'Tasting India...' brings focus to India's culinary richness

The new edition of the symposium Tasting India: Farm to Table, which started here on Wednesday, aims to tap the country's culinary tourism potential and sustainable food culture, as well as initiate a dialogue to put India on Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Following the success of the debut edition in February end this year, the global symposium will continue till December 17 here, with speakers who will take a holistic view of food, mapping its journey from the farm to your table, and the challenges at every stage.

Sanjoo Malhotra, Stockholm-based Make in India promoter, and co-founder of Tasting India: Farm to Table, said in a statement: "It seeks to engage opinion-makers in the country and around the world to shift their lens on India's opulent gastronomical heritage, its potential to emerge as a culinary tourism showcase for the world, and its vast wealth of wisdom relevant to the current global debate on sustainable lifestyles."

The gala opened with the launch of a national food donation initiative, being flagged off nationally by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

"Save Food, Share Food, Spread Joy" is the tagline of the Indian Food Sharing Alliance, which was flagged off jointly by FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir -- who is closely associated with food donation -- and Arbind Singh, President of the National Association of Street Vendors of India.

The event will also witness the national premiere of Anthony Bourdain's "Wasted", a documentary on food waste.

On December 14 and December 15, the symposium will open with a discussion on India's culinary tourism potential featuring the Global First Lady of Indian Cuisine Madhur Jaffrey, and Satyajeet Rajan, Director General of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism.

The other headline speakers are Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi, who will chair a session on Strategic Innovations and Market Interventions in Organic Agriculture.

Pushpesh Pant, culinary historian and TV presenter, will lead the discussion on Indian cuisine finding a place on Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Karnataka's Agriculture Minister, Krishna Byre Gowda, will inaugurate a lunch prepared entirely with millet and then preside over a discussion on the way forward for 'nutri cereals' across the country.

--IANS

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