A two-day national conference highlighting the expanding role of artificial intelligence in biomanufacturing and sustainable food systems was recently held at D Y Patil International University, bringing together experts from academia, industry, and research institutions.
Organised by the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, the DBT-sponsored event, titled “AI & Model-Driven Strategies for Smart Biomanufacturing and Sustainable Food Production,” took place at the Shantai Auditorium on April 2 and 3. Participants from across Maharashtra engaged in in-depth discussions on how AI is transforming manufacturing processes and advancing food sustainability.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Prashant K. Dhakephalkar, Director of Agharkar Research Institute, emphasised the concept of “waste to wealth,” underlining the importance of converting industrial by-products into valuable resources through smart biomanufacturing approaches.
Dr. Sandeep Shiromani, Associate Director at the Centre of Excellence in Fermentation at Biocon, spoke about the growing use of AI in pharmaceuticals, particularly in enhancing efficiency and reducing production timelines. Dr. Krishnakumar S of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals followed with insights into AI-driven decision-making in biologics manufacturing. Dr. Aditi Joglekar, Managing Director of AVCHIT Biosolutions, highlighted how intelligent automation is accelerating product development and production processes.
The conference also featured paper and poster presentations, offering a platform for young researchers to showcase their work.
On the second day, the session was inaugurated by Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of the National Institute of Virology. Ravin Kumar, Co-founder of Bettrlabs, discussed how AI can significantly shorten research and development cycles, enabling faster and more cost-effective innovation.
Dr. Anuradha Chitnis, Head of R&D at Proeon, addressed the rising demand for plant-based proteins and stressed 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 supporting food sustainability.
In addition to technical sessions, the event included student-focused activities such as quiz and Pictionary competitions to encourage engagement and 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, expressed gratitude to the university management, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Manish Bhalla, and the registrar for their support.
Organisers noted that the conference provided valuable insights into real-world applications of AI in biomanufacturing and underscored the importance of sustainable and innovative solutions to meet future global demands.