1

2
Dr Bertrand de Hartingh, Counsellor for Education, Science &
Culture, Embassy of France in India and Country Director of the
French Institute in India.

Dr Bertrand de Hartingh is the Counsellor for Education, Science & Culture, Embassy of
France in India and Country Director of the French Institute in India. He is an alumnus of
France’s most prestigious university ENS Ulm – alma mater of many Nobel laureates such as
Jean-Paul Sartre. He received his Ph.D. from Sorbonne University with the highest honours and
is a researcher, writer and diplomat. He has lived and worked in America, Europe and Asia for
various institutions (French Foreign Service, British DFID, World Bank, etc.) and speaks seven
languages fluently. He was also head curator for the 3rd edition of Bonjour India.

Prof. Adèle Martial-Gros, Deputy Counsellor - Head for Academic

and Scientific Cooperation

Prof. Adèle Martial-Gros holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnologies from Institut National

Polytechnique de Lorraine. She also holds an Habilitation to Conduct Research, HDR, from
the University of Lyon.
She worked previously as Attaché for Science and University cooperation at the Embassy of
France in Tunisia. She was then as Attaché for Science & Technology at the Embassy of France
in the United States, Consulate General in Chicago. After these two postings abroad, she became
Head of International Relations at Université Lyon I, then worked at the French Ministry of
Foreign Affairs as the of the Head for Higher Education and Research Cooperation for North
America, Europe and Asia. She joined the Embassy of France in New Delhi, French Institute in
India in September 2016.

Dr Jérôme Bove, Scientific and Academic Attaché

Dr Jérôme Bove is the Scientific and Academic Attaché of the Embassy of France in India,
for the south of India. He started his career as a researcher in plant biology. He obtained his
Ph.D.from the National Institute of Agronomy in Paris, after which he worked at Pennsylvania
State University, the University of Montreal and the University of Angers (France) where he
holds an Associate Professor position. For the past six years, he worked mainly in laboratories: he
was the scientific director of the High Council for Strategic Research, a research funding agency
affiliated to the Prime Minister’s office. He joined the Bengaluru office of the French Embassy
in September 2016.

3
 MODERATORS
Loic Rajjou
Loic Rajjou is currently working as Professor and Head of the Plant Physiology Division at
AgroParisTech. His expertise is in Plant Physiology, Seed Biology, Germination, Dormancy,
Conservation, Seed technology, Biotic and Abiotic Interactions, Biotechnology, Biodiversity,
Biochemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Post-Translational Modifications, Plant proteins, Predictive
biology, Systems biology, Translational biology, Innovation in Plant Sciences. Currently, he
is carrying out his research activities on the INRA campus in Versailles within IJPB, a joint
research unit between INRA and AgroParisTech.

loic.rajjou@agroparistech.fr

Edmond Rock
Edmond Rock is presently the research director at INRA, (l’Institut National de la Recherche
Agronomique). He also contributes to the actions carried out by the Bureau of the Human
Nutrition Research Centre of Auvergne (CRHN) and those of the French Society of Vitamins
and Bio factors (SFVB). He is also Vice-President in charge of Scientific Affairs.

edmond.rock@inra.fr

G.G. Sohani
G.G. Sohani is currently a President and Managing Trustee of BAIF Development Research
Foundation, Pune. His focus is on: Strategic Planning for BAIF and associate organizations;
Coordination of Projects for Sustainable Development of Natural Resources through Watershed
Management and; Water Resources Development and Conjunctive Use of Surface and
Groundwater Sources through Peoples Participation.

ggsohani@baif.org.in

Sridevi Annupurna Singh

Sridevi Annapurna Singh, MSc Food Technology and Ph.D. in Food Science, is Chief
Scientist and Head of the Department of Protein Chemistry and Technology, CSIR-CFTRI,
Mysuru. She has 29 years of research experience. Her areas of expertise include: developing
supplementary foods for malnourished children, using enzymes as processing aids, structure/
stability function in proteins and validating health claims of traditional Indian foods through
science.

sridevi@cftri.res.in

4
PARTICIPANTS - Academic Institutions
Jayalakshmi Mitnala
Jayalakshmi Mitnala has a B. Sc. from S V Agricultural College, Acharya NG Ranga
Agricultural University, Tirupati. She also has an M. Sc. (Agriculture) in Soil Science &
Agricultural Chemistry from Dr. Panjab Rao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. She has
worked on the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on herbage and oil yield in palmarosa.
She is a Scientist at the KrishiVigyan Kendra, Banavasi under ANGRAU.

jayalakshmimitnala@gmail.com

Anil Kumar Chauhan

Anil Kumar Chauhan obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Dairy Science and Technology. Dr.
Chauhan is Coordinator and Professor at the Centre of Food Science and Technology, Institute
of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. He is also the Director of the Centre of
Advanced Faculty Training (CAFT- Food Processing) ICAR, Government of India, BHU
Centre.

dranilchauhan@rediffmail.com

K. P. Singh
Prof. K.P. Singh is the Vice-Chancellor of CCS Haryana Agricultural University. He
conducted research on the structure elucidation of biomolecules, nanosignaling, targeted drug
delivery and nanobiosensors at Technical University, Bratislava (Slovakia), Ruder Boskovic
Institute, Croatia (Europe) and Cranfield University, U.K. He has about 17 years of rich
experience in administration, institution building, teaching and training, research and
development, as well as international cooperation.

vc@hau.ernet.in

Joginder Singh Malik

Joginder Singh Malik is presently working as Professor & Head, Department of Agricultural
Extension Education at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU),
Hisar. He has published more than eighty research papers in national and international journals.
He has been conferred with more than nine awards for his significant contribution to the field of
development communication and rural development.

jsmalik67@gmail.com

A. Jayadeep
A. Jaydeep is Principal Scientist, Grain Science & Technology Department at CSIR-CFTRI,
Mysuru. HIs research interests include nutrients and nutraceutical content in grains and their
bio-accessibility. He also works on the development of fortified grain products by physical and
biotechnological methods and biochemical & health effects of wellness foods.

jayadeep@cftri.res.in

5
 Jyothirmayi Tummala
T. Jyothirmayi is Senior Principal Scientist and Head of CSIR-CFTRI Resource Centre,
Hyderabad. She is specialised in the areas of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Food Science, Food
Technology, Technology Transfer, Human Resource Development and Extension activities. Her
research interests are in the areas of Biochemistry, Enzymology, Biotechnology, fruit, vegitable
and perishable food material processing and the development of low fat, high protein extruded
snack products. She has more than 50 research papers to her credit.

rchyderabad@cftri.res.in

Sanjit Kanjilal
Sanjit Kanjilal is Principal Scientist at the Centre for Lipid Science and Technology, CSIR-
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India. He has been working in the area
of lipids for the last 22 years. His research interest include “biochemical and physicochemical
studies of lipids and their derivatives”. He has published 55 research papers, 10 patents and 2
book chapters to his credit. He is a member of the Scientific Panel on Oils and Fats Subcommittee
of FSSAI.

sanjit@iict.res.in

S V Ranganayakulu
S V Ranga Nayakulu is currently working as Dean (R&D), at Guru Nanak Institutions,
Technical Campus. His research Interests lies in Materials Characterization, Ultrasonic,
Microcontrollers, Embedded systems and Nanofluids. He has 25 years of teaching as well as
administrative experience at various institutions.

nayakulu@rediffmail.com

Ranjit Kumar
Ranjit Kumar is Principal Scientist & Head, Agri-Business Management Division at ICAR-
National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad. He has more than 20
years of research experience in the area of technology adoption, impact assessment, value chain
analysis and policy analysis in the agriculture sector. He has co-founded the Technology Business
Incubator Centre (a-IDEA) at ICAR-NAARM, helping agri-startups in ideation, business
development and acceleration. He has published over 50 research papers in peer reviewed
journals. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, New Delhi.

ranjitkumar@naarm.org.in

D. Raghunatha Rao
D. Raghunatha Rao conducted laboratory bio-assays on the susceptibility and resistance of
mosquito vectors to various groups of insecticides of natural, synthetic and biological origin at
the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, one of the ICMR Institutes. He also conducted
small and large scale field trials in controlling mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus
(JEV) in rice fields. Currently he is working at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition.

drr_rao@yahoo.com

6
Sridhar Gutam
Sridhar Gutam is a Senior Scientist (Plant Physiology) at the ICAR-Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. He has thirteen years’ experience at the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research. His area of work is on plant physiology of agricultural and horticultural
crops. His current assignment is with ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Fruits.
Apart from his research on plant physiology, he is involved in advocacy for open access to public
funded research. He is on the board of AgriXIv and Thesis Commons and is planning to launch
a phenological data repository by starting Fruit Tree Phenology network in the country and
preprints repository for India, IndiaRxiv.
sridhar.gutam@icar.gov.in

Serge Bastide
Serge Bastide is the head of IMT Mines Alès International Office since 2005. Earlier, he
was in charge of European student mobility. On behalf of Institut Mines Télécom (IMT) he
is in charge, at group level, of cooperation with Vietnam and China. He worked for 17 years
in a research group, dedicated to polymer materials where his area of research was modelizing
mechanical properties.

serge.bastide@mines-ales.fr

Purnima Rupal
Purnima Rupal assumed the post of Director, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of
Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA) on 11 December, 2018. Prior to this assignment, she
served as Counsellor, Science & Technology at the Embassy of India, Tokyo, Japan, for three
years. Dr. Rupal has been associated with the International S&T Affairs Directorate of Council
of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for over 20 years. She was responsible
for planning, management & coordination of bilateral & multilateral science, technology &
innovation cooperation programmes. Purnima Rupal holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and has
authored books, articles in newspapers and magazines and edited books devoted to
science dissemination.
director@cefipra.org

Thomas Ea
Thomas Ea is currently in charge of international relations at ISEP. He received his PhD
in Electronics from Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris (2001). He teaches electronics at
undergraduate and graduate levels. He authored and co-authored numerous papers on digital
technology. He is also experienced in the development of educational materials for Lifelong
Learning and has participated in several European-funded educational projects.

thomas.ea@isep.fr

Laetitia Schmitt
Laetitia Schmitt is the official recruitment officer and head administrator for the International
Public Health Master’s degree at ONIRIS France since its launch in 2013. She has been
instrumental in reaching out to international organizations linked to the One-Health concept.

laetitia.schmitt@oniris-nantes.fr

7
 Frank Insignares
Frank Insignares, Ed D is the Associate Professor of Communication and Leadership Global
Affairs field officer for ONIRIS France. He is a graduate from the Institute of Veterinary
Medicine, Food Science & Engineering. His research interests are in the area of Intercultural
Communication through the use of collaborative digital technology. He was instrumental in
implementing communication skills into ONIRIS’ Veterinary curriculum as well as International
Graduate Programmes. He is currently working with the ONIRIS leadership team to expand
ONIRIS’ international education policy to foster student and faculty exchanges with foreign
universities.
franck.insignares@oniris-nantes.fr

G. Bhanuprakash Reddy
G. Bhanuprakash Reddy is a Scientist-F at the National Institute of Nutrition and heading the
Biochemistry Department. His research is related to nutritional biochemistry and nutrigenomics
of age-related and life-style disorders, particularly focused on micronutrient deficiencies. He has
published over 175 research papers in scientific journals, six book chapters and has two patents
to his credit. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India and the Telangana
Academy of Sciences. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Food Science & Technology and
Subject Editor of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

geereddy@yahoo.com

Puja Ray
Puja Ray is Assitant Professor at Presidency University, Kolkata, India. She has been associated
with Rhodes University, South Africa and the Tropical Forest Research Institute, India. She
served at the Directorate of Weed Science Research, India and Rani Durgavati University,
India. Most of her research experiences have largely focused on activity enhancement of fungal
and insect natural enemies of invasive weeds. Her research areas also include understanding the
impact of global environmental changes on biodiversity.

puja.ray@gmail.com

H. Prathap Kumar Shetty

Dr. H. Prathap Kumar Shetty is Professor & Head of the Department of Food Science
and Technology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University. He has over 20 years of
experience. His research interest are in Food Biotechnology and Food Safety.

shetty.fst@pondiuni.edu.in

Maud Le Bars
Maud Le Bars is an International developmental manager at Rennes School of Business. She
is an experienced HR and Business development professional with a Master’s in Business and
Human Resources Management. She has international experience in the industrial, service and
commercial sectors, with over 3 years of experience in management in Indian operations.

maud.le-bars@rennes-sb.com

8
Sandeep Kumar Gupta
Sandeep Kumar Gupta is currently working at Shiv Nadar University. He received his Ph.D.
from the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, IIT Kanpur, India. He also
holds an MBA in finance and Operations from GBPUA&T, Pantnagar and an M. Tech in
Agricultural Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, India. His research interests include Operations
Management, Sustainability Analysis, Quality Management, Energy and Environmental
economics.

sandeep.gupta@snu.edu.in

Sarita D
Sarita D is Team Leader/Project Scientist at the Division of Nutrition, St. John’s National
Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru. Her research interest lies in nutritional and food
metabolomics/lipidomics and the development of novel technologies based on bioanalytical
methods for mass spectrometry (MS) based metabolomics.

sarita@sjri.res.in

T.V. Hymavathy
T.V. Hymavathy is Professor at Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University. Her
areas of expertise are nutrition, food technology. Her research interest lies in food processing,
health and functional food Development technology commercialization.

hymasarathi@gmail.com

Shashidhar K.C.
Shashidhar K.C. is Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering,
University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences. He has focused on developing micro
irrigation management strategies and integrated watershed management for sustainable
agriculture. He has a special interest in farm extension and designing farm development plans.
He has received several awards for his work and publications.

shashidhar.kumbar@gmail.com

M. Shivamurthy
M. Shivamurthy is a Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension at the
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. He started his career as an extension worker,
serving a wide farming community in southern India. He has been involved in action research
on social and economic impediments in development, the empowerment of rural women and
youth.

murudaiah.shivamurthy@gmail.com

9
 Nadigara. R. Gangadharappa
Nadigara. R. Gangadharappa has was Head of the Department, University Head of
Agricultural Extension and Director of Research at the University of Agricultural sciences,
Bengaluru. He was State Joint Forest Planning and Management Co-ordinator, contributing to
increasing forest tree cover in Karnataka. He helped develop social capital and social exclusion
through research. He has helped the Government of Karnataka to implement ‘Climate Smart
Agricultural Practices’ on a pilot basis in four locations.

nrganga@gmail.com

Jean Marc Laheurte

Jean Marc Laheurte is a Professor at the University of Paris-Est. His current research
interests include ntennas in matter, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies,
RFID localization, body area networks (BAN) antennas and channel modeling. His objective
during the “Choose France Tour” is to promote the master’s level courses and degrees given
in English at the University Paris-Est. In order to detect potential Ph.D. candidates, he will
also advertise the ESYCOM Lab specialised in sensors and microsystems for the analysis of
complex environments, micro sensors and interfaces for biology and health, energy harvesting
of mechanical vibrations and radiowaves, electromagnetic designs and modeling in complex
media, radiowave propagation and antennas, architectures and devices for optical and RF links.
jean-marc.laheurte@u-pem.fr

Tchanguiz Razban
Tchanguiz Razban is employed as full-time professor at Institute of Electronics and
Telecommunications at the University of Nantes. His research areas are electronics, antennas,
high frequencies and microwaves.

tchanguiz.razban@univ-nantes.fr

Eric Darmon
Eric Darmon is Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Rennes 1
(France) and professor in Economics. He got his Ph.D. from the University of Nice Sophia
Antipolis and his research topic is digital economics with a focus on digital markets and
digitization of the economy. He is directing several exchange programmes with Germany and
serves as Director of the Bachelor in Applied and Business Economics.

eric.darmon@univ-rennes1.fr

Pascal Maussion
Pascal Maussion (IEEE Senior member) got his MSc and PhD in Electrical Engineering in
1986 and 1990 from Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique (France). He is
currently full Professor at Université de Toulouse and researcher with CNRS Laboratory for
Plasma and Conversion of Energy (LAPLACE). His research activities deal with the control
of power converters for induction heating or energy efficiency improvement and diagnosis of
electrical systems such as drives and lighting. He uses the design of experiments as an optimisation
tool in control and diagnosis. He teaches control and diagnosis in a school of engineers of
Université de Toulouse. He is the Toulouse INP Vice President for the International Affairs.
shramikpatil@gmail.com

10
PARTICIPANTS - Industry

Archana Thakur
Archana Thakur is Director of CODON Biosciences Pvt. Ltd., which is involved in the
development and production of fruit-based value added products. She has been working in
the biotech industry for the past 10 years in various scientific and managerial capacities. Her
expertise is in various core areas such as product & process development, process validation and
scale-up, quality control & quality assurance.

archana@codonbspl.com

Madhur Gandhi
Madhur Gandhi has a Postgraduate in Agro-Ecology from France and a Bachelor’s in
Biotechnology from India. Currently, he is working as project leader towards sustainable
agriculture practices and rural development in Grameena Vikas Kendram Society for Rural
Development in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. His research interest deeply lies in sustainable
cropping systems, local food chains and agro-ecology, uplifting rural economies through
innovative agriculture and supply-chain models.

madhurgandhi.786@gmail.com

Harpreet Singh
Harpreet Singh is an entrepreneur from Uttarakhand. His areas of interest are in agriculture
and education. Running a NGO with 700 farmers in hills of Kumayun Nainital Uttarakhand.
He is currently working with KVS Kotabagh.

kaushalyafarms@gmail.com

Abhishek Vaidya
Abhishek Vaidya is the operations head at Ormeal Foods Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad. He is
a chemical engineer with a Post-Graduate in Operation Management. He represents his
organization Ormeal - a fast growing organic baby food start-up in India.

abhishek.vaidya@ormeal.com

11
 AGRONOMY & FOOD PROCESSES

KNOWLEDGE SUMMIT RECOMMENDATIONS

Thematic context in France and India
French priorities for research under this theme were defined during the National Convention on Food and Agriculture
(Sept-Dec 2017).
They encompass five elements:
i) upstream interdisciplinary research;
ii) transition of agricultural systems to agro-ecology;
iii) healthy and sustainable food systems;
iv) circular bio-economy; v) big data (open science) and digital technologies.
Agricultural research has helped to increase productivity, improve food security and reduce food prices in India. However, agriculture
is now facing complex challenges of declining factor productivity, degrading soil and water resources, rising food and energy prices,
and increasing frequency of extreme climatic events.

Key outcomes from the round table session

The development of cooperation in agro-ecology, soil & water conservation and restoration; the diversification of crops, agro-
forestry, indigenous dairy breeds, sustainable and resilient food systems; agrobiodiversity and organic systems, improved value chains,
food safety and nutritional security. Its implementation should involve farmers, industries and governments, as well as consumers &
NGOs.
In order to make progress, living laboratories aiming at climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive food systems could be developed
through a few regional pilots supported by the Indo-French collaboration in research, higher education and innovation (e.g. in
technologies, agricultural and food systems, socio-economics).

Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term

Launching at least one pilot living lab supported by Indo-French collaborations while focusing on a district or a state in India. This
living lab could develop foresight studies for agriculture, environment and food, integrated assessments using coupled biophysical
and socio-economic models.

Implementation process / mobilisation of financial resources

The implementation process could start by launching an interdisciplinary Indo-French project to be submitted to CEFIPRA, for
e.g. on advances in spatial simulation models. Research funding opportunities will be identified both in France and in India and
complementary projects may be submitted to international and bilateral donors (e.g. World Bank, Foundations, French Agency for
Development).

Institutional arrangements (Public-Private)

Institutional arrangements will be tested for the development of the living lab project, involving for instance village, district & state
authorities in the region of the project, as well as farmers’ organisations, knowledge transfer centres, etc. Moreover, public-private
partnerships will be explored especially with French companies developing agri-food activities in India, as well as Indian companies
doing business in France.

Conclusion / way forward

To consolidate multiple collaborations between India and France in the agriculture and food sector, it is now required to develop a
systemic thinking and to engage in innovation with the support of stakeholders. In France, 4 living labs (TIGA, within the investment
programmes of the future PIA) dealing with agri-food innovation were selected by the government. To support transitions towards
climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture in India, the development of a pilot living lab underpinned by Indo-French
transdisciplinary research was seen by the round table as the way forward.
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 AGRONOMY & FOOD PROCESSES

FUTURE TOUR RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Advancing agro-ecology in India and France for sustainable development and equity.
Coordinator: Dr Frederic Landy, French Institute of Pondicherry

In both India and France, the dominant agricultural and food model seems increasingly less sustainable from an ecological and socio-
economic perspective. Both countries now suffer from natural resources depletion; distress conditions of farmers and young people
leaving rural areas, etc. Agro-ecology envisions an opposite project: emphasising local synergies between plant and animal species,
bio-geochemical cycles and time to take full advantage of ecosystem functions with better social inclusion and revitalisation, as well
as mitigation/adaptation to climate change. This project aims at sharing experiences, success stories and failures for establishing
innovative agro-food systems.

2. Developing resilient and nutrient rich crops through improved genetics, including for
low-input organic agriculture.
Coordinator: Dr. Kiran Sharma, ICRISAT and Dr. Frédéric Lapeyrie, Executive Secretary of the French Commission for
International Agricultural Research (CRAI)

The objective is to develop resilient and nutrient-rich crops through improved genetics such as characterisation and genotyping
(sequencing) of crop germplasm and the development and use of emerging biotechnological interventions such as genome editing
for complex and intractable following traits to break yield/quality/ nutrition ceiling including for low-input organic agriculture.

3. Health benefits of dietary supplements based on plants, from agronomic to medical expertise.
Coordinator: Prof. Catherine Bennetau-Pelissero, Bordeaux University and ICRISAT

ICRISAT (Nutriplus Knowledge Programme and Smartfood) could be interested in working with Bordeaux University on the
validation of the health benefits of dietary supplements based on plants, from the agronomic to medical expertise (traditional Indian
knowledge e.g: Ayurveda). Market opportunity exists, but there is a need work on regulations (differences between EU and India, for
example). The collaboration is possible starting with the respective regulation analysis and also based on quality requirements from
the European Union. Scientific approaches can be developed between ICRISAT and Bordeaux University.

4. “Designer foods from non-wheat cereals and pulses” for allergic, population and innovations
in food fortification using natural biological nutrients
Coordinator: Dr. P. Prabhasankar, CFTRI and Dr. Catherine Renard, Food Process Division, INRA

The objectives are to develop products from gluten-free cereals and pulses, eventually mixed cereal and pulses: use the most adapted
technologies for their primary processing in flours, identify potential uses for co-products and optimised formulation of gluten-free
products with good acceptability by urban populations. Fortification is being practised in both countries using synthetic nutrients,
especially mineral fortification. Recently CFTRI initiated work on bio-fortification of iron in wheat- milled products which can be
extended to both Indian and French food products. Similar kinds of bio-fortification studies can be beneficial to both countries.

13
5. Capacity training in cost-effective, reliable and rapid assays for peanut allergens estimation.
Coordinator: Dr Catherine Renard, Food Process Division, INRA, LABERCA, Nantes and Hari Kishan Sudini, ICRISAT

On food safety, India has the framework but the need is in implementation / capacity-building (e.g: in risk assessment –for example:
GM, mycotoxins, allergens, antibiotics -, dispute analysis). Mycotoxins, especially aflatoxin contamination, remain a significant issue
in Indian agricultural commodities. New food risks, e.g. peanut allergies as the direct consumption of peanuts and peanut-based
products increased from 5 to 15% in the last 5 years. There is an urgent need to develop and validate cost-effective, reliable and rapid
assays for peanut allergens estimation. There is an important need in tracing veterinary products.

6. Capacity building practices on packaging in India. surplus food vs starvation” under IAS
(India against starving). How can packaging play an important role?
Coordinator: Prof. Karna BK, Director- Packaging Clinic & Research Institute

India needs frugal processing innovations to improve value addition at the farm gate (low cost post-harvest operations with good
quality standards for rural food entrepreneurs SME). France also has the expertise in the cooperative movement which fits with
India’s family farming and FPOs support (e.g:- machinery cooperative – CUMA in France – and the GAEC legal status to improve
access for Indian smallholdings to machinery and inputs).

7. Student mobility programmes in English (Bachelor, Master degrees and MOOC).

Coordinator: Dr. Etienne Saur, Agreenium

The Government of Andhra Pradesh would like to start a fruitful bilateral cooperation with the members of Agreenium concerning
student mobility, for Indian students to enrol in master programs taught in English, for French students to have research internship
in the field, and also to develop scientific assessment and technical analysis of the impact of the public policy in Andhra Pradesh

8. Enabling climate-smart agricultural systems and landscapes to be co-designed and

implementable at scale in France and India
Coordinator: Dr. Anthony Whitbread, ICRISAT

The impacts of climate change and the necessity to move agricultural systems towards more resilient and sustainable systems that
underpin the livelihoods of rural communities and the broader economy are urgent. These are often transformational changes
around land use, farming systems and the value chains connected to agricultural industries. They are are complex and interconnected
to socio-economic-political issues. The approaches for research and development must necessarily be integrative, multi-disciplinary,
multi-scale and at the same time locally relevant. A broader perspective on the role of agriculture in society means that production,
as an important driver, must be considered along with culture, landscape, ecosystems services and agro-ecological approaches. This
project aims to build methodologies which can be used by governments to make climate-smart agricultural investments and scaling
implementation.

14
 About the French Institute in India

The French Institute in India / IFI (Institut Français India) is the culture,
science and education cooperation service of the Embassy of France
in India. It facilitates academic and scientific exchange between higher
institutes of learning and research, enables student mobility, promotes French
language and artistic and cultural partnerships. Cooperation between India
and France takes place through a number of sectors: Arts and Culture,
Books and Ideas, French Language and Education, Study in France
programme, Academic Partnerships, Science and Technology, as well as
Innovation and Multimedia.

IFI is connected to various sections including the Embassy’s Economic Section, Business France, the Press Section, and the
Consulate. In India, IFI heads the network encompassing France’s two research centres in India (Puducherry and Delhi), the four
French schools (Chennai, Mumbai, Puducherry & Delhi) as well as the Alliance Française network (AF), which represents local
Indian organisations that disseminate French culture, promote Indo-French cultural exchanges and teach French across the
Indian territory (see our Indo-French network).

Through Campus France, IFI offers a specific service to counsel students interested in going to France for studies or research,
which can be accessed in the 14 Alliance Française offices across India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai,
Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pondicherry, Pune, Lucknow and Trivandrum (with an annex in Kochi).
Campus France officers provide students free counselling services, facilitate admission procedures and visa formalities, and can even
contact French institutions for student applications. Campus France holds biannual education fairs where students intending to study
France meet representatives of top institutions one-on-one. The online platform France Alumni also brings together Indians that
formerly studied in France for networking and reliving memories of France.

France and India are leading players in the global scene. France is Europe’s top innovator, and ranks third in global innovation.
Through exchanges in technology and know-how, as well as through artistic and educational exchanges, France and India are
partners in creativity and innovation. IFI acts as a matchmaker in the exchange of expertise, strengthening connections among
private companies and public institutions between France and India.

For more information, please visit www.ifindia.in

15
 NOTES

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