The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management-Kundli (NIFTEM-K), an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Saskatoon, Canada, to promote academic and research collaboration in food sciences.
Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein
The agreement gains added significance in light of the recent announcement to establish a Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein through joint collaboration between India and Canada. The initiative will be led by NIFTEM-K from the Indian side and the University of Saskatchewan from the Canadian side, reflecting a shared commitment to innovation in plant-based protein and sustainable food systems.
Key Highlights of the Five-Year Agreement
Under the five-year MoU, both institutions will collaborate in multiple areas:
- Development of online teaching and training programs in food science, food systems economics, and business development
- Joint research projects and collaborative funding proposals
- Faculty, researcher, and student exchange programs
- Creation of integrated degree programs in Food Processing Technology
- Industry-oriented short-term courses
- Organization of joint seminars and workshops
The partnership seeks to combine USask’s strong global research ecosystem in agriculture and food systems with NIFTEM-K’s mandate as a “One Stop Solution Provider” for India’s food processing sector.
Strengthening Food Security and Innovation
Leadership from both institutions emphasized that the collaboration will promote innovation, capacity building, and technology-driven solutions for sustainable food systems. By leveraging expertise from two dynamic agri-food ecosystems, the partnership aims to:
- Advance food security
- Strengthen food processing value chains
- Promote research-driven industrial growth
- Encourage entrepreneurship in the food sector
Expanding Global Footprint
The MoU marks an important milestone in NIFTEM-K’s efforts to expand its international engagement and reinforce India’s leadership in food technology, entrepreneurship, and management. Through structured collaboration and clearly defined outcomes, the partnership is expected to deliver long-term benefits to both countries’ agri-food sectors.