CII Water Institute is hosting a conference on sustainable water management in the F&B sector, ET HospitalityWorld

The Water Stewardship in Food & Beverage Sector 2024 conference organized by the CII Water Institute discussed important issues, challenges specific to water use efficiency and sustainability in the food and beverage sector and showed opportunities to improve productivity through the use of cutting-edge innovations and technologies, adoption of standards and joint actions in for sustainable water management in the sector. Hina Nagarajan, conference chairperson and managing director and CEO of Diageo India mentioned that water stewardship is a shared commitment to secure our future. The conference organized by the CII Water Institute will go a long way to galvanizing large-scale collective action. The considerations focused on the need to incorporate water risk considerations into the environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies of F&B companies. Mutual learning from the plenary meetings will encourage all stakeholders to assess the importance of transparent water management approaches with clear accountability and performance indicators. By integrating purpose with profitability, the industry can demonstrate that business success and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand.

continued below

At Diageo India, water conservation for life is an integral part of our 10-year ESG roadmap ‘Society 2030: The Spirit of Progress’, which is at the heart of our business strategy. From supporting collaborative initiatives to exceeding water recharge targets, we strive to set a holistic example of responsible water management by inspiring collective action.

Thakur Brahmanand Singh, Member Secretary, Central Ground Water Authority, Government of India, highlighted the use of harvested rainwater and gray water as a game-changer in the fight against the water crisis in the context of depleting groundwater resources. Referring to the growing water demand of the industry, Mr. Singh stressed that the industry should strive to improve its specific water consumption. Regular water audits are essential to determine water use efficiency, Singh mentioned. Focusing on rainwater harvesting could help recharge our water bodies and utilize resources that would otherwise be wasted, said Ms. Inoshi Sharma, Executive Director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Government of India. She was speaking at the CII Conference on Water Stewardship in Food and Beverage Sector 2024 organized by CII’s Center of Excellence on Water – CII Water Institute and CII Food and Agriculture Center of Excellence (FACE).

Labeling is a key aspect of packaged drinking water, and regulatory compliance continues to be a challenge, Sharma noted. She stressed that compliance with labeling requirements and implementation of corrective measures to ensure compliance is of paramount importance. Sharma also mentioned that in line with the government’s vision of ‘One Nation, One Commodity, One Regulatory Authority’, FSSAI intends to simplify regulations and administrative processes for businesses operating in the food sector by combining the mandatory BIS mark requirement for packaged drinking water with FSSAI regulations.

Ajay Popat, Chairman – Core Group on New and Cutting-Edge Technologies, CII National Water Committee and Chairman, Ion Exchange (India) Limited, emphasized on water management strategies such as efficient use of water through adoption of water audits, technology integration, management wastewater by focusing on treatment and reuse, supply chain management including sustainable sourcing, collaborative initiatives and risk mitigation through water risk assessment. By prioritizing water management, organizations can contribute to a more sustainable future while reaping significant environmental, economic, social and reputational benefits, the speaker concluded.

Kapil Kumar Narula, CEO and Executive Director, CII Triveni Water Institute urged the industry to be aware of the watershed in which their plant is located. This will enable the industry to take steps to ensure the operational stability of its businesses, Dr. Narula added. In this regard, he mentioned the Water Neutrality Guidelines laid down by NITI Aayog, which is a systematic, scientific roadmap for addressing vulnerabilities and starting the journey towards water neutrality.

The conference discussed important issues, challenges specific to water use efficiency and sustainable development in the food and beverage sector, and presented opportunities to improve productivity through the use of cutting-edge innovations and technologies, adoption of standards and joint actions for sustainable water management in this sector.

Other speakers at the conference include: Dr. Vishal Gandhi, Scientist E, Central Pollution Control Board; Dr Amit Sharma, Director (Science and Standards), FSSAI; Ms Reeba Abraham, Deputy Director General of APEDA; Mr. Angelo George, CEO of Bisleri International Pvt. Sp. z o. o.; Ms. Shilpa Nischal, Chief Advisor, CII-Triveni Water Institute; Mr. Avinash Mishra, former Advisor, Water and Land Resources, NITI Aayog, Government of India; Mr. KVSN Raju, Chairman, Elico Ltd; Mr. Girish Girilal, Business Development – ​​Food & Beverage Solutions and Water, Siemens; Mr. Ashwini Kumar Raina, Danfoss Industries Pvt. Sp. z o. o.; Mr. Kunal Soni, Deputy Field Officer, Environment Group, India and SAARC Nation, HORIBA India Private Limited; Ramnath Vaidyanathan, AVP and Director, Environmental Sustainability – Good & Green, Godrej Industries Limited and associates; Ms. Shefali Sapra, Vice President Corporate Communications, Mr. Saiyed Imam, Portfolio Manager DSR & Agronomy – Asia, Bayer Crop Science Limited; Mr. Ankit Gupta, Chief Sustainability Officer, ITC Limited; Mr. Prabhakant Jain, Chief CSR at DS Group.

The conference was attended by over 150 delegates, including representatives of central and state governments, food processors, beverage companies and distilleries, technology and solution providers, research and academic centers, consultants and industry associations.

CII-Triveni Water Institute (CII-TWI) is the CII Center of Excellence for Water. The Institute works closely with government, industry and civil society to provide integrated solutions to various water challenges. Key services provided by the Institute include comprehensive water audits, hydrological assessments for catchment level planning using state-of-the-art tools and techniques, training, capacity building and outreach.

The CII Food & Agriculture Center of Excellence (FACE) seeks to strengthen the transformation of agri-food systems through robust partnerships, targeted multi-stakeholder engagement and evidence-building, thereby aligning its approach with the national agenda for better lives and livelihoods for all. The Council of Europe is committed to catalyzing innovation, building capacity, increasing productivity and establishing supply chain links across the agricultural and food value chain.

Most read in the Food and beverage category