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• Blue Swimmer Crab The Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus pelagicus) is a species of crab that is caught in and exported from Sri Lanka. It is also known as the Flower Crab, Blue Crab, Blue Manna Crab, and Sand Crab. The Blue Swimmer Crab is found in the tidal estuaries of the Indian and western Pacific, and Sri Lanka is considered one of its favourite habitats. • Prawn Exports from Sri Lanka Sri Lanka exports various varieties of prawns, including the Black Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon), Indian White Prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus), and Banana Prawn (Penaeus merguiensis). These prawns are either wild-caught or cultured, and they are exported in fresh or frozen form. • Major Shrimp from Sri Lanka Although the terms “prawn” and “shrimp” are often used interchangeably, they are biologically different crustaceans. Sri Lanka exports several categories of shrimp, including Black Tiger Shrimp, Vannamei Shrimp, Flower Shrimp, and Scampi. • Molluscs Exports from Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is home to a diverse range of molluscs that are popular seafood exports. Oysters, Mussels, Cuttlefish, Squid (Head, Fillet, and Tentacles), Humboldt Squid, Giant Squid, Colossal Squid, Octopus, Abalone, Sea Snails Molluscs are exported in shell and in other forms such as smoked, frozen, dried, salted or in brine. • Sea Cucumber / Beche De Mer Exports from Sri Lanka Sea cucumbers are marine animals with leathery skin and elongated bodies. They are a popular delicacy across Asia. In Sri Lanka, the sea cucumber fishery is largely export-oriented and is currently confined to the Northern arc. Out of 24 sea cucumber species so far identified in Sri Lankan waters, 20 species have some commercial value. Adoption of safety and quality compliance Sri Lanka is located near the equator and benefits from ideal climate conditions for seafood production, resulting in high-quality seafood products harvested from the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Fishermen and divers employ eco-friendly and non-harmful techniques, utilizing both modern technology and traditional knowledge to ensure the best quality products, including crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Processing and manufacturing procedures adhere to the best industry practices and are regulated by importing countries, with approximately 32 EUapproved processing plants currently operating in Sri Lanka. These facilities comply with various food security and environment-friendly requirements, such as HACCP, BRP, and Friend of Sea. Sri Lankan seafood products are known for their freshness which is maintained even when they are exported to global markets. This is due to the efficient processing, manufacturing, and exporting procedures, as well as the expertise of the professionals in the industry. The products are carefully packed using modified atmosphere (MA) and vacuum pouches, as well as gel ice packs, Styrofoam boxes, and corrugated boxes, which help to preserve the quality and freshness of the products, ensuring that their natural flavour and goodness remain intact. The availability of resources and infrastructure for the industry According to the Industry Capability Report published by EDB in December 2019, the Sri Lankan fishing sector includes 26,600 fishing boats, including 15,022 small traditional crafts (48% motorized) used in lagoons and coastal areas, 8,334 fibreglass speedboats with kerosene outboard motors (ranging from 18-24 ft and 25-40hp motors), 1,550-day boats (21–24 ft), and 1,700 multi-day boats (32–52 ft). Additionally, the industry possesses notable infrastructural strength with 32 EU-approved processing plants, cold chain facilities, well-equipped harbour facilities, well-developed roads and highways for efficient transportation of fish from the harbour to processing plants and to the airport, business facilities, and 1,600 deep-sea fishing fleets. A variety of vessels with different sizes and capabilities are used by local fishers for coastal, deep-sea, and inland fishing, including multiday boats, single-day boats, OFRP boats, outriggers, oars, wallam, theppam, leisure boats, ferries, paddle boats, passenger boats, ferries/theppam/piers. Moreover, all high sea boats now comply with legal and international standards, such as active VMS units on all 1,600 high seas registered Sri Lankan fishing vessels, international call signs, proper gear markings, legal fishing gears, logbooks, and other requirements mentioned in high sea operation regulations. In 2019, the fishing fleet in Sri Lanka’s marine waters 51

numbered 48,976, with 46,787 (95.53%) operating in coastal fisheries, 3,696 (7.54%) in offshore fisheries, and 1,189 (2.42%) in high seas fisheries. The country has 21 major fishery harbours, 42 anchorages, and 883 landing sites to support the marine fishing fleet. Sri Lanka also has a significant potential area for freshwater fishing and aquaculture, including around 260,000 ha of extensive freshwater and 158,000 ha of brackish water resources. Freshwater fishing is carried out using 9,870 canoes. An approach to aquaculture’s development “The growing demand for seafood offers an important opportunity for Sri Lanka to sustainably expand its aquaculture sector, in turn increasing employment, revenues for the private sector, and tax income for the state. This is a good example of green, resilient, and inclusive development,” says Christophe Crepin, Practice Manager for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy at the World Bank. The Sri Lankan shrimp aquaculture sector faced challenges in the 1990s due to uncontrolled development and the spread of shrimp disease. However, the sector has since rebounded and now generates about 7 per cent of fisheries export earnings. To further expand and diversify the aquaculture sector, there is significant potential to cultivate other high-value species such as sea bass, mud crab, sea cucumber, seaweed, and milkfish. Adopting an ecosystem approach to aquaculture can help promote sustainable development, equity, and resilience of interlinked social and ecological systems. This involves integrating aquaculture practices within the wider ecosystem, reducing environmental impacts, and sustaining production. By adopting international best practices for wastewater management, biosecurity, and feeding efficiency, financial and environmental risks can be reduced while product quality and total cash flow can be improved. This could lead to the opening up of more lucrative markets for Sri Lanka’s aquaculture products. Confronting gender-related problems There are differences between the roles that men and women perform in the fishing industry, despite regional and ethnic variations. Fish harvesting is predominantly done by men, and while less than 10% of fishers are women they engage in ‘gleaning’- or catching seafood that lives near the coast such as fish, prawns, crabs, clams, and mussels. Post-harvest activities, notably drying, are also mainly performed by women. In addition to including women in fisheries management planning activities, it is also important to ensure that they have access to education, training, and financial resources that can support their participation in the sector. This can include programs that provide training in aquaculture techniques, business management, and financial literacy, as well as access to credit and other forms of financing. Such programs can help to increase women’s participation in higher value-added activities, such as processing and marketing, and enable them to take on leadership roles within the sector. Challenges faced by the Fishery Industry The overexploitation of fish stocks, habitat destruction, pollution, and the impacts of climate change pose significant challenges for the sector, and addressing these challenges is necessary to ensure the resilience and sustainability of Sri Lanka’s fisheries. Sustainable management of fisheries is crucial to ensure the longterm viability of Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector, to provide food security and meet the high domestic demand for fish. Recommendations If fisheries management plans are based on regular data collection of fish stocks, declining fish stocks can be effectively managed. Additionally, it is crucial to address unsustainable fishing practices, such as multiday fishing, which can result in a lack of proper storage vessels and lower-quality fish catches. In Sri Lanka, for example, only 16% of yellowfin tuna caught by multiday fisheries meet export standards due to poor fish handling practices. To increase export revenues, it is essential to modernize fleets and improve fish handling practices, which would lead to higherquality catches. conservation efforts must address habitat destruction and pollution, but alternative livelihood options can also reduce dependency on the fisheries sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of expanding income opportunities for fishing communities, particularly during periods when fishing may not be possible. Upgrading harbour facilities to meet sanitary standards would be beneficial and could lead to the creation of skilled jobs in the construction, refitting, and servicing of vessels. Diversification of the harvest beyond yellowfin tuna to include other healthy fish stocks could also increase the value-added along the value chain. 52

Case study of Peliyagoda Fish Market The Peliyagoda Fish Market is indeed located in Colombo, Sri Lanka and is known for providing a wide variety of seafood to customers throughout the country. It opens as early as 2:00 a.m., with trucks arriving from different parts of the country such as Batticaloa, Kalutara, Jaffna, Matara, Mannar, Galle, and Puttalam. In addition to the main market, there are smaller stalls located alongside the parking lot that offer services such as gutting, cleaning, and cutting fish for customers. Different types of fish are sold at the market, including tuna, paraw, Kelawalla, Thalapath, Balaya, Hurulla, and Linna. Fishermen sell their catch to traders, who then sell them to retailers, wholesalers, and exporters. The packaging of the fish depends on the type of market, whether it is for local or export markets and the distance of travel. For example, fish for export markets may require different packaging and handling compared to those for local consumption. Fish can be sold whole or processed into fillets, cubes, and other forms depending on demand in local and export markets. In some cases, importers may specify their requirements, such as the size of cubes and fillets they need, and only that quantity is sold by the exporter. Overall, the Peliyagoda Fish Market is a vital part of Sri Lanka’s economy and seafood industry, providing fresh seafood to customers throughout the country and beyond. “The fisheries sector has the potential to make Sri Lanka competitive in the global markets and to increase jobs, food security, and export earnings in a sustainable manner for the benefit of local communities,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal. “New knowledge, innovative thinking, and close coordination between the public and private sectors are crucial to realizing this potential.” References Export Development Board, (2022), Industry Capability Report. Export Development Board. https://www. srilankabusiness.com/sea-food/seafood-exportperformance.html World Bank, (2022), Towards Improved Livelihoods and Higher Revenues From Sustainable Fisheries in Sri Lanka. https://www.worldbank.org/en/ news/feature/2022/03/02/towards-improvedlivelihoods-higher-revenues-from-sustainablefisheries-srilanka World Bank, (2022), Sri Lanka and the World Bank Explore Path to Sustainable and Inclusive Growth for the Fisheries Sector. https://www.worldbank. org/en/news/press-release/2022/03/03/srilankaworld-bank-explore-sustainable-inclusivegrowth-for-fisheries World Bank, Total Fisheries Production. https://data. worldbank.org/indicator/ER.FSH.PROD.MT 53

úl,am wdydr m%Njhka iy foaYSh ì;a;r ksYamdokfhys bÈß ux fm;a wo jkúg foaYSh ì;a;r l¾udka;h b;d oeä w¾nQohlg uqyqKmd we;s nj fkdryils. idudkH fj<| fmdf<ys Woa.;ù we;s ì;a;r ysÕ;djh fukau mj;sk wêl ñ< .kka o fya;= fldg f.k b;du ,dNodhS fm%daàk m%Njhla f,i fmr ie<l+ ì;a;r, j¾:udk mdßfNda.slhd úiska ñ<§ .ekSfï§ fojrla is;d n,k ;;a;ajhla Wodù ;sîu fnfyúkau lK.dgqjg lreKls. ì;a;r ouk lsls<shka md,kh .;a l, uq¿ msßjefhka 60] ;a 70] ;a w;r m%udKhla jehjkqfha Tjqk f.a wdydr i|ydh. fï i|yd fhdod .kq ,nk øjH w;=ßka nv bßÕ= ^Maize&, fidahd mqkaklal= (Soybean meal), ud¿ l=vq ^Fish meal& iy Lksc mßmQrl ^Mineral supplement& jeks fndfyda wdydr wuq øjH m%udKj;a f,i furg ksYamdokh fkdfõ. tneúka tu wuq øjH wdkhkh lsÍug isÿ ùu;a mekjQ wêl wdkhksl nÿ;a jeks fya;= uq,a fldg f.k, ì;a;r i|yd we;slrkq ,nk lsls<shkaf.a wdydr ñ< .kka uE; ld,Skj fkdis;+ úrE f,i by< hdu isÿ úh. l=l=¿ wdydr j, ñ< .Kka wêl f,i by< hdu Rcq f,io, bkaOk iy úÿ,sh i|yd hk msßjeh by< hdu jl% f,io j¾:udkfhys foaYSh ì;a;r l¾udka;h ;=, Woa.;ù we;s fuu ;;a;ajhg fya;= ldrKd jQ nj meyeÈ<sh. uydpd¾h reúks uq;=l=udrK, ÈÆl r;akdhl, ;s<sks .uf.a mY= iïm;a wOHhkdxYh lDIs úoHd mSGh Y%S ,xld inr.uqj úYajúoHd,h tï. tia. wekavDD l<uKdlre ^mqyqKq& uelaiSia iy mqoa.,sl iud.u fjkakmamqj 54

ì;a;rhl lgqj fkdfyd;a ljph ^Egg shell& hkq tys wNHka;ßl fldgia jk ì;a;r ly uoh ^Egg yolk& iy iqÿ uoh ^Egg albumen& wdrlaId lsÍug we;s iajdNdúl wdjrKhls. tys m%Odk ix>glh le,aishï ld^¾&nfkaÜ ^CaCO3& jk w;r le,aishï ^Ca& hkq tys we;s m%Odk uQ, øjHhhs. ì;a;rhl ljpfhys Yla;su;a Ndjh r|jd ;nd .ekSug lsls<shka ì;a;r ouk wjêh jk úg Tjqkg ksisf,i le,aishï iemhSu w;HdjYH fõ. tfia fkdjqjfyd;a, ì;a;r myiqfjka ì£ hdug ,laúh yelsfõ. fuu ;;a;ajh l=l=¿ f.dúfmd< ysñhdg iy fj<| fmd< ysñhdg ,dNdxY wysñ lrk w;r mdßfNda.slhdf.a fi!LH ;;a;ajho wNsfhda.hlg iy wk;=rlg ,la lrhs. wo jk úg f,dj mqrd m%p,s; ì;a;r i|yd we;s lrkq ,nk fndfyda lsls<s j¾. j, ffoksl le,aishï wjYH;djh Èklg tla lsls<shla i|yd .%Eï 4 ;a 4.65 ;a w;r w.hla .kS. fuh uq¿ wdydr mßudfjka 4-4.6] ;a w;r w.hls. fuu le,aishï wjYH;djh imqrd .kq ,nkqfha foaYSh iy wdkhksl le,aishï mßmQrl u.sks. ismams lgq ^Oyster shell&, yqKq .,a ^Limestone&, vhsle,aishï f*diaf*g ^Dicalcium phosphate& iy fudfkdle,aishï f*diaf*g ^Monocalcium phosphate& ta w;=ßka m%Odkh. Y%S ,xldfõ iuyr i;a;aj wdydr ksYamdolhska lsls<shka i|yd wdydr ksmo ùfï § fuu le,aishï m%Nj i|yd wdydrh ;=< fjka lrkq ,nk bv m%udKh wju lr .kq jia b;sßh ßis fia wdydrhg .ekSug ^Free choice feeding& ,nd fok f,ig ks¾foaY lrkq ,nh. WodyrKhla f,i wdydrfhys le,aishï m%;sY;h 4] l w.hl r|jkq fjkqjg 2.5] jeks w.hl r|jd b;sßh ismams lgq jeks ndysr m%Njhla u.ska ,nd fok f,ig ks¾foaY lsÍu i|yka l, yelsh. m¾fhaIK u.ska fidhd f.k we;s mßÈ lsls<shka ,hsiSka, fu;sfhdkska, fif,kshï iy fm%daàk i|yd fukau le,aishï i|ydo úfYaYs; reÑhla olaj;s. tneúka Tjqkf.a ffoksl wjYH;djh imsfrk f;la le,aishï mßndysrj mßfNdackh lsÍfï iqúfYaYS yelshdjla Tjqka ;=< mj;’. fndfyda úg fufia Tjqkf.a le,aishï wjYH;djh imqrkq jia mßNdysrj ,nd fokq ,nkqfha iy ,nd §ug ks¾foaY lrkqfha ismams lgqh. nyq,;djh iy wvq úhou fï i|yd fnfyúkau n,md we;s nj fmkS hhs. Y%S ,xldfõ fn%dhs,¾ l¾udka;h j¾:udkh jk úg wNsfhda. yuqfõ jqjo b;d id¾:lj mj;a jd f.k hk w;r tys iuyrla w;=re M, foaYShj iy M,odhS f,i m%;spl%S lrKh lrKq ,nhs. kuq;a fn%dhs,¾ i;=ka ieliSfï§ b;sß jk wiaÓ fldgia fufia fndfyda wjia:dj,§ m%;spl%SlrKhg ,la fkdjk nj fmkS f.dia we;. fuf,i wiaÓ fldgia j,ska ieliQ wdydr ^Bone meal& fj<o fmdf<ys ;snqko wdkhksl ùu fy;=fjka tu øjH b;d ñ< wêlh. le,aishï iy f*dia*ria j,ska wkQk tjeks wiaÓ fldgia úkdY lrkjd fjkqjg lsls<shkag ßis fia wdydrhg .; yels mßNdysr le,aishï mßmQrlhla f,i ilid fhdod .ekSfï yelshdj iy tfia fhdod .kq ,nkafka kï jvd;a iqÿiq wxY= úYd,;ajh ^Particle size& fidhd ne,Sfï m¾fhaIK ud,djla Y%S ,xld inr.uqj úYaj úoHd,fha, lDIs úoHd mSGfha mY= iïm;a wOHhkdxYh iy uelaiSia iy mqoa.,sl iud.u iu. isÿ lrk ,§. tu m¾fhaIk j, m%Óm,hla f,i fidhd .kq ,enqfõ ì;a;r ouk lsls<shkaf.a ffoksl le,aishï wkqNjh ^Daily calcium intake& wju uÜgul ;nd f.k ì;a;r ì£hdfï m%;sY;h ^Shell damage& wju uÜgul fukau ì;a;r lgqfõ >Klu ^Egg shell thicknes& iy ì;a;r lgqfõ tall j¾. M,hl ialkaOh ^Unit surface shell weight& by< uÜgul ;nd .ekSu iïnkaOfhka mßNdysrj ,nd ÿka ismams lgq iy yqKq .,a j,g jvd mßNdysrj ,nd ÿka ieliQ wiaÓ fldgia b;d bÈßfhka isákd njh. ì;a;r ouk lsls<shka i|yd wxY= úYd,;ajh úYalïNh ñ.ñ. 2-3 la jk fia ilik ,o wiaÓ fldgia ,nd §fuka ì;a;r ksIamdokh ^Egg production& iy ì;a;r lgqfõ >Klu ie<lsh hq;= fia by< kexúh yels nj o tu m¾fhaIK ud,dfõ m%Óm,hla f,i fidhd .kq ,eìks. wiaÓ fldgia fuf,i ndysr le,aishï m%Njhla f,i lsls<shka i|yd ßis fia wdydrhg ,nd §u iïnkaOfhka f,dj mqrd m¾fhaIK uE; wjêh f;la u isÿ lr fkd;sîuo ;j;a úfYaI;ajhls. flfia j;=ÿ fuu wiaÓ fldgia ieliSfï§ t;rï msßjehla wejeis fkdjk w;r iSñ; ;dlaIksl fuj,ï lsysmhla Ndú;fhka myiqfjka ilid .; yels ùu o iqúfYaYs;ajhls. tneúka fujeks wdfoaYl fidhd .ekSu iy l%uj;a f,i fhdod .ekSu ;=<ska wdydr wuq øjH wdkhkh lsÍug hk w;s uy;a msß jehla b;sß lr .; yels jkjdla muKla fkdj mßir ys; ldó mßirhla o wkd.; mrmqrg odhdo flfrkq we;. 55

The Production Of Chips Using Local Potatoes With busy lifestyle, people are more concerned on ready-to-eat food with a good nutritional value. Therefore, local food products upgrading is very important. Potato being a perishable product, long-term storage is difficult. Hence, value-addition of local potatoes would enhance the shelf-life, market value, nutritional value, farmers’ income as well as saving of foreign exchange that is use to import value added potato products. Potato, (Solanum tuberosum), is an annual plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is grown for its starchy edible tubers. The potato is native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes highlands and is one of the world’s main food crops. Potatoes are frequently served whole or mashed as a cooked vegetable and are also ground into potato flour, used in baking and as a thickener for sauces. The tubers are highly digestible and supply vitamin C, protein, thiamine, and niacin. Potatoes have been a dietary staple in the world for centuries. The potatoes’ hardiness made an ideal crop for the mountainous regions of Peru where fluctuating temperatures, poor soil conditions, and thin air made it nearly impossible to harvest wheat or corn. Today roots and tubers are the third largest carbohydrate food source in the world, with potatoes representing nearly half of all root crops consumed. Potatoes contribute key nutrients to the diet including vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. In fact, potatoes have a more favourable overall nutrientto-price ratio than many other vegetables and are an important staple worldwide. However, the impact of potato consumption on human health remains somewhat controversial. Animal studies and limited human clinical trials indicate that potatoes and potato components may positively impact cardiometabolic health and some research suggests that they promote satiety. The aborigines of Sri Lanka, who were closely connected with the natural environment, obtained their daily food from the surrounding environment. The daily diet, adapted to the surrounding environment, includes local herbs as well as potatoes. According to the Sinhala lunar calendar, with the end of the month of November, the sound of crows during the months of Unduwap, Duruthu and Navam was a good omen for the local farmer. With the melodious call of the rooster, the farmers begin to harvest their hay or the potatoes planted in the barn. Beginning in November and ending in the month of Unduwap, the leaves of the tubers and trees planted in the forts turn golden. When these symptoms appeared, farmers in many parts of the country knew that the yams they had grown were ripe, just like in the past. S. D Madusanka and S. H. P Malkanthi Department of Agribusiness Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. 56

As in the past, the cultivation of local potato varieties brings many benefits. These are the advantages of potato being a crop that can be grown in any small or terrestrial area as it does not require the use of water and agrochemicals, only organic fertilizers can be used, high yield with minimal labour and minimal impact of diseases and pests. Is in between. Potatoes in Sri Lanka are divided into two main parts namely vine tubers and tree tubers. Many values added products can be made using potatoes. Currently, there are many such value-added products in the market. Potato chips are a type of food that can be made using potatoes. Potato chips are thin slices of potato, fried quickly in oil and then salted. Many types of potato chips are available in the Sri Lankan market. Most of these brands are imported to Sri Lanka. We can buy ready to eat chips as well as ready to cook (frozen) brands. Examples of potato chip brands currently available in the market are shown in Figure 01. (Ex: - pringles, Lays, Lorenz, Mister potato, Ranscrip potato, Sun chips, Edinbrough). As many people in Sri Lanka are more health conscious these days, they prefer to buy healthy and fresh food from the local market. Due to this reason people are sometimes reluctant to buy the imported potato chips currently available in the market. Therefore, a good market can be created by using local potatoes and presenting chip to the market. Potatoes are rich in many kinds of amino acids, carbohydrate, and many kinds of vitamins that human body needs. After fried and added the variety of natural food additive, the fried potatoes chips not only keep the nutritional ingredients above, but increase vitamin A, Amino acids, and a variety of the mineral. Potato chips are famous for its delicious, crispy taste and rich nutrition. It becomes one of the main popular leisure foods for decades. Figure 01- Potato chip brands 57

There are four main steps of local potato chips producing line. 01. Preparation Potatoes are destoned and washed in the destoner. The peeler peels the potatoes gently with an even and accurate result. Peeled potatoes as shown in Figure 02. 02. Slice washing After slicing as in Figure 03, the starch on the surface of the slice needs to be washed away. Small potato particles are effetely removed from product flow. 03. Blanching If your raw material contains higher level of sugar, the blancher will leak out/reduce the sugar level so that a golden chip can still be produced. The unique blancher separates every single slice for optimum and even blanching results. 04. Frying The critical phase in the potato chip process is the frying phase. With controlled oil flows, the frying system will be frying the potato slices to perfect texture, bite and colour. The potato slices are fried as shown in figure 04. Thus, by presenting local potato chips as a valueadded product to the market as a good quality product, it will be possible to provide good product to our consumers. Not only that we can save lots of foreign exchange, by stopping importation of potato chips to the country. Figure 02- Peeled potato Figure 03- Slicing Figure 04- frying potato 58

Improvement of Embul Banana Value Chain by the Interventions of Farmers’ Companies in Sri Lanka Overview Agriculture, along with its related industries, is Sri Lanka most important source of income. Sri Lanka’s economy is driven significantly by agriculture which is a politico-socially sensitive industry in Sri Lanka. Policies that impact agriculture, which is mostly rural-based, and allied industries, have widespread implications (Abeygunawardena et al., 2003) as over 80% of the country’s population live and work in rural areas and the share of employment in agriculture was 27% in 2019 (CBSL, 2020). Smallholder farmers produce a marketable surplus, which keeps them reliant on traditional marketing methods. Small-scale producers are at the mercy of the market since they have little capital to invest, rely mostly on traditional or conventional production practices, and lack the connections and resources to engage in improved markets such as global value chains. To increase farmers’ negotiating power in the current value chain networks, it is critical to connect them with new models and forms of collaboration that are farmers’ companies (collectivism). The Embul banana has been cultivated by local smallholder farmers in the Rajanganaya area of the Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka for many years. However, these farmers have been experiencing a loss of earnings due to post-harvest losses caused by the product’s perishable nature. To address this issue, proper primary and secondary processing is required. Mere production alone cannot increase the income of farmers, but value addition through agroindustrialization can help them earn more. By adding value to their product, farmers can fully benefit from their investment, as buyers seek for better grades of products that are well-packaged and marketed. Essentially, the value chain comprises production, storage, processing, packaging, and marketing. Deepkumar R Vachhani MBA(Agribusiness Management) student, International Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India H.S.R Rosairo Professor in Agribusiness Management Department of Agribusiness Management Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 59

Farmers’ Companies A Farmer Company (FC) is a legal entity made up of farmers who are primary producers. Farmer companies were expected to operate like private companies, owned and controlled by shareholder farmers from designated geographical areas (Rosairo et al., 2012) from the surrounding farming community with safeguards to prevent the sale of shares to outsiders (Esham, & Usami, 2007). Farmer Companies are highly valuable for enhancing the value chain of agricultural produce and, as a result, for getting good prices for their produce. Every producer company continuously monitors and regulates the entire chain, which forecasts daily demand for a specific vegetable and fruit can boost or decrease supply within short periods. As a result, the entire process is extremely dynamic, effective, and responsive to end-users’ needs. Agriculture Sector Modernization Project As part of the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Parks program initiated by the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project of the Ministry of Agriculture, the embul bananas in the Rajanganaya area have been cultivated. ASMP has been set up to provide the necessary financial assistance necessary for technology change, modern technical knowledge, instructions, and training to farmers. Further, the project has extended the support in planting embul banana seedlings in high density under zigzag method, providing necessary equipment for drip irrigation technology, cultivation of any secondary cash crops along with banana and assisting the farmers to liaise with exporters which enable them to earn high incomes. With the aim of earning foreign income to overcome the foreign exchange crisis which Sri Lankan economy is currently experiencing, banana cultivation is carried out on 200 acres of land area under this embul banana cultivation project. Activities of Rajangayana Public Unlisted Company Under the ASMP project, banana farmers have been brought together under the legal format of a public unlisted company (PUC). It started business activities after being registered under the Registrar of Companies, Sri Lanka. The main activity of the PUC involves primary processing of embul bananas from farmers, with a focus on value addition. This includes operations such as grading, sorting, and packaging at the processing facility of the PUC, based on the buyers’ requirements. Typically, three different grades are maintained as per quality standards and market demand conditions. Currently, the organization is selling the A1 grade banana to Ceylon Fresh Field Pvt. Ltd. for export purposes, while the A2 grade is sold to local supermarkets, and the third grade is targeted at further processed products such as dried banana chips for the local retail markets. Additionally, the PUC provides other forms of support, including capacity building, training, infrastructure, input supply, and demonstrations of modern technologies such as new mini sprinkler irrigation systems, maturity forecasting ribbon methods, and fishline harvesting methods at the field level. Agriculture technology demonstration park in Rajanganaya 60

Figure 1: Traditional supply chain of bananas from Rajanganaya PUC. Figure 2: Intervention by PUC in Supply Chain for Improvement Intervention in Supply Chain Figures 1 and 2 show the difference in the supply chain before and after the intervention of farmer’s companies. High-density double row planting of banana 61

References Abeygunawardena, U. G., Ariyaratne, S. V., & Dharmasiri, W. D. (2003). Agrarian reforms and agricultural productivity, country paper - Sri Lanka. Asian Productivity Organization. Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). (2020). Annual report. Esham, M., & Usami, K. (2007). Evaluating the performance of farmer companies in Sri Lanka: A case study of Ridi Bendi Ela Farmer Company. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3(2), 86–100. https://doi.org/10.4038/jas.v3i2.8104 Rosairo, H. S. R., Lyne, M. C., Martin, S. K., & Moore, K. (2012). Factors affecting the performance of farmer companies in Sri Lanka: Lessons for farmer-owned marketing firms. Agribusiness, 28(4), 505–517. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21312 With the intervention of the farmers’ company, farmers are now able to export their highest quality embul bananas to the Dubai market, thereby seizing opportunities to earn higher incomes. The exporter, Ceylon Fresh Field Pvt Ltd. plays a key role in providing the PUC with training their workers for grading and sorting the bananas according to foreign market standards. They also purchase 60-65% of the highest-grade produce for export. The remaining produce is sold to supermarkets (20-25%) and local processors (10-15%) to increase farmers’ income through value addition at the field and PUC levels. Therefore, ASMP has been able to bring the rural smallholder farmers. Remarks The agricultural sector is a critical source of income and employment in Sri Lanka blessed with natural resources. However, due to small holdings and low marketable surplus, farmers often struggle to earn high returns on their produce. The Agriculture Sector Modernization Project of the Ministry of Agriculture in Sri Lanka has been launched to solve such issues prevailing in agriculture through modernization of agriculture and value chains of agricultural produce. Following the intervention of the Rajangayana PUC, farmers have been able to increase their income from embul banana production by 30-35% through drastic changes to their value chain by value addition and the adoption of modern technologies for producing the highest quality produce for foreign markets. Spin-off effects of this intervention were higher incomes for the smallholder banana farmers and earning foreign exchange for the country. Hi-tech banana processing facility in Rajanganaya 62

Food Safety With Modern Technology Food safety refers to practices used in the preparation, handling, and storage of food meant to prevent foodborne illness and injury throughout the supply chain of food. At any stage of the food supply chain, any number of hazards can occur. So, the proper handling practices and procedures should be adopted by the everyone in the food supply chain. Ancient people also develop some safety strategies to ensure that the food they eat did not harm their bodies. Within the new technological developments also there should be suitable strategies to ensure food systems with human health, animal health and also environmental sustainability. Food-borne viruses and bacteria like infectious agents are considered to be the leading source of foodborne illness. It is very much important to protect consumers from those. The average diet consists of numerous chemical substances. Therefore, the safety of those chemicals is also very important. Modern technology helps to enhance food safety and make it faster than earlier, more accurate, and more efficient to conduct inventory, auditing, training, and keeping food safe making a safe food processing environment. Every food business should have to invest some money to update technology in current scenario because it helps to make safer food and beverages as well as ensure the survival of the business for a long time ahead. Previously technology has been considered as a luxury, but today, digital tools are affordable and widespread, and anyone can access them easily. Technological appliances can help to minimize labor, reduce or eliminate foodborne illness risks, and minimize food waste is not an expense; therefore it’s an important investment for any food business. Technology streamlines an operation improve safety systems, reduce errors, integrates data—and so much more advantages the business can get from technology. Incorporation of technological tools is one of the smartest things that food companies can do because it is the best way to ensure safety for consumers as well as businesses. Piyumika P.B.B.H and S H P Malkanthi Department of Agribusiness Management Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 63

Importance of Food Safety Food safety is very important to focus on the safety of food and beverages that the producers produce through the supply chain or else it can be harmful to the consumers. Not only can the consumers the persons who involve in the supply chain be affected. unhealthy or unsafely foods cause various health issues such as allergy, and even death of both consumers and sometimes supply chain members, especially food processing members. On the other hand, producers can face financial losses because of unsafe food production if gets reported or caught by food safety authorities can lead to a penalty. Nowadays people’s awareness is very high therefore they seek about healthy food and beverages furthermore they consider if it is used safety practices to process the foods. Consumption of unhealthy or unsafely food products can lead to food poisoning and other health-related issues sometimes even deaths. • Provide safe foods for consumer consumption • The authorized bodies have to set the standards for toxicological and microbiological hazards and institute the procedures and practices to ensure that the standards are achieved. • The nutrition of food • According to the consumer interest, maintaining the proper nutrient levels in the food ingredients for healthful diets is very important. • Quality of the food • When considering the quality of the food; the food should have sensory characteristics inherent to each food such as taste, aroma, palatability, and appearance. • Provide Value to everyone in the food supply chain. Not only for the consumer but for others also and the environment as well. Making a safety practices and procedures through supply chain the food business can benefit from, • Protect the public from foodborne diseases • Good reputation/confidence from customers • Less wastage and longer shelf life of products • Increased business sales • Good working condition for employees • No fines and legal actions. How Technology Can Use To Ensure Food Safety Food Safety practices and procedures should be built on a foundation of technologies, analytics, business models, and values. The importance of food safety culture has mutual reliance between food safety and modern technology. The common requirements of food safety are proper monitoring throughout the food supply chain and the transparency of the food product. These food safety elements will eventually bring us into the future of food safety. Technology can ensure food safety through following ways. • Improving consumer awareness through modern technological tools. With modern technology, it is a little bit easy to reach consumers. Nowadays everyone has a smartphone as well as an internet facility. The authorities also switched to new technology. They provide information within their web pages, Facebook pages, and other social media channels to aware consumers. (Figure 01) – Facebook post shared by CAA to make consumer awareness. 64

(Figure 03) – Check traceability of a product with smart phone. (Figure 04)- checking the traceability system by using bar code system. (Figure 05)- Modern farmers use mobile appliances for their day-to-day farming activities (Figure 06)- Sensor attached to check the temperature condition in food stall. • Maintaining safety hygiene practices throughout the supply chain. The food and beverage businesses have to maintain a hygienic environment throughout the food/ beverage supply chain. With the technology now it is easy to keep hygiene in the workplace. There are some innovative tools to make hygiene among the employees as well as the premises. • Establish proper traceability system for food products. Using traceability system technology can ensure food safety. With the traceability system, everyone can get any information about the product quickly and easily. Therefore the risk of food unsafely is a little bit low. • Maintaining food safety standards with technology. The food safety standards also changed with the new technology. The measurements of safety issues and monitoring practices come under modern technological tools. • Provide proper training of the modern technological appliances for everyone in supply chain. Better awareness of the supply chain members is very essential for ensuring food safety. Therefore the proper knowledge and training should be provided to them to be aware. Modern technology makes it easy to deliver knowledge through digital appliances. From them, anyone can get any knowledge related to their profession they can get any time easily with the access of modern technology. Modern Technological Tools • Sensors Sensors ensure that the foods are being held at proper temperatures in each step of the food supply chain. Maintaining proper temperature is much important for perishable foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits as well as dairy products. When temperatures in coolers or freezers rise above safe holding temperatures, these sensors give signals. From these sensors, food processors can reduce their food wastage. Therefore it helps to gain financial benefits as well as it reduces the foodborne illnesses. 65

• Digital auditing tools There are some innovative digital tools used in food businesses such as internal auditing systems that are more efficient, and cost-effective. These systems can reduce labor time, errors, and expenses. It gives quick results than the manual way, the risk of making mistakes and losing data is low, and also reduces paper cost, storage cost, and labor costs in the company. • Mobile solutions Nowadays, food businesses switched their operations to digital tools that can be used on smart mobile phones and tablets. Many companies provide downloadable apps that employees can work through their mobile phones. From these mobile solutions, employees conduct inspections, keep temperature logs, conduct training, and manage QA forms, access food code information, and more. Food Safety Trends with Technology • Food Safety & Transparency Nowadays consumers are more thoughtful about the quality of food products they buy; therefore food safety is a significant concern. It is easy for consumers to make knowledgeable decisions before choosing food items, with smart labels and standalone food grading devices. And also, end-to-end traceability of the food products system is provided by advancements in block chain and real-time food monitoring using Internet of Things (IoT) devices this increases the trust between food producers and consumers, it means within the food supply chain positively impacts brand credibility and sales. • Personalized Nutrition Demand for personalized nutrition solutions is high because of the people’s awareness of nutrition is increase now. For the consumer preferences about sugar- and gluten-free diet, vegan diet, and clean label food products also have high demand nowadays. Various tracking devices allow consumers to track diet and health conditions to streamline their diet patterns. This allows consumers to order their dietary preferences, thereby improving customer convenience and sales. • ThisFish - Seafood Traceability Software ThisFish is a software solution for seafood traceability developed by Canada, using electronic scales, barcode printers, and scanners data collect on the food manufacturing floor. This software allows seafood manufacturers to upload catch certificates and compliance documents. This builds trust among customers and also strengthens traceability while eliminating data errors. Furthermore, ThisFish supports seafood producers in streamlining their operations for overall cost reduction, from fleet management and port unloading to production and quality control. (Figure 07) - How Coca Cola smart labels works and it gives transparency of their products. (Figure 08)- “THIS FISH” logo (Figure 09)- Seafood with logo In past, there was no technology to ensure food safety. Therefore lots of safety issues were happen. As well there was no proper tracking system to catch those issues. Nowadays with technological development, it is easy to identify safety issues and control them. Now it’s affordable, widespread, available and easy to access the technology. When it comes to today’s scenario lots of organizations, and authorities changed with new technology. Then it is easy to capture consumers’ needs and wants and then deliver them safe products and services. Ensuring food safety throughout the supply chain is a key element of the food industry. 66

I dentifying the importance of marketing management, a workshop on ‘Problem based learning, idea generation and product development’ was conducted by the Department of Agribusiness Management of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, on 25th of April at Black Hut Eco- resort which was located in a calm and nice location. The main objective of the workshop was to develop food presentation method for locally available vegetables and fruits. This was done as a group assignment by dividing the students into five groups with four members in each group. Resources were given to each groups and their task was to develop innovative products by utilizing minimum processing equipment within 3 hours of time period. Finally, evaluation was carried out by a panel and selected the winners who scored higher marks under the evaluation criteria of Number of innovative products created, packaging, quality and the taste of products. Well Workshop Gives Peace of Mind 67

The members of the groups shared their experience as follows. ‘As the group No 1, we received wheat flour and coconut as the raw materials. Our innovative product was a pizza and it was named as ‘Wild manioc pizza’ since we used manioc leaves and turkey berries as the other raw materials. As for the ingredients we used scraped coconut, curry leaves, chili powder, pepper and salt.’ ‘As the group no. 2, we received tomato as the raw materials and we had to develop an innovative product by using the tomatoes. We realized the importance of the preservation of perishable products and thus everyone’s idea was to develop a preserving method for tomatoes. Therefore, we blanched the tomatoes in boiling water and packed them in an air tight containers with a brine solution and a sugar syrup. ’ ‘As the Group 3 we received banana as a raw material and we created an optimum low-cost snack from ripped bananas which was named as “BANA Fried Popsicle” snack.’ ‘As the Group 4, we received chicken as the raw material. We could develop 5 value added products with the use of raw chicken and those products were chicken garlic soup, smoky chicken snacks, grilled banana leaf chicken, tomato mixed chicken spread, and chicken chips.’ As the Group 5, we received Memang Narang (Citrus indica) which is also known as Indian wild orange. We used a simple method to prepare our innovative product. The end product was developed only with the use of sugar syrup and raw narang but with an attractive appearance’. Students explained that they had spent a really good time at there by involving in this workshop and gained the new experience which they ever hadn’t in their life time. 68

Industry Sponsored Research: Team RIC 16 able to Create New Avenue I ndustry sponsored research generally aims to advance research projects to product development and commercialization. This move helps to move a researcher’s innovations out of the lab to benefit the society. This is quite new to our university system and only a handful of universities are successfully managing the research collaborations with the support of industry. The context; how and why industry might want to sponsor academic research and academia can work together? Industry sponsored research is the driving force of innovations and product development of most developed economies and this win-win situation shared lots of tangible and intangible benefits. Innovation Life Cycle graphic below to show that academia and industry tend to focus on different ends of this life cycle. The graphic highlights the sweet spot where an academic researcher’s work can help an industry partner solve a particular research problem to help move a research idea to product development and commercialization. 69

Basic Research • Researcher driven • Explore knowledge Applied Research • Both reseacher and industry driven • Applied research/ emerging science Prodcut Development • Conduct research for marketable prodcut • Industry driven Commercialization • Introduce new prodcut to the market Academic Focus Industry Focus Collaboration Sweet spot Figure 1: Industry sponsored innovation life cycle Figure 2: Jay Ceylon Cinnamon (Pvt) Ltd Figure 3: Jay Ceylon Cinnamon Laboratory visit Figure 4: Lihini Seafood (Pvt) Ltd Figure 5: Lalan Rubber (Pvt) Ltd- Agri division Industry is generally looking to develop a product or service that it can profitably sell to its customers in a relatively short time. Industry is less likely, therefore, to invest in fundamental or basic research that may take a long time to translate into a product or may represent more research or financial risk than the company may be comfortable taking. As a result, industry tends to invest its research capital in applied or translational research leading to commercialization that allows innovations to advance from the academic laboratory to products that are available to benefit society. Beverage portfolio development with for Jay Ceylon Cinnamon (Pvt) Ltd is one of the main projects the RIC 16 research team is currently working with. The company visited the laboratory and has invested a large amount of money and resources from their capital on this project after seeing the potential of the team. The time period to end the project is few months in order to commercialize the products to the market soon. With the knowledge and the experiences of academic expertise and researchers, the products development is done under the several steps which are market survey to identify the niche market and their requirements and then according to the target market, the products is developed to get maximum benefits to the company and to give the best quality products to the consumers. These products are targeting to the Middle East market which has a strong economy, low operating costs, and potential high profit returns on capital investment. Apart from the beverage development, RIC 16 research team is working on the development of fish sausage recipe for the Lihni Seafoods (Pvt) Ltd which is one of the leading and award-winning Sri Lankan Sea foods export company registered with the 70

European Union. The company invested their capital on this project after visiting the laboratory and the discussion with the research team. Parallel to above mentioned projects, the Agri-division of Lalan Rubber (Pvt) Ltd, one of the world reputed companies, visited the RIC 16 team at the Ceylon Cinnamon Beverage Development Laboratory and agreed to invest some of their capital on research and development of cinnamon based household cleaning and toiletry products. All above projects are carrying out according to the university regulations to get benefits for all the parties including the university, the company and finally the consumers to give high quality and satisfied products. With this beginning, as a team, we were able to open a new pathway to carried out research to develop the products for the commercialization. With this new pathway, as the industries are providing funds and collaboration for the research leading to make innovations to address practical solutions quickly than traditional academic research for the real-world problems, this is more efficient and a creative pathway. Moreover, as an academic institute, this will help to provide employment opportunities, internships and fellowships for the graduates and undergraduates. RIC 16 Research Team Prof. D.A.M. De Silva (Coordinator) Dr. R.K.C. Jeewanthi (Co-coordinator) Mr. A.M.C. Adhikari (Research Assistant) Miss. M.A.E.K. Jayasinghe (Research Assistant) Mr. W.M.T.B. Weddagala (Research Assistant) Mr. K.S. Gunasekera (Research Assistant) Mr. K.S. Gunasekera (Research Assistant) 71

Widya Ruhuna Govi-Nena Home Gardening Mobile App: A Digital Intervention to Overcome Household Food and Nutritional Insecurity in Sri Lanka The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of people around the world experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition, mainly because of significantly increased food prices. Sri Lanka has been particularly affected due to several reasons, including the ban on agrochemicals and chemical fertilizers in April 2021, which resulted in increased crop failure. Additionally, travel restrictions have led to the destruction of essential services, and there has been a higher tax rate on imported goods, which, coupled with the depreciation of the rupee, has driven up fuel and domestic goods prices. Moreover, the COVID outbreak has exacerbated the situation. Although the fertilizer ban was lifted in November 2021, farmers have still been unable to meet their fertilizer requirements due to a lack of stock and rapid changes in prices. Furthermore, the ongoing financial crisis in Sri Lanka has negatively impacted the food supply, everyday food consumption patterns, and people’s living standards, making it difficult for them to afford healthy foods. Home gardening can provide a cost-effective solution to address household food security and increase access to healthy, safe, and nutritious foods, particularly in challenging conditions. In addition to its benefits for individual households, home gardening can also offer a range of ecosystem services and have a positive impact on the environment. Increased adoption of home gardening in Sri Lanka could potentially help mitigate economic challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Sri Lanka launched the “Saubhagya” program with the goal of establishing one million home gardens across the country to promote self-sufficiency in food production. In addition, the government has approved a four-day work week to provide people with an extra day to cultivate their own food in response to rising food prices. Despite the high demand for home gardening in Sri Lanka, many households lack the necessary farming expertise to protect their crops from various biotic and abiotic challenges. To effectively manage their resources and make informed decisions throughout the crop production process, gardeners require contextspecific, complete, and actionable information. 72

Digital agriculture can play a vital role in ensuring food security and creating a sustainable food supply system. By minimizing waste, predicting demand, managing logistics and supplies, providing real-time weather and advisory services, offering feedback, and more, it has the potential to revolutionize the way we produce and distribute food. The rise of mobile phones has been one of the biggest changes in developing nations over the past decade. . In Sri Lanka, for instance, the number of mobile connections increased by 1 million between January 2021 and January 2022, totalling 149.9% of the country’s population (Kemp, 2022). This finding is supported by the fact that digital literacy in Sri Lanka is relatively high (57.2%) compared to computer literacy (34.3%), as people are able to access and use digital technologies for communication, information, and entertainment (DCS, 2021). Therefore, delivering information through digital devices such as smartphones and tablets is an ideal way to provide convenient, portable, and cost-effective access to information. Among the various methods of delivering information via digital devices, mobile applications are notably impactful because they offer quick access to information based on individual user needs and preferences, can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, engage users with relevant and interactive features, and provide notifications on scheduled activities or new updates. The “Govi-Nena” (Farmers’ Intelligence) project aims to develop and commercialize mobile-based information systems that can help improve the growth and long-term sustainability of Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector (https://govinena.lk/). Two mobile applications have been developed as part of this project: the “GoviNena - Home Gardening App” and the “Govi-Nena - Commercial Farmer App”. The “Govi-Nena - Home Gardening App” is a significant service offered by the project that has helped expedite local food production since the major interruptions caused by the pandemic (Figure 1). The primary purpose of the Home Gardening app is to achieve household food security in Sri Lanka through economic, social and ecological sustainability. The first version of the app was launched on June 1, 2020, and the co-branded version called, the “Widya Ruhuna Govi-Nena Home Gardening App,” was relaunched on December 5, 2022, with many superior features and functionalities. The app guides gardeners on the proper cultivation of crops, from selecting the right crop variety to the harvesting stage. The instructions are available in three languages: English, Sinhala, and Tamil. The app is free to use for all users, and its target audience includes home gardeners, researchers, and people in the educational and policymaking sectors. Figure 1: Basic User Interfaces of the Govi-Nena Home Gardening App 73

The following modules have been incorporated into the Widya Ruhuna Govi-Nena Home Gardening App (as shown in the Figure 2), 1. My Crops: This module allows users to access information about different crops and varieties, as well as guides on which crops and varieties grow best in their specific location. 2. My Home Gardens: Users can create and manage multiple home gardens using this module. The personalized activity calendar helps gardeners to organize their tasks and the planting date feature enables users to plan their planting schedule. The module also provides step-by-step packages of practice to help gardeners grow their crops correctly. 3. Community: This module serves as a platform for users to share knowledge, ask questions, and provide suggestions. Users can post their achievements and engage with other users by liking and commenting on shared posts. 4. Harvest Xchange: This module is a unique feature that enables users to share excess harvests with others, view offers, add groups and communicate with other users. The idea food-sharing concept has been incorporated into the app because of during the hard time COVID pandemic and travel restrictions, individuals suffered from many obstacles even for their daily meals due to the breakdown of essential services. Hence, the research team came across this concept (like Uber and PickMe) to solve the prevailing problem and exchange food among others thereby assisting the nation in surviving during difficult times. So then, either party agrees to collect or deliver the crop once a transaction or exchange has been confirmed. People can share their products for free, or for money or discounted prices. 5. Helpful Info: The module provides additional information such as common guidelines for home gardening, natural pest control methods, compost and liquid organic fertilizer preparation. The urban gardening, vegetable nursery management guidelines, and other necessary instructions will be incorporated to the module with the next update. 6. Weather: This module shows real-time weather information, summary report, and weather forecast for next 5 days. 7. Feedback: This module allows users to communicate with the Govi-Nena team and provide feedback on the app. Users can share their issues, suggestions, questions, or comments with the team. Anyone can download this App from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store using the following links, Android version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=com.govinena.app iOS version: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1527128861 In today’s digital age, smart technology holds great promise and has the potential to make a bigger impact various sectors not only agriculture, but also in healthcare, education, engineering, banking etc. As a research team, our ultimate goal is to build digitally connected society that can help minimize food nutritional insecurity and increase economic viability in the country. Acknowledgements The authors wish to express their profound gratitude and indebtedness specifically to the followings: • Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) Operation of the Ministry of Higher Education funded by the World Bank (AHEAD/RA3/RIC/RUH/SCI/ GOVINENA) for providing necessary funds to undertake the study. • The Govi-Nena Research Innovation and Commercialization (RIC) project team for their invaluable advice, guidance and assistance at every stage of the study (https://govinena.lk/). • The Widya Private Limited team members for the technical assistance to incorporate the research outcomes and supporting to launch the mobile app (https://widya.io/). • The Researchers from the Western Sydney University, Australia for continuous supports given us throughout the journey. • The officials of the institutions: Uva Provincial Department of Agriculture, Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute (HORDI) - Gannoruwa, Southern Provincial Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Research and Development Center - Seetha Eliya for their valuable time and assistance in helping us gather, verify and validate the information. References Kemp S 2022 Datareportal: Digital 2022- Sri Lanka. Viewed 22 February 2023, https://datareportal. com/reports/digital-2021-sri-lanka. DCS 2021 Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey, Annual Report 2021, Department of Census and Statistics, Ministry of Finance. Economic Stabilization and National Policies. Viewed 10 March 2023 http://www.statistics.gov.lk/LabourForce/ StaticalInformation/AnnualReports/2021. 74

Figure 2: User Interfaces of the App Modules M.S. Akeel Mohamed Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna Prof. W.A. Indika Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna Prof. W.G.D. Lakmini Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna 75

Introducing Feasible and Scalable Alternative Proteins to Sri Lankan Food Industry: From Global Scenario Acomplex system of linked trading, consumption, and production activities makes up an economy of a country, and it ultimately decides how resources are distributed among all the participants. Although a powerful economy of country is a tool for reducing poverty and improving the quality of life, Sri Lanka’s current economy is started to decline in 2019, creating a number of difficulties, on the education, healthcare, food security, and nutrition (Kataria et al., 2022). Key causes for crisis • Mismanagement of the economy • An increase in foreign debt • Declining foreign reserves • Diminishing currency and rising prices • Easter bomb attacks • Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic • Adoption of organic and biological farming policies at the national level (George et al., 2022) Figure 1: Economic crisis in Sri Lanka (John, 2022) Dr. Mayumi Silva School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Australia Wanni Arachchige Malsha Dinali, Dr. Rumesh Liyanage Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka 76

Due to its unstable foreign exchange reserves and rising debt, Sri Lanka has experienced severe shortages of day today necessities (Johnson, 2022). Consequently, food security of the nation has negatively impacted by the current state of the country’s economy (Food Security and Nutrition Crisis in Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka | ReliefWeb, 2022). During this period, sufficient supplies of nutrientrich foods at prices that are affordable to the majority of consumers have been reduced due to the sharp rise in food inflation, shortages of fundamental food items, and limitations on importation. A healthy diet or even the provision of three staples a day became unaffordable and unattainable for those who fall below the poverty line and middle-class families with a reliable source of income. In spite of a severe economic crisis, Sri Lanka continues to struggle with rising inflation, food insecurity, and poverty, with an estimated 6.2 million people experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity (UNICEF Sri Lanka Humanitarian Situation Report #2 (Economic Crisis), 1 July to 30 October 2022 - Sri Lanka | ReliefWeb, 2022). According to a report by the United Nations World Food Program in July 2022, two out of every five households in Sri Lanka are not getting sufficient food (WFP Sri Lanka: Situation Report 6 July 2022 - Sri Lanka | ReliefWeb, 2022). The nutritional status of everyone in Sri Lanka, especially children, has been impacted by the present economic collapse. As a result, it is difficult to meet the needs for vital nutrients including protein, vitamins, and minerals for gaining the body energy, supporting its structure, and/or controlling its internal chemical processes. Animal meat, fish, eggs, and dairy foods tend to be good sources of complete protein, which is an essential nutrients for the human body. Animal proteins, as well as their byproducts, are now much less common and expensive. Thus people used to satisfy their dietary needs with inexpensive foods that frequently had lower protein contents and nutritional values, which had a detrimental impact on human health since there was a risk of developing the malnutrition which is characterized by inadequate nutrient intake, an unbalanced intake of vital nutrients, or poor nutrient use. Since the growth, health, and survival of the current generation as well as future generations depend on access to adequate nutritious food, effective food management techniques and agricultural practices has been proposed throughout the country including home gardening, use new technologies to boost agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and food waste, and use digital technologies in agriculture etc. Meat alternatives, often known as “novel protein foods,” are products designed to substitute meat in the diet and are typically based on plant proteins that are easily accessible (Elzerman, 2022). Tofu, tempeh, Quorn, yuba, and seitan are some of the popular meat substitutes that have recently become available on the market. These products have been prepared either through simple processing or fermentation methods, and several Southeast Asian countries have been using them as traditional foods since 965CE. Along with these traditional Asian products, the first meat alternative made from extruded defatted soy meal, soy protein concentrates, or wheat gluten were introduced as dry texturized vegetable protein (TVP). For consumers who regularly consume animal flesh, these products are unsatisfactory because to their poor sensory and nutritional properties (Beniwal et al., 2021; Dinesh Babu et al., 2009; Ismail et al., 2020; Possidónio et al., 2021). Thus the current research studies in food industry focuses on “meat analogues” to replicate the animal meat in terms of sensorial and nutritional properties. The potential for commercializing meat analogue is immense as the recent demand for meat alternatives are growing worldwide to replicate regular meat in terms of taste, texture, appearance, and nutritive quality. Thus, the goal of this article is to outline the strategy that are put into practice while utilizing the locally available, underutilized raw materials and the existing technologies in Sri Lanka for the prevailing economic crisis situation. 2. Plant based meat analogues The term “Meat Analogues” refers to a food product that closely resembles the appearance and/or chemical properties of particular types of meat. A meat analogue, often known as a meat substitute, mock meat, faux meat, or imitation meat that mimic the aesthetic attributes of particular types of meat, especially their texture, flavor, and look. They are prepared from a combination of several ingredients, either complex whole materials or separated nutrients to achieve these distinctive qualities (McClements & Grossmann, 2021). The main constituents in meat substitutes are proteins derived from plants, polysaccharides, and fat; flavorings and colorings are act as minor components. Yet, scientists are concentrating on the 77

possibility of innovative plant-based protein sources to be utilized in the manufacturing of meat substitutes. Worldwide, current studies have concentrated more on developing meat substitutes utilizing mushrooms, pulses, and fruits that have pleasing sensory qualities (texture, color, and flavor), which are crucial for the acceptance of any novel product (Girija et al., 2021; Kumar et al., 2017; Malav et al., 2015; Zahari et al., 2020). People’s desire to consume meat analogs may be increased by the development of meat analogs that are physically and nutritionally similar to meat. To generate a texture that is more akin to meat texture, the structuring technique was also heavily utilized. The technological methods to create meat analogs include electrospinning, extrusion, combining proteins and hydrocolloids, freeze structuring, shear cell technology, and 3D printing (Dekkers Table 1: Commercially available plant based meat categories and their major ingredients (Plant-Based Meat Products | beyond Meat, 2022; Impossible Foods, n.d.) et al., 2018). The method that is most frequently utilized for producing high moisture meat analogs is extrusion cooking (Girija et al., 2021; Schmid et al., 2022). Thus selection of appropriate raw materials and structuring techniques are significant. The most crucial component in the creation of meat analogue employing extrusion technique is protein. Due to shear, heat, pressure, and cooling achieved in the extruder and cooling die, respectively, protein is denatured, unfolded, realigned, and cross-linked during extrusion to create meat like fibrous structure (Zahari et al., 2020). Category of meat alternatives Major ingredients used Steak Wheat gluten, faba bean protein, canola oil, salt, spices, , fruits and vegetable color Chicken nuggets Wheat flour, wheat gluten, faba bean protein, modified corn starch, natural flavors, canola oil, pea starch and spices Popcorn chicken Wheat flour, wheat gluten, faba bean protein, modified corn starch, natural flavors, canola oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, rice flour, pea starch and spices Beef Pea protein, canola oil, coconut oil, rice protein, cocoa butter, potato starch, beet powder color, apple extract, pomegranate concentrate and lemon juice concentrate Burger Pea protein, canola oil, coconut oil, rice protein, cocoa butter, potato starch, beet juice color, apple extract, pomegranate concentrate and lemon juice concentrate Meatballs Pea protein, canola oil, coconut oil, rice protein, potato starch, spices, apple extract, lemon juice concentrate, pomegranate extract, beet powder and carrot Jerky Mung bean protein, pea protein, gluten free oat bran and fiber, canola oil, , lemon juice concentrate, pomegranate concentrate, spice and vegetable juice color Pork Soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil, natural flavors and soy protein isolate Sausages Soy protein concentrate, sunflower oil, coconut oil, natural flavors, spices and soy protein isolate 78

Figure 2: Different categories of plant based meat alternatives (Meat Analogue - Alchetron, the Free Social Encyclopedia, 2017) Aside from meat like sensorial and nutritional value, meat alternatives are known to be provided several advantages compared to animal meat production and consumption. Consuming meat is associated with greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of natural resources, harm to human health, and poor animal husbandry techniques(Katare et al., 2022). Due to growing consumer health consciousness, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant influence on traditional meat consumption patterns. Therefore, a significant increase in demand for plant-based meat alternatives is emerging. The market for meat substitutes was assessed at USD 9.9 billion globally in 2021, and it is anticipated to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.1% from 2022 to 2030 (Meat Substitute Market Size & Share Report, 2022-2030, n.d.; Sadler et al., 2004). According to a Good Food Institute (GFI) report, burgers ($283 million), links (sausages and hot dogs; $159 million) and patties ($120 million) were the top-selling plant-based meat alternatives in 2019 (Choudhury et al., 2024). A number of commercial meat analogue manufacturers in Western nations have successfully created plant-based meat substitutes, including Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger etc. Vegetarians, vegans, and non-vegetarians who want to cut back on their meat intake for ethical or health reasons, as well as those adhering to religious dietary rules, are among the consumers of meat imitations (Ismail et al., 2020; Malav et al., 2015). Meat analogues are commonly available in the form of sheets, disks, patties, strips, and other shapes (Malav et al., 2015). Table 1 depicts few examples of meat alternatives in the market with the major ingredients included. Under this situation, meat analogues could be a promising strategy to implement in Sri Lanka by effective utilization of underutilized edible plant materials to meet dietary, economic, and nutritional objectives in a sustainable way. The description given below focuses on the potential plant derived sources for meat analogues and their beneficial properties. 79

3. Possible plant derived sources for meat analogues Legumes • Have a significant role in human nutrition, particularly in the diets of low-income individuals. • Legume is often referred to as “poor man’s meat.” • Protein content in seeds varies from 20% to 40% of the total dry weight in the majority of species. • Examples: Mung bean, cowpea, soybean, horse gram, black gram, pigeon pea (Frias et al., 2017; Tharanathan & Mahadevamma, 2003) Yams • Include large amounts of dietary fiber and resistant starch, which may have positive effects on health as well as good functional characteristics that are useful for food product composition. • Examples: Dioscorea spp. (Kiri ala, Raja ala etc.), Lasia spinosa (Kohila ala), and Nelumbo nucifera (Nelum ala) (Chiranthika et al., 2022; Jayakody & Hoover, 2007) Mushroom • A variety of different antioxidants are abundant in mushrooms. Also, it provides a good amount of fiber, vitamin B and protein. • Serves health benefits including preventing cancer, improving heart health and lowering diabetes risk (Parmar, 2022). Jackfruit • Excellent source of important micro and macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. • Contains a variety of amino acids, including leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, cystine, histidine, leucine, arginine, and tryptophan (Ranasinghe et al., 2019). 80

4. To emerge from the current economic crisis Sri Lanka has to strengthen its fiscal and debt sustainability and adopt growth-enhancing structural changes in order to emerge from the current economic crisis. One such strategy that could implement within Sri Lanka to strengthen the economy is expanding the export market which is one of the earliest types of economic transfer between countries. Sri Lanka exported goods worth 16.4 billion USD in total as of 2019. Clothing, gemstones, food, and agricultural items make up the bulk of the exports from the nation. An enormous portion of Sri Lanka’s overall exports, $5.3 billion come from the garment sector (SRI LANKA DEVELOPMENT UPDATE PROTECTING the POOR and VULNERABLE in a TIME of CRISIS, 2022). A total of USD 1.24 billion was exported by Sri Lanka as tea. Food and beverage products is one of the most popular exporting sector in Sri Lanka. Thus with the use of locally harvested fruits, vegetables, cereals, and grains, Sri Lankan food and beverage manufacturers and suppliers have succeeded in offering a variety processed foods and beverages to the customers worldwide (Sri Lankan Food and Beverage Products - EDB Sri Lanka, n.d.). Meat analogue is such product which could manufacture within the country with a good export potential. Sri Lanka is known to be a leading agricultural country but some of the crop varieties including legumes, yams, mushrooms and jackfruit are still remained underutilized with a great potential to be used in food sector. Furthermore, in Sri Lanka extrusion cooking is available as an innovative method for producing fibrous muscle meat-like structures from plant based sources. The Sri Lankan food sector is currently using extrusion technology to produce textured vegetable proteins and snacks on a commercial scale. Hence, using the locally accessible raw ingredients and current food industry technologies, “meat analogue” might be effectively introduced to Sri Lanka. Therefore, considering the current state of the nation, this makes an attempt to bring attention to some neglected, locally accessible plant resources as potential raw materials for the production of meat analogs which could be utilize as a solution for economic crisis through commercializing and exporting to achieve an economic growth within the country. 5. Reference Beniwal, A. S., Singh, J., Kaur, L., & Hardacre, A. (2021). Meat analogs : Protein restructuring during thermomechanical processing Meat analogs : Protein restructuring during thermomechanical processing. May. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12721 Chiranthika, N. N. G., Chandrasekara, A., & Gunathilake, K. D. P. P. (2022). Food Hydrocolloids Physicochemical characterization of flours and starches derived from selected underutilized roots and tuber crops grown in Sri Lanka. Food Hydrocolloids, 124(PA), 107272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.107272 Choudhury, D., Singh, S., Si, J., Seah, H., Chen, D., Yeo, L., & Tan, L. P. (2024). Trends in Plant Science Science & Society Commercialization of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Trends in Plant Science. Trends in Plant Science, xx(xx), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. tplants.2020.08.006 Dekkers, B. L., Boom, R. M., & van der Goot, A. J. (2018). Structuring processes for meat analogues. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 81, 25–36. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.tifs.2018.08.011 Dinesh Babu, P., Bhakyaraj, R., & Vidhyalakshmi, R. (2009). A Low Cost Nutritious Food “Tempeh”-A Review. World Journal of Dairy & Food Sciences, 4(1), 22–27. Elzerman, J. E. (2022). Consumer acceptance of meat substitutes : The roles of product, context and consumer characteristics. https://research.wur. nl/en/publications/f9bb9954-23f9-4581-8d45- 8741219ba1bb Food Security and Nutrition Crisis in Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka | ReliefWeb. (2022). Reliefweb.int. https:// reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/food-security-andnutrition-crisis-sri-lanka Frias, J., Peñas, E., & Martinez-Villaluenga, C. (2017). Fermented Pulses in Nutrition and Health Promotion. In Fermented Foods in Health and Disease Prevention. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/ B978-0-12-802309-9.00016-9 George, A. S. H., George, A. S., & Baskar, T. (2022). Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis: A Brief Overview. Partners Universal International Research Journal, 1(2), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6726553 Girija, J., Kamalasundari, S., Hemalatha, G., & Umamaheswari, T. (2021). Production Methodologies of Meat Analogues : A Review. 58(2). https://doi. org/10.52151/jae2021581.1741 Impossible Foods. (2019). Impossible Foods. Impossiblefoods.com. https://impossiblefoods.com/ Ismail, I., Hwang, Y. H., & Joo, S. T. (2020). Meat analog as future food: A review. Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 62(2), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.5187/ jast.2020.62.2.111 81

Jayakody, L., & Hoover, R. (2007). Studies on tuber starches . II . Molecular structure , composition and physicochemical properties of yam ( Dioscorea sp .) starches grown in Sri Lanka. 69, 148–163. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2006.09.024 John, A. O. (2022, July 22). The story of the Sri Lankan economic crisis: Part 1. Questmite. https://questmite. com/business/the-story-of-the-sri-lankaneconomic-crisis-1/ Johnson, C. S. (2022, June 15). Sri Lanka’s Financial Crisis: Origins, Impact, and Next Steps. Cornell SC Johnson. https://business.cornell.edu/hub/2022/06/15/srilankas-financial-crisis-origins-impact-next-steps/ Kamboj, R., & Nanda, V. (2018). Proximate composition , nutritional profile and health benefits of legumes – A review. 41(3), 325–332. https://doi.org/10.18805/ LR-3748 Katare, B., Yim, H., Byrne, A., Wang, H. H., & Wetzstein, M. (2022). Consumer willingness to pay for environmentally sustainable meat and a plant- based meat substitute. April, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/ aepp.13285 Kataria, A., Manur, A., & Pradhan, S. (2022). Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis Executive Summary. 1–48. Kumar, P., Chatli, M. K., Mehta, N., Singh, P., Malav, O. P., & Verma, A. K. (2017). Meat analogues: Health promising sustainable meat substitutes. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 57(5), 923– 932. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2014.939739 Malav, O. P., Talukder, S., Gokulakrishnan, P., & Chand, S. (2015). Meat Analog: A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 55(9), 1241–1245. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2012.689381 McClements, D. J., & Grossmann, L. (2021). A brief review of the science behind the design of healthy and sustainable plant-based foods. Npj Science of Food, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-021-00099-y Meat analogue - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia. (2017, August 18). Alchetron.com. https://alchetron. com/Meat-analogue Meat Substitute Market Size & Share Report, 2022- 2030. (n.d.). Www.grandviewresearch.com. https:// www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ meat-substitutes-market#:~:text=The%20global%20 meat%20substitute%20market Plant-Based Meat Products | Beyond Meat. (2022). Www.beyondmeat.com. https://www.beyondmeat. com/en-US/products/ Possidónio, C., Prada, M., Graça, J., & Piazza, J. (2021). Consumer perceptions of conventional and alternative protein sources: A mixed-methods approach with meal and product framing. Appetite, 156(February 2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104860 Ranasinghe, R. A. S. N., Maduwanthi, S. D. T., & Marapana, R. A. U. J. (2019). Nutritional and Health Benefits of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.): A Review. International Journal of Food Science, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4327183 Rebello, C. J., Greenway, F. L., & Finley, J. W. (2014). A review of the nutritional value of legum Sadler, M. J., Associates, M., Way, E., & Tn, K. (2004). Meat alternatives — market developments and health benefits. 15, 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. tifs.2003.09.003 Schmid, E. M., Farahnaky, A., Adhikari, B., & Torley, P. J. (2022). High moisture extrusion cooking of meat analogs: A review of mechanisms of protein texturization. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, July, 1–37. https://doi. org/10.1111/1541-4337.13030 Sri Lanka Development Update 2021. (2021). Sri Lanka Development Update 2021, October. https://doi. org/10.1596/35833 Sri Lankan Food and Beverage Products - EDB Sri Lanka. (n.d.). Www.srilankabusiness.com. https:// www.srilankabusiness.com/food-and-beverages/srilankan-food-and-beverages-products.html Tharanathan, R. N., & Mahadevamma, S. (2003). Grain legumes - A boon to human nutrition. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 14(12), 507–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2003.07.002 UNICEF Sri Lanka Humanitarian Situation Report #2 (Economic Crisis), 1 July to 30 October 2022 - Sri Lanka | ReliefWeb. (2022). Reliefweb.int. Retrieved March 4, 2023, from https://reliefweb.int/report/ sri-lanka/unicef-sri-lanka-humanitarian-situationreport-2-economic-crisis-1-july-30-october2022#:~:text=Sri%20Lanka%20is%20amidist%20an WFP Sri Lanka: Situation Report 6 July 2022 - Sri Lanka | ReliefWeb. (2022). Reliefweb.int. https:// reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/wfp-sri-lankasituation-report-6-july-2022#:~:text=Situation%20 Update&text=The%20population%20continues%20 to%20feel Yi-shen, Z., Shuai, S., & Fitzgerald, R. (2018). Mung bean proteins and peptides: nutritional, functional and bioactive properties. 1, 1–11. Zahari, I., Ferawati, F., Helstad, A., Ahlström, C., Östbring, K., Rayner, M., & Purhagen, J. K. (2020a). Development of high-moisture meat analogues with hemp and soy protein using extrusion cooking. Foods, 9(6), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9060772 Zahari, I., Ferawati, F., Helstad, A., Ahlström, C., Östbring, K., Rayner, M., & Purhagen, J. K. (2020b). Development of High-Moisture Meat Analogues with Hemp and Soy Protein Using Extrusion Cooking. 1–13. 82

Solution for the Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka The economic crisis in Sri Lanka is a significant challenge that requires urgent attention and action from the government. Higher education and research institutions are vital for the socioeconomic development of any country, and Sri Lanka is no exception. In recent years, Sri Lanka has witnessed significant progress in several areas of its economy, such as tourism, apparel manufacturing, and ICT. However, sustained economic growth and development require more than just a few successful industries. The country needs a robust, diverse, and innovative economy that can compete in the global marketplace. To achieve this, Sri Lanka must focus on improving the quality of its research and higher education institutions. First and foremost, Sri Lanka needs to invest more in research and development (R&D). While the government has taken steps to increase R&D funding in recent years, the country still lags behind many of its regional peers in this area. A sustained increase in R&D funding can help to create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which can drive economic growth and job creation. To achieve this, universities must become more research-oriented. This can be achieved by creating incentives for faculty members to publish research, collaborating with the private sector on research projects, and providing funding for students to conduct research. The government can also incentivize universities to focus on research by providing funding for research facilities and equipment. In addition, Sri Lanka’s higher education institutions need to become more industry-oriented. The private sector can play a critical role in this regard, by collaborating with universities to develop curricula that are relevant to the needs of industry. This can help to ensure that graduates have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the job market, which can, in turn, drive economic growth. Another critical area that Sri Lanka’s universities need to focus on is internationalization. International collaboration can help to improve the quality of research and teaching, as well as provide students with valuable global experience. Universities can collaborate with international institutions on joint research projects, exchange programs, and faculty exchanges. The government can also provide funding for these initiatives to encourage more international collaboration. Finally, Sri Lanka needs to ensure that higher education is accessible to all. The government can achieve this by providing scholarships and grants to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as investing in infrastructure to improve access to education in rural areas. This can help to ensure that Sri Lanka’s economic growth is inclusive and benefits all segments of society. In conclusion, Sri Lanka’s future depends on the quality of its research and higher education institutions. The government, universities and private sector must work together to create a culture of Hansi Ranathunga, Uva Wellasa University 83

innovation and entrepreneurship, invest in research and development, and ensure that higher education is accessible to all. By doing so, Sri Lanka can achieve sustained economic growth and development, and create a better future for its citizens. The crisis has resulted from an unsustainable debt load and perennial deficits in both the international balance of payments and the government budget. As a result, the country is facing a severe shortage of foreign currency exchange, which is threatening its ability to import essential goods such as food and fuel. To address this crisis, the Sri Lankan government has implemented nuseveralsures aimed at stabilizing the economy and restoring investor confidence. These measures include: Seeking assistance from international organizations: The Sri Lankan government has sought assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the balance of payments crisis. The IMF has approved a loan of USD 2.9 billion to Sri Lanka, which will be disbursed in several tranches over a period of several years. The IMF program is conditional on the government implementing structural reforms to improve the country’s fiscal position, reduce the trade deficit, and improve the investment climate. Restructuring of state-owned enterprises: The government has initiated a program to restructure state-owned enterprises to improve their efficiency and reduce their burden on the government budget. This includes the restructuring of Sri Lankan Airlines, which has been a significant drain on public finances in recent years. Promoting foreign investment: The government is actively seeking to attract foreign investment to the country to help address the forex shortage. This includes initiatives to improve the investment climate, streamline regulations, and provide incentives for investors. Controlling government spending: The government has implemented measures to control government spending, including a freeze on public sector recruitment, reducing government subsidies, and controlling expenditure on infrastructure projects. Addressing the debt burden: The government is also taking steps to address the country’s high debt burden, including negotiating with creditors to restructure loans and exploring options for debt relief. While these measures are necessary, they are likely to have short-term impacts and may not fully address the root causes of the crisis. To achieve sustained economic growth and development, Sri Lanka will need to address structural issues such as improving governance, reducing corruption, and promoting private sector-led growth. The government will also need to address issues related to demographic changes and environmental sustainability, which are likely to have long-term impacts on the country’s economic prospects. The agriculture sector has a significant role to play in managing the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an agricultural country, with a large portion of the population engaged in agriculture. Agriculture provides employment opportunities, contributes to food security, and generates foreign exchange earnings through exports. One way the agriculture sector can contribute to managing the economic crisis is by producing value-added products. This involves processing raw agricultural products into products that have a higher value and are more marketable. For example, tea is a major export crop in Sri Lanka, but by processing tea leaves into tea bags, the value of the product is increased, and it becomes more marketable. This can help to earn more foreign exchange and improve the country’s balance of payments. Another way the agriculture sector can contribute to managing the economic crisis is by improving the quality and productivity of crops. This can be achieved through the development of genetically high yield, less water consumption, and resistance to adverse environmental conditions varieties. By improving crop productivity, farmers can increase their income and contribute to the country’s food security. In addition to producing value-added products and improving crop productivity, the agriculture sector can also contribute to managing the economic crisis by exploring alternative uses of resources. As resources are scarce, it is important to make choices among alternative uses of resources. For example, petroleum is not only used in vehicles but also for running machines and generators. By making choices among alternative uses of petroleum, the economy can make better use of its resources and reduce its dependence on imports. The agriculture sector has a significant role to play in managing the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. By producing value-added products, improving crop productivity, and exploring alternative uses of resources, the agriculture sector can contribute to earning more foreign exchange, improving food security, and reducing the country’s dependence on imports. These measures can help to manage the economic crisis and contribute to the long-term development of the country. Innovation “Universities themselves need to innovate and become more proactive in responding to the immediate needs of the marketplace as renewed growth should not rely on commodity price upswings but rather come from innovation,” “This not only applies to research but also to the caliber and skillset of their graduates.” in many cases, universities might have to “structurally reform” to weather the turbulence caused by the pandemic. 84

Doing more with less; The future has “become more horizontal rather than vertical” and would rest on the pillars of talent, ways of working, and data technology. Higher education institutions need to re-imagine the delivery of knowledge through online learning to allow students to enter the new work mode. They would also need to focus their research agendas on serving evolving needs during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, as well as serve as safe havens for fledgling entrepreneurial activities. Social mobility; In these hard times, the government should ensure that education plays its part in leveling up opportunities. “The long-term economic crisis will likely exacerbate the divide in life chances between the poor and privileged … Unless universities can help to tackle these inequalities, we face an age of declining opportunities.” Universities in Sri Lanka can contribute in some ways to managing economic crises in the country. Here are a few examples: Research and Analysis: Universities can undertake research and analysis on the causes and impact of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. This can help policymakers to make informed decisions on appropriate policy responses. Training and Capacity Building: Universities can offer training and capacity-building programs for policymakers, civil servants, and other stakeholders on economic management and crisis response. This can help to build the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage the crisis. Public Engagement: Universities can engage with the public on issues related to the economic crisis, through public lectures, workshops, and other outreach activities. This can help to raise awareness and understanding of the crisis and its impact on different sectors of society. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Universities can support innovation and entrepreneurship as a means of promoting economic growth and creating new job opportunities. This can include supporting startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as promoting research and development in key sectors of the economy. Universities must undoubtedly adopt new ideas and, more importantly, put them into practice, with assistance from the government and frequently from worldwide multilateral organizations, as Sri Lanka’s future depends on the caliber of its research and higher education institutions. As Sri Lanka’s future depends on the caliber of its research and higher education institutions, universities must undoubtedly adopt innovative thinking and, more importantly, execute it with assistance from the government and frequently foreign multilateral agencies. Overall, universities can play a crucial role in managing economic crises in Sri Lanka by providing research and analysis, policy advice, training, capacity building, public engagement, and support for innovation and entrepreneurship. 85

Necessity of the Researchers to Overcome the Food and Nutritional Challenges During Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka Food is not just for the hunger, it is the main medicine that promotes human health. Intake of a well-balanced diet replace the necessity of nutrient supplements and some spills due to ability of foods to ensure the required daily nutrient amounts and their disease preventing activities. Although daily nutrition requirement vary with respect to the each stage of the life cycle, intake of macro-nutrients (the nutrients that require in large quantities to the body) such as essential amino acids, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids (as shown in figure 01) and micro-nutrients (the nutrients that require in small quantities to the body) such as vitamins and minerals are commonly significant for everyone in order to supply energy and sustain the body. Besides macro- and micronutrients, diversified healthy diet is further comprised with phyto-nutrients which are commonly referred to the bioactive non-nutrient chemical compounds that contain disease preventive activity. Obtain of a diversify and balanced diet which contains macro-, micro- and phyto- nutrients therefore plays an important role in promoting and protecting human health (Savarino et al., 2021; Wahlqvist, 2002). Even though daily nutrition is significantly embedded in human health, food selection and consumption habits are determined by many factors such as food availability, food prices, household income and cultural diversity in the country. The recently experienced largest and the worst economic crisis after 1948 largely challenges the local food and nutrition security directly and indirectly. The local food and nutrition security was directly affected with previously faced Covid-19 pandemic, increase of raw materials prices, fertilizer and fuel shortage and widespread of food shortage. Global import restrictions, increase of local public debt, scarcity of foreign exchange reserves, local import restrictions, increased inflation and risen poverty among people are also indirectly caused to the current local food and nutrition security. Further, high temperature and high rainfall like weather extremes were also threaten on local agriculture yield and food production. Eventually, the local household had to experience the food and nutrition insecurity. Dr. Mayumi Silva School of Science STEM Collage, RMIT University Australia Dilema Wijegunawardhana, Dr. Rumesh Liyanage Department of Biosystems Technology Faculty of Technology University of Sri Jayewardenepura 86

The Household Food Security (HFS) survey conducted by the World Food Program’s (WFP) recognized that 33% of the population in Sri Lanka are in food insecure by December 2022 (Food & Brief, 2022). Meanwhile UNICEF revealed that, 70% of local households were significantly reduced their food consumption by 2022. Further, WFP report in July, 2022 identified that 2 in 5 Sri Lankan households are not consuming adequate diets. Consequently, by 2022, Sri Lanka reported the second place of wasting (low-weightfor-height) among children under age five (unicef, 2022). However, the poor nutrition directly affects to mental and physical health of people and leads to occur stress, tiredness and risk of some diseases such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, tooth decay, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancers, eating disorders and obesity. Therefore, involvement of responsible authorities to address the current nutrition necessity is crucial. As current solutions, the President Office established a ‘Food Security Program Unit’ to address the rising poverty and hunger information during this period. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture implemented the concept of “Ekwa wawamu, rata dinamu” to encourage of growing essential crops in their own garden, backyard and balconies. Further, the WFP has been working with Sri Lankan Government to address the mal-nutrition, support families to access nutrious foods, improve the productivity and income of the small holder farmers, support communities to respond the sudden climate shocks and promote the gender empowerment. Moreover, UNICEF introduced a theme called “Nutrition at low cost – know, find alternatives, grow and share” during the nutrition month of 2022 as a strategy to address the food in-security and poor nutrition. Although different parties involved to address, the food and nutrition in-security has still been remaining a burning issue. Therefore take of long-term strategies that strength the local food and nutrition security is necessary during this period. The long-term sustain strategies highlight the necessity of the involvement of researchers. 1. Role of the researchers to overcome the nutritional crisis The key role of the researcher is to discover and develop novel ideas and share discovered knowledge among community to uplift the well-being of the people, country and the world. The necessity of the researchers’ involvement for sustainable life and economic growth has been significantly highlighted during these years rather than any era in Sri Lanka. Scientists, university and institution researchers play an important role of finding food and nutrition solutions to overcome recent food and nutrition challenges that are existing among the people. Distinguishing the potential and narrow focused areas, investigation the background and the existing knowledge regarding them and develop them to the sustainable food and nutritional solutions are included in the role of the researchers. Although, there are numerous potential nutritional solutions such as production of value added and functional foods, develop and apply of new preservation techniques to seasonal foods, focus on edible and useful food wastes, discover of potential applications for sea vegetables, that can be attention on, aware about the locally abundance and cheaper super foods is remaining at first in the list to ensure the food and nutrition security. Figure 01: Macro-nutrients that require daily for a healthier lifestyle 87

1.1. What are super foods and are they really important during the crisis? Different food contains different nutrients and no individual food contains all these nutrients. As the name it self-denote, ‘super foods’ are really super as it contains ample amount of macro-, micro- and phyto- nutrients together. Super-foods are recognized as the nutrient-dense power houses due to provide of ample amount of antioxidants, phyto-nutrients, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrate, lipids, vitamins and minerals (Jagdale et al., 2021). The Sri Lankan Export Development Board (EDB) has recognized some locally available low cost super-foods include in avocado, sweet potato, ‘Rabutan’, moringa, jackfruit and coconut water. Further it includes fish, green tea, ancient grains, heirloom rice and taro. These foods are recognized as a great option to improve overall health, boost the immune system, production of body hormones and smooth the operations of the body as shown in the figure 02 (Fernández-Ríos et al., 2022). Interestingly, super foods can be a raw material of another super foods. Majority of super foods are seasonal and conversion of easily found locally available natural super foods to the functional and value added products is a great potent way to ensure food and nutrition security throughout the year. Some of potential value added foods include jackfruit seed flour, dehydrated jackfruit, jackfruit jam, moorings powder, avocado butter, avocado seed powder and avocado seed oil (Arachchige et al., 2019; Thomas & Dharmapalan, 2020). However, super food based functional and value added foods production should be done carefully to retain the naturally existing nutritional composition either by using non-thermal or minimal processing (eg: dried fruits and fish, high pressure processed fruit juices), since some of processing applications such as high heat processing, Figure 02: Boundaries of different food categories (Fernández-Ríos et al., 2022) careless handling destroy the nutritional availability of the initial food. Find of different cost effective processing ways, optimal processing methods and conditions, improve the naturally available nutritional composition and the organoleptic properties further by composition modifications, extend shelf life for longer period of time using techniques like brining, osmotic dehydration, fermentation, drying are crucial to consider when producing super food based functional and value added products. As nutritional storages, this super food based functional and value added products provides greater opportunity to overcome food and nutritional challenges and the malnutrition among children and adults. 1.2. Why food preservation need to be modernized? Preservation of food helps feed the people and make food system more resilient against future crisis. The prime objective of food preservation is to increase the shelf life of the product while remaining original nutritional and the sensorial value of the product (Amit et al., 2017). Numerous food preservation techniques has been identified by many researchers include in freezing, drying, smoking, salting, concentration, surface coating, acidification, fermentation, sterilization, pasteurization, blanching, cooking, frying, extrusion, addition of antioxidants, addition of chemicals, increase of carbon dioxide, decrease of oxygen, electrifying, pressure treatments and packaging methods (Rahman, 2020). Although there are many seasonal foods and preservation techniques, food preservation is less practiced in Sri Lanka. Currently faced food and nutrition crisis encourage researchers to investigate the most applicable preservation techniques for particular seasonal foods to maintain optimal nutritional and sensorial quality of the foods. Further, introducing 88

novel, low cost effective food preservation methods such as different improved drying techniques (e.g. improved conventional solar drying cabinets) for household levels also remained as a necessity. Attention of food preservation further provides diversify diet and modified flavor experiences together despite the seasonal variation. 1.3. Food related innovations to address food and nutrition insecurity Food innovation and invention is a broad, trending and rapid growing area worldwide. This includes development and commoditization of novel foods, methods and services to provide a sustainable solution to an existing requirement. Food innovation and invention play a critical role in increasing the food production and improving nutritional properties of the foods. The food innovation are required for improving the crop productivity, mitigating the postharvest losses, improving the nutritional quality of the staple foods, increasing the stability of the foods and increasing the awareness regarding the diets. Conventional breeding, tissue culture, micropropagation, genetic modification, accurate weather prediction systems and vertical farming are potential areas to focus for improving the crop productivity. Minimize of post-harvest losses can be encouraged by finding novel and coupled food thermal and non-thermal preservation methods, innovative packaging methods (smart packaging), low cost solar dryers, cleaning, sorting and grading technologies, storage technologies (vertical storages) and vacuum and hermitic sealing technologies. In Sri Lankan context, use of stackable containers to store and transport commodities, use of improved solar drying methods, use of hydro-cooling techniques and simple evaporation cooling, use of atmosphere packaging methods are cost effective and feasible for ground levels. 1.4. Functional and value added foods for the selfmedication Value added products are raw or pre-processed foods whose value has been modified through addition of other ingredient or subjecting to processing method. Functional food are foods or food ingredients that promote health beyond providing macro nutrients. Although value added product can be a kind of functional food, all the functional foods are not value added foods. Functional foods has an ability of preventing the mal-nutrition and associated diseases (Watson, 2018). Daily intake of functional foods can fight against gastrointestinal, different acute and chronic diseases. Fruits, vegetables, fish, milk and grains are the natural sources of functional foods (Awuchi & Okpala, 2022; Ghazanfar et al., 2022). Incorporation of naturally present functional ingredients together and formulate functional properties contain value added product is an easy and cost effective way of overcoming the nutritional challenges. Formulated functional foods contains higher amount of bio-actives and nutraceuticals compared to natural functional foods. Fortifying of foods with bio-active components is one way to produce the functional food. Fermentation is another way to formulate high nutrition foods as it synthesis several vitamins (vitamin B, C) and destruction of the anti-nutrients (the compounds that interfere with absorption of nutrients). Microencapsulation and combining food ingredients which are rich in nutraceuticals also provide opportunities of researchers to develop new nutritional dense functional foods (Sharma, 2022). Further, studying the effect of modifying the available compositions and processing parameters also significant researchers to optimize the functional foods and thereby provide maximum benefits to the body. Further, opportunities of improving the nutritional properties include production of high nutrient staple foods (vitamin A enriched cassava, iron and zinc fortified rice, orange fleshed sweet potato) and thereby production of functional and value added foods (UNCTD, 2017). 1.5. Food for thought The current importation ban alarms to re-think about local neglected and under-utilized fruits. Focus on the neglected and under-utilized fruits are further encouraged by the low fruit production that is not enough to obtain the daily recommendation. Egg fruit (Pouteria campechiana), ‘Lovi’ (Flacourtia intermis), ‘Veralu’ (Elaeocarpus serratus), star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), ‘Bilimbi’ (Averrhoa bilimbi), ‘Himbutu’ (Salacia chinensis), ‘Mora’ (Euphoria longan), ‘Uguressa’ (Flacourtia indica), ‘Namnan’ (Cynometra cauliflora), Emberella (Sondias Dulcis), rose apple (Zyzygium jambos), ‘Katu anoda’ (Annona muricata), ‘Beli’ (Aegle marmelos), ‘Nelli’ (Embilica officinalis), ‘Palu’ (Menilkara hexandra), ‘Gaduguda’ (Baccauria motieyana) and wood apple (Ferronialimonia) are some of nutrient-dense, but neglected and under-utilized fruits that are available in Sri Lanka (Dahanayake, 2015; Perera et al., 2022). These fruits can be consumed in the form of raw or 89

processed. Some of these under-utilized fruits contain easily bruin and damage outer layer and /or higher astringency taste and hence it is not wide popular among many people. However, consumption of neglected and under-utilized fruits provide interesting health benefits due to availability of high amount of ascorbic acid, vitamins, minerals, phenolic, flavonoid, iron and antioxidants (Abeysuriya et al., 2020; Perera et al., 2022). Therefore the research on conversion of these fruits to different value added products such as candy, pickle, chutney, marmalade, dehydrated fruits, RTS (ready-To-Serve) drinks is important to increase the nutritional value, consumption palatability and to extend the shelf life of the fruits. 1.6. Waste to taste Edible waste is common in every food industry. Most of the food waste are largely throw away from the industries despite the potentiality of re-processing those in to healthy and wealthy products. Peel from citrus fruits, seeds from avocado, jackfruits and ‘Duriyan’, hard skin from ‘Beli’, wood apple and water from coconut like waste provide valuable potential to produce value added food products due to contain of diversified nutrient composition such as proteins, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, phenolic and antioxidants. Not only plant food based waste, animal food based waste also could convert to healthy and wealthy products. During the fish production process generation of significant amount of waste is unavoidable. Those waste are currently underutilized and there are ample amount of opportunities to utilize them in a productive ways as shown in figure 03. Novel opportunities that minimize the fish waste include fish oil production, fish protein extraction, sauce production, isolating fish enzymes, producing value added products and incorporate to novel innovations (marine biopolymers derived active packaging). Therefore researchers needs pay attention on edible animal based waste modifications and conversions and thereby address the food and nutrition insecurity. 1.7. Marine vegetables Marine vegetables which are commonly referred as ‘edible seaweeds’ (brown algae, red algae and green algae) have historically consumed by coastal population around the country. Consumption of sea weeds help to protect health from various diseases. Because, the seaweeds are rich in dietary fiber, protein, polysaccharides, vitamins, mineral (iodine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron Figure 03: Productive ways of converting food waste to edible products 90

and zinc) and low in fat. Not only that, sea weeds contains lots of bioactive compounds (phenolics, phlorotannins, terpenes, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids), antioxidants (include in polyphenols, carotenoids and flavonoids) (Alghazeer et al., 2022). Blessed with surrounded sea provide great opportunities to incorporate seaweeds to the daily diet. Although, sea weed based meals are very popular around the world, Sri Lanka has a low popularity compared to other aquatic resources like fish. ‘Gracilaria edulis’ and ‘Gracilaria verrucosa’ which are known as ‘Ceylon moss’ are two species of edible sea weeds that can be frequently found from Kalpitiya, Trincomalee and Mannar coastal areas (Ginigaddara et al., 2018). Seaweed is a sustainable option for coastal livelihood to fulfil their daily nutrition requirements. Therefore researchers have a greater opportunity to focus on novel seaweed processing technologies (e.g. drying technologies), opportunities to formulate different value added products, methods to enhance their natural nutrition composition to ensure the food and nutrition security. 1.8. Household’s awareness for sustainable practices Household’s awareness regarding the nutritional diet with low-cost foods, different food preparation methods (temperature management, different preparation and preserving methods), the ways of protecting nutritional content and the diversity inside of the meals and use of alternatives and substitutes for high priced foods is important. Sometimes general community do not have enough technical knowledge and language skills to access and understand the research findings that published by the researchers. Therefore, researchers should share the found knowledge about sustainable food management and practices to the general community in a simple and accessible way. As an instance, consumption of a colorful diet is a sign of an antioxidant rich diet, since many super foods that contains antioxidants are rich in color. Communication such a way could help to access to more general community compared to communication through research papers. Briefly, conduct of research on easily available local super foods, neglected and under-utilized fruits, seaweeds, conversion of commercial food waste again to more nutritive foods, production of value added functional foods with locally available high nutritive raw materials and build of awareness regarding sustainable food handling practices are involve in the role of researcher for ensuring recent food and nutrition safety and thereby reduce the undernutrition and non-communicable diseases among community. As a conclusion, identify and implement of those potentialities could help to ensure no-longer hunger and nutrition insecurity in Sri Lanka. 91

https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.103978 Ginigaddara, G. A. S., Lankapura, A. I. Y., Rupasena, L. P., & Bandara, A. M. K. R. (2018). Seaweed farming as a sustainable livelihood option for northern coastal communities in Sri Lanka. Research Paper Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture and Society, 6(1), 57–70. Jagdale, Y. D., Mahale, S. V., Zohra, B., Nayik, G. A., Dar, A. H., Khan, K. A., Abdi, G., & Karabagias, I. K. (2021). Nutritional Profile and Potential Health Benefits of Super Foods: A Review. Sustainability, 13(16), 9240. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169240 Perera, S., Silva, A. B. G., Amarathunga, Y., De Silva, S., Jayatissa, R., Gamage, A., Merah, O., & Madhujith, T. (2022). Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Underutilized Fruits Grown in Sri Lanka. Agronomy, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051073 Rahman, M. S. (2020). Handbook of Food Preservation (M. S. Rahman (ed.)). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429091483 Savarino, G., Corsello, A., & Corsello, G. (2021). Macronutrient balance and micronutrient amounts through growth and development. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 47(1), 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s13052-021-01061-0 Sharma, R. (2022). Development of functional foods and nutraceutical for nutritional security and human health management : An overview MODERN AGRO . TECHNOLOGIES FOR NUTRITIONAL SECURITY AND HEALTH. April. Thomas, P. E., & Dharmapalan, B. (2020). Value Added Products from Jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ) Fruit. 4(2), 105–110. UNCTD. (2017). The role of science, technology and innovation in ensuring food security by 2030. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 9–25. unicef. (2022). Humanitarian Action for Children Sri Lanka HIGHLIGHTS. www.unicef.org/appeals Wahlqvist, M. L. (2002). The place of carbohydrates in newer food formulations: Opportunities for nutritional advancement and their safety. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 11(SUPPL. 6), S149–S154. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440- 6047.11.s.6.4.x Watson, R. R. (2018). The Role of Functional Food Security in Global Health (Vol. 9, Issue July). References Abeysuriya, H. I., Bulugahapitiya, V. P., & Loku Pulukkuttige, J. (2020). Total vitamin C, ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, antioxidant properties, and iron content of underutilized and commonly consumed fruits in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Food Science, 2020. https://doi. org/10.1155/2020/4783029 Alghazeer, R., El Fatah, H., Azwai, S., Elghmasi, S., Sidati, M., El Fituri, A., Althaluti, E., Gammoudi, F., Yudiati, E., Talouz, N., Shamlan, G., ALFarga, A., Alansari, W. S., & Eskandrani, A. A. (2022). Nutritional and Nonnutritional Content of Underexploited Edible Seaweeds. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2022, 1–8. https://doi. org/10.1155/2022/8422414 Amit, S. K., Uddin, M. M., Rahman, R., Islam, S. M. R., & Khan, M. S. (2017). A review on mechanisms and commercial aspects of food preservation and processing. Agriculture & Food Security, 6(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0130-8 Arachchige, U. S. P. R., Ranaweera, S. J., Ampemohotti, A. A. L. T., Nayanakanthi, P. K. T., Edirisinghe, D. S. P., & Wimalarathne, N. R. G. S. S. (2019). Preparation of avocado butter. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(10), 3527–3580. Awuchi, C. G., & Okpala, C. O. R. (2022). Natural nutraceuticals, especially functional foods, their ma-jor bioactive components, formulation, and health benefits for disease prevention - An overview. Journal of Food Bioactives, 19(December). https:// doi.org/10.31665/JFB.2022.18317 Dahanayake, N. (2015). Some neglected and underutilized fruit -crops in Sri. 5(2), 1–7. Fernández-Ríos, A., Laso, J., Hoehn, D., Amo-Setién, F. J., Abajas-Bustillo, R., Ortego, C., Fullana-iPalmer, P., Bala, A., Batlle-Bayer, L., Balcells, M., Puig, R., Aldaco, R., & Margallo, M. (2022). A critical review of superfoods from a holistic nutritional and environmental approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 379(October), 134491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134491 Food, R. H., & Brief, S. S. (2022). Sri Lanka. December. Ghazanfar, S., Muhammad Ali, G., Abid, R., Farid, A., Akhtar, N., Akhtar Batool, N., Khalid, S., K. Okla, M., S. Al-Amri, S., A. Alwasel, Y., & Hameed, Y. (2022). An Overview of Functional Food. In Current Topics in Functional Food. IntechOpen. 92

An economic crisis can be explained as a situation in which a country’s economy experiences a sudden downturn leading to a significant reduction in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In simple terms an economic crisis is a situation that causes a significant deterioration in a country’s economy. Throughout the history the world has faced several economic crises.The Credit Crisis (1772), The Great Depression (1929–1939), OPEC Oil Price Shock (1973), Asian Crisis (1997) and the Financial Crisis from 2007– 2008 can be cited as examples. The most harmful impact was recorded by The Great Depression making it one of the worst economic collapses. Economic crises during these periods affected the livelihood of people in many ways. Some of the major ways include the rise of unemployment, reduction in income due to the worsen economy and creating higher uncertainty about their future income. Apart from them these recessions have led to the downfall of various sectors of a country specially education and health. Reduction in parents’ income has made them harder to afford the necessary supplies such as uniforms and tuition fees for children’s education. People experience health issues such as mental stress and depression due to the rising problems that they encounter with the increase of poverty. In 2022 Sri Lanka faced the greatest economic crisis ever faced during the history. Consequences of the covid 19 pandemic made it worst than expected. Rise of inflation in the country raised the price of essential commodities to around three times the initial price. People had to wait in long queues that stretched for kilometres outside filing stations to get fuel for the vehicles. Currently the increase of taxes and electricity bills have created disrest among people leading to conflicts with the government. During the past few years Sri Lanka has been a victim of other rich countries due to the rising debts and interest payments resulted from the mismanagement of economy. Today we are seeking international assistance by looking forward to an IMF bailout. Our country still has a long journey to go on to come out of this crisis. Therefore by taking these facts into consideration it is clear that we all should join our hands together in managing the current economic crisis at this stage. This could only be achieved by working according to a proper economic plan with well defined goals, created with a farsighted vision. Facing an economic crisis seems to be challengeable and it requires a greater effort to prevent its hazardous impacts. A significant contribution towards managing the economic crisis can be provided by the young K.W. Ruwanda Himara Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Contribution of Universities in Managing the Economic Crisis 93

generation of a country. In my opinion to cope up with the economic crisis of a country, university is the best place to start with. Universities are institutions that provide education to individuals who prefer to increase their knowledge in specific fields. Different degree programs offered by various universities help in creating innovative relationships between various fields such as Engineering, Medicine, Information Technology, Social sciences and many more. Universities create strong producers of human capital who can assist the development of local economy. Therefore university education can be considered as a rich scientific and cultural asset that promotes economic, technological and social changes in the society. The most important aspect of university education is the exposure of students to research activities in their final years. The output of these research activities empower students to fulfill their academic and professional passions leading them towards successful academic carriers. The experience gained by university students during research activities are highly valuable in finding solutions to the existing problems in the world. The famous economist, Robert Boyce once stated that “Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied”.As mentioned in this saying, if university students and academics can efficiently transfer the knowledge that they gained through university education to the society, it will be very helpful towards managing the economic crisis. For an example agricultural graduates can make farmers aware of the modern techniques related to agriculture by conducting special awareness sessions targeting different regions. They can also become successful entrepreneurs by initiating agribusinesses that can export local 2 agricultural products to foreign countries. This will also increase foreign revenue received to our country. Similarly IT graduates can contribute in reducing digital divide by educating the society on how to use the Internet and other digital technologies to bring additional revenue to the country. Universities can also extend their support by organizing different programs like seminars on various subjects to uplift the status of primary and secondary education in the country. As university students we can also incorporate valuable concepts such as sustainable development and green concept towards managing the economic crisis. We can look into the strategies followed by other countries in preventing future economic crises and modify and apply them accordingly so that the existing problems can be solved. As an example in Saudi Arabia where lands with dry and infertile soil exist, centre pivot irrigation systems have been established to aid cultivation practices. Today farmers in Saudi Arabia cultivate many vegetables using this method. This methodology has made them sustainable enough in facing the future food crisis situations. Unemployment among graduates is a very unfortunate situation in Sri Lanka. Government spends a lot of money in producing a graduate to the society. Parents afford the entire cost of the degree when it comes to a private university. Therefore these sacrifices should not be wasted. Finally I conclude saying that our primary goal of managing the economic crisis can be only be achieved if the universities produce quality graduates that can serve for the betterment of the society. 94

Climate Change and Water Cycle The volume, intensity, frequency, and type of precipitation vary from year to year and across decades, and changes in these factors (such as snow vs. rain) have an impact on the environment and society. The same rainfalls within a short period might generate local floods and runoff, leading to severe erosion and leaving soils much drier at the end of the day while steady mild rains soak into the soil and benefit plants. Snow may remain on the ground for several weeks or months before it melts and then runoff occurs. These instances demonstrate the crucial role that precipitation features play in determining how much precipitation has an impact on soil moisture and stream flow. Precipitation changes to rain as the air warms to a temperature above the freezing point. According to the well-known physical law “Clausius–Clapeyron equation”, for every increase of 1 oC in temperature, air’s ability to contain water increases by 6 to 7%. As a result, an increase in temperature causes the atmospheric moisture to increase while the relative humidity remains unchanged. I t is clear that the hydrological cycle is being directly impacted by the changing global climate. In this article, the impacts of climate change on precipitation, evaporation, and extreme floods and droughts are explained. Rainfall, snowfall, and various types of frozen or liquid water falling from clouds are together referred to as precipitation. The nature of the precipitation when it does occur relies largely on the temperature and the weather. Precipitation is intermittent. The latter determines the storms, the moisture supply, and how the moisture is accumulated to form clouds through winds and surface evaporation. On all-time scales, the water cycle changes. This is partly caused by precipitation’s essentially erratic character. Due to the potential harm that massive rains or extended dry periods could cause to society and the environment, these differences are of great importance. Floods and droughts are the most common examples of hydrological extreme events. Floods are linked to extreme amounts of precipitation (from tropical storms, thunderstorms, orographic rainfall, broad extratropical cyclones, etc.), whereas dryness is linked to a lack of precipitation and frequently extremely high temperatures that accelerate drying. While droughts are widespread and build over months or years, floods frequently occur locally and develop quickly. Yet, both extremes’ effects can be lessened by using irrigation to treat droughts and good drainage systems to prevent floods. Ms. Chathuri Koralage Department of Export Agriculture Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 95

Similar to this, air expands and cools as it ascends into low-pressure areas, causing water vapor to condense and precipitation to form. As a result, fluctuations in temperature impose a very fundamental restriction on the quantity and kind of precipitation through the air’s water vapor content. While heat is required for evaporation, surface moisture effectively serves as an “air conditioner,” moistening the air rather than warming it. Several aspects of the hydrological cycle remain quite uncertain, and some vary substantially from year to year as the climate changes. The Role of Water in the Climate System and Climate Change The Earth’s water cycle is not only of vital interest because of the continual fresh water supply on land for humanity to exploit, but also it plays a central role in the Earth’s energy cycle and climate change. Because the climate is out of balance and human activity, there is a minor residual of 0.6% for the post2000 period that is assimilated, which serves to heat the oceans, melt ice, and create climate change. So, the water cycle must also be shifting as a result of the Earth’s current lack of energy balance. The term “global warming” is often used to refer to the warming of the planet from human influences, while there are many influences, the biggest are those that interfere with the way energy naturally moves through the climate system by altering the makeup of the atmosphere, particularly the greenhouse effect. Aerosol changes lead to regional variations with mixed characteristics. Increases in some aerosols, such as sulfate particles from coal combustion, produce a milky, whitish haze that reflects sunlight and cools the environment. In contrast, carbonaceous aerosols are more likely to absorb light and may cause local heating at the expense of surface heating. Both types of aerosols can thus short-circuit the hydrological cycle. The year following the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption in the Philippines has seen the biggest drop in global land precipitation ever recorded due to cooling from the aerosols deposited in the stratosphere (Trenberth and Dai, 2007). While an increase in temperature and, consequently, the atmosphere’s ability to hold water, is one effect of global warming. An increase in evaporation over the oceans or evapotranspiration on land is another effect. Hence, the water cycle accelerates. Climate models typically project an increase in precipitation of 2% per 1oC increase in the global mean temperature, while this number is quite uncertain. Due to aerosol effects, this may be minimal or nonexistent regionally, and the best estimates of the worldwide precipitation show no significant trends (Trenberth, 2011). If there is water present, a consistent result in all climate models with global warming is an increase in evapotranspiration. As a result of greater surface drying in the absence of precipitation, there is a higher danger of drought. As a result of these droughts, there is also an increased risk of heat waves and wildfires, as all warmth is directed toward raising temperatures and killing plants once the soil moisture is exhausted. The fact that there are so many after-effects makes this a complicated operation. Precipitation rates are substantially higher than evaporation rates, which are pretty constant but depend on when it does fall. As a result, the majority of moderate and heavy precipitation is caused by the convergence of moisture brought in by storm winds from distant locations. This storm then creates precipitation. Due to the fact that precipitation is primarily caused by moisture convergence, an increase in atmospheric moisture will result in more intense weather, such as heavier rain and snow, as is typically observed to be happening (IPCC 2007). Studies have proven that the frequency or duration of precipitation also decreases, making for longer dry spells between events in some way (Groisman and Knight, 2008). Other Changes in Precipitation with Climate Change As the pattern of winds does not, approximately, change much as a result of climate change, the rises in water vapor ensure that wet areas get wetter and dry areas get dryer. The phrase “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is used to describe this change in precipitation. Yet, as heat is transferred upwards during precipitation, there is less need for the overall circulation to be as strong when there is more moisture present since more latent heat is released. The Hadley and Walker cells and the monsoon are two examples of large-scale overturning circulations that are likely to decline. 96

Another conclusion is that, as discovered in other studies, there must be a decline in light and moderate rainfall as well as a decline in the frequency of rain occurrences. As a result, there may be a chance for less frequent but heavier rainfall or snowfall events. The global atmospheric circulation thus plays a vital effect in the distribution of precipitation as other changes occur as the patterns of where storms form and tracks change. The cycle of El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) occurrences, notably in the tropics and over much of the mid-latitudes of Pacific rim countries, has a significant impact on the distribution and timing of floods and droughts. Little variations in the distribution of sea surface temperature are so significant in the tropics. During ENSO, extreme floods and droughts are worsened by global warming. These factors have significant effects on agriculture, hydrology, and water resources, but they have not received enough attention or consideration in many studies of the effects of climate change. Due to a rise in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere and the consequent increase in vapor transport from lower latitudes, a strong pattern of enhanced precipitation poleward of around 45o is predicted for the 21st century. This is accompanied by decreased subtropical precipitation, although less so over Asia. Extratropical storm tracks are expected to shift poleward, changing wind, precipitation, and temperature patterns as a result and carrying on the general pattern of observed trends during the previous fifty years. This results in a drying tendency in the subtropics, which is particularly noticeable at the higher latitude edges of the subtropics, along with a poleward extension of the subtropical high-pressure systems. The IPCC (2007) also draws the conclusion that continued rises in tropical sea surface temperature would likely result in future tropical storms (typhoons and hurricanes) becoming more powerful, with higher peak wind speeds and heavier precipitation. There may be fewer tropical cyclones overall because a violent tropical cyclone removes heat from the ocean and mixes it, leaving behind a much stronger cold than a more subdued storm. Lessening atmospheric stability may also reduce the number of tropical cyclones. However, the chance of floods increasing as a result of tropical storms that make landfall is likely. The possibility that precipitation would fall as rain rather than snow increases as the temperature rises, especially in the early and late snow seasons of autumn and spring and in regions where the temperature is close to freezing. These changes are already being seen in many locations, particularly over land in medium and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. They are causing more rain but fewer snowpacks, which reduces water availability during the summer when it is most needed. The winter snowpack is a crucial resource in extratropical mountain ranges, serving not only as a skier area but also as a source of fresh water as the snow melts in the spring and summer. However, warming results in a shorter snow season, more rain than snow, early snowmelt of the snow that does exist, and increased evaporation and ablation of snow. All of these elements contribute to a decreased snowpack. It is clear that climate change has a significant direct impact on the hydrological cycle, particularly its extremes, making it more difficult to manage and utilize water supplies. Water managers face significant issues while dealing with a drought one year and then floods the following year, including how to conserve during periods of abundance for periods of scarcity. 97

Sri Lankan Marine Fisheries Sector A Field Visit to the Southern Coastal Area The Sri Lankan economy and social structures both heavily rely on the fishing industry. The fisheries industry is a crucial sector that has the potential to significantly increase Sri Lanka’s GDP. The fisheries sector’s share of the GDP of the nation is 2.7%. The fisheries sector contributes to the national income, exports, food and nutritional security and in employment generation in Sri Lanka. From nutritional standpoint according to (Al-Jufaili & Linus U., 2006) fish is the major protein source which is provided essential proteins to human and other animals in animal husbandry with high quality and easily absorbed proteins. As mentioned in (Sivagnanam & Murugan, 2016) fish is the most important animal protein source available in many developing and under developed countries. Around 53% of the world’s fish is captured in developing nations, and a sizable portion of that is consumed locally. (FAO). Sri Lankan coastal fisheries sector has its own culture and tradition and it is greatly varied from inland fishing. According to Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka’s total marine fish catch amounted to 415,490Mt which is composed of 242,580Mt of coastal fish catch and 172,910Mt of Offshore and Deep-Sea fish catch. The industry for exporting fish and seafood has benefited greatly from the easing of the prohibition on Sri Lankan fish entering the European Union (EU) in 2016 and the restoration of the GSP+ concession in 2017. Close to 2.4 million employments, both direct and indirect, are produced by the industry. On 25th February, 2023 a field visit was arranged to observe the coastal fishing vessels landing sites and markets in Southern province from Ambalangoda to Galle. In addition to that Beruwala harbor was also visited. • As observed during the field visit, in Beruwala harbor, generally one boat catches around 100 fishes per fishing trip. But the fish catch and its prices varies according to the fishing trip. Major fish species and their prices per kg in Beruwala Pothubara Rs.280 –Rs.300 per kg Balaya (Skip jack tuna) Rs.600-700 per kg Kelawalla (yellow fin tuna) RS.680.00 Galmalu (Red Mullet)) Rs.640.00 Dalla (cuttlefish) Rs.1000.00 Maduwa (Manta fish) Rs.500.00 Linno RS.700.00 (buying price Rs.650) Angel fish Rs.400.00 Kumbalwa (Indian Mackerel) Rs.700.00 Thora (Spanish mackerel) Rs.2000-2200 Moon fish Rs.700.00 Thalapath (Indo pacific sailfish) Rs.1200.00 Prof. D.A.M. de Silva, Prof. Anil Datt Upadhyay, W.M.Sandamith 98

• Salting of tuna fish was observed in the harbor. Salted tuna costs around Rs. 480.00 per kg. Both local and export markets are targeted. Salting is done to prevent post harvest losses mostly but also according to the demand. When salting and drying is done weight of the fish is reduced by half. Salted amount of fish is not a constant one. It depends on the catch of the vessels. • Dried fish are called Karawala. Drying is done in boats at the sea and at a selected location at land mostly at fishermen’s houses. Sun dried fish at boats are called Bottu karawala and it has a separate demand from consumers due to the freshness of the product. Dried fish wholesale prices. (Karawala) per 1kg in Beruwala Alagaoduwa Rs.800.00 Balaya Rs.1100.00 Wanna Rs.1600.00 Thora Rs.2200.00 Rathdalla Rs.1600.00 Linno Rs.900.00 • As observed during the field visit shark fins has a huge demand. Shark fish are mostly export oriented. 1kg of shark fins cost Rs.15, 000.00 .The length of the fin defines its price. If the fins are lengthy they are highly priced. • There are 25 fish cutting people in the harbor. They usually charge Rs.150.00 to cut one fish. The cutting fee is varied according to the size of the fish. Cut fish are more expensive generally. If a 1kg fish is cut, 300g are reduced generally. Ex- If a yellow fin tuna is RS.1000, and then cut fish 500g can be sold to Rs.1200. • Fish waste is collected to barrels and animal feed processers come to the harbor to get them. Balaya (Skip jack tuna) Rs.800.00 Para (Travelly fish) RS.600.00 Atawalla RS.700.00 Kelawalla (yellow fin tuna) RS.600.00 Salaya (sardinella) RS.300.00 Tiger prawns Rs.1200.00 Sea prawns Rs.2300.00 Wanna Rs.800.00 Cuttlefish Rs.1000.00 Post harvest losses along the fish value chain have become a significant issue. Because of the increasing trend in demand for fish and fisheries products as well as the diminishing availability of resources in nearshore seas, it is imperative that these resources be used wisely and made accessible to the general public. To ensure that every kilogram of fish harvested is fully utilized for human consumption as a result of these.The technical stagnation in fishing vessels is one of the highlighted reasons by interviewed fishermen. The boats have not enough cold storages or enough dock space. If the boats are broken down at the sea, very few crew members have the ability to repair it. So the technical knowledge should be provided to them. Galle fish market prices per 1kg. 99

Contribution of the University Business Linkage Cell Towards, Upbringing Young Entrepreneur Universities are at the forefront of creating, discovering, and applying new knowledge, innovative ideas, research and advanced technology. The University Business Linkage (UBL) Cell has been playing a significant role in promoting and fostering entrepreneurship among young students by providing them with the necessary resources, guidance, and networking opportunities. Every university, including the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, University of Colombo, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Uva Wellassa University, University of Jaffna, University of Moratuwa, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka has established a University Business Linkage (UBL) Cell. What is University Business Linkage (UBL) Cell? The University Business Linkage (UBL) Cell is a unit that facilitates the commercialization of university innovation and assists in bringing research results to the marketplace for the benefit. The aim of the UBLC is to achieve sustainable growth for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)s in the regional economy through tacit collaboration between the universities and public/ private enterprises. It is a process that establishes mutually beneficial relationships between a university or academic institution and the industry or businesses around it. It is a mechanism that facilitates cooperation between academia and industries, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth in the country. UBL cells act as a bridge between universities and businesses by facilitating joint research projects, internships, placement opportunities, and consultancy services. This helps universities to design industryrelevant curricula and training programs that meet the current and future needs of the job market. The main objective of UBL Cells is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology between academia and industry, promote innovation, and enhance economic development. Why University Business Linkage (UBL) Cell important to universities in Sri Lanka? University Business Linkage (UBL) cells are important for universities in Sri Lanka because they act as a platform for collaboration between universities and businesses, helping to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology from universities to businesses. University-business partnerships, provides opportunities for university students to engage in hands-on, experiential learning. It also encourages entrepreneurship, and helps businesses find innovative solutions to their challenges. W.A.R.Raveena Department of Agribusiness Management Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 100