The Society of Fisheries Technologists(India), Cochin, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) Cochin Chapter, Indian Chitin and Chitosan Society (ICCS) Erode, and ICAR-Centra lInstitutofFisheriesTechnology,Cochinjointly organizedaoneday Seminaron“ChitininAgriculture, MedicineandAlliedFields”on 29th September,2015at ICAR-CIFT, Cochin. Chitin is the second most abundant natural biopolymer in the nature, which is mainly derived from crustaceans like shrimp, crabs, krill, and lobsters. The research in the advanced uses of chitin and chitosan in medical, cosmetic, industrial, textile and drug delivery is progressing all over the world.The main objective of the Seminar was to bring together researchers from academia and industry to share their knowledge on the path breaking technologies and developments related to the biopolymer ‘chitin and chitosan’ as well as to scientifically and commercially address the issues faced by Indian chitin industry.

 

 

Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Director, ICAR-CIFT while addressing the gathering indicated that a Seminar on chitin and chitosan is very imperative as in India alone, from the organized processing sector a substantial quantity of shell fish waste are discarded annually. This figure has increased noticeably with the introduction of vannamei shrimp culture in a big way, as seen in the recent years.  

 

The Seminar was featured by technical presentations and panel sessions for providing a typical platform for the researchers and the industry professionals to enhance their technical knowledge, share ideas with scientific community and implement new business ideas. Eminentpersonalitiesworkingonchitinin differentfieldsdelivered lectures. The sessions were chaired by Dr. T.K. Srinivasa Gopal, (Former Director & Emeritus Scientist, ICAR-CIFT). Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI was the Special Invitee for the Seminar. Dr. S.D. Sawant, Director, ICAR-NRC Grapes, Pune, Dr. K.G. Ramachandran Nair (Retd. Head of Division - Fish Processing, ICAR-CIFT), Dr. S. Meenakshi (Gandhgram Rural Institute), Dr. Jayakumar, Dr. Raja Biswas (Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Kochi),Shri K. Mohanan (MATSYAFED), Dr. Suseela Mathew (ICAR-CIFT), Shri Vikram Sudhakar (Marshall Marine Products, Erode) gave presentations on various aspects of chitins. Dr. A.A. Zynudheen, Convener  & Principal Scientist (ICAR-CIFT) proposed the vote of thanks. The Seminar witnessed participation from 150 researchers and entrepreneurs across the country.