NuFFooDS Spectrum January 2021

Website: www.nuffoodsspectrum.in
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4 EDITORIAL NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Ensure infallible
safety protocols

Dr Milind Kokje
Chief Editor

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India needs to also ensure having the latest testing facilities
(FSSAI) has proposed to make registration, available. On that count, we appear to be lacking to
inspection and audit mandatory for foreign some extent as was seen in the recent issue of testing
food manufacturing facilities that export food to honey.
India. For this, the FSSAI has issued a draft regulation
‘Food Safety and Standards (Import) Amendment While alleging that major Indian honey brands were
Regulations, 2020’, amending the import regulations adulterated with modified sugar syrups from China, the
of 2017 to add a chapter. The FSSAI’s move is, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that it
probably, also a part of the Commerce and Industry had tested 13 samples of honey at the laboratory of
minister’s latest drive to firm up technical regulations Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food
of 150 products in view of the unabated imports of (CALF), Gujarat. Same brand samples were later tested
substandard products, especially from China. These in a German lab for a global parameter called Nuclear
150 products also include food. Magnetic Resonance (NMR), which is an advanced
testing parameter to detect adulteration.
As per the draft regulation circulated to seek
public opinion, the categories of the food products to Interestingly, barring a few smaller brands, all top
be specified by the FSSAI from time to time, will be brands passed the test of purity at the Gujarat lab.
based on the risk assessment. The FSSAI will appoint Ten brands failed in the NMR test in the German lab,
officials from relevant ministries, organisations and revealing the presence of modified sugar syrup in the
departments for inspecting the food manufacturing honey. The brands in question, however, have denied
facilities. Foreign food manufacturing facilities, the CSE allegations. There are 18 parameters the honey
complying with the regulations will be registered for must comply with. Strangely, the NMR test is required
five years and registration will be rejected in case of for the honey to be exported, but not for selling locally.
non-compliance.
Without going into the controversy over the CSE
The industry is naturally not satisfied with the allegation of adulteration, what is more important is
proposed amendments describing it as a non-tariff the absence of facility to perform NMR test here. There
trade barrier. It also seeks clarity on the type of foods could be more such high-level advanced tests, which
for which registration and inspection will be mandatory. may not be available in India. NMR testing facility is
The steps envisaged by the FSSAI are on the lines of available only with one company in India, but it is not
the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Post believed to be available with public labs.
Brexit, now farmers in the UK, too, are demanding
prevention of low-quality food imports to preserve its A vast country like India should have facilities in
food farming standards. the public domain for conducting every lab test that
can be conducted anywhere in the world. Even the
It is quite justifiable to impose strong regulations CSE has said that it could be important to include such
on foreign companies exporting foods to India, not only advanced tests in the government testing system.
because other countries are also doing it and even Indian
food exporters have to adjust to their import regulations. It is particularly required when the regulator is
But it is much more justifiable from the safety point of proposing stringent norms on imported food, without
view. At the same time, steps taken by the regulator to adequate means to test them. In fact, the regulator can
ensure food safety, should not altogether discourage consider making India the food testing hub for Asia by
the foreign firms and their Indian counterparts to export equipping itself with such advanced facilities.
and import food items, respectively.

While imposing stringent regulations, the regulator

Volume 8  |  Issue 4  |  January 2021
www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

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NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in6 INSIDE

2021:18 COVERSTORY
UNLOCKING

FULL POTENTIAL

The food & beverage (F&B) industry had envisioned many big things for 2020.
From investing constructively in science and technology (S&T), addressing the
existing challenges of unhealthy eating, poor nutrition, to sustainable packaging
and supply chain management, there were many plans to execute. But the
ongoing pandemic has brought about further challenges, and in turn fast-tracked
the industry’s plans of implementing S&T. In addition, the consumers’ desire to
influence health and wellness through foods and beverages is creating a whole
new gamut of opportunities for the industry. As a result, companies are unlocking
their full potential in 2021 by adopting the new trends such as immune health,
micronutrients, rise of nutraceuticals, meat alternatives and digital transformation.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INSIDE 7

Event Report

34

Agro Food Processing Virtual Summit 2020

India needs 500 food parks
and not 37: Nitin Gadkari

FSSAI Initiative

39

Fortifying Health

Arun Singhal,

CEO, FSSAI, New Delhi

Trends

41

Shifting towards
Pharma Nutrition

Dr R. B. Smarta,

Chairman and Managing Director, Interlink Marketing
Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Mumbai and Vice President, Health
Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA), Mumbai

l STARTUPS REGULARS
22 LOW FUNDING SHIFTS FOCUS
TOWARDS HEALTH & WELLNESS SECTOR Editorial 04
l F&B PROCESSING
26 REWRITING BUSINESS STRATEGIES Video Snippets 08
BY INCORPORATING INNOVATION
AND TECHNOLOGY Policy and Regulatory News 09
l NUTRITION
29 GROWING INTEREST IN IMMUNE Finance News 11
HEALTH TO BE A TOP FOCUS
l NUTRACEUTICALS Company News 12
32 BUILDING IMMUNITY IS FINDING
AN INCREASING ACCEPTANCE Start-Up News 14
l SUPPLIERS
33 CHANGING CONSUMER PREFERENCES World News 16
BRING IN SUPPLIER SECTOR
People News 44

Academic News 46

R&D News 47

Supplier News 49

8 VIDEO SNIPPETS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Rajesh Sahetiya, Acknowledgements
Senior Business Excellent coverage and selection of topics in the year
Director - Human end edition of NuFFooDS Spectrum.
Nutrition & Health,
South Asia, DSM, - Nilesh Lele, Mumbai
Mumbai talks about
ways to tackle iron The cover story looks lovely. Thank you for the
deficiency in India. feature on InI Farms.

Scan the QR Code » - Jerin Ephrem, Mumbai

Mihir Joshi, Marketing Appreciate your support for featuring our startup
Manager South Asia, Athletebit Healthcare.
DuPont Nutrition
& Biosciences, - Mathew Chacko, Mysuru
Gurugram focuses
on the role of science The cover story piece on Arjuna Natural looks really
for developing new nice. Thank you.
products.
- Emily Gibbons, Israel
Scan the QR Code »
Thanks for your feedback. We have taken note of
Kalpesh Parmar, your suggestions and will surely try to incorporate
Country General the content accordingly in coming issues. Please
Manager, Mars keep sending us your feedback and updating us on
Wrigley- India, your views about the issue and keep giving your
Gurugram shares his opinions on the content.
views on the growth
of the health & well- – Editor
being market. Please send your feedback to
[email protected]
Scan the QR Code »

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in REGULATORY NEWS 9

FSSAI focuses FSSAI reviews alarm
raised on adulteration
on hygiene rating in honey samples

audit agencies FSSAI has taken note of the Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE)’s investigation on adulteration in honey.
Quality Council of India (QCI) at the behest One of the points raised in this investigation is about the
of the Food Safety and Standards Authority non-prescription of Trace Marker for Rice syrup (TMR) for
of India (FSSAI) has come out with a scheme detecting adulteration of rice syrup in honey. In view of
for approval of hygiene rating audit agencies the fact, a more sensitive Specific Marker for Rice syrup
to scale up hygiene rating by increasing the test (SMR) has already been made mandatory and is a
number of recognised audit agencies in the more focused test to detect adulteration of rice syrup in
country. FSSAI’s initiative of food hygiene honey, hence, it was felt by scientific experts that TMR is
rating scheme is a certification system for not necessary. This view was
food businesses supplying food directly concurred by the Ministry
to consumers, either on or off premise. of Agriculture, and hence
The food establishments are rated based TMR has not been made
on food hygiene and safety conditions mandatory as a test method.
observed at the time of audit. The hygiene Few weeks back, 10 out of
rating will be in the form of smileys (1 up to 13 honey brands failed the
5) and the certificate should be displayed purity test based on CSE’s
prominently in the consumer facing area. investigation. Most of the
The recognised audit agencies will be brands failed when subjected
responsible for verifying the compliance to one particular test, called
with food hygiene and safety procedures Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) that was done at a lab
laid by FSSAI and get hygiene rating. The in Germany. Looking at CSE’s investigation on adulteration
scheme aims to allow consumers to make in honey, the FSSAI questioned as to why some tests like
informed choices/decisions pertaining SMR have not been conducted on the samples spiked with
to the food outlets where they eat by adulterants by CSE. FSSAI has requested for details of the
encouraging food businesses to improve tests and the samples conducted from CSE. As soon as
their hygiene and safety standards. details become available, the protocols followed will be
Currently, this scheme is applicable for assessed by FSSAI and any improvements that are required
food service establishments (such as hotels, in the test methodology will be suggested for future.
restaurants, cafeteria, dhabhas, etc), sweet
shops, bakeries and meat retail stores.

FSSAI sets up framework for food safety response

FSSAI has developed a arising from food through a timely
framework of national Food and coordinated response so as
Safety Emergency Response to minimize any adverse impact
(FSER) system, which outlines on health and disruption to trade.
the multi sectorial coordination, Such planning also enables food
their roles, responsibilities and safety authorities to focus on
manages the actions during a prevention and preparedness,
food safety emergency situation. rather than only on reaction to
It aims at managing a potential individual events, and therefore has
or confirmed risk to public health greater long-term sustainability.

10 REGULATORY NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

APEDA, IIMR strategise action plan to promote millets

Considering the potential of Research Institute (CFTRI) and APEDA is preparing a perspective
increasing exports of millets and Farmer Producer Organisations action plan for increasing export
related products and the focus given (FPOs) for perspective planning of of millet for a period five years i.e.
by the government for development five years for promotion of millets. 2021-2026 to enable all concerned
of millet sector of nutri-cereals, stakeholders for taking necessary
Agricultural and Processed Food action in a time bound manner for
Products Export Development achieving the target. Further, efforts
Authority (APEDA), under the would be made on identification
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, of millet clusters, creation of
is formulating a strategy with the platform to consolidate farmers,
Indian Institute of Millet Research FPOs, exporters, associations, other
(IIMR) and other stakeholders stakeholders and identification of
like National Institute Nutrition new potential international markets
(NIN), Central Food Technological for promotion of Indian millets.

Sukhjit Mega Food Govt aims to take food
processing facilities
Park opens in Punjab to far off regions

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Agriculture
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati
Development and Panchayati Raj, Narendra Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar recently held a meeting with key
Singh Tomar has virtually inaugurated stakeholders of the food processing sector with the objective
Sukhjit Mega Food Park (MFP) at Phagwara in to take the food processing facilities to far off regions of the
Kapurthala district of Punjab. This Mega Food country. He has urged the industry representatives to support
Park is built at a project cost of Rs 107.83 crore the government in this initiative. The suggestions of industry
and spread over 55 acres of land. It is expected leaders would be examined and necessary action would be
to benefit about 25000 farmers and likely to taken. The government has observed that since the demand
generate employment of about 5000 persons. for frozen food, super foods, ready to eat foods has increased
It is equipped with raw material/finished goods during COVID-19, there is need to assess the new opportunities
warehouses (3944Sqm), silos (20,000 MT), cold and move forward accordingly. For Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the
storage (3,000 MT), IQF & deep freezer (IQF: 2 processing of local products needs to be focused upon. As a
MT/hr + deep freezer: 2000 MT) & other related result, the government intends to work towards an increase in
food processing facilities. The government is food production and farmers' income.
hopeful that Sukhjit Mega Food Park would
prove to be a milestone in the progress of the
food processing sector. The latest technology
and processing facilities will reduce wastage of
food products and ensure fair prices for farmers.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FINANCE NEWS 11

Tata Consumer Products
divests Australia coffee biz

Fermenta Tata Consumer Products home coffee business in Australia.
continually evaluates its businesses While it was a small part of the
Biotech across geographies in line with its overall business, the divestment
strategy and business objectives. will help the company further
makes As a result of this process, the consolidate its international
company has decided to divest its footprint and better focus on the
investment in MAP Out-of-Home coffee business core brands.
in Australia to Buccheri Group,
AGD Nutrition a boutique coffee manufacturer
established in Australia in 2007,
Fermenta Biotech Limited and led by Santo Buccheri and his
(FBL), based in Thane, has family. This divestment does not
announced that its wholly- impact Tata Consumer Products’
owned subsidiary Fermenta existing branded tea business in
Biotech USA LLC (FBU), Australia. This move is consistent
has acquired a 52 per cent with the company’s focus on
stake in a US based vitamin consolidating the businesses
company, AGD Nutrition and enhancing profitability and
LLC (AGD), headquartered business effectiveness. This will
in Texas. The deal would also help bring greater focus to
combine the expertise of its core branded tea and coffee
both companies and result businesses in International
in synergies that will bring markets. In line with the strategy
in greater operational of driving structural simplification
capabilities to enhance FBL’s and focusing on core businesses
footprint in the US market. where there is profitable growth,
This collaboration will the company has exited the out of
couple FBL’s competence in
manufacturing and customer- Convergent Finance picks
driven innovation with AGD’s up 10% stake in ADF Foods
distribution strength in the
US, which is geography that Mumbai based Convergent Finance has picked up a 10 per cent stake in ADF
commands a significant share Foods, a leading food processing company that markets and operates brands
of the global human and for domestic and foreign markets. The investment marks the latest bet for
animal nutrition market. AGD,
an established player in the Convergent Finance, which has picked
vitamin market since 2002, up stakes in several companies this
will be instrumental in paving year. The firm follows a sector-agnostic
the way for FBL to gain greater strategy by providing extremely long-
customer access through its term capital spanning not just a few
deep understanding of the years, but a couple of decades and
North American market. more. Former Fairfax executive Harsha
Raghavan had set up the firm in 2018
after leaving Canadian billionaire Prem
Watsa-led Fairfax. It has also picked up
minority stakes in life sciences firm SeQuent Scientific, Camlin Fine Sciences,
Jyoti International Foods, and Hindustan Foods, a contract manufacturer for
PepsiCo’s Kurkure brand of snacks.

12 COMPANY NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Alsaco brings Jagdale unveils immune boosting
India’s first benefits of RTD Mulmina
patented
ayurvedic anti- Jagdale Healthcare, a subsidiary turmeric) and Mulmina Orange
viral medicine (combination of amla & orange)
of Bengaluru based Jagdale have shown a significant increase
Pune based Alsaco has recently
announced India’s first and only Industries, recently in antioxidant markers
patented ayurvedic anti-viral like superoxide dismutase
medicine, Ganjhu Vir. From announced the results (SOD), catalase (CAT) and
common cold to COVID-19, Ganjhu glutathione(GSH) and
Vir has been proven efficacious in of a clinical study on immune markers like
multiple viral infections. Ganjhu Vir immunoglobulin – A (Ig-A)
is India’s first patented indigenous their health drink in 14 and 28 days period.
anti-viral medicine developed by a These studies also proved
single plant source. The medicine Mulmina. Suitable to reduce inflammatory
not only enhances body immunity markers like C-Reactive
but also directly controls the for consumption Protein (CRP). Traditionally
viral body making it an effective used ayurvedic medicines
medicine against virus infections by all age groups, like turmeric, gotu kula,
across the spectrum. After passing amla have been well
a successful test at the National including children, studied. Combination of
Institute of Mental Health and mango, turmeric, gotu kula and
Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Mulmina is composed combination of amla, orange is
Bengaluru and Haffkine Institute now clinically proven to have a
Mumbai, it has been approved of natural superfoods definite part to play in the subject
by the Ministry of AYUSH. The of immune nutrition in all age
inventor of this medicine, Dr and is the only ready group.
Rajesh Kumar Ganjhu has been
working on this medicine since to drink immune
2003. Successful clinical trials
were conducted on dengue and booster, antioxidant
COVID-19 patients as well, and
this medicine has emerged as beverage in a tetra
an effective treatment for these
viruses. The medicine will soon be pack. The inherent
available in tablets and syrup form.
immune-boosting

properties of the drink

make it an excellent alternative

to a suitable alternative to other

health beverages. Clinical studies

on Mulmina Mango (combination

of mango, gotu kula and

Marico enters plant
based protein category

Mumbai based Marico has forayed into
the plant protein category with the launch
of Saffola Mealmaker Soya Chunks. In line
with its aim to strengthen its presence in
the healthy foods segment, the company has
introduced a differentiated product in the soya
chunks segment. Soya Chunks are one of the
best vegetarian sources of protein and the new
Saffola Mealmaker Soya Chunks provides 53
grams of protein for every 100 grams of product.
It also has 13 per cent fibre and less than 1
per cent fat, making the product extremely
healthy and nutritious. Saffola Mealmaker
Soya Chunks is made using a special super
soft technology. Made with carefully chosen
ingredients and a balance of key nutritional
factors, the chunks ensure optimum quality.
The soya chunks are extruded using strict process control to obtain chunks
that cook softer so that consumers can enjoy tender, juicy and tasty chunks.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COMPANY NEWS 13

Ayushakti French milk brand
Lactel launches in India
releases
Lactel, France’s leading milk brand, has launched its affordable
immunity UHT toned milk 1 litre packet at price of Rs 70 and looks to
provide consumers with the best of nutrition. The launch of
booster tablet UHT milk marks the entry of the Lactel in India, which was
founded in 1967 and today has over 50 years of experience
and is present in over 50 countries. Groupe Lactalis in the past
has had a strong involvement in the Indian Dairy industry
wherein several Indian dairy brands such as Thirumala, Anik
and Prabhat are today part of the group. Lactel UHT milk comes
fortified with vitamin A & D, covering the need for nutritional
goodness, ensuring better immunity, stronger bones and
muscles with strict regular quality checks. Lactel has now
entered the Indian market as a brand ready to position itself
with its strong focus on high quality products meeting existing
French, Indian & global standards, while ensuring retention of all the nutritional
goodness in their affordably priced packs.

Ayushakti, based in Mumbai,

has launched Swasavin D Vyro Himalaya reveals role of
herbal immunomodulators
tablet, a 100 per cent herbal in COVID-19 treatment

formulation, which acts as an

immune modulator, anti-viral

and anti-inflammatory remedy

for all respiratory and other

health-related conditions.

Swasavin D Vyro tablet is Bengaluru based Himalaya Drug

formulated using ayurvedic Company has shared the results of

herbal extracts such as giloy, the clinical study they commissioned

madhuyashti, kalmegh, to evaluate the role of their well-

shatavari pomegranate peel, known herbal products (Septilin and

tulsi, kutaj, shunti, and others. Bresol in combination) as an adjuvant

These herbs are proven to have treatment in mildly symptomatic

anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and asymptomatic COVID-19

and immunity boosting positive patients. The clinical trial

properties. Apart from these was conducted at the Bangalore

it also provides long lasting Medical College and Research

health benefits such as Institute. This study has proved that

strengthen the respiratory adjuvant therapy with Septilin and studies. Septilin is also backed by a
meta-analysis study and has been
functions, relieving the Bresol along with standard of care recommended by doctors extensively
for the past 60 years. On the other
frequent cough, cold allergies, supports immunity and controls hand, Bresol is a respiratory wellness
product with well-known ayurvedic
sneezing and throat infections, inflammation in COVID-19 positive ingredients such as haridra, tulsi, and
vasaka, and is recommended in the
improving digestion, reducing patients. Septilin is a well-known management of various respiratory
conditions. Bresol exhibits a potent
stress and anxiety. A recent proprietary ayurvedic formulation anti-inflammatory effect because
of its ability to downregulate
research published in the peer- with time-tested ingredients such proinflammatory cytokines.

reviewed international journal as guggulu, yashtimadhu, and

(GJMR) states that Swasavin guduchi, and possesses strong

D -Vyro/Vyrofight is the best immunomodulatory property.

effective Immunomodulatory, The safety and efficacy of Septilin

anti-viral, anti-inflammatory has been extensively evaluated

and antioxidant. in multiple clinical and preclinical

14 START-UP NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

FreshToHome OZiva launches plant-
announces based Omega Multi
operational expansion
in Abu Dhabi Mumbai based startup OZiva has announced the launch of its
much awaited flagship product – plant based Omega Multi.
FreshToHome, a fully integrated online Designed to provide wholesome nutrition for vital organs such
startup brand in fresh fish and meat as the brain, heart and skin, the Omega Multi provides 200 mg
e-commerce based in Bengaluru, will of vegan eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid-
receive financial and non-financial EPA+DHA (Omega-3), 4 plant based vitamins like A, D3, E & K2 MK-
incentives from the Abu Dhabi Investment 7, and 100 mg of extra virgin olive oil. It also helps in improving
Office (ADIO) to develop cutting-edge immunity and fighting stress through essential nutrients and
projects in Abu Dhabi with the intent to antioxidants. About 70 per cent of the world's population do not
boost the Emirate's Agriculture Technology have access to essential omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA). Intakes
(AgTech) capabilities. FreshToHome will of EPA & DHA are low in vegetarians and nearly absent in vegans,
invest in next-generation aquaculture and since the major source is fish & other seafood. The plant-based
agriculture solutions aimed at supporting Omega Multi is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant formula
food production in arid and desert climates. for better immunity, brain and heart health and skin. The 100
The incentives from ADIO will enable per cent vegan nutritional supplement furnishes 150 mg DHA
research and technology development and 50 mg of EPA that are sourced from non GMO micro-algae in
to expand existing capabilities in Abu each serving along with 100 ml of olive oil.
Dhabi's AgTech ecosystem and promote
innovation in the AgTech sector to address
global food security challenges. In addition
to FreshToHome, ADIO has also partnered
individually with two other AgTech
companies, Pure Harvest and Nanoracks.
The startup is using cutting-edge research
in artificial intelligence (AI) and precision
aquaculture for furthering food security in a
sustainable manner while also giving better
value to consumers, fishermen and farmers.

Waycool Foods raises $7.8M to fulfill digital plans

Chennai based startup WayCool 70 per cent digital and mechanical activities. WayCool procures,
Foods has raised $7.8 million in automation across all distribution processes, and distributes a
debt from Samunnati, RBL Bank, units by mid-2021, in turn improving range of food products including
and InnoVen Capital. This follows process flow, efficiency, and fresh produce, staples, and dairy
the earlier debt financing round of eliminating error-prone mundane products, servicing over 16,000
$5.5 million, which was guaranteed clients across South India. It
by United States International operates a soil-to-sale model,
Development Finance Corporation engaging deeply with a base of
(USIDFC) and financed by IndusInd 50,000 farmers in more than 50
Bank. WayCool also closed the regions across India, while bringing
series C round of $32 million led efficiency through its direct supply
by Lightbox earlier this year. The chain model. The startup plans to
funds will be utilised for meeting accelerate profitability and improve
working capital needs and to on its capital efficient model by
boost automation in the existing continuing to invest in technology
distribution centres and warehouses. and automation across the value
WayCool Foods plans to achieve chain.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in START-UP NEWS 15

Alserv offers nasal feeding FLO Hyderabad,
services for elders in Chennai
IIMR promote
Alserv, a tech startup focused on non-real-estate-based assisted living
services for the elderly, has now added to its food and catering service women
offering, food for nasal feeding for elders in Chennai. Enabling quality
palliative and patient care at home, Alserv provides food for nasal feeding entrepreneurship
with customized diet plans, starting at Rs 250 per day. This new service
aims to support and meet the nutritional needs of the elderly, who have FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO),
eating difficulties due to chronic medical conditions. Alserv has partnered Hyderabad has entered into a
with service providers, who have almost two decades of experience in Memorandum of Understanding
providing nutritional therapy to elderly patients and have administered (MoU) with the Indian Institute of
nasogastric feeding diets. Millet Research (IIMR), to create a
FLO incubator at Nutrihub, IIMR
PAU to open food business whereby the two organisations will
incubation centre at Abohar be working towards creating an
appropriate platform for women
the market and farmers and entrepreneurs to garner the power
young entrepreneurs can earn to produce wealth by participating
10-50 per cent profit, if they in the millets industry. The mission
adopt it as a venture. Many is to provide opportunities to
entrepreneurs and farmers are transform ideas into businesses,
receiving training as well as facilitate a nurturing, instructive,
availing incubational facilities and supportive environment for
at the business incubation entrepreneurs during the startup
centre at PAU in Ludhiana and stage, and support them with an
Bathinda. The Department of array of targeted resources and
Food Science and Technology services. The incubator will also
at PAU has commercialised 38 provide technology consultancy,
technologies, such as bottling business facilitation, financial
of sugarcane juice, multigrain advisory, infrastructure support
flour, porridge, potato snacks, and facilitate interactions with
frozen peas, rollable chapatti, etc. experts, mentors, advisors and
The department is also sharing investors.
technologies with Punjab Agro,
The Punjab Agricultural University Markfed and Sugarfed regarding
(PAU) will establish a food sugarcane juice, kinnow and
industry business incubation guava blend, and kinnow and
centre at Abohar in Punjab to mango blend.
impart training and provide
incubation facilities to farmers as
well as entrepreneurs in agro-
processing and value addition.
According to PAU, processed
products hold a good value in

16 WORLD NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

France FDA approves genomic altered
announces animal for human consumption
initiatives
to enhance The US Food and Drug People with Alpha-gal syndrome
food safety Administration (FDA) has (AGS) may have mild to severe
approved a first-of-its-kind allergic reactions to alpha-gal
The French Agency for Food, intentional genomic alteration sugar found in red meat (e.g.,
Environmental and Occupational (IGA) in a line of domestic pigs, beef, pork, and lamb). GalSafe
Health & Safety (ANSES) has signed referred to as GalSafe pigs, which pigs may potentially provide
a Memorandum of Understanding may be used for food or human a source of porcine-based
(MoU) with Singapore Food therapeutics. This is the first IGA materials to produce human
Agency (SFA) to promote improved in an animal that the FDA has medical products that are free
scientific and technical cooperation approved for both human food of detectable alpha-gal sugar.
between the two national consumption and as a source for For example, GalSafe pigs could
agencies in the area of food safety. potential therapeutic uses. The potentially be used as a source
Potential areas of collaboration IGA in GalSafe pigs is intended of medical products, such as the
include risk assessment of to eliminate alpha-gal sugar blood-thinning drug heparin, free
chemical and microbiological on the surface of the pigs’ cells. of detectable alpha-gal sugar.
food safety hazards; testing
programmes for chemical and WHO introduces certification
microbiological food safety; safety programme for trans-fat elimination
assessments of novel foods; and
emerging food safety risks. The A new certification programme by the World Health Organisation
MoU demonstrates Singapore (WHO) for trans-fat elimination aims to recognise countries that have
and France’s commitment to eliminated industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA) from their
strengthening cooperation in the national food supplies. This is the first-ever certification programme that
field of food safety to safeguard the will recognise countries for their efforts to eliminate one of the main risk
health of consumers, by enhancing factors for noncommunicable diseases and protect their populations
the exchange of knowledge and from premature death. The new certification programme also aims to
know-how, and reinforcing their accelerate global progress towards achieving WHO’s goal of eliminating
research cooperation and expert industrially produced TFA by 2023, which was set as a priority target to be
assessments. achieved in 13th General Programme of Work (2019 – 2023). To support
countries reach the target and take action, WHO also released the REPLACE
action framework in 2018. Today, countries are responding to WHO’s call
to action and many have passed and implemented best-practice policies.
Currently best-practice TFA policies have come into effect in 14 countries
(covering 589 million people) and additional 26 countries have passed a
best-practice TFA policy that will come into effect in the next two years
(covering additional 815 million people). Thus, in two years, approximately
1.4 billion people will be protected from industrially produced TFA.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in WORLD NEWS 17

Sri Lanka proposes dietary guidelines with FAO

The Ministry of Health, required nutrients to the

Nutrition and Indigenous general public to promote

Medicine with support overall health and prevent

from the Food and chronic diseases. The

Agriculture Organization guidelines were developed

of the United Nations by the Nutrition Division

(FAO) has launched the Sri of the Ministry of Health,

Lanka Food-Based Dietary in consultation with

Guidelines (FBDGs). various government

Country specific FBDGs ministries, universities,

are one of the FAO/World nutrition associations and

Health Organisation to establish a basis for public food institutes, consumer and
and nutrition, health and agricultural
recommended tools to improve policies and nutrition education non-governmental organizations.
programmes to foster healthy eating
healthy eating habits and lifestyles habits and lifestyles. The guidelines Technical and financial support was
provide advice on foods, food groups
of individuals and populations. Sri and dietary patterns to provide the extended by FAO. The guidelines are

Lanka was one of the countries to adapted to the country’s nutrition

endorse the FBDGs in the Framework situation, food availability, culinary

for Action. The FBDGs are intended cultures and eating habits.

Pakistan to strengthen food Bangladesh co-hosts
fortification programme
launch of Year of
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has planned
to strengthen food fortification programme to counter Action on nutrition
malnutrition and stunted growth in children and lactating
mothers. To counter stunted growth in children, especially Bangladesh and Canada have launched a Year of
under five years of age in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Action on nutrition, which will include a series of
government has planned to expand food fortification commitment-making moments. The Year of Action
programme (FFP) to backward districts through its food will culminate with the Nutrition for Growth Summit
department to enhance level of nutrition of thousands (N4G), to be hosted by the Government of Japan in
of stunted children and lactating mothers. Under this December 2021. Bangladesh plans to continue to
landmark pro-poor initiative of the government, the invest in services that take a full life cycle approach
process of fortification of wheat flour and ghee had been to malnutrition particularly for pregnant women,
started to combat micro-nutrients deficiencies in children mothers and children. This announcement will
and lactating mothers. FFP is a five-year programme help address the massive nutritional needs of the
launched in all provinces of Pakistan including KP aimed poorest and most marginalised populations by
at supporting national and provincial efforts to combat decreasing starvation and stunting, preventing
micro-nutrient deficiencies and stunted growth in children additional cases of maternal anemia, and averting
and lactating mothers. child deaths. It is estimated that globally, COVID-19
is likely to increase the number of malnourished
children by 6.7 million, while the number of people
in extreme poverty could increase by 49 million.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in2021:18 COVERSTORY

UNLOCKING

FULL POTENTIAL

The food & beverage (F&B) industry had envisioned many big things for 2020.
From investing constructively in science and technology (S&T), addressing the
existing challenges of unhealthy eating, poor nutrition, to sustainable packaging
and supply chain management, there were many plans to execute. But the
ongoing pandemic has brought about further challenges, and in turn fast-tracked
the industry’s plans of implementing S&T. In addition, the consumers’ desire to
influence health and wellness through foods and beverages is creating a whole
new gamut of opportunities for the industry. As a result, companies are unlocking
their full potential in 2021 by adopting the new trends such as immune health,
micronutrients, rise of nutraceuticals, meat alternatives and digital transformation.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 19

The pandemic has compelled people across the Top 5 trends for 2021
world to train their focus on their health and
immunity, with consumers actively seeking foods ● Immune health
and ingredients that support personal health. These new ● Micronutrients intake
behaviors will shape the future of the food and beverage ● Rise in nutraceuticals
(F&B) industry in the POST-COVID-19 world. ● Meat alternatives
● Go digital
The ongoing anxiety stemming from COVID-19 will
encourage consumers to prioritize their immune health with one in three saying that concerns about immune
in 2021. According to a research conducted by Archer health increased in 2020 over 2019.
Daniels Midland (ADM), 31 per cent of consumers are
purchasing more items tailored for their health, and 50 Innova’s research also indicated that 54 per cent of
per cent report a preference for foods and beverages global consumers claimed to have spent time educating
that naturally contain beneficial ingredients. themselves on ingredients and procedures that could
boost their immune health in the wake of concerns over
Similarly, according to Innova’s Consumer Survey the pandemic. When asked which elements would be
2020, six out of ten global consumers are increasingly most important to achieve, immune health, choosing
looking for products that support their immune health, foods naturally high in nutrients such as vitamins,
minerals, antioxidants featured in the top three.

The desire to influence health and wellness through
foods and beverages is creating new opportunities for
nutrient-dense products with functional health benefits
aimed at supporting immune systems, enhancing mood
and sustaining energy. As a result, a number of Indian
companies are taking their cues from such shifts and are

20 COVER STORY NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

“The global health crisis planning their future products for the projected market
has changed consumer of 2021.
preferences in new
and unexpected In addition, we might also notice more companies
ways. We are seeing a coming out with products that contain ingredients with
heightened demand for foods an emphasis on reducing stress and improving sleep,
and beverages that support which is also linked to better mental health.
immune systems, enhance our mood and
reduce our environmental impact, driven in “The global health crisis has changed consumer
part by emerging human tensions.” preferences in new and unexpected ways. We are
seeing a heightened demand for foods and beverages
- Vince F Macciocchi, that support immune systems, enhance our mood
President, Nutrition, ADM, US and reduce our environmental impact, driven in part
by emerging human tensions. This has provided a
“In the present day unique opportunity for brands to develop disruptive
scenario, especially in new products that will forever change the way we eat
this unprecedented and drink. It’s going to be a year of innovation, marked
COVID-19 pandemic, by significant breakthroughs in nutrition”, says Vince F
micronutrients have Macciocchi, President, Nutrition, ADM, US.
a crucial role to play in
improving immunity levels According to the Business Research Company’s
in humans. Micronutrients with strongest Immunity Boosting Food Products Market Global Report
evidence for immune support are zinc, 2020-30, the global immunity boosting food products
vitamins C and D. Widespread deficiency of market is expected to reach $24.02 billion in 2023.
such micronutrients in the human population
has resulted in poor immunity to fight against In line with immunity, much required focus has also
diseases” been brought on the importance of micronutrients
in one’s diet. Since a daily intake of micronutrients is
- Dr Soumitra Das, necessary to support the immune function, the industry
Director, South Asia - Zinc Nutrient Initiative is likely to roll out a number of novel products enriched
with minerals and vitamins in order to re structure the
(International Zinc Association), New Delhi nutrition scenario in the country in 2021.

“The term nutraceuticals “In the present day scenario, especially in this
is often confused with unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, micronutrients
herbals and natural have a crucial role to play in improving immunity levels
products. However, in humans. Micronutrients with strongest evidence
nutraceuticals are for immune support are zinc, vitamins C and D.
biological products that not Widespread deficiency of such micronutrients in the
only act as supplements and human population has resulted in poor immunity to
additives but also prevent and cure different fight against diseases. Micronutrients are equally crucial
diseases. Awareness about the limitations for maintaining a sound mental health”, points out
of allopathic medicines and the desire for Dr Soumitra Das - Director, South Asia - Zinc Nutrient
preventive healthcare is making nutraceuticals Initiative (International Zinc Association), New Delhi.
extremely popular.”
Based on these observations, another major trend
- Gaurav Kaushik, expected in 2021, is the growth of the nutraceutical
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, industry. Widely known to boost immune systems
and serve as supplements to the regular diet, in order
Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad to tide over the nutritional deficiencies of the body,
nutraceuticals have the ability to serve as a healthy
solution against the regular drugs or medicines.

“The term nutraceuticals is often confused with
herbals and natural products. However, nutraceuticals
are biological products that not only act as supplements
and additives but also prevent and cure different
diseases. Awareness about the limitations of allopathic
medicines and the desire for preventive healthcare
is making nutraceuticals extremely popular. This is

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 21

“Although consumers “With this pandemic era,
have become it is vital to invest in
increasingly aware of solutions that will not
the environmental only help us survive
footprint of animal this crisis, but create a
protein, this awareness has more sustainable food system
grown significantly due to the in the process, in order to meet
current pandemic, which has underscored the demands of a growing global population.
the multitude of dangers of the current food We should utilize technology as a modern
system, from exacerbating climate change, way to help us enhance and simplify our food
food insecurity, antimicrobial resistance and business. The outcome nonetheless, from the
danger of emerging diseases.” automated technology is still controlled by
human interventions.”
- Varun Deshpande,
Managing Director, - Paras Budhiraja,
The Good Food Institute India, Mumbai Director, Paras Spices, Chandigarh

encouraging large multinationals as well as domestic catalysed digital transformation across various industries,
pharma and FMCG companies to enter the space”, says whether in terms of operations or connecting with the
Gaurav Kaushik, Managing Director & Chief Executive consumers.
Officer, Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad.
The F&B companies have opened their doors to new
Riding high on the need of holistic nutrition, technologies and mobile application based services
consumers are now increasingly powering up on leading to an immense transformation in how the
meat alternatives. A recent report published by the industry operates. Digitalisation can unlock unlimited
World Economic Forum has said that there is a surge in potential for F&B companies by enabling them to deliver
demand for plant-based protein foods in Asia because consumer preferred innovation, at a speed they never
COVID-19 has raised concerns over links between meat thought possible. It also helps to enhance productivity
consumption and viral diseases. and profit delivering top and bottom line results.

A latest development in this regard took place “With this pandemic era, it is vital to invest in
in Singapore in November this year, where the food solutions that will not only help us survive this crisis,
regulation authority has approved the sale of the first but create a more sustainable food system in the
meat cultivated from animal cells. The approval, granted process, in order to meet the demands of a growing
to global food technology company Eat Just, follows global population. With COVID-19 affecting skilled and
years of exploration in the alternative protein space and semi-skilled workers on process lines, the impetus for
careful consideration of the best approach for regulating sensor-driven, on-line quality and safety assurances,
cultivated meat, poultry, and seafood products. coupled with hygienic robotic automation of production
lines, will solve food security fears. We should utilize
“Although consumers have become increasingly technology as a modern way to help us enhance and
aware of the environmental footprint of animal protein, simplify our food business. The outcome nonetheless,
this awareness has grown significantly due to the current from the automated technology is still controlled by
pandemic, which has underscored the multitude of human interventions”, points out Paras Budhiraja,
dangers of the current food system, from exacerbating Director, Paras Spices, Chandigarh.
climate change, food insecurity, antimicrobial resistance
and danger of emerging diseases. India stands to benefit After addressing a mountain of challenges in 2020
immensely from these transformative technologies, with owing to the pandemic, the F&B industry has rewired
the promise of a highly sustainable, affordable supply its plans and goals in line with the new trends. As we
of protein to target malnutrition, and the creation of a step into 2021, NuFFooDS Spectrum brings to you
sunrise industry to support resilient, future-proof jobs”, the elaborate plans of the industry players that will
says Varun Deshpande, Managing Director, The Good keep them in-tune with immunity and health, the now
Food Institute India, Mumbai. avowed top priority for consumers for this year and
beyond.
Besides investing in developing novel and healthy
products, the F&B industry is equally gearing up for a Dr Manbeena Chawla
digital transformation in 2021. Although the pandemic [email protected]
has planted a bitter toll on the economy, it has also with inputs from Akshay Nayak & Nitin Konde

22 STARTUPS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

LOW FUNDING SHIFTS FOCUS TOWARDS HEALTH & WELLNESS SECTOR

Although over the last few months the startups space saw a tough time as funding ran low for many, few of them
have been supporting the health & wellness sector with innovative products such as health supplements, immunity

boosters, micronutrients rich alternatives etc. As a result, food based startups are making big plans for 2021.

“Preferring digital channel “Launching new product
for customer connection” line for children’s nutrition”

We see a big opportunity & growth With 2020 being a challenging year,
in health & wellness segments, we have geared up for an eventful
especially at the food supplement 2021. We have a lot of exciting

front. While we are learning from announcements coming up. We
this pandemic & have many big will soon be launching a new
plans planned for FY 21. We have category of made to order porridge
lined up some very interesting range for infants and toddlers.
product concepts & consumer friendly Available in 12 variants, this new
formats to be launched in 2021. We foresee a much product line by Timios has been designed keeping the
larger contribution to be coming from online business. nutritional requirements of children in mind, especially
Thus we have geared up our entire operations to cater to for children between the ages of 6 months to 2 years.
the large number of orders from multiple platforms.
Digital channel will be our preferred medium to connect Aswani Chaitanya,
with our customers and prospects. We want to reach out Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Timios, Bengaluru
to more and more customers and educate them about
ways of being healthy. Technology will play an important “Planning to expand internationally”
role and we are integrating some latest tools to connect
& cater to our customers. The company plans to open 250
stores by the end of 2021 and then
Vinay Jain, plans to expand internationally.
Chief Operating Officer, Onelife Nutriscience, Mumbai
After spreading our mantra of
“Bringing new mineral staying naturally high with healthy
catridge for drinking water” smoothies in the domestic market
by 2021, we aspire to launch over
We are looking forward to expanding 100 smoothie bars across 5 countries.
our geographical footprint by The growth plan also includes introducing smoothies
extending our services in all metro that have a higher shelf life and can be distributed at the
supermarkets in India.
cities in India and we’ll start with
Mumbai within the next 2 months. Samrat Reddy,
Currently, we are available in Founder & Managing Director,
Bengaluru and Hyderabad. We are Drunken Monkey, Hyderabad
coming up with the water quality map
of Bengaluru, which will tell people about the quality of
water in different regions of Bengaluru. We’ll make an all
India water quality map soon as we believe India needs
customized water purifiers. Our new product with a new
mineralizer will also be launched soon. The new mineral
cartridge is going to provide 100 per cent safe drinking
water. The mineral cartridge content will benefit the body
by providing calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium
in the drinking water. Long story short, this mineralizer
will bring a revolution to the water purifier business.

Manas Ranjan Hota,
Co-founder, DrinkPrime, Bengaluru

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in STARTUPS 23

“Shifting majorly to D2C channel” previously set goals. As per the future plans, currently we
would like to stick to our prevailing plans unless we get
We have recently announced our our business going in full flow. Before the pandemic hits
country wide expansion where we the nation, we had planned to penetrate our business
will be launching 50 stores across 15 deeper into the country and start operations in other
cities as well. So we would like to stick to that and if the
cities by the end of 2021. We aim to situation eases out and normalcy prevails, we will
majorly shift our channels from expand our wings to other towns and cities.
B2C to D2C, where we can have
direct access to our customers and Sriharsha Majety,
can develop close relations with them. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer,
As part of our expansion strategy, we are investing a total
of Rs 60 million, utilizing Rs 30 million to open 50 branded Swiggy, Bengaluru
and delivery only outlets and an equivalent balance
towards capacity expansion via enhancements within our “Expanding range of
factory, equipment and in warehousing. We also aim micronutrient rich food”
include an additional 15-20 products by the end of 2021,
all based on what the consumer has guided us to create We plan to expand the range of
during this lockdown period and are also aiming to launch micronutrient rich veggies and fruits
more flavors of butters and jams which can be perfectly and bring focus to the nutrition
paired with the breads and cakes for future.
topics impacted by a mix of items
Sneh Jain, consumed and the time lag from
Co-founder & Managing Director, harvest. We also plan to build more
education on contamination in the
The Baker's Dozen, Ahmedabad food space and dangerous impacts for
human health, and encourage at scale all modes of
“Building out our traceability zero-contamination farming and supply. We will expand
network with IoT” operations to more cities, and continue to offer the
widest range of zero-contamination veggies and food
We plan to significantly build out essentials in all cities.
our traceability network via a
demand-backwards go-to-market Vishal Narayanaswamy,
Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer- Supply,
strategy, powered by our IoT
Digital Access Network. We aim to Gourmet Garden, Chennai
cover more farmers with our
value-added services like farm
improvement, cattle nutrition, credit,
and insurance alongside our other milk flow services to
farmers. This will enable us to deliver better purity index,
freshness index & assurance index across the dairy
supply chain - from the farm to the consumers.

Ranjith Mukundan,
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Stellapps, Bengaluru

“Expanding operations to more cities”

The pandemic has taught us that we
can never let our guard down and
start following unhealthy lifestyle.

For instance, now many people
have reduced their daily intake of
salt and sugar as now they are
aware that these elements affect
their immunity drastically. Also, we
thank god that our business has started coming back on
the track and we are almost there to achieve our

24 STARTUPS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

“Importing technologies
to improve product quality”

Like everyone, we are also planning
to sprawl our nexus but it all
depends on the situation as the

picture is still not clear. Since we
are focusing more on providing
high quality milk to our customers,
we have partnered with a German
company that is providing us with a
technical assistance to ensure that our farm remains tech
connected. Even providing fit bits for cows has been
their contribution. With Israeli technology, we are able to
provide the best health care facilities and a clean,
balanced nutritious diet – which many farms do not
focus on. So in the coming years too, we keep this tech
cycle going and keep on importing technologies from
other countries which can further improve the quality of
our products.

Mehal Kejriwal,
Co-Founder, Happy Milk, Bengaluru

“Introducing nutritional drinks” “Hoping to launch new products”

Opening Enlightlife Experience Since the start of the lockdown our
Centers where consumers can company has seen it as an
experience where they stand opportunity to diversify and build

currently in terms of their BMR our product base as well as
and what they need to improvise venture into new businesses.
the same. We will also be opening a While working from home we have
QSR and introducing nutritional looked into ideas to develop and
drinks, lattes, and increasing the reach since getting back to work have put a
online and offline through weltreprenuers. few to the test, with the progress we have observed.
Hopefully by 2021 we will have a few products to launch.
M L Amarnath,
Founder & Chief Promoter, Sarah D'souza,
Enlight Life Science, Bengaluru Director & Co-Founder, Biosyl Technologies, Hubli

“Expanding & crossing boundaries” “Introducing new flavours & products”

The plans have always been to start Going forward, we hope to have our
small but to think big. We started own facility in 2021 and become
small from Delhi as our home truly Atmanirbhar. Introduce new
flavors to our existing product lines
ground and a few accounts and and introduce new products into
before we knew we did make a the markets that we have developed
mark in Delhi NCR. The plans for in the last Q2, 2020.
2021 are surely to cross boundaries
and launch it in many more states pan Mathew Chacko,
India along with opening international markets focused Managing Director, Athletebit Healthcare, Mysuru
on Middle East and South East Asia. Also, the plan is to get
more SKUs in the market in order to increase the portfolio.

Ankur Chawla,
Co-Founder, Responsible Whatr, New Delhi

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in STARTUPS 25

of 2021 and attain pole position in at least 4 product
categories on digital channels. We also intend to pioneer
new product lines using ancient grains which India has
not seen in common use. We anticipate at least 5 new
product launches through the year, with deeper focus on
range extensions of the current products. 2021 can only
be better, much better to 2020 and we are well prepared
to take advantage of the improving situation.

Harshavardhan,
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder,

Lil'Goodness, Bengaluru

“Going deeper into immunity offerings” “Strengthening our
product and technology”
We will continue to expand on our
lineup of customized ayurvedic The health and nutrition industry in
regimen bringing in more particular could bounce back
sooner because with the pandemic,
customized and effective solutions
that address customer’s concerns people are now more than ever
and more importantly a holistic focusing on their diet, nutrition
wellness. We are launching intake and how possibly they can
customized ayurvedic skincare boost their immunity and overall
solutions by year end. We will also be going deeper into health. We have seen a 3X growth in
our hair regimen and immunity offerings. the last 6 months which is driven by more and more
consumers adopting a holistic and clean lifestyle. We
Chaitanya Nallan, expect continued growth for plant-based nutrition and
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, products in the coming months too as there is increased
awareness about its benefits. Our plans will continue to
Vedix, Hyderabad focus on meeting the needs of the ever evolving
consumer requirements. Along with new product
launches, we will also be focusing on strengthening our
product and technology.

Aarti Gill,
Co-founder, OZiva, Mumbai

“Pioneering new product
lines using ancient grains”

The future definitely looks brighter
as more people get used to the new
normal post COVID, we intend to

scale our business 10x. We will
expand our operations from 3
cities to 5 cities, while deepening
our reach within each city. We
intend to reach 1000 stores by the end

26 F&B PROCESSING NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

REWRITING BUSINESS STRATEGIES BY
INCORPORATING INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

The food & beverage (F&B) processing companies faced significantly reduced consumption of products as well as
disrupted supply chains in 2020. But the companies gradually took notice of the changing trends and started rewriting

their business strategy by incorporating innovation and technology, and are all set with new plans for 2021.

“Providing healthier snacking options” “Augmenting existing
manufacturing capacities”
We have been extremely lucky to not
have been adversely affected by this We plan to invest Rs 2600 crore over
pandemic. We are seeing growth and the next three to four years to
augment our existing
we have already identified the areas
we would like to focus in 2021. The manufacturing capacities, as well
customer is moving to packed food as towards our new under
and to be able to provide them new construction state of the art factory
and more variants of products is going in Sanand, Gujarat.
to be our top priority. We are looking at multiple new
products and R&D for the same is already underway. With Suresh Narayanan,
the launch of multigrain chips, we are focusing on Chairman and Managing Director,
providing healthier snacking options. We shall be
penetrating deeper to tier 2 & 3 cities along with rural. We Nestlé India, Gurugram
plan to have more digital and technological interventions
for our supply chain and sales force to equip ourselves and “Introducing innovative variants”
provide exceptional service. We are planning to bring
about multiple products for both the domestic and We will be focusing on
international markets. Our aim is to develop the segment strengthening our paste
and meet the customer demands in times to come. category by introducing a new
and innovative variant. Also, we
Manish Aggarwal, will be launching a new product
Director, Bikano- Bikanervala Foods, New Delhi in the handmade papad category
and by introducing more
“Ready for continuous varieties in the papad segment, we
transformation towards automation” will provide our customers with more snacking
choices. We also have plans to introduce
Gemini Edibles & Fats (GEF) India is complementary products in the chutney category to
presently operating on 100 per cent ensure that our customers use safer products made
capacity utilization. We with quality ingredients in the most hygienic way
and continue to cook at home.
commissioned our state-of-the-art
plant in Kakinada which is built Sanjana Desai,
over 12 acres. It is the largest private Executive Director, Mother’s Recipe - Desai Foods, Pune
sector investment in Kakinada. The
facility will help us support the “Adding more products to our basket”
increased demand for Freedom, streamline the
distribution. We are exploring the opportunities to set up A lesson learnt in 2020 is that
another new refinery on the east cost of India, which are you have to be in the essential
going to increase our capacity of producing Freedom commodities list, and your
Healthy Cooking Oil. We are ready for our continuous product should be a must
transformation towards automation & will keep our have product rather than just
consumers assured of the safe, hygienic and contact-less a nice to have product. In 2021,
practices that prioritise their health over anything else. we plan to add few more
products to our basket such as
P Chandra Shekhara Reddy, bakery, snacks and dairy products.
Vice President Sales & Marketing,
Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils- GEF India, Hyderabad Nilesh Lele,
Director, Exelon Foodbio Advisors, Mumbai

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in F&B PROCESSING 27

“Entering new markets” “Touching new geography”

The disruption from COVID-19 We have some major plans for
puts the industry at an exciting 2021. We will be opening many
tipping point. There is significant new verticals as we will be

opportunity for improving the touching much new geography.
way Indians experience meat We want to expand our la
and Nandu’s has been filling that Americana segment and make our
gap in the market. The current presence felt pan-India from the
situation has accelerated that North Indian region. As we have been
process. We aim to strengthen our position in the working tirelessly from over four decades to cater to
industry by entering new markets, such as the growing demands of the consumers, we want to
Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kochi. By make our products so nutritious and healthy that we
March 2021, we plan to launch another 26 new become India's number one and the most preferred
outlets and within three years, the target is to have consumer brand. We are working to build our internal
650 Nandu’s stores across India. We have plans to system and processes so that we can be ahead of the
scale up operations and enhance our product market trends.
portfolio to meet the growing customer demands.
We have realized that brands need to invest in Amrinder Singh,
value-added products that not only rank high on Director, Bonn Group of Industries, Ludhiana
convenience, but also on taste. The key is to truly
listen to customers and cater to their evolving needs. “Creating brand space”
Currently, we are growing at 2.5x. For the next
financial year, our target is to grow 3x times. It is very hard to predict what will
happen in the future due to the
Narendra Pasuparthy, current situation. We are heavily
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Nandu’s, Bengaluru
concentrating on creating a
“Communicating immunity branding space in most of the
capabilities of our products” retail outlets. We are doing a lot of
indoor and outdoor branding
We aim to emerge as the most around these outlets. The key to
preferred food brand in India, and existing in the current market is to think differently and
we will continue to work towards especially for a new brand like us, we have to convince
that. We have been constantly the consumer that we have a very good product. These
expanding our product portfolio are things which have worked for us so far!
across categories. We launched
sugar just a few months back, Archit Goel,
which was followed by Ready-To- Director, Goel Frozen Foods, Raipur
Cook Soya chunkies recently. We will continue to
innovate and expand our portfolio and offerings to “Setting up new facilities”
meet the growing requirements and expectations of
customers. We are also educating consumers on We are planning to set up new
immunity capabilities in our edible oils. We are already facilities in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil
communicating about the immunity-boosting Nadu, and Bihar, while also
nutrients such as vitamins A and D in our range of
refined edible oils such as soyabean, sunflower and expanding manufacturing
the superfood health benefits of other products like capabilities of our existing plants
khichdi which has goodness of millets like ragi, flax, in Maharashtra and Odisha. Our
sesame, jowar & bajra. Moreover, Fortune Rice Bran Oil dairy backend is expected to be
is rich in natural antioxidants which helps in boosting commercialized in FY 22-23. We are
immunity. evaluating co-packing opportunities in Africa. We are
also monitoring consumer insights & behavior which
Ajay Motwani, will be suitably incorporated in our medium-term
Head of Marketing, Adani Wilmar, Hyderabad strategy.

Varun Berry,
Managing Director, Britannia Industries, Bengaluru

28 F&B PROCESSING NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

“Putting expansion plans in place” “Strengthening online presence”

Riding on a strong performance We had big plans for FY20-21 which
during FY20-21, we have put in have been subdued due to the
place an ambitious growth and ongoing crisis. However, we are

expansion plans to expand into quite sure to initiate most of them
geographies beyond Tamil Nadu. in 2021. Launch of new variants,
One of the significant steps that entering new geographies and
Annapoorna has taken is to spruce strengthening our presence online
up its modern trade channel of are some of the big push that we have
distribution and expand into other markets like in store.
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. Our
vision is to be present in 20+ major cities in the country S Shriram,
by the end of the financial year. Vice President Marketing and Sales,

Vijay Prasad, Levista Coffee, Chennai
Executive Director,
Annapoorna Masalas & Spices, Hyderabad

“Making popcorn a mainstream snack”

Our plans in 2021 is to make
popcorn a mainstream snack
and reach every household. We
wish to elevate the popcorn
eating experience by
providing a multitude of
flavours in popcorn.

Vikas Suri,
Chief Executive Officer,
Popcorn & Co, New Delhi

“Strengthening network “Setting up new manufacturing facility”
of training centers”
We have plans to set up a new
India is a market with its manufacturing facility in financial
fundamentals intact. For 2021, we year 2020-21 as the company
expect the channels & sectors to
expects significant pick-up for its
open back with a renewed vigor. products. Besides, the company
We are looking at strengthening expects to touch the Rs 100-crore
our network of training centers in turnover mark by the end of the
India & launching a range of year on the back of product and
products, especially for the hospitality distribution network expansion. Apart from a new plant,
industry. We are witnessing rapid growth in tier-II cities we would also be expanding our manufacturing capacity
& are expanding our distributor network to cater to from 300 tonnes of nachos every month to 500 tonnes in
these geographies. In retail, we expect a sustained the Roorkee plant. Our plans to foray into tier-II and
momentum in e-commerce and are having attractive tier-III cities, to enter non-corn-based snacks category
launches in the pipeline. In the corporate space, the and launch a new range of snacks will help us achieve
contact-free coffee machines that we have developed, our sales target. On the export market side, we hope to
expected to be huge draws in enabling India to get tap more European and Asian markets this year. At
back to its workspaces, with more confidence than present, Cornitos is exported to over 30 global markets.
before.
Vikram Agarwal,
Jai Ganesh Ramnath, Managing Director,
Managing Director, Lavazza India, Chennai Cornitos- Greendot Health Foods, New Delhi

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in NUTRITION 29

GROWING INTEREST IN IMMUNE HEALTH TO BE A TOP FOCUS

COVID-19 was a reminder that health can change at any time. As a result, consumers started taking more supplements
to support their immune health in 2020. This growing interest in immune health will continue to be a top focus of the

nutrition based companies in 2021.

“Investing in “Making our products accessible
fermentation-based ingredients” across leading metropolitans”

Malnutrition or lack of micronutrients When it comes to organic food, the
has always been a key challenge in Indian market has a great scope for
India, which was propelled further brands to explore and innovate. We

into the limelight during the hope to utilize the market’s
pandemic. Tata Chemicals, through interest in our product, to educate
its Nutrition Science business, Tata consumers on how healthy and
NQ, supported by a multidisciplinary tasty can be synonymous. Our
team of scientists is developing food efforts going forward will focus on
fortification premixes to ensure availability of healthy food aggressive sampling, distribution expansion, new
and have already launched micronutrient premixes for product development and establishing a team of
fortification of milk, oil, flour and rice. In 2021, we aim to professionals who believe in our vision. Our expansion
improve the overall health index of the country. Our efforts will be focused towards making our products
business outlook for this segment is focused on investing accessible across leading metropolitans in the country.
in fermentation-based ingredients for food, feed and
pharma. The company’s current offering includes prebiotic Seema Jindal Jajodia,
(scFOS) which supports gut health and provides multiple Founder, Nourish Organics, New Delhi
formulation opportunities. We are also advancing the
technological shift in the industry by exploring new ways “Raising awareness on
of delivering high quality natural extracts for food and micronutrients for immunity”
pharma industry. Also, given the current scenario,
opportunities for nutraceutical companies will only DSM will continue its efforts to
amplify, particularly in the area of immunity & gut health. increase accessibility of food
fortification products while working
K R Venkatadri,
Chief Operating Officer - Nutrition Sciences, towards addressing the challenges
of malnutrition in India.
Tata Chemicals, Mumbai Concurrently, we will continue to
raise the awareness of the role of
“Doubling down on our marketing efforts” micronutrients in immunity
development.
Having built a strong portfolio of
products Soulfull would look to Raj Sahetiya,
continue it's aggressive growth Senior Business Director, DSM, Human
Nutrition & Health India/ South Asia, Mumbai
across channels alongside building
a sound digital brand presence. In
our purpose to spread our message
of health via smart food millets in
tasty and innovative formats from kids
to adults, we aim to reach as many Indian households and
convert as many Soulfull families. With the pandemic
defining a new normal for all businesses and brands, we
are confident that as a good-for-you food & beverages
brand, we will be able to double down on our marketing
efforts continuing our aggressive growth trajectory.

Prashant Parameswaran,
Managing Director, Soulfull- Kottaram Agro, Bengaluru

30 NUTRITION NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

“Establishing presence in other markets” “Making forays into
bigger international markets”
We plan to establish our
presence in other markets in Although we have had to modify
2021, especially since the some of our plans for 2021 on
account of the pandemic this year,
significance of immunity in
safeguarding people’s health most of our goals remain
has been the primary concern. unchanged. We’ll be launching a
We will continue to work wide range of new and innovative
towards our aim to make a products in various sectors. We are
significant difference in the nutrition domain with working to increase our workforce and
Nu-Shakti emerging as an essential product for every expand the Pure Nutrition brand, making forays into
household in India. bigger international markets. To this end, we are already
working on acquiring the requisite international
Amit Bose, certifications for our products, for which we are expanding
Business Head, Project Mandi, DSM India, New Delhi our workforce with highly trained, skilled, and
knowledgeable professionals who can use their skill sets
“Promoting principles of Ayurveda” for the betterment of the brand. Strong marketing
strategies are being designed to increase brand awareness
We have observed that there is and recall. In-depth market analysis and brand studies are
a lot of misunderstanding and being done to understand and meet the consumer need
confusion in the field of health. and demand. We are vigorously working towards reaching
Proper education is the only our goal which is to provide our consumers with products
way to dispel the ignorance that cater to their needs and expectations, both in the
and misunderstanding in this domestic as well as international markets.
area. For this purpose, we are
planning to conduct a series of Sushil Khaitan,
webinars, publishing articles, talk shows and other Chief Executive Officer & Director,
mediums to promote the principles of ayurveda
and yoga. Purenutrition.in, Bengaluru

Anand Srivastava, “Expanding our offering
Chairman, Maharishi Ayurveda, Noida through multiple channels”

“Reaching out to consumers directly” The belief in traditional medicine has
suddenly gained momentum again as
Consumers’ need to have access we are witnessing people consuming
to safe and hygienic fruits has
seen massive shift and has more and more herbal concussions
made from the likes of tulsi, giloy,
created huge opportunity for turmeric, honey etc. in 20201, we will
Kimaye which follows be expanding our offerings through
international best practices on multiple channels online and offline. The
providing certified safe fruits from focus in the next half of the year will be to build our
farm-to-home. This has led to fast presence and credibility on market-places like Amazon,
tracking our plans of reaching out to the consumers Flipkart, 1mg and obviously, our brand website www.
directly. We recently launched our e-commerce portal purecise.in. By doing so, we will be able to reach the
‘Kimaye.com’ to ensure our brand Kimaye is reaching masses and are hoping that Purecise can create an impact
to consumers directly in India. We have also recently like no other brand has done before. We pride ourselves on
launched out FruitRoute programme that provides 100 the quality of ingredients used and the authenticity of
per cent transparency to consumers across the world labelling. We claim only what we put inside our bottles and
to know which location, farm and farmer was the fruit packets, unlike others who are adopting means that may
produced and how it travelled to the consumer on a be unethical as our studies and research have shown.
single scan from her/his phone.
Vaibhav Garg,
Pankaj Khandelwal, Clinical and Sports Nutritionist & Founder,
Chairman and Managing Director, InI Farms, Mumbai
Purecise, Gurugram

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in NUTRITION 31

“Keeping R&D plans on track” “Increase business in nutraceuticals
& dietary supplements”
We are an international B2B health
& wellness focused business and We have strong focus on
luckily many of our markets were nutraceutical and dietary
supplements industry, which is
not very badly affected by this
pandemic. This robustness gives growing fast globally. With our
confidence to keep our R&D & spiceuticals portfolio focusing on
other new plans on track for 2021 immunity and other nutritional
and beyond. The ideas, learnings and benefits, we will be introducing more
partnerships forged in 2020 should serve us well in the new products with good research
coming years. First half of 2021 will continue to have publications and global patents. Our aim is to increase
COVID dynamics affecting business plans but we are the business in the nutraceutical and dietary supplements
now better prepared for adapting to stay on course. to 50 per cent of our whole business, which is currently
The real big plans for 2021 will better kick-in during the about 25 per cent. We believe this strong focus on value
second half as better clarity emerges of the post COVID added spiceuticals range of products will definitely give us
world. good top line growth and better margins.

Amol Pathak, Dr Balu Maliakel,
Director- Business & Strategy, Managing Director, Akay Natural Ingredients, Ernakulam

Enovate Biolife, Mumbai “Strengthening our
existing portfolio of products”
“Bringing Ayurveda in
mainstream medical system” New and innovative products have
been a cornerstone of Arjuna Natural.
We continue the work started in We look forward to strengthening
2020 and push towards expanding
our ayurvedic direct to consumer our existing portfolio of products,
especially BCM-95 and SHODEN
initiatives. We will bring a few which have been in great demand
more innovative natural by supporting customers with more
products from our ethical adaptations. To this extent, we have
portfolio to the D2C channels already developed effective formulations which can be
leveraging the digital assets we have launched by consumer-facing organisations. These
been building. Our focus on marketing the need for products as drinks, energy bars or chocolates can deliver
immunity shall be amplified as we believe that as a immunity supporting proven products like BCM-95 to the
population we cannot afford our health to be masses. The interest and market for drinks, soups,
vulnerable to another viral attack in the future. Our chocolates and other formats which incorporate proven
cosmeceutical portfolio will also see new introductions trustable products is very high as consumers are today
for better skin and hair care at home, with or without very enlightened and are not taken in bypassing on
dermatology consultations. There will be much focus ineffective substitutes. Besides we are also working to
on consumer education & awareness. We want to meet the increasing demand for our products and
create a special status to our portfolio of products so enhancing capacities. This will help us, not just meet the
that we can bring ayurvedic and herbal medicines in existing demand, but also give room to expand our
mainstream medical system. portfolio of products and services.

Chintan Gandhi, Dr Benny Anthony,
Chief Executive Officer & Director, Joint Managing Director, Arjuna Natural, Ernakulam
Millennium Herbal Care, Mumbai

32 NUTRACEUTICALS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

BUILDING IMMUNITY IS FINDING AN INCREASING ACCEPTANCE

The current pandemic has turned everyone’s attention towards the role of nutraceuticals in building immunity.
Nutraceuticals are now finding an increasing acceptance in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases,
degenerative diseases, lifestyle management and wellness due to a new awakening and awareness amongst people.

“Strengthening “Working on formulation with antiviral ability”
nutraceutical portfolio”
We are working on a formulation with
The traditional product potent immunomodulation and antiviral
life cycle concept will ability. In-vitro experiments have yielded
be even more
positive results on immunomodulatory
challenged due to potential and it has been under rigorous
pandemic. To be in evaluation for efficacy and safety in the
line with the trend, we animal models. Several clinicals are in the
are planning to launch works looking at this and other indicative
new products to cater areas for human health.
new demands especially to take care of post
– infection recovery and also immunity Dr Muhammed Majeed,
boosters, antioxidants and anti-obesity Founder & Chairman, Sami-Sabinsa Group, Bengaluru
drinks to meet the requirement of all age
groups, including the cardio-diabetic “Getting driven by new age technology”
segment. We need to further fragment
interaction models as customers’ experience Few of our big plans in store for
new journeys. Conducting more online/ 2021 are expansion of our portfolio
virtual interactions. We need to initiate more driven by new age technology;
clinical studies and plan collaboration
between academia and company to category expansion; and launch of
catalyze more research works. Together we new and innovative products.
need to explore contingencies to quickly
recover from any potential disruption in Sushant Raorane,
clinical trials in the future. Exploring new Co-founder & Director,
opportunities for our flagship brand Adroit Biomed, Thane
Botropase by conducting multicenter
studies.

Rajesh Jagdale,
Managing Director,
Jagdale Industries, Bengaluru

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SUPPLIERS 33

CHANGING CONSUMER PREFERENCES BRING IN SUPPLIER SECTOR

The pandemic has ushered in a new era of food safety. Although there is no evidence to suggest that consuming
food is associated with COVID‐19, its impact on food safety and security has been grave. This has also led to changing
consumer preferences moving more towards packaged food. This has set in new plans & trends for the supplier sector

associated with the food industry.

“Developing methodologies to assess food safety”

With respect to the food segment, we have always been at the forefront of food testing
technologies. Our focus has been on providing complete workflow solutions to our customers that
helps them deliver food, produce and beverages of consistent quality and uncompromising

safety, and meet the stringent guidelines laid down by agencies like FSSAI, EU, FDA, APEDA, EIC
etc. The consumer demand for health foods as well as packaged food has grown during 2020. We
can foresee a growth in these segments. Agilent has developed robust workflows for the analysis
of fortified food and nutraceuticals. We will continue our efforts in developing efficient
methodologies for identifying adulterants, estimating nutritional value and quantifying contaminants
and residues in food to assess the safety and quality of food products.

Bharat Bhardwaj,
Country General Manager – India, Agilent Technologies, New Delhi

“Ensuring food safety “Strengthening sales across categories”
with advanced technologies”
We are working on consolidation for at least
In 2021, Thermo another year before we look at new
Fisher aims to diversification from current business activities.
strengthen its
Strengthening sales across our varied product
commitment categories and posting consistent growth in
towards the our manufacturing business is the focus.
food and
beverage Raghav Gupta,
industry with Director, Kanchan Metals, New Delhi
advanced technologies and best-in
class kits to provide safer, more “Producing specialty glass for high-end liquor segment”
nutritious, and better-informed
choices for its customers. For With the investment of Rs 220 crore, we are
instance, the introduction of foraying into the production of specialty glass, at
RapidFinder Halal ID Kit and a new greenfield facility in Bhongir, Telangana.
RapidFinder Vegan ID Kit, plays a
significant role in identification of The specialty glass will allow us to service new
meat species present in food samples section of customers like cosmetics and
or for verification of the origin and perfumery in addition to the high-end liquor
traceability of raw materials in segment. It is one big step closer to strengthens
processed foods. Both kits use our footprint in the glass packaging industry.
real-time PCR and the test results
from the samples are highly sensitive Rajesh Khosla,
and generated in a day. These kits will President & Chief Executive Officer, AGI Glaspac, Hyderabad
help bring down contamination and
increase transparency between the
buyer and the food seller.

Amit Chopra,
Managing Director, India and Middle
East, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Mumbai

34 EVENT REPORT NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Agro Food Processing Virtual Summit 2020

India needs 500 food parks
and not 37: Nitin Gadkari
To discuss benefits of food processing to farmers,
challenges faced by farmers in food processing In his presidential address Nitin Gadkari,
and way forward for homegrown processed Minister for Road Transport Highways
foods in India and abroad, the Agro Food Processing and MSME, Government of India,
Virtual Summit 2020, was held on December 15 & 16, New Delhi urged Narendra Singh
2020. Organised by Agrovision Foundation, MM Activ Tomar to look at making farming
Sci-Tech Communications and Ministry of Micro, Small more viable for the farmers by
and Medium Enterprises (MSME), marked the esteemed engaging in incentivising electricity for
presence of Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport them as required for that of cold storage
Highways and MSME, Government of India and needs and other farming-related purposes. As the food
Narender Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Food processing industry is a massive-employment-creating
Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India and one and holds great demand from the consumer side,
were joined by other industry stalwarts to voice their there is a need to bridge the supply-demand gap, and
views on the many shortcomings and opportunities India needs 500 food parks and not 37.
that India particularly is faced with, in a bid to remain
competitive in the global processed food market. In his inaugural address, Narender Singh
Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and
Ravi Boratkar, President, Agrovision Food Processing Industries (MoFPI),
Foundation, Publisher, AgroSpectrum, Government of India, New Delhi
in his welcome address said “We said “Our country has small and
shall have meaningful deliberations marginalised farmers in the higher
with the major policy makers and number who fail to seek benefits of the
a healthy mix of speakers from government schemes. However, Farmer
the industry. The other speakers Producer Organization (FPO) will bring some relief to
will also voice their demands from the them. If the warehouse, cold storage, etc., are placed
government for the betterment of the sector. This closer to the farmers, it will help in their benefit. Our
platform will indeed be ideal for to-be entrepreneurs in country is dependent on agriculture largely for which
agriculture.” the village industry and agricultural sector need to be
promoted more.”

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EVENT REPORT 35

He also assured that the issues raised by farmers and highly profitable. The new three Farm Bills will have a
industry will be discussed through a joint conference to good impact once they are made into Act for all, the
be arranged, which will have key decision-makers from farmers, consumers, investors, etc.
MoFPI to try and address the electricity-related and
other apprehensions faced by the farmers. Sharing his thoughts Dr Tarun Bajaj,
Director, Agricultural and Processed
The two day summit has technical sessions such Food Products Export Development
as Opportunities in Food Processing, Food Safety and Authority (APEDA), New Delhi said
Quality Issues in Food Processing, Issues of Marketing that a food trade worth $1600 billion
& Exports of Processed Foods, Role of Food Parks in happens globally. “We as a country
Promoting Processed Food, Food Processing Machinery have great potential to tap this space.
and Technology, Food Losses Wastage and Technology to Volume trade of commodities only happens at large
Mitigate Them. which is a global pull factor. We need not decelerate
this, but value-added product exports are what we
Moderating the session on Opportunities in Food must encourage more in India. The whole value chain
Processing, Dr C D Mayee, Chairman, needs to be developed to have this in place. Web-based
Advisory Council, Agrovision, while traceability in organics is pioneered in India in which
noting that the agro-processing APEDA played an important role. European Union has
industry in India is growing at 14 inked MoU with us due to the same reason. We have
per cent cumulatively, he asked invited 50 chefs from all over the world and asked them
the panelists that how can India as to make their regional dish using Indian ingredients. 50
a country set a mark on the global journalists from those countries were also invited and
processed food canvas right from looking asked to cover it. Basmati is not just used in Biryani but
at the policy reforms to technological assistance in food could be used in their other delicacies too. We aim to
processing. attract more eyes for not just raw products but value-
added products for exports,” he added.
Talking on the subject, Manoj Joshi,
Additional Secretary, MOFPI, New Sanjay Singhal, Chief Operating Officer,
Delhi said that Mega Food Parks have Dairy & Beverages, ITC, Bangalore
been established in almost all the opined that at ITC, they believe
states wherein an industrial estate there is a huge potential for food
offers a multitude of solutions to processing. The small percentage
the farmers to process their produce. of the packaged food industry, the
Agriculture production clusters is another food processing industry has the
scheme that benefits the farmers. Fruits and vegetables highest employment potential and
processing has a lot of scope as it is a win-win for a very important role to play in raising health and
everyone right from the investors setting up the cold nutrition standards in the country. In conjunction with
storage chains, to the farmers and the consumers. Apart Atmanirbhar Bharat, ITC has engaged with farmers
from cereals, fruits, vegetables and allied products are looking that farmers’ challenges are to be met. ITC is
largely working in social investments. “There are a couple
of challenges – first the fact that we are the second-
largest fruits and veggies producers but there is a lot
of wastage at farms and cold storage, the underlying
reason being the supply chain still not being in line
with what is needed. The consumption of fruit juices,
although high, the fruits used in it don’t come from India.
We need to look at how to create USP for Indian produce
just to see how Quinoa made such wonders across the
world,” he added.

Prasad P, Vice President, Food and
Agribusiness Strategic Advisory and
Research (FASAR), Yes Bank, Mumbai
spoke about how banks play a crucial
role in helping owners to set up the
food parks with the kind of capital

36 EVENT REPORT NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

investment that it desires. Debt is the only best worker excelled. Food is really important and so is its processing.
and financial institutions like Yes Bank are quite well More and more startups should be handheld and
funding the dairy and aqua industries, etc. supported. “We need to know the market demand i.e.
quality, standards, etc. In millets, many startups are
Dr M R Dinesh, Director, ICAR- coming in this space, who have an excellent research
Indian Institute of Horticulture study to bank on for the success of their product.
Research (IIHR), Bangalore voiced Meghalaya markets their turmeric very well. Supporting
views on how for a longer sustaining more startups will in turn increase or at least assure fair
product, to make the shelf life of income of the farmers with a rise in demand for their
the processed foods is shifting focus produce,” he added.
for farmers to get into cultivating more
quality-driven variants of crops over quantity. “We did Moderating a session on Food Safety
initially start building programmes for developing high- and Quality Issues in Food Processing
yield crops but we have now moved to more disease-free Neerja Hajela, Head of Science
varieties. Pro bio pomegranate and pro bio mango are and Regulatory Affairs at Yakult
some of the crops we are actively looking at now. Pro bio Danone India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi,
pomegranate has a good shelf life of over 3-4 months said, “Growing crops and selling them
without adding sugar after being processed. With the in the market is not profitable for the
use of tech, osmotically dehydrated products are what farmers. Hence food processing is very
we have come out with. We are also launching probiotic crucial for increasing farmer income and bringing more
drinks made with pineapples. Amaranth with low oxalate value-added products and create further employment.
could be consumed by kidney diseased consumers. Our Food is a major determinant of health. Globally
custard apple variant is used in ice creams. Many such foodborne illness is a major concern. Food safety and
examples are showing that the crop preference trends quality have gained significance across the world.” In the
have changed to quality over quantity when it comes to wake of the recent adulteration reports, she asked the
processed food segment,” he added. panelists about ways to combat food adulteration.

Giving a take on how the Ministry Harinder Singh Oberoi, Head,
of Agriculture will help in surplus Division of Post Harvest Technology
management Dr Malhotra, and Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-
Commissioner, Ministry of Indian Institute of Horticulture
Agriculture, New Delhi said “Our Research (IIHR), Bangalore said that
food processing of agri produce is the country needs to have many more
only limited at 10 per cent. Post-harvest food testing labs for testing adulterants
losses are occurring; farmers are not and contaminants. Adulteration cannot be controlled
getting the right price for which food processing comes
as the right solution. We have to look at how special
variants are grown for increased food processing of the
foods. However, food processing alone will not resolve
the issue for which government of India is establishing
1000 farmers producer organisations (FPO). Here farmers
will be empowered where small and marginalised
farmers will come together and be entrepreneurs.
Government of India is already strengthening the
Agricultural Produce & Livestock Market Committee
(APMCs). One district one product is the programme
that government of India will shortly start. IndGAP (India
Good Agricultural Practices) is also being benchmarked.”

Dr Prabodh Halde, Head-Technical
Regulatory Affairs, Marico, Mumbai
highlighted how the young startups
can work in favour to leverage India’s
food processing position on the
global map. In this pandemic – only
the food and pharma industries

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EVENT REPORT 37

only by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Innovation is the key to be sustainable given the record
(FSSAI). State food-testing labs need to work with FSSAI high malnutrition cases in the world further accelerated
and conduct rapid food testing. “As a regulator FSSAI by the pandemic. Historically there has been low
has to be strict, there must be strict punishment for investment in agro-businesses.”
perpetrators deliberately using adulterants, whereas in
the case of contaminants like pesticides, etc, we need to Shashikant Kekare, Joint
sensitise the public institutions,” he added. Commissioner, Food & Drug
Administration, Mumbai said
Dr Rubeena Shaheen, Director, Science & “Consumers are more concerned
Standards, Food Safety and Standards about food safety; hence our role
Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi has increased. Safe and nutritious
noted about the many programmes food is important. In the last 250 days,
that the food regulator is engaging FDA Maharashtra has been working for
in, to bring food safety and quality consumers’ interests. Farming, agro-processing, and food
to centre stage. “The East Right India processing are in huge demand and people
movement communicates to the are shifting to these products.
masses to eat safe, eat healthy and eat
sustainably, which are the three pillars of the movement. Bhagirath Chaudhari, Founder
It is how we are doing our bit in spreading awareness. Director, South Asia Biotechnology
FSSAI is also networking with institutions to give us Centre, New Delhi moderated a
a scientific opinion on it. We have created one more session on Issues of Marketing &
network of professionals working in food, wherein they Exports of Processed Foods.
will help us with the food and nutrition security in the
country,” she said. Piruz Khambatta, CMD, Rasna Group
(Pioma Industries Limited), Ahmedabad
Dr Raghaw Rao, Ex-Director, Central said “The much-debated Farm Bills
Food Technological Research Institute are in the right direction but have
(CFTRI), Mysuru said “The pandemic come in too late. In 1991, I entered
is worse, globally everybody is the business when the country was
impacted. The most impacted are crying, and where the reforms were
farmers, who are 50 per cent of brought in to tackle the financial stress
the workforce in the country. The but the agro reforms were shelved then. Making India
context in which we are talking, natural the food factory of the world is the way forward. Right
resources are depleting. Innovation can make agri- from interest-free loans, development of Khadi, 30,000
foods processing more robust. Wellness and health. additional loans to the farmers, PM Kisan Fund, promotion
of herbal cultivation and the changes in the Acts will be in
benefit of the farmers. Labour reforms in terms of ESIC, PF
will increase with the reforms. The biggest opportunity is
the rural markets. We are making food products, especially
for rural areas. Companies like us believe in fostering
entrepreneurship. It is the job of big players to work
in partnership with the other players so it is a win-win
situation. Not many big players think they need to go out
and concentrate on going out of the countries.”

To achieve tremendous growth in exports Dr M.
Angamuthu, Chairman, Agricultural and Processed
Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),
New Delhi said “It is a collective effort. We did reach
out to our farmers and exporters directly or indirectly.
APEDA is more focussed on strategic mode. We have
created clusters. Varanasi Clusters comprises five or six
districts. The cluster approach on select commodities
is giving a win-win situation for all of us as we know
what is going to be exported and the farmers know the
conditions what is to be grown. Doubling farm income
is our mandate. If we happen to see food processing,

38 EVENT REPORT NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

at $4.3 billion it is still a hidden sector. With all the new The industry still being an unstructured one, the quality
schemes, there is huge potential for infra, processing, standards have been low. Food wastage needs to
linking performance with incentives, etc. In another five be mitigated given it is very high. There is a need to
years, it shall be at $10 billion.” establish a culture of processing to remain competitive
in the food processing market globally.
Vinod Kumar Kaul, Executive
Director, All India Rice Exporter Dr Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Managing
Association (AIREA), New Delhi Director, Gujarat Cooperative Milk
noted that despite the COVID-19 Marketing Federation, Ltd., (Amul),
pandemic, India made well in rice Anand shared his views on milk-
exports on the back of major South based processed food market and the
East Asian rice exporting countries like application of the co-operative model
Thailand halting their export operations amid the to other food commodity processing in
pandemic. The global demand that always remained India. “The definition of processed food is subjective and
set grounds for the world to start seeing at India. differs from person to person. I feel it is when you take
“The overall result is that our prices are affordable as it from the farmer, pack it, and take care of the logistics
compared to the other exporters. In the Non-Basmati and make it reach the billions. Processed food doesn’t
varieties too, we have good pricing and we are in surplus necessarily mean having a long shelf life. Value addition
this year despite the crisis. We are slated to achieve a should be also from the farmer’s perspective. We differ
record high in rice exports this year,” he added. in this process. In India food is the largest valued sector.
With 40 lakh crores valuation, it is the only industry
Khushwant Jain, Chairman, Indian growing the fastest. With the pandemic, people have
Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion turned to packaged products more. 55 per cent of our
Council (IOPEPC), Mumbai shared business is from fresh products which come with two
how India is exploring opportunities days shelf life. That is the biggest challenge. There is
in the export of oil seeds. Oilseed scope to make perishable products more organised than
exports since the last 7-8 years are products with good shelf life.”
not consistent. The exports of the
commodity depend on the consumption He further said “If you can get scale and make it
and production pattern and are mostly in the raw form, be affordable for the consumer, they will excel. The gap
it soya, peanuts, etc. The yield of oil seeds just like peanuts between the consumer price and the farmers’ price is
is very low. The main concern is also the seeds’ quality. to be bridged. If you can pass on the value half to the
There is a need to increase productivity in oilseeds. India is consumers and a half to the farmer, it will certainly help.
the largest consumer of oil. FPOs are a new concept, Co-operative model is 70 years
old. The thing you need to see is will you get scale in
“In the last 5-6 years, the Indian food processing FPOs to be successful.”
industry has developed peanut butter which is also
widely accepted across the world. We have seen a rise in “The food parks are a wonderful idea but some
exports of this product from 4000 tonnes 5-6 years ago are still struggling to find success. There has to be
to 15000 tonnes last year. We are exporting the peanut more flexibility from the policymakers to achieve the
butter to some brands. These brands are labelling it and objective,” said Ravi Boratkar and added “In this regard
selling it to India again. We as a country need to brand Agrovision can play a crucial role as a launch pad and
our products properly. We have to be big investors in platform to help stakeholders and policy makers get
branding the products rightly,” he added. on the same page. There needs to be a greater linkage
between academia, research and industry.”
Sumana Sarkar, Assistant
General Manager, Exim Bank, Dr Mayee in his concluding remarks thanked Tomar
Mumbai elucidated that India’s food for his time to inaugurate the virtual summit and
processing capacity is lesser than Gadkari for his words. He further said that the summit
other developing countries in the discussed several issues that exist or are forthcoming
world, whereas our raw commodities in the segment. We may not reach 40 per cent but
are higher as compared to the other 20 per cent to help the farmers of the country.
countries. As per Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) Earlier Vibha Bhatia, President, MM Activ Sci-Tech
data, FPI (Food Processing in India) has emerged as Communications welcomed the chief guests, panelists
the highest employment provider given its labour- and participants.
intensive nature. Apart from price competitiveness,
quality standards have been losing elements for FPI. Nitesh Pillai
[email protected]

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FSSAI INITIATIVE 39

Fortifying Health

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) –under the Ministry of Arun Singhal,
Health and Family Welfare – has put in place robust regulatory standards for
food fortification to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and fulfil its mandate of CEO, FSSAI, New Delhi

building a healthy future for the country.

Eating well is the first step to enable our bodies to promoted the health benefits of fortified foods among
function optimally. To quote Mahatma Gandhi, consumers through large-scale social and behaviour
“It is health that is real and not pieces of gold.” A change campaigns.
balanced diet that is safe and hygienic is the key to
wholesome health, longevity and overall wellbeing For consumer awareness, a TV commercial called,
of human beings. FSSAI leading the Eat Right India “Dekha Kya +F?” starring Sakshi Tanwar, actress has
movement, a collective movement of all stakeholders in been launched and aired nationwide. Several short
the food sector to transform India's food ecosystem. This videos for public awareness have been created for all
movement is focused on three key themes- Eat Safe, Eat five commodities. In her words, Sakshi Tanwar, famous
Healthy and Eat Sustainable to improve the health of the television actor and household name says “Take
people and the planet. This movement is aligned with responsibility of your health and diet. Just remember to
the Government's flagship public health programmes read the +F sign whenever you pick up atta, rice, oil, milk
such as Poshan Abhiyaan, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and and salt. So I will come and ask you Dekha Kya, +F?”
Swachh Bharat Mission.

A critical component of Eat Healthy is large-scale
fortification of food to address widespread micronutrient
deficiencies in the country. For this, FSSAI has taken
various steps to promote it in Government safety
net programmes as well as the open market. FSSAI
has brought into force Regulations for fortification
of food as a rallying point for all stakeholders to take
it forward, spearheaded advocacy efforts within
Government Ministries and departments, introduced
measures for quality control of fortified foods such as
testing of fortificants, training and capacity building of
food businesses and testing and regulatory staff and

Key Achievements of Fortification Regulations

● After operationalising the Food Fortification ● Presently, 157 brands of five fortified staples are
Regulations in 2016, FSSAI gazette notified available in the open market with a pan India and
the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of regional presence.
Foods) Regulation on August 2, 2018 for five key
staples like oil and milk (with Vitamin A and D), ● There has been tremendous traction in the oil
wheat flour and rice (with iron, folic acid and and milk industry, with 47 per cent of top ten
vitamin B 12), and double fortified salt (with players of packaged refined edible oil industry
iodine and iron). and 36.6 per cent of the organized milk industry
fortifying as per FSSAI standards.
● +F logo was released as unique identification for
fortified products. ● FSSAI is now moving towards mandatory
fortification of milk and oil.

40 FSSAI INITIATIVE NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Government Food Moving
Safety Net Programmes towards a
'Malnutrition-
● Various ministries such as that of Women Free India'
and Child Development; Human Resource
Development (Department of Education and The food
Literacy), Consumer Affairs, Food & Public fortification
Distribution have issued directives and advisories programme
for mandatory fortification of these five staples. launched by
FSSAI assumes
● Various states have adopted fortification of significance
several commodities across the government against the
safety net programmes (SNP) namely Integrated backdrop of
Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid-day Meal increasing burden
(MDM) and Public Distribution System (PDS). of widespread
deficiencies of
● Endorsement for +F logo has been done through vitamins and
FOSCOS licensing and registration system along. minerals as a
complementary
● For quality control SOPs for premix suppliers and strategy to dietary diversification and nutrient
Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) manufacturers have supplementation.
been introduced. Milk and oil fortification has gained considerable
traction in the open market, which led to the decision
Training and Capacity Building of mandatory fortification of both the commodities in
the near future. The dosages for fortification have been
● FSSAI provides online training to Food Safety issued; quality assurance parameters and laboratories for
Officers (FSOs) and Food Business Operators testing of these commodities have been identified. There
(FBOs) on the process of food fortification across are provisions for capacity building of the FBOs, who
commodities. are engaged in the process of fortification. A dedicated
resource centre is available to extend end-end technical
● FSSAI-notified 48 NABL lab personnel have been support. With all these provisions in place, we believe
trained on testing of micronutrients in oil, milk, that smoother implementation across the country can
and wheat flour, and sensitisation workshops be seen in the coming months.
have been held for 127 store in-charges of This programme is a crucial tool to bring a change
Kendriya Bhandar. through a judicious mix of regulatory measures,
combined with soft interventions for ensuring awareness
● FSSAI has set up the first fortified food store and capacity building of food businesses and citizens
on e-retail and a separate category of fortified alike. It aims to sensitise stakeholders and people at large
staples on the Amazon website. towards addressing malnutrition and intensifying the
campaign towards a 'Malnutrition-Free India'. As a part
of the Eat Right India movement, it empowers citizens to
consume safe and nutritious food with a view to prevent
diseases and lead healthy and happy lives.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in TRENDS 41

Shifting towards Dr R. B. Smarta,
Pharma Nutrition
Chairman and Managing
As a result of patent cliff pharmaceutical industry is facing challenges Director, Interlink Marketing
in volume, value and thereby decline in growth. Nutraceuticals is an Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Mumbai
acceptable combination to take the industry on the path of growth and Vice President, Health
Foods and Dietary Supplements
and the outlook and focus of pharma companies need not be only on Association (HADSA), Mumbai
sickness but also expand to Health!

The pharmaceutical industry is a matured industry wants to remain fit and not to fall sick. Obviously, it has Source: Interlink Knowledge Cell
and working on different business models as its own ramifications for pharmaceutical industry in
time is passing. Earlier it was working on ‘value future. This brings out following major concerns:
migration’ model, getting patents out of them and
creating an entry barrier for competitors for considerable Fig 1
amount of time. After patent cliff, the proven model got
broken and whole shift took place towards creating new
products for specialty therapies and lifestyle diseases.

While creating milestones in lifestyle diseases
sector, pharma has also grown to the considerable
hights in areas like biosimilars, precision drugs, orphan
drugs, etc. U.S. FDA expected to review more biosimilar
applications in 2020 as 66 biologic U.S. patents are
expiring within the next five years. Investment in Niche
segments like precision medicine has doubled in size,
experts suggesting that its production will increase by
approximately 33 per cent by 2025.

With patent cliff, coupled with the breaking of proven
model, each country has started reducing its disease
burden by creating drug policies and trying to invest less
in health as the percentage of GDP spent on health was
high. As a result, affordable medicines like generics came
into play and captured considerable amount of market
share even in US and other stabilized markets. It has
also affected the value growth of overall pharmaceutical
industry.

The global pharma market is expected to grow to the
tune of $1170 billion in 2021, with the growth rate of 5.8
per cent. However, China and US market growth would
decide the final global growth picture.

Three major concerns:
Knowing the economic, political, geopolitical
and health environment, it is amazing to see that
consciousness among patients and consumers of health
is growing towards peak levels. Majority of population

42 TRENDS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

1. Continuous declining growth - Source: IQVIA Market Prognosis Global, September 2019 are moving towards the preventive treatments like
Since patent cliff, growth rate of pharma industry is Nutraceuticals and medicinal foods. Governments who
declining little by little... It gave way to use of generic have spent a lot for the treatment of diseases has now
drugs in various countries, as well as the increasing realised that they can minimise their expenditure by
availability of biosimilar drugs would erode the growth creating awareness about preventive care among the
further. population. Though governments have not yet invested
Following Fig. 2 clearly depicts long term decline a large amount in disease prevention measures, this is
in growth rate of Industry till 2023.... Graham Lewis, VP definitely going to be an increasingly growing concern
of IQVIA, expects the global pharmaceutical industry for pharmaceutical companies in 2021 and beyond.
to grow at just 2-3 per cent annually through 2022.
Surprisingly, it’s just half the rate of growth the industry Along with government, patient’s perspective is also
experienced in the previous five-years. evolving rapidly. Poor nutrition is now recognised as a
Although the unit volume of drugs continues to major risk factor giving rise to chronic diseases. In this
grow, branded and generic drugs for chronic illnesses scenario, Self-medication is rooting among the patients,
like diabetes, hypertension and depression are they are developing midway between the supermarket-
experiencing sharp decline in yields in US. According to based world of consumer health care goods companies
Lewis, the downfall of percentage annual growth rate and the scientific, pharmaceutical world. By introducing
in the US is especially severe for these drugs for chronic nutrition in their lives, patients are trying to manage and
illnesses. prevent common health problems that are currently
addressed only by pharmaceutical interventions.
Fig 2
3. Changing Composition of prescriptions-
As a result, first major concern is how to arrest the New trend followed by about 60 per cent of doctors
declining growth of pharma and capture the value, to include health and nutrient supplements in the
or is it the time now to change the strategic intent of prescription could be the outcome of revolutionary
industry? attitude of doctors toward pharmaceutical drugs.
Although the proportion of nutrient supplements over
2. Evolving focus towards prevention - pharmaceutical drugs is very less in those prescription,
With the incidences like COVID - 19, all governments the composition of prescription is changing toward
nutrition which is becoming an individual part of the
treatment regimen nowadays.
While pharmaceutical sales are growing in India at
just around 10 per cent for the past couple of years, the
nutraceutical and wellness market is growing at close to
20 per cent a year, indicating the drastic impact of all the
above factors. However, the business growth is coupled
with functional foods and beverages where individuals
are making the decisions on the basis of advertising and
sales promotion.

Spread of treatments and role of pharmaceuticals
So far industry remained focused on chemical entities
which were then known as Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients such as APIs. However, even during that time
many chemical entities were derived from plants and
then converted into chemical entities.

Now that the time is right, APIs will be mostly from
plants and plant derivatives hence they would be called
as Active Natural or Nutraceuticals Ingredients i.e., ANIs.
These ANIs are becoming a source of new areas like 1)
Phyto pharma 2) Ethno-pharma, 3) Functional and 4)
Medicinal foods, 5) Nutraceuticals.

Phyto pharmaceuticals
phytochemistry or Phyto analysis of natural product

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in TRENDS 43

in chemistry research is the pillar of herbal and plant medicines such as Surgery and anaesthesia. These two Source: Interlink knowledge cell
based pharmaceutical as well as food industry. Natural disciplines have succeeded for many years to provide
drug discovery and use of herbals in modern medicine is good surgical outputs and rehabilitation.
gaining popularity in today’s world.
Similar combination is likely to emerge in future to
Many pharmaceutical compounds contain secondary move towards wellness from illness. Specialists of any
metabolites of plants but they have not still fully utilised therapy segment will provide the medicinal benefits and
the potential of this natural sources. Phytochemicals like nutritionists and dieticians will provide a path towards
Flavonoids, amino acids, polyphenols, proteins, cardiac wellness. The patient will be healthy and not only disease
glycosides, etc. are the interesting alternative sources for free.
pharmaceutical and medicinal applications.
Now that consciousness and knowledge level of
Ethno- pharmaceuticals patients and consumers has increased, each individual
Ethno-pharmaceuticals can create value for is expecting outcome from curative treatment
pharmaceutical business of tomorrow. They are through managing and going towards wellness so
important for safeguarding traditional livelihoods and that they can remain fit and healthy for remaining
supporting the well-being of people in all regions of period of their life.
the developing world. Traditional and complementary
medicines need a more open approach to innovation Fig.3. Collaborative future of Pharma with Nutrition
in pharmaceuticals. Every country has its own set of
traditional knowledge, giving rise to probability of Pharmaceutical companies can use nutraceuticals as
variety of Ethno-pharma ingredients i.e., EPIs can be a supportive and innovative partner in managing and
produced in following years. This will not only make treating challenging health issues. Not only curative
remarkable changes in pharma industry’s viewpoint, but but also preventive outcomes can be achieved with
also will enhance the economic statuses of countries. Pharma+Nutra.

Functional foods and Medicinal foods Marching toward profitable
The global functional food market size was estimated business with Pharma- Nutra
at $ 161.49 billion in 2018. It is anticipated to register a As a result of patent cliff pharmaceutical industry is
CAGR of 7.9 per cent during the forecast period 2019- facing challenges in volume, value and thereby decline
2025, said market analysis report. in growth. Nutraceuticals is an acceptable combination
to take the industry on the path of growth and the
Yogurt supplemented with probiotics or cereals outlook and focus of pharma companies need not be
augmented with fibres containing health boosting only on sickness but also expand to Health!
properties are some of the fast-growing trends that are
increasingly driving the growth nowadays. Considering this changes, tomorrow is focused on
successful and meaningful combating of illness with
Pharma foods is a new arrival which is blurring the concomitant supplement of nutrition. Field of nutrition is
lines between pharma and food. Tomorrow Medical enlarging towards clinical nutrition, enteral nutrition and
foods would make a difference along with nutraceuticals. age old total parenteral nutrition.

If pharma expands into medical food that have In case, industry wishes to go back to earlier value
greater, scientifically verified health benefits, a new era migration model, here is a new chance through,
can be seen with enhanced economy and better health phytopharmaceuticals.
like never seen before.
However, this movement will give rise to a new
Medical foods are wide open to innovation, and discipline of treating patients with pharmaceuticals
companies from Nestle to Abbot Labs are already and keeping them healthy by nutraceuticals- ‘Pharma
jumping in along with many others. Companies are Nutrition’.
also developing pharmaceutical-grade foods for
the veterinary market. Nutrition-based therapies
are attractive to the many people who prefer to try
something more natural than drugs. So, this can be
a better collaborative action with magnified health
benefits.

Illness to Wellness with Nutraceuticals
Successful surgery always needed two disciplines of

44 PEOPLE NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

United Spirits appoints first woman CEO

Bengaluru headquartered United sector. With his departure, Hina Under Hina’s leadership, ARM has
Spirits Limited (USL) has announced will join USL on April 1, 2021 as become a significant growth driver
that after nearly eight years at CEO-Designate. Since joining
USL and seven years as Managing Diageo in the summer for Diageo Africa. Prior to joining
Director and Chief Executive of 2018, Hina has Diageo, Hina spent over 30
Officer (CEO), Anand Kripalu will led Diageo’s Africa years in CPG businesses
step down effective June 30, 2021, Regional Markets and held several senior
to pursue the next phase of his (ARM) comprising marketing and general
career. Hina Nagarajan, currently operations management positions
Managing Director Africa Regional in Ghana, at Reckitt Benckiser
Markets, will be appointed Anand’s Cameroon, (RB), Nestlé India and
successor and will also join the Ethiopia, the Mary Kay India. In her
Diageo Executive Committee on Indian Ocean, most recent position
July 1, 2021. A strong advocate for Angola and before joining
the positive impact of the alcohol several Diageo, Hina was
industry in India, Kripalu has formed other MD China & SVP
trusting relationships across the countries. North Asia
with RB.

MDH Masala Varsha Joshi takes
charge as NDDB Chairman
founder Mahashay
Varsha Joshi, Joint Secretary (CDD), Department of Animal
Dharampal Gulati Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
& Dairying, Government of India has taken over charge of the
passes away post of Chairman, National
Dairy Development Board
Founder of India’s leading manufacturer of (NDDB) with effect from
spices, MDH Masala, Mahashay Dharampal December 1, 2020, until
Gulati, passes away at 97. Expanding from further orders. Varsha took
a local shop to 15 factories across the over the position after
country, to a global supplier of premium Dilip Rath, whose tenure as
spices, MDH has grown into an iconic brand, chairman of NDDB ended
establishing its presence in various parts on November 30, 2020. Rath
took premature retirement
of the world including from the IAS service to
the UK, Europe, Canada join NDDB as Managing
and UAE. The company Director in 2011. Varsha's
was registered as MDH previous assignment was
in 1965. He began his Commissioner, North Delhi
journey with Rs 1500 and Municipal Corporation.
transformed that into a She has earlier been
successful empire valued Secretary Power as well as
at Rs 1,000 crore. With Commissioner Transport,
time he gained greater with the Government of NCT
popularity once he began Delhi, Joint Secretary in the
making an appearance in Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and before that, Director
the company’s advertisements. According with the Census of India. Infrastructure, urban planning, gender
to reports, in 2017, he was the highest-paid issues and leveraging data for development are her major areas
CEO of an FMCG company in India. He was of experience and interest.
also noted for pioneering entrepreneurial
brand marketing in India, with him serving
as brand mascot, icon and ambassador.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in PEOPLE NEWS 45

Milk Mantra names
Biswajit Mishra as CFO

Coca-Cola picks Odisha based dairy firm Milk for Parag Milk Foods, the head
Mantra has appointed Biswajit – internal audit at Creamline
Priya Raman as Mishra as the Chief Financial Dairy in Hyderabad, and as
Officer (CFO) of the company. the senior audit manager for
Chief Data Officer In his new role, Mishra will be various organisations across
responsible for leading the the country in the past. He
As part of the restructuring to its newly financial operations at Milk brings with him more than 20
created Platform Services organization, Mantra while optimising the years of significant leadership
the Coca-Cola Company has named strategic expansion of the experience and expertise in
Priya Raman as Chief Data Officer, a new business. He will be based multi-functional CXO positions
role for the company. Most recently out of the head office at within the financial domain
chief data and intelligence officer at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. With across the Indian subcontinent.
Microsoft, Priya worked at Coca-Cola multi-dimensional skills in
from 2006 to 2008 as general manager managing finance, accounts,
of strategy. At Microsoft, she led the risk, operations, taxation,
end-to-end data intelligence strategy to and audits, Mishra has led
create value with data at an enterprise beyond the boundaries of
level. She has also served in a range of traditional financial executives
digital transformation roles at Nielsen, and has been a part of many
including senior VP data science, global strategic initiatives that have
solutions. Her appointment completes positively impacted business
Coca-Cola’s Platform Services leadership performances. Prior to joining
team. Based in the United States, she Milk Mantra, Mishra was based
will be responsible for the company's out of Sri Lanka as the chief
Data Services hub. financial officer for Aussee Oats
Milling, a joint venture entity
of Future Group. He has also
worked as the finance head,
Southern Indian Operations

Dr Bhatta steps in as Director at Medanta-AyurVAID

Reinforcing its practiced belief of providing world-class, holistic
healthcare customized to patients’ needs, Medanta has appointed
renowned Ayurvedic doctor, Dr Bheema Bhatta as Director, Medanta-
AyurVAID. Dr Bhatta will help strengthen Medanta’s unique treatment
approach which optimizes a fusion of modern medicine and ancient
disciplines of Ayurveda. Medanta-AyurVAID is India’s first NABH
accredited Ayurveda centre focused on precision Ayurveda that
complements modern medicine. Dr Bhatta joins Medanta-AyurVAID
as Medical Director from Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi where he
set up and headed the Ayurveda Department for over 32 years. He has
completed MD (Ayurveda) from Gujrat Ayurveda University as a gold
medallist. With an immense passion for the science of Ayurveda and a
high level expertise and experience in Kayachikistsa and Panchakarma,
he has treated numerous patients including many well-known dignitaries
in India and abroad. At Medanta-AyurVAID, he envisions to serve and
treat patients with a holistic approach to improve their quality of life.

46 ACADEMIC NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

IISR signs CSIR-IHBT inks MoU
pacts for to promote tea research
micronutrient
technology The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the Tea Research Institute
of Sri Lanka and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Institute
The Centre of Excellence, of Himalayan Bioresource Technology
Maddur for Precision (CSIR–IHBT) in Palampur to enter into a
Farming under Karnataka Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The
Horticulture Department has Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka has been
signed Memorandums of awarded a two year research project under
Understanding (MoUs) with the Indo - Sri Lanka integrated research
Kerala based ICAR-Indian programme to accelerate the identification
Institute of Spices Research of genetic characteristics in tea plant using
(IISR) for obtaining various high tech genetics and to identify important
technologies. As per the agronomic features. The key objective of
MoUs, license for producing this research is to develop the biological tools needed to accelerate breeding
micronutrients for plant programmes by reducing the time required for the production of tea varieties.
growth and health would
be transferred by ICAR-IISR Govt to establish new campus of
to the Centre of Excellence National Institute of Naturopathy
for Precision Farming. The
licences are for the production The upcoming new campus of physical manipulations,
of micronutrients for black National Institute of Naturopathy hydrotherapy, fasting, exercise and
pepper, turmeric and ginger. (NIN), Pune will be called Nisarg other modalities. As NIN is in the
Since micronutrients are a Gram. Located at a distance of 15 process of setting up an additional
proven technology to enhance km from NIN’s present premises at and larger campus at Nisarg Gram,
the productivity of spices, Bapu Bhavan, the new institution the Ministry of AYUSH is taking
especially to overcome the will be future-ready, with many all possible efforts to ensure that
soil fatigue, this technology novelties and innovations this campus is empowered to
licensing will help in reaching incorporated in the project per carry forward NIN’s unique legacy
out to more farmers with se and the curriculum of the into the future. To start with,
authentic products and naturopathy courses. Naturopathy the new institute’s curricula will
varieties. is a system of healthcare, which be prepared in light of National
promotes the body's own self- Education Policy, 2020. The curricula
healing mechanism. It uses will be rationalised to bring
natural therapies such as nutrition, about a qualitative, pedagogical
herbal medicine, acupuncture, understanding of naturopathy
homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and allied disciplines at the Under
Graduate and Post Graduate level.
Bachelors and Masters courses in
Naturopathy and allied disciplines
will be the focal programmes at
Nisarg Gram. NIN is analysing
the courses currently offered in
naturopathy in India and abroad
with the objective of overhauling
the curriculum with inputs from
modern scientific advances on the
one side, and Gandhian thought
relating to health on the other.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in R&D NEWS 47

ICRISAT, IIMR design database for millet

Millets have sometimes been hailed and mapped by end of the year by
as the next quinoa but researchers the Smart Food team at ICRISAT,
collating a global database of who created the database and
millet products have found this will continue growing it. Millets,
ancient grain to be orchestrating including sorghum, are smart food
a silent food revolution that could because they are highly nutritious,
see quinoa outstripped. The environmentally sustainable and
Millet Finder has been developed resilient to climate change effects
by a team of researchers from while having immense potential
Hyderabad based International for further development. The
Crops Research Institute for the IIMR, ICRISAT and the Smart Food
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the initiative have been working
Indian Institute of Millets Research with governments, social cause
(IIMR). The database will help users organizations and the private
find over 500 products across 30 industry to create awareness of the
countries. Another 500 products are benefits of consuming millets and
identified and set to be included cultivating them.

IIT-Kgp develops INST uses spirulina to
biodegradable food
packaging material accelerate wound repair

A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of in diabetic patients
Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-Kgp) has developed
cellulose nanocrystals from cucumber peels with high Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and
cellulose content, compared to other peel wastes, Technology (INST), Mohali have observed that an
which can be used to create food packaging materials. injectable hydrogel derived from spirulina can help
While single-use plastic is consciously being avoided accelerate wound repair in internal injuries and rapid
by consumers, they still remain largely in circulation as healing in diabetic patients. Repeated dressing of
food packaging items. Natural biopolymers are unable diabetic wound badly affects its healing process while
it is difficult to assess the wound repair in internal
to make way in this injuries due to treatment complications. To address
industry as they lack this need, scientists at INST have recently developed an
strength, elongation, injectable hydrogel from κappa-carrageenan, a water-
barrier property, soluble polysaccharide found in edible red seaweeds
optical property, and a pigmented protein called C-phycocyanin found
and in some cases in spirulina. The gelling property of κ-carrageenan was
even biological utilised by the researchers along with C-phycocyanin
safety. The cellulose as an injectable and regenerative wound dressing
nanomaterial matrix to heal the wound rapidly and also to monitor
developed by the IIT it progress in real-time. The matrix developed was
researchers, from raw cucumber waste, has addressed highly biocompatible. The research has established
this challenge. Food packaging materials require nano- the superior haemostatic (blood flow retarding)
filler reinforced bio-composites, which can be derived capabilities of the combination in traumatic injury
from the cellulose widely available from the outer skin conditions. The team is now exploring the mechanism
of fruits and vegetables. These cellulose fibres can be of action of κ-carrageenan-C-phycocyanin (κ-CRG-C-
used to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), bio- Pc) hydrogel and involvement of signalling pathway
based nanomaterials with defined nano-scale structural for exploring the process of wound healing and
dimensions. regenerative properties.

48 R&D NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

CCSHAU unveils
new variety of wheat

A group of scientists of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, IITs bring
at the Chaudhary Rajasthan (except Kota
Charan Singh Haryana and Udaipur divisions) turmeric-based anti-
Agricultural University, and Western UP (except
Hisar, developed a Jhansi division), parts of cancer drug in offing
new variety of wheat Jammu and Kashmir and
WH 1270. The variety parts of Himachal Pradesh A new work conducted by the researchers at
has been developed (Una district and Paonta Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I), IIT
by the scientists of valley) and Uttarakhand Bombay, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced
the Wheat Section (Tarai region). It has a Technology (RRCAT), Indore and IIT-Jodhpur has
Department of Genetics good degree of resistance shown a way to control the expression of cancer
and Plant Breeding of to yellow and brown -inducing gene called cancer myelocytomatosis
the Agriculture College. rusts, flag smut, leaf blight (c-myc), using a synthetic derivative of curcumin
The WH 1270 has been and powdery mildew obtained from turmeric. Cancer myelocytomatosis
released for cultivation diseases. Protein in this is an important oncogene. Studies have shown it
in North Western Plain variety is also higher than to be one of the highly active oncogenes in several
Zone of India consisting other varieties. types of cancers. It has been one of the targets
for scientists working on developing anti-cancer
drugs. Some leads have been found and efforts are
underway to develop them into drugs. Curcumin
extracted from the roots and rhizomes of turmeric
has been reported to have multiple medicinal
applications including anti-bacterial, anti-viral,
anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor activities.
However, it has its limitations in the form of low
potency and poor bioavailability. But this new
research promises to overcome such limitations.

CDFD, IIRR focus on boosting rice production

A team consisting of bulked-seed where more than
researchers from the Centre 200 seeds can be analysed at
for DNA Fingerprinting and one go. Experiments with this
Diagnostics (CDFD) and Indian method suggest that it is more
Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) accurate and cost-effective
in Hyderabad are helping compared to the conventional
meet the growing need for methods. Using this method
high quality hybrid rice seeds. 20 samples can be analysed
As a result, the researchers in three days, while analysing
have developed a new even one sample takes more
method to assess the genetic than 3 days in the conventional
quality of the seeds that are method. According to the
used in their production. The research team, the method will
new technique is based on be tested in other crops also.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SUPPLIER NEWS 49

Trouw Nutrition opens maiden production facility in India

Trouw Nutrition, a Netherland-based of Nutreco, ensures end-to-end
Nutreco company, has opened its quality and traceability, with added
maiden manufacturing facility at emphasis on feed-to-food safety.
Jadcherla near Hyderabad. Nutreco, The entire manufacturing process is
through its two reputed brands, automated right from raw material
Trouw Nutrition and Skretting, is a handling to bagging at the plant so
global leader in animal and aqua that the final product is completely
nutrition, bringing innovative feed untouched by hands. The unit will
additives, premixes and nutritional cater to the market needs of the
services. The facility has high-end entire South Asia and is expected
technology designed to deliver to clock full capacity utilisation by
superior quality premix for customers 2025. Trouw is adopting a seamless
in South Asia. The 20,000 MT integrated solution approach in
modern plant will primarily produce India by focusing on innovative
vitamins, mineral premixes, mineral technologies like Mycomaster,
blends and feed safety solutions NutriOpt On-site Adviser (NOA),
for all species. The company’s along with a dedicated customer
unique Nutrace programme, a service laboratory, MasterLab at
food safety and quality initiative Hyderabad.

Olene formulates natural Eurofins launches
ginger root extract
product line for
US based DolCas Biotech has added to its formidable portfolio
of better-for-you botanicals a new, highly concentrated all- food allergen detection
natural ginger root extract (Zingiber officinale roscoe), branded
as Ginfort. The patented bioactive, formulated by Olene Life Eurofins Technologies has announced the
Sciences in Chennai, carries an launch of the new SENSIStrip Allergen product
approved digestive support claim range, which quickly detects allergens that
and rounds out Dolcas’ strongbox must be labeled on packaged food products.
of structural, functional health Managing food allergies usually means
ingredients. Ginfort’s proprietary completely eliminating the allergen from
extraction process solves one’s diet. To achieve this, consumers rely on
common challenges formulators clear labelling and traceability throughout
encounter in meeting the the entire food production process, from
three key parameters of raw material to the final product. SENSIStrip
an effective nutraceutical Allergen kits are based on the concept of
ingredient: achieving low-dose an immunoassay, an easy-to-use and quick
actives, providing high clinical method which requires only a few minutes
effectiveness, and maintaining of incubation time. This enables adequate
stability. Its high-potency action is owed to a blend of food- allergen control at different stages of the food
grade inactives applied to a base material of solvent-free manufacturing process, across food matrices,
extracts of ginger oleoresins. CO2 is used to isolate and enrich rinse water and equipment.With low detection
the gingeroids and other ginger actives. Ginfort’s patented limits and accessibility, the SENSIStrip Allergen
production process concentrates the highly lipophilic kits are the perfect tool to control potential
gingeroids to 26 per cent standard and simultaneously cross-contamination with food allergens,
stabilizes them in their respective concentrations without allowing for a quick screening of raw materials,
compromising on the free-flowing material. Of the 26 per cent the production process and the final product.
standard, more than half of it is maintained as 6-gingerol. This avoids the external analyses and thus
considerably reduces the time taken to release
a food product batch to market.

50 SUPPLIER NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2021 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Neogen Cargill adds pea protein
introduces quick to ingredient portfolio
tests for meat
speciation As more consumers aspire expands its European line-up of
to incorporate plant-based plant-based proteins like Gluvital
Neogen Corporation has developed foods into their diets, Cargill is vital wheat gluten and Prowliz
the quickest and easiest tests responding by adding pea protein hydrolyzed wheat protein. Food
available to determine meat to its portfolio of ingredients manufacturers will appreciate
speciation in raw meat and available in Europe. The move Cargill’s pea protein’s functional
environmental samples. Neogen's will help European food and attributes. Cargill offers one of
new Reveal tests for horse, beef, beverage manufacturers meet the the most soluble plant proteins
sheep, and poultry provide accurate increasing demand for nutritious, available, a key consideration for
results in just 5 minutes after a plant-based products. Moreover, dairy alternative and beverage
simple water extraction. The new Cargill pea proteins are designed applications, where less soluble
tests can detect as little as 0.5 per to meet the functional and options may leave behind a gritty
cent of the target species in raw sensory challenges in alternative mouthfeel and texture. Finally,
meat or raw processed samples, and emerging applications. Cargill, in flavor-forward applications,
have also been validated for use which already offers an array of the Cargill pea protein range
with environmental swabs and rinse pea protein products in North includes prime ingredients with
water samples. The new tests join America, Asia and South America, exceptionally clean, neutral taste
Neogen's existing Reveal for Pork is leveraging that expertise as it profiles.
in the company's simple and quick
meat speciation test range. In both Amcor brings recyclable
internal and independent testing, shrink bag for meat and cheese
the Reveal tests have been shown to
accurately detect the target species, Swiss firm Amcor has launched Eco-Tite R, the first designed to be
including horse, beef, sheep, poultry recycled, PVDC-free shrink bag for fresh and processed meat, poultry
or pork, in raw meat samples. The and some cheeses. Amcor Eco-Tite R is designed to maximise shelf-
tests did not produce false positive life, maintain food safety, reduce food waste and can be recycled in
results if the samples contained only existing polyethylene (PE) plastic recycling streams. This means that
meat from non-target species. more consumers will be able to recycle their meat, poultry and cheese
packaging, while enjoying the benefits of longer lasting food. It is a
multi-layer, mono-PE packaging, which maintains a high barrier to

oxygen and water vapour even when exposed to high-
moisture environments, such as cooler cases and
refrigerators. This solution provides European
meat and cheese producers an alternative
to PVDC packaging – which is
not recyclable in mechanical or
chemical recycling systems.