Kamal Ghorui
PUNE: A two-day national conference on the growing role of artificial intelligence in biomanufacturing and sustainable food systems was held at D Y Patil International University earlier this week, bringing together experts from academia, industry and research institutions.Organised by the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, the DBT-sponsored conference titled “AI & Model-Driven Strategies for Smart Biomanufacturing and Sustainable Food Production” was conducted at the Shantai Auditorium on April 2 and 3. Participants from across Maharashtra engaged in discussions on how AI is reshaping manufacturing processes and food sustainability.Delivering the keynote, Dr. Prashant K. Dhakephalkar, Director of Agharkar Research Institute, highlighted the concept of “waste to wealth”, stressing the need to convert industrial by-products into valuable resources through smart biomanufacturing.Dr. Sandeep Shiromani, Associate Director at the Centre of Excellence in Fermentation, Biocon, spoke on the application of AI in pharmaceuticals, particularly in improving efficiency and reducing production timelines. This was followed by Dr. Krishnakumar S of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, who discussed AI-enabled decision-making in biologics manufacturing. Dr. Aditi Joglekar, Managing Director of AVCHIT Biosolutions, highlighted the role of intelligent automation in accelerating development and production processes.The conference also featured paper and poster presentations, providing a platform for young researchers.On the second day, Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of National Institute of Virology, inaugurated the session. Ravin Kumar, Co-founder of Bettrlabs, spoke about how AI can significantly shorten research and development cycles, enabling faster and cost-effective innovation.Dr. Anuradha Chitnis, Head of R&D at Proeon, addressed the rising demand for plant-based proteins and the need for sustainable food processing systems. The concluding technical session was delivered by Dr. Ram Kulkarni of Symbiosis International University, who spoke on genomic strategies in lactic acid bacteria and their role in food sustainability.In addition to technical sessions, the event included student-focused activities such as quiz and Pictionary competitions to encourage participation.The conference concluded with a valedictory session and prize distribution. Dr. Ramendra Pandey, Director of the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, along with Conference Convenor Dr. Babuskin Srinivasan and Co-convenors Dr. Sonal Mahajan and Siddhardh Singh, thanked the university management, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Manish Bhalla and the registrar for their support.Organisers 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.
