The Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) and Shangrila Foods have explored opportunities for joint research and technology transfer aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, improving food quality and turning agricultural research into commercially viable products.
AARI, Shangrila Foods explore partnership to turn agricultural research into market solutions
ISLAMABAD, Sep 12 (APP):The Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) and Shangrila Foods have explored opportunities for joint research and technology transfer aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, improving food quality and turning agricultural research into commercially viable products.
Chief Scientist Agricultural Research AARI Dr Sajid-ur-Rahman told APP that stronger links between public-sector research institutions and the private industry could help bring research from laboratories to the market and provide practical solutions to challenges faced by the food and agriculture sectors.
The discussions were held during a visit by Shangrila Foods Chief Executive Atif Ahmad and Deputy Head of Plant Operations Dr Abdullah Salik to AARI, arranged as part of efforts by the institute’s Post Harvest Research Centre (PHRC) to strengthen public-private partnership.
Sajid welcomed the delegation and briefed it on AARI’s research and development activities. He said collaboration with the private sector was important to ensure that useful research and new technologies reached industry and ultimately benefited the agriculture and food sectors.
The delegation also visited the Post Harvest Research Centre, where Dr Muhammad Abrar and Dr Sadia Ansar briefed the visitors on ongoing work in post-harvest technologies, food quality, processing, product development and value addition.
They highlighted areas where research findings could be developed into practical and commercially viable solutions for the food industry.
During the discussions, the two sides identified possible areas for joint research and development, particularly solutions to industry-specific problems, reduction of post-harvest losses, improvement in food quality and development of better processing technologies.
They also discussed value addition, technology transfer and commercialization of research innovations to help ensure that scientific work carried out at research institutions could be put to practical use by industry.
Sajid said closer cooperation between researchers and food companies could also help identify the industry’s changing needs and allow scientists to focus on solutions with direct commercial and public benefit.
The interaction was part of PHRC’s continuing efforts to bridge the gap between agricultural research and industry through stronger public-private collaboration.
