Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 25 (PTI) The CSIR-NIIST and TCPL will jointly establish a Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification Innovation, Research and Training here, the institute said on Friday.
CSIR-NIIST refers to the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology.
The centre will come up at the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (ITE) Hub at the Bio 360 Life Sciences Park, Thonnakkal, under an MoU exchanged during the 85th CSIR Foundation Day celebrations in the national capital.
The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, CSIR, N Kalaiselvi, according to an official statement.
Tata Consumer Products Ltd President (RTD Business) Partha Biswas was also present on the occasion.
The establishment of CEFIRT will strengthen India’s capabilities in food fortification research, innovation, technology development and translation.
The centre will combine the scientific and technological expertise of CSIR-NIIST with TCPL’s industry experience in food products, nutrition and product innovation, it said.
The initiative comes at a significant juncture in the development of the CSIR-NIIST ITE Hub at Thonnakkal, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 23, 2026.
The ITE Hub is envisioned as a platform to translate scientific research into technologies, foster entrepreneurship and strengthen partnerships among research institutions, industry and other stakeholders.
CEFIRT will serve as a dedicated platform for research, technology development, transfer and entrepreneurship in food fortification. It will focus on innovative fortification technologies for staple foods such as grains, salt, milk and edible oils, as well as protein-enriched, functional and specialised nutrition products.
The centre will facilitate collaborative R&D between scientific institutions and industry, supporting technology development, analytical testing, validation, scale-up, technology transfer and commercialisation.
It will offer specialised training and technical programmes for researchers, students and industry professionals to strengthen knowledge and capacity in food fortification and nutrition science.
CEFIRT will contribute to nutrition security by developing scientifically validated and practical solutions for fortified and nutrition-enhanced foods, with emphasis on nutrient stability, safety, quality, bioavailability and consumer acceptability.
Speaking on the occasion, CSIR-NIIST Director C Anandharamakrishnan highlighted the importance of bringing together scientific expertise and industrial capabilities to develop innovative, scalable and impactful solutions in food and nutrition.
TCPL Global Chief R&D Officer Vikas Gupta emphasised the importance of industry-led innovation and collaborative research in developing effective food fortification solutions with wider societal impact.
Through the partnership, CEFIRT is expected to provide a sustained platform for innovation, research, training and technology translation in food fortification, contributing to national efforts towards improved nutrition, food quality and food security, the statement added. PTI LGK SSK
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