Raphael Warjri

Shillong, October 22, 2023: The Eleventh International Conference on Fermented Foods, Health Status, and Social Well-being kicked off with great fervor at the Main Auditorium of U Kiang Nangbah Guest House (Old Guest House), North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). This collaborative effort by the Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Production (RDAP), NEHU, Tura Campus, and the Swedish South Asian Network on Fermented Foods (SASNET-FF), Anand, Gujarat, attracted a sizable congregation of over 200 distinguished experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders dedicated to unravelling the transformative impact of fermented foods on health and society.

The inaugural session commenced with a warm welcome by Dr B K Mishra, Head, Department of the RDAP and Organizing Secretary of the program, setting the stage for a thought-provoking discourse. Prof. JB Prajapati, Coordinator, SASNET-FF, Anand, Gujarat, India, provided illuminating insights into the conference theme, offering a brief history of SASNET-FF, laying the foundation for an intellectually stimulating exchange of ideas.

Distinguished luminaries, including Prof. Baboo M. Nair from Lund University, Sweden, and Chairman of SASNET-FF, Anand, articulated the network's vision to foster collaboration among scientists, students, and industrialists from Sweden, South Asian countries, and beyond. The primary objective is to cultivate a platform for the exchange of knowledge and practical applications in the domain of food fermentation.

The esteemed Chief Guest, Prof. Tej Pratap, Former VC of four Indian Universities and Former President of the Association of Indian Universities, delivered a profound address highlighting the pivotal role of microbiology and microbes in our daily lives.

In his Presidential Address, Prof. P.S. Shukla, Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, underscored the importance of academic collaboration and the conference's role in advancing knowledge.

The conference reached a milestone as the Chief Guest and other dignitaries unveiled the conference souvenir, marking a significant moment in the event's trajectory. The ceremony also honored distinguished individuals through a Professional Award Ceremony, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the field.

The vote of thanks resonated with gratitude as Prof. SR Joshi, Registrar & Head, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, NEHU, expressed heartfelt appreciation to participants, sponsors, and organizers. The event culminated with the rendition of the National Anthem, symbolizing unity and shared purpose.

Beyond its academic endeavors, the event featured an Industry forum and Roadshow promoting Global Bio-India (GBI) 2023. Dr Chandra Madhavi, Sr. Programme Manager, BIRAC, GoI, New Delhi, elucidated on BIRAC's mission and objectives, encouraging active participation of the state entrepreneurs in GBI 2023 scheduled from December 4th to 6th, 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Industry representatives from Chr Hansen, Unique Biotech and Purabi Dairy, among others, showcased their perspectives, while Dr. Suman Kumar Nandy, CEO, BioNEST Bioincubator NEHU, Meghalaya, outlined the impact of the facility on innovators, entrepreneurs and in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of NER. The session ended with an engrossing Q&A session.

It was followed by two concurrently running technical sessions featuring 13 speakers from prominent Asian universities, stimulating discussions and fostering collaboration. In the following day, with soaring expectations, the conference anticipates brainstorming scientific discussions, fostering collaborations, boosting innovations and charting a path to enhance the nutritional and health status of society. Stay tuned as we are committed to providing live updates on the unfolding events of this intellectually stimulating symposium.