15/10/2026
CSIR-CFTRI, in collaboration with ITC India Limited, conducted a one-day workshop titled “The Action Lab” on 13 October 2026 for M.Sc. Food Technology students of the Institute. The workshop aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industrial applications through interactive sessions with industry experts and hands-on product development activities.
The central highlight of the workshop was a Food Hackathon, wherein students were challenged to conceptualize and formulate innovative food products using the available raw materials, tailored to the nutritional requirements of specific age groups within defined product categories. The hackathon encompassed the entire product development pipeline, from ideation and prototype formulation to formal product pitching. Participating teams were required to substantiate their products’ nutritional profiles, commercial viability, and relevance to the designated categories, thereby fostering innovation, critical thinking, and industry-oriented problem-solving skills.
The programme was led by Mr. Mahendra Barve, Vice President (Chocolates and Confectionery), ITC Limited, and also a distinguished alumnus of CSIR-CFTRI with extensive experience in the food industry. The delegation also included Mrs. Agatha Betsy, Head of Nutrition Sciences, ITC India Limited, who led an engaging technical interaction with students on evolving nutritional paradigms and emerging consumer trends in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. They were accompanied by Ms. Ish*ta from the HR team and Ms. Shruti, a CSIR-CFTRI alumna and New Product Development Executive at ITC India Limited.
The event was presided over by Dr. Giridhar Parvatam, Director, CSIR-CFTRI, and Dr. Revathy Baskaran, Head, Human Resource Development (HRD) was also present.
The workshop provided students with a valuable platform to translate theoretical knowledge into practical solutions, engage with industry professionals, and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities involved in food product innovation and development. The workshop was organized as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between CSIR-CFTRI and ITC India Limited to strengthen academia–industry collaboration and foster knowledge exchange, innovation, and industry-oriented learning.
