Latest news with #M.S.SwaminathanResearchFoundation
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Modi to inaugurate science conference to mark M.S. Swaminathan's birth centenary on August 7
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a three-day science conference organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) on August 7, 2025 to mark the birth centenary of M.S. Swaminathan. The event will take place at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in New Delhi. At a media briefing here on Thursday, Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the MSSRF, said the Prime Minister would release a reprint of In Search of Biohappiness, a book authored by the late M.S. Swaminathan in 2011. In addition to the book, he will unveil a special commemorative volume published by The Hindu, featuring articles written by MSS's colleagues and family, besides a stamp and commemorative ₹100 coin. 'Sustainable use of biodiversity' 'The concept of biohappiness, a term coined by Professor Swaminathan, focuses on how sustainable use of biodiversity can improve food security, incomes, and quality of life while also restoring lost biodiversity. This concept and its vision will be discussed at the upcoming conference, which will include 30 international speakers, 120 national experts, and 300 farmers,' said Dr. Soumya. She added that the goal is to integrate traditional agricultural knowledge with modern science, a belief long championed by Professor Swaminathan, who argued that technology and ecological wisdom should go hand-in-hand. The conference will also feature the M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace, a global recognition for scientists contributing to these fields. The first award, supported by the MSSRF and The World Academy of Sciences, will be presented by the Prime Minister on August 7 and has a prize amount of USD 25,000. There will also be private sector participation. The MSSRF and the Social Alpha are also launching the Agritech Grand Challenge, which will provide a grant of ₹1 crore to support early-stage ideas, pilot projects, and successful innovations that need scaling. The programme will help young entrepreneurs develop their ideas with guidance and opportunities to test them in real-world settings, Dr. Soumya said.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Why solar dried epipelagic fish has 70% protein, only 12% salt and long shelf life
If fresh fish is already a rich source of protein (17-19%) depending on the fish variety, dry fish with up to 70% protein is a far superior source of protein. Besides high protein content, dry fish is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid, calcium and iron. Since the protein content is high, a substantial amount of protein requirement can be met by consuming just 5 grams of dry fish. Epipelagic fish such as mackerel, sardine, anchovy, and ribbon fish are chosen for fish drying. 'Dry fish is a great source of protein. It can be a good supplement for Anganwadi and midday meals, especially in coastal fish-eating communities,' says Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of MSSRF. One of the major drawbacks of traditional drying of fish is the high salt content of over 30%, far exceeding the FSSAI limit of 15%. Together with high salt content, traditionally dried fish is often unhygienic by virtue of being dried in the open, and has a short shelf life of about two months. Researchers at M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai and Fish for all Research and Training Centre at Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu, which is a MSSRF hub of innovation, have turned to solar drying to successfully address these pain points. Cutting down salt content 'The salt content of solar-dried fish is about 12%. FSSAI has set a limit of 10-15% salt content for salted dried fish,' says Ms. N.A. Anbu Vahini, Lead, Training and Development at MMSRF, Chennai. 'Only about 3% salt is added to fresh fish, which becomes 12% when the fish gets dried. Traditionally dried fish has over 30% salt content.' Fresh anchovies from the sea naturally contain around 1-2% salt. After drying, even when no salt is added, the natural salt concentration in the fish increases to around 5-7% due to moisture loss. 'We have also studied the shelf life of unsalted fish dried under hygienic conditions and packed in aluminium foil. This method has provided a shelf life of up to nine months. However, according to FSSAI and CODEX standards, dried fish must have a minimum salt content of 12% to meet compliance requirements,' she says. Doubling the protein content If the protein content in traditionally dried fish is about 35-40%, it goes up to 70% in solar dried fish. 'The low protein content in traditionally dried fish is because of high moisture content,' Ms. Vahini says. The main reason why the moisture content is high in traditionally dried fish is because the fish is not dried fully to reduce the moisture content below 16% as specified by FSSAI. The moisture content is reduced from about 70% to about 35-40% during summer and over 45% in winter in traditionally dried fish. In contrast, moisture content in solar dried fish is 5-15% to achieve higher shelf life. But up to 16% moisture is permissible. 'When the moisture content is high the shelf life is short. This is the reason why traditionally dried fish has a short shelf life of about two months,' Ms. Vahini says. 'The solar dried fish has a shelf life of nine to 12 months when moisture content is 5-7, and nine months when the moisture content is about 10-15%.' Even during peak summer, it takes about 22 hours to dry anchovy fish with 18% moisture using open sun drying, whereas solar drying takes only nine hours and reduces the moisture to just 6%. The open sun-drying method relies on ambient conditions of 34 degree C and a relative humidity of 54%, whereas solar drying increases the temperature to 55-60 degree C and reduces the humidity to about 17%. This quickens the drying process, she says. In winter, it takes about a day to dry using a solar drier, achieving 23% moisture content, compared to three days with 39% moisture content in the case of traditional open sun drying. 'The solar drying method is 1.2 to 2.4 times faster compared with traditional sun drying, depending on the weather conditions,' Ms. Vahini says. Importance of packaging Shelf life depends not only on the moisture content but also on how the dry fish is stored post-drying. While no packaging material is used to store dried fish in the traditional method, people using solar driers use aluminium foil pouches or HDPE tray boxes to pack the dry fish. 'Solar dried fish is stored in the containers and then packed using aluminium foil pouches. Vacuum packaging will make it airtight but then we don't recommend it because it's costly for small-scale fishers. Aluminium foil solves the problem when it is properly sealed. When correctly packed, the moisture content is about 5-7% and we have achieved 12 months of shelf life,' Ms. Vahini says. Proper selection of fresh fish, thorough cleaning using potable water, solar drying, and packaging using aluminium foil ensure that the dried fish is hygienic Another key reason traditional open sun drying results in inferior dried fish is the use of leftover or unsold fresh fish, rather than fish specifically selected for drying. In some cases, even poor quality or spoiled fish is used. Fisherwomen have now been trained on all aspects of the process, including the importance of using fresh, high-quality fish for drying, she says. Dry fish has a stronger smell than even fresh fish but can be reduced if care is taken at every step of the drying and packaging process. 'The smell is greatly reduced when fish is washed properly prior to drying, following the correct salting process, maintaining hygienic conditions during the drying process, by increasing the rate of drying, reducing the amount of moisture in the dried fish, and proper packaging post-drying,' Ms. Vahini says. 'Smell can be further reduced if the dry fish is powdered.' Solar drying not only accelerates the drying process but also ensures superior product quality, lower moisture content, reduced microbial contamination, and enhanced nutritional retention. Higher profits According to Dr. S. Velvizhi from Fish for All Research and Training Centre, MSSRF, Poompuhar, traditionally dried anchovy sells at Rs.200-250 per kg, while solar dried anchovy sells for Rs.450-600 per kg. If the traditionally dried anchovy fish is bigger in size, it sells for Rs.300-400 per kg, while solar dried fish sells for Rs.750-800 per kg. MSSRF has trained the fishing community in Tamil Nadu around the Poompuhar region, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Rameshwaram on every aspect of fish drying starting with selecting fish for drying to packaging. Besides housing a large solar drier at its centre in Poompuhar, MSSRF has also supplied 50 mini, portable solar dryers with a capacity of 25-30 kg per day to women in Mudasalodai in Cuddalore district so they can dry fish in their own place instead of coming to the centre. Dr. Velvizhi says the Tamil Nadu government wants MSSRF to replicate the project in some fishing villages in the State.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
No need to fear COVID-19, thanks to acquired immunity, says Soumya Swaminathan
There is no reason to fear COVID-19 due to the immunity people have acquired over the last few years, said Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization, and chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. According to the data from the Union Health Ministry as of May 31, India saw an increase of 685 active COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 3,395 since January. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Scope 2025, an international conference on endoscopy organised by GEM Hospital in Chennai, Dr. Swaminathan explained that the current surge is driven by subvariants of the Omicron strain. While the virus may have undergone some mutations, the overall strain remains the same. India and other Southeast Asian countries have reported a similar trend in slight increase of COVID-19 cases. She said that the widespread use of vaccines, and in some cases, booster shots, has provided immunity. As a result, even if someone contracts the virus, symptoms will likely be mild, such as a two-day fever, cough, headache, and body aches. Dr. Swaminathan also recommended wearing masks when experiencing symptoms like cough, cold, or fever to prevent transmission to others. She warned that high-risk individuals — such as seniors, and those with diabetes, hypertension, or cardiac and lung conditions — should remain cautious. She urged everyone to continue following basic precautions, including wearing masks, washing hands thoroughly upon entering the home, and avoiding spitting in public.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Investing in TB Vaccines Is Urgent for India and the Asian Region: Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
New Delhi: Dr Soumya Swaminathan , Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, has called for urgent and sustained investment in tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, particularly for high-burden countries like India. Speaking at the first day of the World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting during the panel discussion Asia Region TB Vaccine R&D Financing, Dr. Swaminathan emphasised that an effective TB vaccine could save millions of lives and generate significant economic benefits. Referencing the World Health Organization's TB vaccine investment case, Dr. Swaminathan explained how a viable vaccine could avert deaths, reduce treatment needs, prevent catastrophic healthcare expenditure, and lead to measurable gains in GDP. 'It's a continuum—people get infected, some clear it, some develop active disease. But even subclinical TB carries a significant risk of mortality, and the outcomes worsen without early diagnosis or treatment,' she said. Acknowledging India's contribution to TB vaccine research, Dr. Swaminathan noted that the overall TB vaccine pipeline remains stagnant, with several candidates stuck in early trial phases for over a decade. 'These candidates neither move forward nor drop off. What we need is decisive action—to either advance them or let them go,' she stated. She pointed to M72, a promising candidate now in Phase 3 trials with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust, as an example of the high costs and slow timelines that dominate vaccine development. 'It's a $500 million project. But we cannot afford to spend that amount on every candidate,' Dr. Swaminathan stated, adding that TB trials take years to reach endpoints. 'Then comes data analysis, regulatory submissions, and finally, scale-up. That's the traditional timeline.' Drawing on her experience with the WHO Solidarity Trial during the COVID-19 pandemic, she explained how digital tools, international collaboration, and adaptive regulatory approaches had helped compress vaccine timelines. 'We had 35 to 40 countries participating, and everything was done online. The cost was negligible. That model can work for TB too,' she said. Dr. Swaminathan also praised India's ability to execute large-scale adult vaccination campaigns, as demonstrated during COVID-19. She urged stakeholders to apply similar urgency and innovation in rolling out TB vaccines. 'COVID showed us that timelines can be compressed. I was involved in the Solidarity Trial. It spanned 35–40 countries, was fully digital, and the cost was negligible compared to traditional trials. Vaccine companies contributed doses, doctors volunteered their time, and forms were designed to be completed in minutes—even in busy ICUs. ICMR was involved in that too,' she said. 'Similarly, regulatory agencies came together during COVID. They didn't take years to assess dossiers. Benchmarks were set. WHO created target product profiles, and global regulators like the FDA and EMA aligned on efficacy and safety standards. Minimum safety data was accepted to proceed, with continued monitoring post-rollout. Manufacturers even scaled up production before final efficacy results were available—governments absorbed that risk,' Dr. Swaminathan added. India launched the COVID Suraksha programme and invested significantly. So, it's possible to compress a 10–15-year vaccine development timeline into something much shorter—if the global community aligns. 'Of course, TB is not COVID. Endpoints take longer. But that doesn't mean we must accept the status quo. We don't have to wait decades for results.' Highlighting the inefficiencies in the current system, she advocated for a global mechanism to evaluate and prioritise the most promising TB vaccine candidates. 'Right now, companies are very protective of their own candidates. We're not making the most efficient use of our limited resources.' She concluded by urging policymakers, global health agencies , and vaccine developers to collaborate, invest, and rethink the way TB vaccines are developed and deployed. 'It's not just about science. It's about saving lives—and doing it faster.'
