Dhanbad: As part of its centenary celebrations and the Mission LiFE Keynote Lecture Series 2025–26, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad organized a thought-provoking keynote session on “Environmental Issues of Food Processing Industries” today.
The event was hosted by the EIACP Programme Centre (RP) at the Centre for Mining Environment, under the Department of Environmental Science & Engineering (ESE).
Delivering the keynote address, Ashok Agarwal, Director of KLA Food India Ltd., highlighted the pressing environmental impacts of the food processing sector. Emphasizing sustainable practices, Agarwal advocated for the adoption of cleaner technologies, circular economy models, and the integration of green energy to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint.
Aligned with the Mission LiFE theme “Adopt Sustainable Food System”, the session spotlighted the critical role agro-industrial systems play in addressing climate change and promoting environmental resilience.
Agarwal referenced United Nations data indicating that food systems contribute to nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, stressing the urgency for transformation.
The interactive session also fostered dialogue on Sustainable Development Goal 12—Responsible Consumption and Production—while emphasizing the importance of industry-academia collaboration in advancing environmentally responsible food systems.
The event was supported by Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, and Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. It was coordinated by Prof. Alok Sinha, Head of the ESE Department and Coordinator of EIACP (PC-RP), with key contributions from Prof. Biswajit Paul and Prof. Suresh Pandian E.
This keynote marked a significant milestone in the institute’s centennial journey, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and knowledge leadership.
