PUNE: A two-day national conference on the growing role of artificial intelligence in bio-manufacturing and sustainable food systems was held at DY Patil International University earlier this week, bringing together experts from academia, industry and research institutes.Organized by the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, the DBT-sponsored conference titled “AI & Model-driven Strategies for Smart Biomanufacturing and Sustainable Food Production” was held at Shantai Auditorium on 2nd and 3rd April. Participants from across Maharashtra were engaged in discussions on how to increase capacity for food repurposing and improving food.Delivering the keynote speech, Dr. Prashant K. Dhakifalkar, Director, Aghakar Research Institute, highlighted the concept of “waste-to-wealth”, emphasizing the need to convert industrial by-products into valuable resources through smart bio-manufacturing.Dr. Sandeep Shiromani, Associate Director, Center of Excellence in Fermentation, Biocon, discussed the application of AI in pharmaceuticals, particularly in improving efficiency and reducing production timelines. This was followed by Dr. Krishan Kumar S. of Genova Biopharmaceuticals, who discussed AI-driven decision making in biologics manufacturing. Dr. Aditi Joglekar, Managing Director, AVCHIT Biosolutions, highlighted the role of intelligent automation in speeding up development and production processes.The conference also featured paper and poster presentations, providing a platform to young researchers.On the second day, Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director, National Institute of Virology, inaugurated the session. Bettrlabs Co-Founder, Ravin Kumar spoke about how AI can significantly shorten research and development cycles, enabling rapid and cost-effective innovation.Dr. Anuradha Chitnis, Head of R&D at Purvan, addressed the growing demand for plant-based protein and the need for sustainable food processing systems. The concluding technical session was presented by Dr. Ram Kulkarni of Symbiosis International University, who discussed genomic strategies in lactic acid bacteria and their role in food sustainability.Apart from the technical sessions, the event included student-focused activities like quizzes and photo contests to encourage participation.The conference ended with a farewell session and prize distribution. School of Biosciences and Bioengineering Director Dr. Raminder Pandey along with conference convener Dr. Babuskin Srinivasan and co-conveners Dr. Sonal Mahajan and Siddharth Singh thanked the university administration, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Manish Bhalla and the Registrar.Organizers said the conference provided valuable insights into real-world applications of AI in biomanufacturing and highlighted the need for sustainable and innovative solutions to meet future global demands.
