CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, and Tata Consumer Products Limited (TCPL) have joined hands to establish the Centre of Excellence for Food Fortification Innovation, Research and Training (CEFIRT) at the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (ITE) Hub at the Bio 360 Life Sciences Park, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was exchanged during the 85th CSIR Foundation Day celebrations held at the National Capital, on 25th September 2026, in the presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, CSIR, Dr. (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi. Mr. Partha Biswas, President – RTD Business, TCPL., was also present during the occasion.

The establishment of CEFIRT marks an important step towards strengthening India’s capabilities in food fortification research, innovation, technology development and translation. The Centre will bring together the scientific and technological expertise of CSIR-NIIST with TCPL’s industry experience in food products, nutrition and product innovation.

The initiative comes at a significant juncture in the development of the CSIR-NIIST ITE Hub at Thonnakkal, which was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 23 February 2026. The ITE Hub is envisioned as a platform for translating scientific research into technologies, fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening partnerships among research institutions, industry and other stakeholders. The establishment of CEFIRT further strengthens this ecosystem by creating a dedicated platform for research, innovation, technology development, transfer and entrepreneurship in the area of food fortification.

CEFIRT is envisioned as a national platform for food fortification innovation, research and training. The Centre will focus on developing innovative fortification technologies for staple foods such as grains, salt, milk and edible oils, along with protein-enriched, functional and specialised nutrition products. It will provide advanced facilities and expertise for characterisation, quality assurance, nutrient stability and bio accessibility assessment, addressing key challenges associated with nutrient incorporation, processing and storage.

Strengthening Industry–Academia Collaboration, CEFIRT will facilitate collaborative R&D between scientific institutions and industry, supporting technology development, analytical testing, validation, scale-up, technology transfer and commercialisation. The Centre will also offer specialised training and technical programmes for researchers, students and industry professionals, thereby strengthening knowledge and capacity in food fortification and nutrition science.

Supporting India’s Nutrition Security, CEFIRT will contribute to nutrition security by

developing scientifically validated and practical solutions for fortified and nutrition-enhanced foods, with emphasis on nutrient stability, safety, quality, bio accessibility and consumer acceptability.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, highlighted the importance of bringing together scientific expertise and industrial capabilities to develop innovative, scalable and impactful solutions in food and nutrition. Mr. Vikas Gupta, Global Chief R&D Officer, Tata Consumer Products Limited, emphasised the importance of industry-led innovation and collaborative research in developing effective food fortification solutions with wider societal impact.

Through the CSIR-NIIST–TCPL partnership, CEFIRT is expected to provide a sustained platform for innovation, research, training and technology translation in food fortification, contributing to national efforts towards improved nutrition, food quality and food security.