National Workshop on Shiitake Mushroom commences
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 22 2022: A three day National workshop on "Shiitake Mushroom: As Nutraceutical and Next Generation Functional Food" was inaugurated today at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Manipur Centre in collaboration with Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (SPBB), New Delhi.

As per a press release from ICAR Manipur Centre, the workshop has been organized to provide information on advances and innovation in Shiitake Mushroom research, development of Mushroomprenuers as well as hands-on training.

Dr Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor, Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal and Dr VK Mishra, Director ICAR- NEH, Umiam, Meghalaya graced the occasion as the presidium members.

National Workshop on Shiitake Mushroom commences

Dr SL Mehta, former DDG Education ICAR and President SPBB; Dr Shelly Praveen, Secretary, SPBB and former Head Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-IARI New Delhi; Dr VP Sharma, Director, ICAR Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, Himachal Pradesh and Dr I Meghachandra Singh, Joint Director, ICAR Manipur Centre, eminent experts in the field of mushroom research, scientists, professors, academician, students, entrepreneurs and farmers from various parts of the country participated in the workshop.

More than 600 delegates from all over the country have registered for the workshop which is being organized in hybrid mode.

During the inaugural session, Dr Anupam Mishra emphasized on the importance of mushrooms in daily diet and appreciated the efforts of organizers for conducting the workshop.

Dr S L Mehta briefed on the contribution of SPBB in disseminating the science of biochemistry and biotechnology to the common man through different events.

Dr Shelly Praveen highlighted the importance of Shiitake Mushroom as a new emerging highly nutritious functional food having a lot of medicinal and nutraceutical properties.

Dr VP Sharma delivered the plenary talk on status of Shiitake mushroom research in India.

Dr I Meghachandra Singh briefed on the efforts of ICAR Manipur Centre in conservation and characterization of Shiitake strains native to NE India and development of new technologies to cultivate it on unexplored substrates.

The deliberations and hand-on session of this workshop will be of great help in devising the futuristic strategies to promote Shiitake Mushroom in entrepreneurship development and realising their potential as nutraceutical and next generation functional food, added the press release.