|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food processing industry poised for huge growth, new trends key, meet told
|
|
Saturday, 07 May, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Manjushree Naik, Mumbai
|
“The food processing industry is on the verge of massive growth due to increasing demand for safe and hygienic processed food on off-the-shelf basis for the expanding working class including women. Moreover, organised food processing is just about 7% of processed food in India as against 55% in USA,” pointed out Yatinder Suri, India, head, Outokumpu, while speaking at a seminar on Use of Stainless Steel in Food Processing and Beverages sector in New Delhi, organised by his company to educate customers on new trends in the industry.
Providing details on the event to FnB News over the telephone, Suri stated, “In order to set up processing plants to meet the demand, the industry must be made aware of new trends in material selection to get optimum productivity hygienically. Being a global leader in stainless steel product innovations and new applications, we share our global success stories in emerging markets like India as part of our corporate responsibility to educate the customer on new trends.” The event was jointly organised by the ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) and Outokumpu, Finland-based stainless steel company, on Wednesday.
Others who addressed the seminar included A K Gupta, advisor, APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority). According to him, with technical innovation and infrastructure for food processing, proper investment in food and beverage storage, and use of right grade of stainless steel, India could well become the food basket of the world.
Gupta stated, “Food, beverages and agriculture sector is critical for Indian economy as 60-70 per cent of its population is dependent on it for livelihood and the Indian agri products will have to move up the value chain in order to achieve target of $15 billion in next three years.
“The main challenge for the sector - the food processing and beverage sector - is uncompromised hygiene, quality and safety. A paradigm shift is needed to bring in better balance between production and other sub-systems, namely pre-harvest technologies, post-harvest processing, quality management, export infrastructure, supply chain, market information and marketing strategies.”
“The Indian stainless steel companies including Salem should go in for joint ventures with global stainless steel manufacturing companies like Outokumpu for newer technical knowhow and manufacturing the right grades of stainless steel needed for the food and beverage industry. I believe there are more innovations on new grades and applications in the developed global markets,” Gupta added.
“Today, more than 30% of all stainless steel produced goes into products related to the food and beverage sector. In this section of the library, there are publications which give guidance on grade selection as well as the importance of hygienic design and fabrication methods for food and beverage handling equipment. Stainless steels are widely used in food and beverage manufacturing and processing industries for manufacture, bulk storage and transportation, preparation and presentation applications. Depending on the grade of stainless steel selected, they are suitable for most classes of food and beverage products. Most containers, pipework and food contact equipment in stainless steels is manufactured from either 304 or 316 type austenitic stainless steels, “Gupta informed.
Later, Lena Wegrellus, food and drink expert from Sweden, said, “If the grade of stainless steel is correctly specified for the application, corrosion should not be encountered. Surface finish and condition is very important to the successful application of stainless steels. Smooth surfaces not only promote good cleansibility but also reduce the risk of corrosion.”
Experts attending the seminar stressed on the need for improvement in cold chain infrastructure, promotion of food processing on a large scale, concerted efforts to strengthen the quality and food safety management system based on international standards -- both for exports and the domestic market. Introduce best practices throughout the production value chain, covering farm production, processing, packaging, testing, inspection, transportation, storage and retail, and encourage investments in R&D and technology.
Those present on the occasion included Arto Kotstinen, food and drink expert from Finland, and D S Rawat, secretary-general, ASSOCHAM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|