst others. In each track, one award will be given to Best Oral presentation and Best Poster Presentation. In addition, one award for overall Best Oral and Best Poster Presentation will also be given away. The e-Souvenir – AMIFOST 2022, including all the details about the Conference, was also released during the Inaugural Session of AMIFOST-2022.