Vidarbha needs cold chains for food preservations as nearly one third of harvested food in India is wasted before consumption, valued in excess of Rs 1,50,000 crore per year, said experts in the food industry. “Vidarbha region in particular with logistics advantages needs series of cold chain facilities for food preservations, controlling losses on perishables along with approved preservatives to meet the ‘Zero Hunger’ target by 2030”, said Shyam Laddha, CEO of Vasudhara Dairy (Manufacturing outfit of Amul).

 

Laddha was speaking as chief guest at the seminar on ‘Current trends in food preservations’ recently organised by Agro Food Processing and Rural Development Forum of Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) at VIA Auditorium, Nagpur. Dr Madhukar Bhotmange, Retd HoD of Food Technology LIT Nagpur, emphasised the role of natural food preservatives like common salt, sugar, citric acid etc., in food preservations.

 

Sanjay Kulkarni, Managing Director of Magnesia Chemicals was the guest of honour. Dr Satish Jagtap, Managing Director and Mathews Jacob, Director of Arista Chemicals gave a presentation on the subject. Innovative Agro Food Processing entrepreneurs - Kamal Narayan Seetha, Sagar Shah, Col Vinod Marwaha and Dr Anwar S Daud were felicitated by the chief guest during the programme.