Centennial Symposium on “100 Years of Animal Nutrition Research in India” organized

11 - 12 March, 2021, Izatnagar

The ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and the Animal Nutrition Association jointly organized the two-day Virtual Centennial Symposium on “100 years of Animal Nutrition Research in India” from 11th to 12th March, 2021.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) outlined the relevance of the present focus of animal nutrition research. Dr. Mohapatra stressed on the need for having an increased focus on areas like gut microbiome in health and disease (and how the microbiome differs depending upon breeds, feeding regimen and rearing environment), nutrigenomics, foetal programming and role of nutrients in epigenetic changes for metabolic and production traits. The Director General also unveiled a “Commemorative Plaque” and released a Short Film and a Book during the occasion.

Dr. Bhupendra Nath Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR also participated in the event.

In his welcome address, Dr. B.P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh highlighted the history of animal nutrition research and the stellar role played by ICAR-IVRI in formative years of animal nutrition research.

The Guests of Honor, Dr. S.K. Ranjhan, Former Chief Technical Advisor, FAO / UNDP and Dr. K. Pradhan, Former Vice-Chancellor, Rajasthan Agricultural University & Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology also shared their experiences of early years of animal nutrition and how it has evolved to match the changing needs.

Dr. A.K. Verma, President, Animal Nutrition Association underlined the Association’s role with more than 1,100 life members, in propagating science among the nutrition fraternity since 1994.

The symposium was organized to commemorate the completion of 100 Years of Animal Nutrition Research in India which started back in 1921 with the establishment of the Laboratory of Physiological Chemists at the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa, Bihar.

The veteran animal nutritionists, young researchers and postgraduate students also virtually participated in the event.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh)