Radiation processing of food: role in national development

Radiation technology can be harnessed in several ways depending on the needs. With adequate storage and packaging regimes it increases the possibilities of handling and distribution of farm produce, thereby improving its supply and management. It can add value to the product by improving its hygiene and quarantine. This is becoming increasingly important for ensuring biosecurity in international trade. Being a newly emerging technology from laboratory to market place, it may face several hurdles. These hurdles may involve engineering or technological challenges during scale-up, post-processing handling and management, problems of security of facilities, consumer attitudes and other unforeseen factors. A small beginning has been made in this direction with a setting up of two technology demonstration units, one for spices and other for onion, by the department. The experience of running these two units and a few more that are contemplated the private sector would probably determine the role the technology would play in future in the national development