Mangaluru : There is a need to develop low-cost technologies for agro food processing units, to help farmers store their produce, Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysuru Director Dr Harsh Vardhan Batra said.

Speaking at inauguration of Loyola Centre for Research and Innovation at St Aloysius College here on Wednesday, he said agriculture produce is a perishable commodity. There is a need to develop low-cost technology which will help farmers.

Developing rural skills of farmers should be taken up as part of a mission on skill development and skilled India initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Stating that Defence Food Research Laboratory will extend its hand with St Aloysius College in taking up collaborations to take up research activities, he said money is not an issue to take up research activities.

“If there is a dedicated team of youth ready to take up research work, we will support them. A visit to the research institutes will provide hands on experience on the use of  technology for the students,” Batra added.

Dr Batra called upon students and teachers to take up research as a passion not only to gain knowledge but also to work for the development of the country through innovations.

An academic institute without strengthening its research activities can not move forward. Research has no boundaries and the researchers should collaborate with various institutes and individuals to achieve success.

Shivamogga diocese Bishop Rev Dr Francis Serrao said the research block highlight Jesuit principles of higher education which believes in the process of reflection, innovation, invention and exploration.

Students have to be innovative when they face challenges of the world and contribute to the development of the society.

The newly built research wing—Loyola Centre for Research and Innovation is built at a cost of Rs 8 crore, designed to improve quality of science education though research in the college.

The building has seven floors all equipped with state of art infrastructure for education through research.

The building will house research programmes in Food Science and Technology started recently with a grant of Rs 75 lakh from MHRD, Government of India through the government of Karnataka as well as research laboratories of biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry and physics departments.

There are also multiple conference rooms and auditoriums to conduct seminars and other academic programmes. Provincial of Karnataka Jesuit Province Rev Fr Dr Stany D’ Souza, Principal Fr Swebert D’Silva and Rector Fr Denzil Lobo were present.