Prof M S Swaminathan (Photo Courtesy: www.voiceofbharat.org)
The summit was also joined by Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Hon'ble Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Government of Karnataka.
Shining with the theme, 'New Sutra for Nutra for Emerging Global Economics', the event is a flagship happening in the nutrition, nutraceuticals, functional foods & dietary supplements industry, organized by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications and International Society for Nutraceuticals, Nutritionals and Naturals (ISNNaN) and supported by international associations like IUFoST and IFT.
In his exclusive presentation titled, 'Nutraceutical Science and Achieving the Zero Hunger Challenge', Prof M S Swaminathan said, "Indian population is dependent on agriculture. According to UNICEF, 39% of the children are starved in South Asia."
"There are 200 districts in India alone which has very high malnutrition rates," he emphasized.
He further added, "There are three dimensions to hunger: Calorie deprivation, protein deficiency and micro-nutrients deficiency."
Post the inaugural, Prof Swaminathan was felicitated with the 9th Nutra India Life Time Achievement Award by Shri Dinesh G Rao.
The inaugural host, Dr V Prakash, scientist, CSIR-India, & VP, International Union of Nutritional Science (IUNS) quoted, "We cannot forget nutrition. When there is a delay in the production of food products, it is because the investments now have significantly dropped. However, we have huge amount of money. This industry is worth $300 billion market and it is a great opportunity for India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and other countries to marry science and evidence."
The guest of honor, Dr G Thyagarajan, FRSC, former director, CSIR Laboratories & former scientific secretary, COSTED, held that the nutraceutical industry is a fast expanding sector with immense scope and possibilities. "When we expand fast, we tend to make mistakes. We have to be careful to see that the nutra sector is carefully dealt and taken forward."
He also said that the nutra sector is ideal for formulating global research alliances.
"The global research alliance for nutra development can provide intermediate platform, and this sector have to move on its own strength," he opined.
Shri Gundu Rao in his speech expressed, "We have issues of malnutrition, under-nutrition, and under-weight problems among women especially. The focus that we need in this field will be enhanced through this event."
