Pune: The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (MCCIA) successfully hosted the Quality and Food Safety Leadership Summit 2024 in collaboration with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Held at the MCCIA Trade Tower in Pune, the summit brought together 156 delegates, including food industry leaders, academics, and students, to drive discussions on advancing food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
The inaugural session featured prominent speakers such as Sanjay Kirloskar, President of MCCIA Pune; Anand Chordia, Chairman of MCCIA’s Food Processing Committee; Umesh Chandra Sarangi (Retd. IAS), Chairman of MCCIA’s Agriculture Processing Committee; Suresh Annapure, Joint Commissioner of Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune; and Tarun Bajaj, Director of APEDA.
Key Highlights of the Summit:
Technology and Innovation:
Discussions revolved around integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into food safety practices, sanitary design principles, and building a robust food safety culture.
Experts such as Dr. Kavya Dashora from IIT Delhi and Amit Jadhav, an AI specialist, shared cutting-edge insights alongside industry leaders from Godrej Tyson Foods, SLMG Beverages, and GEMS.
Elevating Standards and Building Resilience:
Key topics included food hygiene in the HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants, and Catering) sector, advancements in food testing, and the critical role of standards in enhancing safety measures.
Renowned Chef Manjit Gill, President of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), and industry stalwarts like Deshraj Sharma of Ferrero India and Kumud Ashish Singh of Merck Life Science provided valuable perspectives.
Panel Discussion on Exports and Challenges:
A thought-provoking panel discussion addressed challenges in scaling businesses while maintaining compliance with global food safety standards.
Moderated by Smita Murthy of FSSC India, the panel featured experts such as Lavika Singh from BIS, Iva Chakraborty of Sahyadri Farms, and Dr. Hema Yadav of VAMNICOM.
