NEW DELHI, 3 March 2026: National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management-Kundli (NIFTEM-K), an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Saskatoon, Canada, to advance academic and research collaboration in food science and technology.
The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM-K, and Dr. Baljit Singh, Vice President (Research), USask, in the presence of Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan; Sh. Avinash Joshi, Secretary, MoFPI; and Sh. D. Praveen, Joint Secretary, MoFPI.
Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein
The agreement gains added significance following the announcement of establishing a Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein through joint collaboration between India and Canada. The initiative will be led by NIFTEM-K from the Indian side and USask from the Canadian side, reinforcing bilateral cooperation in the agri-food sector.
Five-Year Academic and Research Collaboration
Under the five-year agreement, the institutions will collaborate on:
Development of online teaching and training programmes in food science and technology
Courses in food systems economics and business development
Short-term faculty, researcher, and student exchange programmes
Joint research projects and collaborative funding proposals
Development of integrated degree programmes in Food Processing Technology
The partnership will also include joint seminars, workshops, industry-oriented short courses, and structured academic exchanges aimed at fostering innovation and cross-learning.
Strengthening Agri-Food Ecosystems
The collaboration seeks to leverage USask’s globally recognised agrifood ecosystem alongside NIFTEM-K’s mandate as a “One Stop Solution Provider” for India’s food processing sector. Both institutions will identify project-specific initiatives and formalise them through subsequent agreements to ensure structured implementation and measurable outcomes.
Leadership from both sides emphasised that the partnership will catalyse innovation, strengthen food processing value chains, and promote sustainable food systems through research-driven industrial growth.
The MoU marks a key milestone in NIFTEM-K’s strategy to expand its global footprint and reinforce India’s leadership in food technology, entrepreneurship, and management through meaningful international partnerships.
