Srinagar: The second international conference on ‘Advances in Biopolymers’ concluded at the University of Kashmir.
The two-day conference was organised by the varsity’s Department of Food Science & Technology (DFST) in collaboration with Association of Food Scientists & Technologists India (AFSTI).
Dean Academic Affairs Prof Farooq A Masoodi graced the conference as special guest on both days and underscored the importance of the event in the backdrop of recent advances in the area of Biopolymers.
He congratulated the DFST for organising the international event, which has participation of renowned experts from different parts of the country and abroad.
The first technical session, chaired by Prof Zafar Ahmad Reshi, Dean School of Biological Sciences, was attended by Prof Kasiviswanthan Muthukumarappan, a renowned professor of Food Science at South Dakota State University, USA. Prof Muthukumarappan delivered the keynote address and emphasised on the importance of novel biosensors and bioresins.
Prof Reshi also emphasised on the importance of biopolymers in day-to-day life and thanked the noted speakers from various countries for delivering the insightful lectures.
The other sessions of the conference were attended by renowned speakers, including Prof Giorgia Spigno from Italy, who delivered her talk on biodegradable packaging using nano-particles. Dr Shakeel-ur-Rehman from USA spoke on biodegradable plastics and Dr Nasir Javid from Rutgers University USA spoke on structure of carbon dots.
The conference was also attended in online mode by Dr Ali Abas Wani from Germany. Dr Wani, an eminent Kashmiri-origin Food Scientist and Editor-in-Chief of “Food Packaging and Shelf Life”, discussed about plant proteins and highlighted their role in developing food formulations.
Dr Adil Gani, Coordinator DFST welcomed the guests and participants and felicitated the best presenters with awards.
Many other renowned professors and scientists from University of Kashmir, SKUAST-K and IUST Awantipora participated and delivered their lectures on various aspects of biopolymers, the advances in their use and their role in our life.
The speakers highlighted the applications of biopolymers in food and pharmaceutical product development.
The conference was attended by more than 300 delegates in online and offline mode.
A workshop on ‘Fermented Foods and Gut Health’ was also held as part of the two-day event.