The newly formed partnership between Tetra Pak and the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), aims to harness the strengths of both academia and industry. This collaboration seeks to devise innovative solutions for the food processing industry, specifically targeting improvements in food safety and overall quality. Such advancements are essential for fostering growth and evolution in the broader food ecosystem.
- The alliance is focused on merging academic expertise with industrial experience to create robust solutions aimed at enhancing food safety and quality.
- This strategic partnership aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), which emphasizes value addition, waste reduction, and sustainable development.
- NIFTEM-K accentuates the necessity of collaboration amid the swiftly changing landscape of the food industry on a global scale.
Tetra Pak, recognized globally as a leader in food processing and packaging, has formalized this alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIFTEM-K to stimulate innovation within the Indian food processing sector. This strategic agreement was signed during World Food India 2024, a significant food festival held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The main intent of this collaboration is to promote research initiatives, encourage innovation, and enhance skill development within the sector.
The partnership directly supports the Ministry of Food Processing Industries’ (MoFPI) goals of boosting value addition, minimizing waste, and advancing sustainable growth and modernization in the industry. This collaboration is poised to create impactful solutions that will benefit the entire Indian food industry.
Cassio Simões, Managing Director of Tetra Pak South Asia, highlighted the importance of this partnership by stating, “At Tetra Pak, we are committed to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for the food processing industry. India’s food processing sector offers vast and diverse opportunities, with each sub-sector presenting unique growth potential. Our collaboration with NIFTEM-K is a key step toward nurturing talent and fostering research to tackle the evolving challenges.”
He further elaborated on the aspiration of this partnership: “Through this partnership, we aim to unite the strengths of academia and industry to develop solutions that enhance food safety and quality, while supporting the growth and evolution of the entire ecosystem.”
Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director & Head of Department at NIFTEM-K, stated, “As the global food industry continues to evolve, we move toward a future where food security, sustainability, and innovation are paramount. It is vital that we build strong partnerships across the industry. World Food India 2024 presents a unique platform to bring together thought leaders and innovators to address the evolving challenges of the global food landscape.”
He continued, “At NIFTEM-K, we believe in the power of collaboration, and our recent MoU with Tetra Pak is a testament to that. By combining our expertise, we aim to push the boundaries of research and development, foster entrepreneurship, and create a stronger, more resilient food processing ecosystem in India and beyond.”
MoU Key Focus Areas:
- Research and Development: Collaborate on joint projects involving industrial and government-funded initiatives, with collaborative outcomes such as publications, patents, and technology transfers.
- Centre of Excellence: Establish a specialized Centre of Excellence at NIFTEM-K, supported by Tetra Pak, dedicated to spearheading collaborative research and development activities.
- Capacity Building: Conduct joint workshops, training sessions, and seminars to expand knowledge and enhance skills in food science, technology, and business management.
- Internships and Placements: Provide internships and placements for students to gain valuable industry experience, thereby paving the way for successful careers in the food sector. Additionally, Tetra Pak will offer postgraduate fellowships for PhD scholars, providing three years of funding to support research, including fellowship, contingency, and travel grants.
This collaboration between Tetra Pak India and NIFTEM is set to deliver numerous advantages to the food processing and packaging industry. By merging expertise, the two organizations aim to stimulate innovation through joint research and development projects. This initiative will facilitate the development of new technologies and solutions capable of significantly enhancing food processing and packaging methods.
A Study on Food Loss and Waste (FLW) in India
Tetra Pak and NIFTEM-K are also collaborating on a critical study focused on food loss and waste (FLW) within India, particularly in the dairy and fruit value chains. This study aims to identify FLW hotspots, evaluate environmental impacts, and deliver data-driven insights that can inform policy development. Through customized research, the goal is to quantify the environmental impact of losses, including GHG emissions experienced at various stages of the dairy and fruit value chains across India.
Furthermore, the study will pinpoint specific geographical areas in India where these losses are most rampant, and subsequently identify necessary interventions to reduce food loss in these hotspots. The analysis will also include loss rates from production and post-harvest stages of milk in India, drawing insights from national studies based on primary assessments. Finally, estimates of GHG emissions from loss data recorded in the years 2015, 2022, and the current study will be compared and thoroughly analyzed.
This collaboration highlights Tetra Pak’s unwavering commitment to sustainability while developing solutions uniquely tailored to the challenges faced in India.
