Training Program on Pre & Post Harvest Techniques for Exotic Fruits

Date : 2026-07-14

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DST-NUTEC supported the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), in organizing a training program on production practices and post-harvest handling techniques for exotic fruits such as Rambutan, Avocado, Mangosteen, dragon fruit, and longan on 14 July 2026 at the Ajantha Business Centre, Mangaluru. Mr. Adeeth Kalbavi, Director of Kalbavi Consumer Foods Pvt Ltd., Convenor of Agro-Food Panel of CII welcomed the gathering. Mr. Abhinav Bansal, the chairperson of the CII Mangalore district council, introduced CII and explained how CII acts as a point of contact for about 75 individuals, 15 institutes, and numerous associations that are part of the confederation Dr. Iddya Karunasagar, introduced Nitte DST-TEC to the participants and mentioned its role in finding science based solutions to problems in different sectors and enabling technology development and deployment. He also introduced the resource persons, Dr B. M. Muralidhara, Senior Scientist (Fruit Science) and I/C Head, Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES), Chettalli, Kodagu, ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR_ IIHR), Bangalore, and Dr. S. Vijay Rakesh Reddy, Senior Scientist, Division of Post-Harvest Technology & Agricultural Engineering, ICAR- IIHR, Bengaluru to the gathering. Dr. Muralidhara, in his talk on ‘Production Challenges and Scientific Management Practices in Exotic Fruit Cultivation,’ discussed exotic fruits such as rambutan, dragon fruit, mangosteen, avocado, and longan. He explained about different varieties of these fruits as well as advantages and constraints with these varieties. He spoke about canopy management, spacing and use of soil testing to manage nutrients and fertilization. This session particularly focused on good agriculture practice techniques, including growth, fruit bearing, preventing diseases and managing bird problem. He also spoke about various diseases that affect fruit yield and quality, and suggested possible treatments for each. Throughout the lecture, the farmers raised many queries and Dr. Muralidhar provided solutions based on experience in IIHR farms. Dr. Rakesh Reddy’s talk was on ‘Postharvest handling, packaging and transportation of exotic fruits for quality and shelf-life management’. He mainly focused on harvesting practices, including maturity indices, harvesting methods, processing operations, and storage conditions, to extend the shelf life of harvested fruits. He also mentioned various challenges that farmers could face if proper post-harvesting measures are not applied, which directly affect profitability. He also stressed that cultivators should show greater interest in processing and value addition of exotic fruits and their products, as yields can be seasonal, and that the yield should be used to the fullest. Mr. Ananthesh V Prabhu, Vice Chair- CII Mangalore and Managing Partner of Aruna Industries, Mr. Nataraj Hegde, Ex-chair of the CII Mangalore division, also attended the event along with farmers from various organizations like Atharv Farms, Inna Karavali FPC, Ltd, Bantwala Farmers group, Miks Life Sciences, Fyndo, Shoolin Estate, Anathanam Plantation, Sanoor Cashews, Walden Farms, Twinkle Agro Farms, Krithika Exotics, Soans Farms, Sediyapu Agro Farms. A total of 32 participants attended the event.

Last updated 2026-07-16 05:14:34

Celebration of World Food Safety Day 2025

Date : 2025-06-10

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DST TEC in association with Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER) organized a one-day workshop on the occasion of celebrating the World Safety Day 2025 on 10 June 2025 at 10.30 AM in the University auditorium, Paneer Campus. The theme for this year’s food safety day was Food Safety: Science in Action. Dr Anirban Chakraborty, Director, NUCSER, gave the welcome address and introduced the speakers of the workshop to the gathering. Dr Iddya Karunasagar, Rtd FAO Senior Officer, Advisor-Research and Patents, Nitte (DU), spoke on the scientific basis for international food safety standards. He explained about the scientific risk assessment reports produced by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committees – Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA), Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). These risk assessments form the basis of science based food safety standards set by Codex Alimentarius Commission. He also explained about microbiological sampling plans and compliance testing. Dr S B Barbuddhe, Director, ICAR- National Meat Research Institute, Hyderabad, enlightened the gathering on the present contours and future scope for advancement in food safety. He highlighted the importance of Listeria monocytogens as a foodborne pathogen and about the repository and culture collection of foodborne pathogens being maintained at ICAR-NMRI. He also explained about problems of food authenticity and the technology for detecting any mislabeled food. Dr Indrani Karunasagar, Director- DST TEC and Projects, Nitte (DU), addressed the attendees about the safety of water in food production and processing. She explained about the need for fit for purpose water to be made available to primary producers like agricultural fields, fishing boats and fish landing centers. She explained about harmful algal blooms and toxins produced by them that may impact food safety. Her presentation included concepts of food adulteration and food contamination, and ways to minimize or mitigate them. Following the lectures by the experts, a quiz contest on the topics related to food safety was conducted by Dr Prithvisagar K.S., Project Associate, DST TEC, through the Mentimeter platform. The top 10 performers were awarded prizes for their achievements. About 110 participants, including industry representatives from CAMPCO, Kanara Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dakshin Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers Union, and students and staff from St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) and St Agnes College, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Science, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte Institute of Professional Education, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research, Nitte- GoK-COE AQUAMARIN, and attended the workshop. Winners of the Quiz contest: 1. Mr Reddappa KN, Dakshina Kannada Co-Operative Milk Producers Union 2. Ms Dhanyashree Rai, NUCSER 3. Ms Saisree Iyer, NUCSER 4. Dr Akshatha K, NUCSER 5. Dr Nithin M S, Nitte- GoK-COE AQUAMARIN, 6. Ms Sneha Titus, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) 7. Dr Krishna Kumar B, NUCSER 8. Ms Mahima, St Agnes College (Autonomous) 9. Ms Vanessa Fernandes, NUCSER 10. Mr Anil Kumar SN, Dakshina Kannada Co-Operative Milk Producers Union

Last updated 2025-06-24 05:35:25

AWARDS AND FELICITATION CEREMONY NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY

Date : 2025-02-28

Link : NA

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DST NUTEC, in association with Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, The Research Directorate, Nitte DU, Institutional Innovation Council, Nitte DU, organized an ‘Award Ceremony for Student Achievers in Science’ on National Science Day, 28th February 2025 at 2 PM in the seminal hall at NUCSER. Prof. Dr C.N. Ravishankar, Director& Vice Chancellor of the ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, GoI, Mumbai, was the chief guest of the event. Prof. Dr Indrani Karunasagar welcomed the gathering, and Prof. Dr Iddya Karunasagar introduced the chief guest to the audience. Later, Dr Iddya Karunasagar, Dr Indrani Karunasagar and Dr Anirban Chakraborty, Director NUCSER, felicitated the chief guest, Dr Ravishankar, on the occasion of Science Day 2025 for his outstanding achievements in fisheries education and research. After the felicitation, the chief guest delivered a lecture on “Fisheries Higher Education in Vikasit Bharath”. He highlighted the developments in fisheries sector and manpower requirements in the country to support the required developments as India is marching towards becoming Vikasit Bharath in 2047. He underlined the need for more investment in fisheries education and research and highlighted the return on such investments that is several folds higher. Awards to student winners of various competitions held on account of National Science Day NUCSER were distributed on this occasion. Dr Sudarshan Kini, Scientist GII, NUCSER, delivered the vote of thanks. Around 150 participants, including staff and students of NUCSER and DST TEC staff, attended this event.

Last updated 2025-03-13 06:06:53

DISTINGUISHED LECTURE UNDER ONE HEALTH LECTURE SERIES

Date : 2025-02-27

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DST NUTEC organized a distinguished lecture by Dr M Suresh, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, John Butler, professor of comparative and mucosal immunology from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, USA, in collaboration with the Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research and the Directorate of Research, Nitte University. Dr. Suresh spoke on “Tenets of T Cell Immunity to Respiratory Viral Pathogens”. The distinguished lecture was held on 27 Feb 2025 at the seminar hall at NUCSER at 11.30 Am. This event was organized as a part of the ‘One Health Lecture series’. Dr Anirban Chakraborty, Director NUCSER, delivered the welcome address and Dr Iddya Karunasagar, Advisor (Research & Patents), Nitte DU, introduced the speaker to the gathering. In his lecture, the speaker provided insights into vaccine-induced multifaceted mucosal T-cell immunity with implications for the development of vaccines against respiratory pathogens, including influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, using a combination adjuvant strategy to elicit CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses. The relation between immune response and protection against infection and disease was also explained. Most often, immune response is measured in terms of antibody titres, but the need to understand T cell response that is important in overcoming intracellular pathogens like viruses was highlighted. The major focus of the lecture was on providing fundamental insights into T-cell-based vaccine-induced protective immunity in the case of respiratory viruses. About 150 participants, including the staff and students of NUCSER, attended the invited lecture.

Last updated 2025-03-10 04:41:36

DST TEC AT EMERGE 2025

Date : 2025-01-31

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EMERGE 2025, a premier startup lifestyle festival, was held from January 31 to February 2, 2025, at Tannirbhavi Beach in Mangaluru, India, as a part of the Mangalore Beach Festival 2025. Organized by Section Infin-8, a venture studio based in Mangaluru, the event aimed to position the city as the "Silicon Beach of India" by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in a unique beachside setting. EMERGE 2025 served as a convergence point for the traditional and digital economies, fostering collaboration and growth. The festival attracted startup founders from across India, particularly from Bengaluru. The serene backdrop of Tannirbhavi Beach provided an ideal environment for creative solutions to emerge, addressing challenges ranging from food security to space exploration. Daytime activities included surfing and sea-swimming coaching sessions, promoting a healthy work-life balance. The evenings were dedicated to vibrant networking sessions, connecting startup founders with startup-enthusiast students from colleges across the coastal region. Dr. Sapna Poti, Director, Strategic Alliance, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India launched Mission Utthan during this event. DST TEC, Nitte University actively participated in this event by setting up a stall that showcased available technologies like chicken jerky, mutton jerky, spray-dried almond milk powder, a blend of whey with different fruit flavours prepared using spray-drying technology and nutraceuticals from fish waste. Technologies like the automatic shoe storage and delivery system, three-axis tool force measurement system, piezo-actuator inchworm drive and a novel design of micro XY stage for micro-milling machines from NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte, Karkala were displayed at the stall. Poster illustrating insect-repellent formulations using Premna Serratifolia L. developed jointly by KSHEMA Central Research Laboratory (CRL) and the Pharmacy Institute NGSMIPS was displayed. ARJUNA, an Educational Robotics kit and other robotic devices developed by Newrro Robotics, Bangalore and supported by NMIT, Bangalore were also showcased at the DST TEC stall as technologies available for transfer. The local business community and chambers of commerce actively participated, exploring how emerging technologies like AI can transform traditional operations. EMERGE 2025 not only highlighted Mangalore’s potential as a startup destination but also demonstrated how innovation can be harmoniously integrated with community values and social responsibility. EMERGE 2025 provided a great platform for DST TEC to showcase the emerging technologies, and technology in pipeline and also gave ample networking opportunities, for participants to connect, collaborate, and forge partnerships, especially with potential investors.

Last updated 2025-02-04 11:02:24