“Techno Main Salt Lake’s Food Technology Department stands as a premier leader in Eastern India’s private sector, exemplifying excellence in integrating engineering fundamentals with innovative food technology solutions to address global challenges in food security and safety.”. Established in 2003, it excels in producing engineers adept at designing innovative tools, developing cost-effective products, and applying computational skills in line with regulatory standards. Offering AICTE-approved B.Tech and M.Tech programs under MAKAUT, along with PhD guidance, it emphasizes creative minds and sustainable food practices.
The Food Technology department has achieved significant milestones, establishing itself as a regional leader. The facility is the only one to get significant financing from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) and TIFAC, including a ₹50 lakh grant for a Quality Control Laboratory and a ₹5 crore grant for a Centre of Relevance and Excellence (CORE) in Food Processing Technology. It was recently designated as the State Level Technical Institution (SLTI) for West Bengal under the PMFME plan, emphasising its importance in the state’s food technology scene. The government has also helped to preserve regional food traditions by giving technical assistance in filing GI drafts for the state’s sweets. Globally, teachers and students have received recognition from the FIFA World Cup organising team, as well as success in national contests such as the Good Food Institute Protein Rich Innovation and the Dupont Danisco Nutrischolar Award Innovation, which showcase their unique food items.
The Food Technology department at Techno Main Salt Lake has established significant industry-academic connections, particularly with TIFAC-CORE and Techno India. The faculty offers consulting and problem-solving services to a variety of industries, including projects such as analysing fruit jam for Mummy’s Magic, researching soya-substitute poultry feed for GM Agro Allied Pvt. Ltd., developing dehydrated margarine with Budge-budge Refineries Pvt. Ltd., making cookies from bread-crumb by-products with Modern Bakery, and valorising distillery waste with IFB Agro Industries Ltd. and Jadavpur University. The department is also creating continuous consultancy services for businesses such as seafood, jam and jelly manufacture, tea processing, vinegar, and flour, thereby increasing its industry ties.
The faculty of the Food Technology department at Techno Main Salt Lake have secured approximately ₹7.34 crores in grants from prestigious bodies like TIFAC, MOFPI, AICTE, DST, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. They have presented and published over 75 international and national research works, book chapters, and filed 7 patents. Faculty members also serve as reviewers for esteemed journals like Elsevier’s Journal of Environmental Technology & Innovation and collaborate with leading institutions. The department offers specialized B.Tech and M.Tech programs in various fields, including Food Technology, Food Process Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence. The B.Tech program has been accredited three times by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), reflecting its commitment to academic excellence.
This department provides students with practical training through industrial excursions, study tours, and internships with top companies like Britannia, ITC Foods, Mother Dairy, and Coca-Cola, IFB, United Breweries, Adani Wilmar Ltd., and Taj Sats. To address curriculum gaps, the department offers special classes, tests, and industry lectures, ensuring students stay updated with the latest trends through specialized programs and seminars.
Techno Main Salt Lake’s Food Technology Department is exceptional in education, research, and industry cooperation, combining cutting-edge research, industrial partnerships, and an interdisciplinary curriculum. Its cutting-edge labs are on their way to NABL certification, and its staff and students have received international recognition, including awards from the FIFA World Cup organising committee. Strong industry contacts, practical training, and considerable research funds establish the department as a food technology leader, preparing graduates to have a significant impact on the worldwide food sector.