ICAR- CIPHET, Ludhiana organised One-Day Awareness cum Training Programme 

Ludhiana, March 24, 2025; The ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (ICAR-CIPHET) organized a One-Day Awareness and Training Programme on "Combating Food Loss and Waste: A Step Toward Sustainability" under CSR initiative of Vardhman Textiles Limited, Ludhiana for the students from Government Senior Secondary Smart School, P.A.U. Ludhiana. About 100 students participated in the programme and showcased their creativity through a Poster-Making Competition on "The Zero-Waste Lunchbox" to highlight ways of minimizing food waste.

Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director of ICAR-CIPHET chaired the inaugural session and shared his valuable insights on the critical issue of food waste, discussing its implications on environment and discussed its potential solutions. He also highlighted the efforts and studies undertaken by ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana to estimate the harvest and post-harvest losses at National level during 2005-07 and 2012-15. 

Amit Jain, Assistant Vice President at Vardhman Textiles Limited, Ludhiana graced the occasion as the special guest. He expressed concerns about huge food loss and waste (FLW) and emphasized the need to address it in order to mitigate climate impact, enhance food security, and ensure sustainable agrifood systems. The event featured expert talks and live demonstrations on food waste management and practical tips to reduce food waste at home. A talk on food loss and waste, prevention and future approach was delivered by Dr. Manju Bala, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. Jaspreet Singh, founder of Guntaas Vermicompost, Ludhiana delivered an expert talk on compost making, including a live demonstration on creating vermicompost from food waste, offering practical insights into sustainable waste management practices. Volunteers from Robin Hood Army (RHA), Ludhiana-a volunteer-based organization also gave an insightful talk on the importance of reducing food waste and promoting sustainable practices. Prizes were presented to the winners of the Poster-Making Competition in recognition of their creative efforts. The event proved to be an engaging and insightful experience for all attendees. The programme was convened by Dr. Surya Tushir and concluded with formal vote of thanks by Dr. Chandan Solanki.