National Workshop cum Training on High Pressure Processing for Food Preservation

A National Workshop cum Training on “High pressure processing for food preservation” wasorganized under NAIP Sub Project“Studies on high pressure processing (HPP) of high value perishable commodities” on 7^th March, 2014at Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin. The workshop was organized to impart the knowledge and experience gained under the Sub project and to Industry, Scientists, Teachers, Research scholar’s etc.working in food and related areas withthelatest advancements in the application of high pressure processing for food.About 40 participants attended this National Workshop cum Training. Dr.J. Bindu, Senior Scientist and CPI of the project welcomed the gathering and gave an introduction to the workshop. Dr. T. K. Srinivasa Gopal, Director, CIFT inaugurated the workshop and  in his welcome speech remarked that pressure processing is a novel processing technique that is being increasingly adopted to preserve high value foods inorder to retain its freshness like characteristics. It is also known that CIFT is the only institute under ICAR having the high pressure processing facility in the country. Dr. P. Srinivasa Rao, Associate Professor and consortium partner of the project, IIT Kharagpur also spoke on the occasion.

Various technical sessions related to this emerging technology were handled by National experts.Dr. J. Bindu, in the first lecture introduced the topic to the trainees and presented the activities undertaken in the project with respect to seafoods. Dr. P. Srinivasa Rao spoke on High pressure processingof perishable fruits and on the engineering aspects of the process.The effect of high pressure on biological systems was handled by Dr. Venkateshwarlu Ronda, Scientist, CIFT and Dr. S.K. Pand, Senior Scientist, CIFT spokeon the effect of high pressure on microorganisms.Dr. K.K. Asha, Senior Scientist, CIFT and Associate of the project spoke on the biochemical aspects of high pressure.

In the afternoon session the working principle of high pressure processing machine was explained and practical demonstration processing of seafoods was done.  In the concluding session certificates were distributed by Dr. Srinivasa Gopal to the participants. The feedback    from the participants about the training was positive and they mentioned that the programme was really beneficial for them in understanding a new emerging non thermal technology. Dr. K.K. Asha proposed vote of thanks.

Dr. T.K. Srinivasa Gopal inaugurating                        Dr. P. SrinivasaRaospeaking on the occasion
                                     the programme

Demonstration in progress