International Symposium and 7th Conference of Indian Meat Science Association on “New horizons for augmenting meat production and processing to ensure nutritional security, food safety and environmental sustainability” will be organized by the Department of Livestock Products Technology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana in collaboration with Indian Meat Science Association from November 10-12, 2016. Dr. Manish Kumar Chatli, Organizing Secretary and Head of the Department revealed that besides, a Conference Workshop on “Food Quality and Safety” has been planned on the sides of conference to provide hands-on training to young meat scientists in recent techniques related to meat inspection, egg quality, rapid methods of quality evaluation and packaging methodologies. Further, a unique event ‘Industry-Academia-Farmers Interface’ will be organized bringing together all the stake holders of the meat industry on a single platform. The conference is likely to be attended by approximately 300 scientists, academicians, researchers and postgraduate students from throughout the world. Tom Graham, Senior Director, National Inspection Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency will inaugurate the workshop, while Dr Harpreet Kochhar, Chief Veterinary Officer, Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be Chief Guest for conference.
Dr. Chatli told that conference is aimed to carry out brainstorming discussions and presentations to design the future strategies related to scientific slaughter with animal welfare, hygienic processing, packaging, preservation, food safety and quality assurance programmes. Dr. Chatli further told that the conference will be conducted in eight technical sessions including meat production and fresh meat quality, meat processing and value addition, preservation and packaging of livestock products, safety and quality assurance and meat biotechnology. Dr V.V. Kulkarni, President IMSA cum Director, National Research Center Meat told that the conference will help the experts to deliberate the present practices and formulate the future policies and programs. Dr. JPS Gill, Director of Research, GADVASU lauded the efforts of the Department of Livestock Products Technology and told that Conference Workshop being organized along with National Symposium, is a major initiative being introduced for the first time in meat science. Dr. Amarjit Singh Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of the university congratulated the organizing committee for holding conference in the institute. Dr. Nanda anticipated that the conference will go a long way to address the challenges in meat science. Dr. Nanda said that the conference workshop on the sidelines of symposium is quite in line with the national thrust on skill development as a part of “Skill India Campaign”.
