Developments in food science and technology
Vinod
Huria reviews the ‘Directory of Current Research Projects in Food
Science & Technology in India’ for the Times Food Processing
Journal
Information
and knowledge are the key resources for any business activity, and the
information technology boom has made knowledge ubiquitous. Yet, when
one is looking for precise information on any specific subject, one
needs to approach institutions where it is likely to be available. With
the proliferation of institutions and rapid progression in the velocity
of information dissemination, the pace of knowledge generation has accelerated.
To keep abreast of latest advances in technology is a challenge for
a researcher and an entrepreneur. The systematic leveraging of knowledge
to improve innovation, productivity and competence is an important factor
in the success of any enterprise. In this context, the ‘Directory
of Current Research Projects in Food Science & Technology in India’
is a timely addition to the current knowledge base and brings together
under one cover, the projects in progress during the period 2001–2005
in 108 R&D institutions and in-house laboratories in India. To cover
the entire ambit of food science and technology, the directory provides
information on 640 projects, which have been classified, in terms of
processes, disciplines and food commodities/products, into 26 broad
subject areas. The processes on which information is available are production,
processing, biotechnology, fermentation, sensory evaluation, waste utilisation
and so on. The disciplines covered are chemistry, nutrition, economics,
etc. The commodities/products are cereals, oilseeds; fruits and vegetables;
meat, fish and poultry; sugar; starch; confectionary and bakery products;
dairy products and functional foods. Currently in the sixth edition
(the first was published in 1979), this directory is a milestone in
the compilation of project information. Information search in the directory
is facilitated through three kinds of indexes; keyword index, institution
index and investigator index. This directory will be an asset to institutions
pursuing research in post-harvest technology of foods. It will be an
invaluable reference tool for planners and scientists, interested in
keeping themselves abreast of the state-of-the-art in the subject. Finally,
for professionals in the food industry such as entrepreneurs, managers
and manufacturers, it will serve as a comprehensive knowledge base,
highlighting the advancements taking place in food science and technology.
