I am deeply privileged to have the opportunity to serve the AFST(I) Mumbai Chapter in the capacity of President for this year. The Mumbai chapter has had an illustrious past and been shaped by the best in the food science fraternity. I value the responsibility reposed in me to carry forward the impactful work of our past presidents and count on their continued guidance and support. The year of 2020 has changed the manner at which we approach life and reinforced the linkage between food and health. As food science professionals, we touch the future everyday with our innovations.Facing these new challenges, the food scientist of tomorrow will take on many new roles—as a collaborator, an advocate, and a visionary. It will take collaboration with professionals in a myriad of disciplines to solve our pressing global food problems. AFST(I) Mumbai chapter will continue to work to provide food professionals greater visibility with the public, regulatory agencies, and other stake holders. The Mumbai chapter will work towards building our outreach and impact, through Technical Advocacy and Social Outreach. As Sir Winston Churchill said,“We make a living by what get, but we make a life by what we give”; and this resonates with the philosophy adopted by AFST(I) Mumbai Chapter over the last decades. The current team of office bearers will work seamlessly to continue this august tradition.

Its privilege to serve AFSTI – Mumbai Chapter as Honorary secretary and take the legacy forward for the year 2020- 2021 which reached new height under dynamic leadership of past Secretaries and Presidents. The Indian food industry is poised for huge growth, increasing its contribution to world food trade every year. In India, the food sector has emerged as a high-growth and high-profit sector due to its immense potential for value addition, particularly within the food processing industry. It accounts to about 32 per cent of the country’s total food market, The Government of India has been instrumental in the growth and development of the food processing industry. India's food ecosystem offers huge opportunities for investments with stimulating growth in the food retail sector, favourable economic policies and attractive fiscal incentives. The Food & Grocery market in India is the sixth largest in the world. Alike other industry, Covid 19 also impacted Food and beverage Industry. Companies are facing significantly reduced consumption as well as disrupted supply chains. At-home consumption has increased, but out-of-home consumption – which historically generates the highest margin – has come to nearly a standstill. There may be long-term changes in customer behavior and demand. We need to understand this and come up sustainable plan. The start-up ecosystem is booming and there are lot of scheme announced by Government specially for Food and agriculture for SME and MSME. Though there is lot of information available but it’s in bits and pieces. We at AFST, plan to streamline the knowledge sharing, co-ordinating between research, regulators, government and industry. Creating knowledge pool and ensuring things are available and accessible.

Its’ an honour to be a part of AFSTi & serve as Hon.Treasurer – AFSTi Mumbai Chapter and contribute to the various initiatives under the Visionary Leadership of the Chapter President & Secretary. Food Sector, Tagged as one of the largest marketplaces of the 21st century, in the last couple of decades, has truly come into its own. Globally, The Food processing industry is a high growth industry and the same applies for it in Indian market. India is the second largest food producer in the world after China with, food processing accounts for almost one-third of the total food market in India. It is the fifth largest industry domestically in terms of production, consumption, export, and expected growth in the country. As per an estimate, India’s food consumption is expected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2025. The development of food processing industry is necessary due to the rise in the disposable income in the hands of middle class, changing food habits and rapid urbanization, the changing dietary preferences towards the processed and packaged food, growing nuclear families and working women, changing demographics and rise in disposable income, increase in demand for functional food. The last ten years, the industry having undergone a spate of changes owing to ever-changing consumer demands and massive innovations. What comes to notice here is the rapid increase in the number of challenges of food industry. Undeniably, the challenges faced by food sector are dime a dozen (Poor supply chain linkages, infrastructure bottlenecks, lack of skilled manpower, low adherence to quality standards, presence of a stringent regulatory landscape etc) and the fact that a single change is bound to affect the entire supply chain. Newer markets, changing consumer spending, increasing food prices, global appetite, and advanced technology are slated to bring about extensive changes in this sector in the next few years. The government of India recognizes the need to encourage India’s food processing sector given the country’s immense potential and has been developing the entire Eco-system by initiating various schemes for the promotion and development of the food processing sector, foster Research & Development, skill development, entrepreneurship, help in the reduction of wastage, improve value addition, promote crop diversification, ensure a better return to the farmers, promote employment as well as increase export earnings etc. At AFSTi, the efforts are taken to address the key challenges and bridge the gap within the Food Eco System developing a sustainable collaborative environment, which will show healthy gains & attain new heights in the future.