The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has appointed Dr. Giridhar Parvatam as the new Director of the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru. Dr. Parvatam officially took charge on September 8, 2025, succeeding Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh.
Dr. Parvatam, who is 56 years old, previously served as the Chief Scientist and head of the Food Safety and Quality Control Department at CFTRI. He has a strong academic background, with an M.Sc. in Botany (Microbiology) and a Ph.D. from Kakatiya University in Warangal. He began his journey at CFTRI as a Scientist ‘B’ in 1999 and has held various significant positions since then. He is also a professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR).
A well-respected figure in food science and biotechnology, Dr. Parvatam is a Fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the Royal Society of Biology in the UK and the National Academy of Biological Sciences. He has received numerous awards, such as the Prof. V. Puri Commemorative Medal from the Indian Botanical Society in 2021 and the Outstanding Scientist Award from the Society of Tropical Agriculture.
With over 8,000 citations and 217 publications to his name, Dr. Parvatam has made significant contributions to areas like functional genomics, biochemistry, and tissue culture. He has mentored 17 Ph.D. scholars and guided 54 post-graduate students in their research.
Dr. Parvatam’s work has focused on advancing food science and plant biotechnology, especially in crops such as coffee and soybean. His leadership is expected to bring innovative changes to CFTRI and further enhance research in food technology in India.
As the new director, Dr. Parvatam aims to continue the vital work of the CFTRI, addressing current challenges in food technology and contributing to national needs in food safety and quality control.
-Rashmi Kumari
