A two-day National Conference on Capacity Building of Sustainable Food Value Chains for Enhanced Food Safety and Quality organized by National Productivity Council (NPC) in collaboration with Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo, Japan began in New Delhi today. The Conference was inaugurated by Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Chairman of NPC, Dr.Guruprasad Mohapatra. In his inaugural address, Dr. Mohapatra highlighted the relevance of sustainable food value chains and the international standards enacted through the Food Safety and Security Act, 2006. He also acknowledged the demand for food safety assurances leading to proliferation of food safety and quality assurance programmes.

Director General, NPC, Arun Kumar Jha, in his address, emphasised on the importance and potential of food processing industry. Chairperson, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Rita Teaotia, in her keynote address said that there is a need to develop the mitigation strategies for curbing food wastages, enhancing food security and food quality.

Dr.Manickam Asaithambi, Asian Productivity Organization, Japan, lauded the efforts of NPC to organize this programme on sustainable food value chains which is an international phenomenon. Dr. Manickam Asaithambi expressed hope that the outcomes of the conference will lead to developing sustainable strategies for food safety in India. Technical sessions on various aspects of food value chains, food safety and quality will be conducted during the conference which will conclude tomorrow.

Sustainable food value chains: conference urges aligning food safety and quality assurance with international standards and mitigation strategies. Sustainable food value chains were the central focus, emphasizing alignment with international standards and the Food Safety and Security Act, 2006, expansion of food safety and quality assurance programmes, and prioritising capacity building, food-waste mitigation, and strengthening the food processing sector through technical and institutional measures across the value chain.