Ninth International Food Convention "IFCON-2023" Set to Kick Off in Mysuru with a Focus on Food Technology and Innovation

Mysuru: The eagerly anticipated International Food Convention, IFCON-2023, is scheduled to take place in Mysuru from December 7 to 10, embracing the theme "TRIMSAFE – Technology Re-engineering for Innovation and Mitigating the risk for a Safe, sustainable, Affordable and secure Food Ecosystem." Organized by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists of India (AFSTI), the event is poised to highlight the latest advancements in the food industry.

Inaugurated by ISRO Chairman Dr S Somnath, the convention will feature a virtual address by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR, New Delhi. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family will inaugurate the exhibition, with the presence of notable figures like CSIR-CFTRI Director Sridevi Annapurna Singh, CSIR-IITR Director and AFSTI President Dr. N. Bhaskar, DRDO-DFRL Director Anil Semwal, and other dignitaries.

The event's formal inauguration is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, at the KSOU Convocation hall. Prior to this, the Prof. M. Swaminathan Padma awardee lecture series will be inaugurated, featuring a lecture by Dr. Shashank Joshi, a Padma Shri awardee and consultant endocrine and metabolic physician from Mumbai.

IFCON, held once every five years, has already garnered over 2,500 registrations, with 200 delegates from abroad participating. The conference will cover 18 sub-themes, including food chemistry, health and wellness, millets, food engineering, and technological advances, among others.

A key attraction is the exhibition with over 100 stalls, taking place on December 8 and 9 at the CFTRI campus. The expo is open to the public on day one from 1 to 5 p.m. and on December 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A special pavilion on millets will be featured, coinciding with the closure of the International Year of Millets.

The U.S. Embassy will host a session on higher education opportunities in food processing, engaging over 1,500 students. Additionally, a two-hour job mela for students will be organized daily from December 7 to 10 at the CFTRI campus, with a concluding walkathon on the last day.

Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh highlighted that food start-ups on the CFTRI campus and the millet products from a woman SHG in Bilikere near Mysuru will be showcased at the expo. The CSIR pavilion will exhibit achievements of CSIR labs, and FSSAI will have a stall at the expo.

IFCON promises a comprehensive exploration of the latest trends and innovations in the realm of food science and technology, fostering collaboration, and celebrating achievements in the field.