International Wheat Seminar kicks off at Goa

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An international seminar on wheat and wheat products: New Technologies & Marketing Opportunities, being organised by the WPPS & USSEC was inaugurated at Goa Marriott here today by Dr. H.S. Gupta, Director General, Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA) and Mr. Ulhas Pai Kakode, Director of Agriculture, Government of Goa.

Speaking at the Inaugural Session , Mr. N.L. Mehta, Chairman, Organizing Committee & Mr. Vinod Kapoor , Chairman Technical Committee, IWS 2016 said “ Wheat is the most important crop in India and a large number of people depend upon wheat system for their livelihood. Wheat system has a number of elements, from science & research, cultivation and all aspects of farm practices, post-harvest movement, storage and trade, processing, production and marketing of food ready-for-consumption. At each sub system, there are numerous considerations of growth, efficiency, remunerations and incentives to produce, finance and exchange, regulatory regime, social responsibilities, poverty alleviation, health and welfare of our fellow citizens. Each sub system works within its own issues, and yet is dependent on, and influences other stake-holders.

Earlier in the morning, session on bakery began with a rousing welcome address by Mr N.L. Mehta, Chairman of IWS 2016 and the MD of Modern Bakery Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. This was followed by a theme presentation by Mr J. N. Kushawaha who is the President of Society of Indian Bakers and also the Chairman of BTW India Pvt. Limited. Mr. Lutz Popper, Technical Head, Mühlenchemie then spoke about the flour quality for bakery products and was followed by Mr. Ramesh Mago, President of AIBMA who shared his thoughts about the challenges faced by SMEs. Mr.Geoffroyd Humière from Chopin Technologies (AGARAM) France enlightened all about Quality Control on Wheat and Flour. It was then time for Mr. Agapito Menezes, President, All Goa Bakers Association and Mr. S R Yadav, Chairman BTW India Pvt. Limited, to share their thoughts and remarks..

The event sponsored by USSEC , highlighted the use of Soy Bakery products. Mr. Suresh Itapu, CEO of Nutritech spoke about Soya use in Bakery products along with an engaging Soy bakery Demonstration by Mr. Shorya Kapoor of AIBTM. Dr. Ratan Sharma, Director, India and Asia Subcontinent Soy Food Program, U.S. Soybean Export Council, then concluded the
session with his remarks.

About 300 participants from wheat & allied industry, various countries took active part in the seminar.The seminar focused on role of wheat system in tackling twin issues of sustained availability of basic food and combating menace of malnutrition among citizens. Two day global seminar will accommodate various presentation, lectures, theme meetings and panel discussion . The highlights of day one were Bakery session and Inaugural Session on wheat production development in india and global market.

This interdependence and dynamics motivated some visionaries among wheat system thought of bringing all stake-holders together at one platform to present to each other, developments that are taking place, matters that are influencing change, and planning that is happening at each point for future development. Attempt is to bring about an open environment for mutual understanding of local and global issues, and pressures being faced, and thought processes on plans to accelerate growth.

Mr. V.K. Bansal,President, Roller Flour Millers Federation of India , Mr. Sunil Maheshwari, IAOM Education Committee Member, Ms. Nidhi Srinivas, Chief Marketing Officer, NCDEX , Mr. Bal Anand, Head Oilseed and Grains,Cargill India Pvt. Ltd, Ms. Madhavi Das , Chief Management Services Officer, FSSAI,
Mr. D.V.R. Rajiv Mohan, Vice President Commodities, ITC Ltd Agri Business Division, Dr. R. Sendhil, Senior Level Scientist, ICAR Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, Mr. Akshay Patel, Agrocorp International Pte Ltd were also present on the occasion.

Wheat Products Promotion Society has been organising national and international wheat seminar for the last 29 years. WPPS promotes larger consumption of traditional and non-traditional wheat foods in India by conducting surveys, educational programmes and study tours, establishing research centres, assisting farmers growing wheat, and assisting manufacturers of foods.