MoU between BHU and University of Copenhagen

Updated on: Thursday, December 10, 2009

Varanasi: The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Copenhagen, Denmark for their cooperation in food science and technology.

During his recent visit to Denmark, the BHU vice-chancellor Prof DP Singh signed the MoU. He was accompanied by the director of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences Prof SR Singh and coordinator of Food Science and Technology, BHU. The scientists from the University of Copenhagen and Anna University, Chennai were also present on the occasion.

It was a coincidence that when Copenhagen was preparing to hold the summit of world leaders for negotiating climate change, BHU was inking cooperation with the University of Copenhagen in food science and technology. After returning from Denmark, BHU VC told that the MoU includes cooperation for joint educational courses on `food habits' in east and west and entrepreneurship development through food processing, and research programmes based on pilot-plant development at BHU for milk dairy processing. On behalf of the University of Copenhagen, MoU was signed by Dr Per Holt Anderson, dean, faculty of life sciences. It is hoped that MoU would enable better understanding of foods from east and west. This will also promote entrepreneurship in eastern part of the country based on food processing.

According to the VC, under this MoU, financial support will be available for R&D for development of a food processing pilot-plant at BHU with active cooperation and support of Danish and Dutch scientists. The scientists from Denmark and Holland will work on indigenous milk products of India and try to understand the intricacies of food culture of India. It will be beneficial for PhD students who will get opportunities for long-term visits for education, research and training.

He said the BHU delegation also visited some food processing units. These visits were organised in recognition of growing significance and visibility of food science programme in BHU during past two years. One of the units manufactures food enzymes, colours, sweeteners, gums, hydrocolloids while another unit was the largest dairy in Denmark. They were shown the advanced technologies for processing milk and milk products.

The BHU delegation was also provided an opportunity to see the advanced laboratories on sensory quality of foods, food chemistry, food microbiology and also dairy processing pilot plant. They also visited high pressure processing facilities, techniques in food processing and instrumental evaluation of sensory profile of foods.

A joint research proposal on probiotic foods based on milk and coarse cereals was discussed between Prof Alok Jha and Prof Ase Hansen of the University of Copenhagen. Jha also delivered a talk on indigenous food habits in India. Besides, Prof SR Singh delivered a scientific talk on food security and sustainable development. The BHU VC also had a meeting with Dr Vijay KL Karna, the ambassador of Nepal. They discussed about the climate change summit agenda and also increasing the visibility and impact of BHU in Denmark and other European Union countries.

MoU between BHU and University of Copenhagen

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