Mysore: “Consumers, today, are looking for affordable foods that have very positive health and nutritional benefits and which have the attributes to postpone the ageing process a little and at the same time delay and prevent the onset of non-communicable diseases,” opined Dr. V. Prakash, former CFTRI Director and Director of Research, Innovation and Development, JSS Mahavidyapeetha.

He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day National seminar on “Emerging health issues across the life stages” organised by the Department of Studies in Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore at Rani Bahadur Auditorium, Manasagangotri in city yesterday.

“Food and nutrition in the urban world is an absolute challenging task. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the United Nations had set-up the 2015 Millennium Development Goal aimed at eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowerment of women towards the focussed agenda of child mortality and women nutrition,” he said and added that the new trends emerging in Nutrition Science was not only for physical health or preventive aspect with better nutrition, but also nutrition for cognitive development.

He also called for inclusive networking using innovations in technology and medicine for food science experimentation in making nutritious food more affordable to all. Pointing out that the four major areas of food science— food, diet, health and wellness — were inseparable by nature, Dr. Prakash stressed that a minimum amount of exercise and work-outs are a must for generating molecules from the food which are good to the body.

The Indian Association For Human Development Institute was launched on the occasion. A souvenir was also released to mark the occasion.

Varsity Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa presided.

Dept. Head Prof. Asna Urooj, Convenor Prof. Jamma Prakash, Organising Secretary Dr. M. Komala and others were present.