A two-day 31st All Pakistan Food Science Conference and Food & Nutritional Expo commenced at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Friday.

The conference is being organized by the PMAS-AAUR Institute of Food and Nutritional Sciences (IFNS) with the theme Transformation of the food system for a sustainable food future.

Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi (S.I.) Chairman Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) was the chief guest at the inaugural session while Prof. Dr. Qamar uz Zaman Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr. Anwaar Ahmad Director IFNS, PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr. Masood Sadiq Butt Dean, Food Faculty UAF, Prof. Dr. Tahir Zahoor NIU University, Lahore, Ms. Farah Naz Country Director, GAIN Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Said Wahab Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Dr. Shahzad Amin CEO, Pakistan Dairy Association, Prof. Dr. Shahana Urooj Kazmi Vice Chancellor, Women University Swabi, Prof. Dr. Faqir M. Anjum, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Gambia University, Gambia, also addressed the inaugural session of the conference.

Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi, in his address said that the food sector has a huge potential & has very many opportunities for professionals & entrepreneurs and suggested adopting modern nutrition practices according to global standards.

He emphasized that Vitamins, their use and importance should be incorporated in our food chain and there is an urgent need to develop solutions by addressing malnutrition with a special focus on women and girls, he added.

He hoped that this conference will provide an excellent opportunity to all the participants especially the scientific community, policymakers, and food industrialists to excel in their field and benefit directly or indirectly to the consumers.

He appreciated the efforts of Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR for Food Technology education and especially in Academia, Industry and Government Linkages. He also sought suggestions and recommendations from the participants to make this event successful.

Dr. Qamar uz Zaman emphasized to strengthen the link between academia, industry & government and said that manufacturers are very interested in food technology & their focus is on government and universities for useful advice and research.

He stressed on quality research to address the food security issue and said that Arid University is improving its curriculum in the field of food technology so that the students can be adapted to the latest technology keeping in view the requirements of the time.

He further said that the National Center of Industrial Biotechnology has also been set up which will not only be helpful in the food technology sector but also in other field as well to increase the country's export by maintaining international standards.

PCSIR & PMAS-AAUR are also collaborating in the field of food technology and arranging capacity building programs, he said.

A large number of young food scientists and technologists from the public and private sector institutes, industry, and R&D organizations will deliver their research findings and share their ideas through oral and poster presentations.

At the Food Expo, around 35 food stalls and nutrition supervision stalls were established to provide the visitors with basic good nutrition guidelines.

Earlier, Dr. Anwar Ahmad in his welcome address elaborated the aims and objectives of the conference and shared research activities and outcomes related to safety, quality, value addition, processing technologies and nutritional aspects of the food sector.