NIFTEM-K signs MoU with University of Saskatchewan for food science collaboration
New Delhi: NIFTEM-K signed an MoU with the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, to strengthen academic and research collaboration in food science and technology.
The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management-Kundli, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, formalised the agreement on Tuesday. Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director of NIFTEM-K, and Dr. Baljit Singh, Vice President (Research), University of Saskatchewan, signed the pact in the presence of senior officials from India and Canada.
The NIFTEM-K MoU gained added significance as both countries recently announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein through joint collaboration. NIFTEM-K will lead the initiative from the Indian side, while the University of Saskatchewan will anchor it in Canada.
Under the five-year agreement, both institutions will develop online teaching and training programmes in food science, food systems economics and business development. Moreover, they will promote short-term exchange programmes for faculty, researchers and students to encourage cross-learning.
NIFTEM-K MoU to expand joint research and exchanges
The NIFTEM-K MoU also provides for joint research projects, collaborative funding proposals and integrated degree programmes in Food Processing Technology. In addition, the partnership will organise seminars, workshops and industry-oriented short courses.
Officials said the collaboration would combine the University of Saskatchewan’s strong agri-food ecosystem with NIFTEM-K’s mandate as a one-stop solution provider for India’s food processing sector. Therefore, both sides aim to create technology-driven solutions for sustainable food systems.
The institutions will identify specific projects and formalise them through separate agreements to ensure structured implementation. Furthermore, leaders from both sides said the partnership would support innovation, capacity building and research-led industrial growth.
They added that the collaboration could strengthen food security and value chains in both countries. Finally, NIFTEM-K said the agreement marked a step in expanding its global footprint in food technology and entrepreneurship.
