Lok Sabha Question No. 3186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: R&D Initiatives for Developing Food Processing Technologies
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3186

ANSWERED ON 07 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## R&D INITIATIVES FOR DEVELOPING FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES

## 3186.   ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the Research and Development (R&D) being undertaken by the Government to develop innovative food processing technologies and products tailored to the needs of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities; and
- (b) the  number  of  R&D  projects  sanctioned  and  completed  under  these  initiatives  along  with  their anticipated outcomes and benefits for these communities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a). The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) does not undertake Research and development work on its own. However, MoFPI is implementing a Research and Development Scheme, which is a part of Human Resource & Institutions Scheme under the umbrella scheme i.e. Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY). Under the scheme, financial assistance as Grant-in-aid is given to various Universities, IITs, Central/  State  Government  Institutions,  Government  funded  organizations,  R&D  laboratories  and  CSIR recognized R&D units in private sector to promote and undertake demand driven R&D work in food processing sector. The objective of the scheme is to benefit food processing industry in terms of product and process development, efficient technologies, improved packaging, value addition etc. with commercial value along with  standardization  of  various  factors  viz.  additives,  colouring  agents,  preservatives,  pesticide  residues, chemical  contaminants,  microbiological  contaminants  and  naturally  occurring  toxic  substances  within permissible limits.

Under the scheme, R&D projects of Government organizations/ Institutions are eligible for 100% grant-in-aid for  the  cost  of  equipment,  consumables  and  expenditure  related  to  Research  Fellows,  etc  &  Private organizations/universities/institutions/R&D laboratories and CSIR recognized R&D units in private sector to the tune of 50% of equipment cost in general areas and 70% in difficult areas. Universities, IITs, central and state government institutions, and government-funded organizations are encouraged to promote and undertake demand-driven R&D in the food processing sector.

Under the R&D scheme, the Expression of Interest (EOI) is open for all communities including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Class communities. However, there is no specific provision in the guidelines, for products tailored/designed to address the needs of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backward Class communities.

- (b). Under the R&D scheme, since 2008-09 total of 236 R&D projects have been sanctioned, of which 225 have been completed and a total of 20 patents have been filed out of R&D projects sanctioned so far. Further 52 new technologies have been commercialized/transferred for products, processes & equipment/prototypes developed.

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