· BOOK ATTEMPTS TO SPREAD AWARENESS ON USE OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTES & BY-PRODUCTS
· SUGGESTS SUSTAINABLE & ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES OF PACKAGING
Varanasi: Dr. Amrita Poonia, Assistant Professor, Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, has edited a book titled Edible Food Packaging: Applications, Innovations & Sustainability. The book focuses on the use of agro-industrial wastes like fruit and vegetable peels, seed gums, sea weeds, purees, extracts, juices, dairy by-products, defatted oil cake, microbial sources for preparation of edible packaging with high-value commercial use and improved functional and nutritional qualities. It aims to disseminate knowledge about sustainable and environmental friendly packaging alternatives, for public and consumers by utilizing the wastes and by-products of agro industries having high COD and BOD value which are a threat to the environment. The book touches upon various thrust areas like scope of commercialization for use of agro and food waste in packaging edibles, future outlook for food packaging industries. It attempts to increase awareness among the public on best use of wastes and by-products. The subject of sustainable edible packaging has been gaining considerable interest and attention due to its potential in replacing plastics. Utilization of these wastes and by-products as a source of packaging edibles is not only safe for human consumption but also environmental friendly and biodegradable in nature. Prof. Dinesh Chandra Rai, Head, Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, while extending his wishes to Dr. Poonia, has lauded her work saying it is a remarkable achievement.
