Introduction

Dairy Microbiology is a constituent Department of SMC College of Dairy Science since its inception in 1960. The Department is responsible for teaching courses related to Dairy Microbiology at Undergraduate and Post Graduate levels. It also conducts research in the subject as per the policy of the university and demand of the industry and participates in various extension activities. The PG programme started in the year 1977. The curriculum for the PG programme in the department has been developed by designing various courses in the discipline which was approved by the Board of Studies and Academic council of the GAU. Adequate facilities has been established in the department for imparting quality education.

The principle area of research work of the department is exploitation of nutritional and therapeutic potential of lactic acid bacteria, functional fermented dairy foods containing probiotics, prebiotics, plant materials, biomolecules elaborated by lactic acid bacteria such as bioactive peptides and its functional aspects. The department has carried out pioneering work in the area of probiotics leading to the recognition of department as Niche area of excellence in functional fermented dairy products with synbiotics by ICAR. A number of probiotic and synbiotic dairy products have been developed as part of the PG research works and project works carried out in the department. The department has been recognized as centre for preserving national biodiversity for dairy microbes and under the same, the department has submitted dairy starter cultures and probiotics associated with fermented foods of western India in NCVTC-the national culture repository. Faculty of DM department has handled projects funded by ICAR, DBT, SIDA, DST, GSBTM and Govt of Gujarat. The department is currently handling projects funded by ICAR, DBT, GCMMF and Govt of Gujarat.

Objective

To achieve excellence in the three mandated areas of the University, i.e. Teaching, Research and Extension in the field of Dairy Microbiology

Mission

• To acquire and disseminate up-to-date knowledge in the area of Dairy Microbiology.
• To develop manpower of B.Tech. (DT) students with adequate knowledge of Microbiology of milk and milk products, their shelf-life, quality assurance, safety aspects, sanitation and hygiene of a dairy plant and brief overview of Food & Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.
• To develop of manpower with excellence in Dairy Microbiology at Masters and Doctorate level.
• To explore international and inter-institutional collaborations in education and research.
• To propose research projects of national and international importance and acquire maximum funding from other agencies.
• To participate in Krishi-melas, science exhibition and out-reach programs organized by the university and by other agencies.

Recognitions to Dairy Microbiology Department

International

• Head Quarter of Swedish South Asian Network on Fermented Foods (SASNET-FF)

National

• ICAR Niche Centre of Excellence on Functional Fermented Dairy Products with Synbiotics.
• National Network Project on VTC for collection of “Dairy Microbes"

Recognitions to Faculty 2024-25

International Visit of Dr. Subrota Hati at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan

Outstanding Researcher Award by Kamdhenu University to Dr. Sreeja V.

Dr. Sreeja V., Dairy Microbiology Department, has been conferred with the Outstanding Researcher Award by Kamdhenu University in recognition of her exceptional contribution to research on the occasion of 11th Convocation Ceremony of Kamdhenu University held on 24- 04-2025 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The award carries Gold Medal and Certificate. She received the award from the Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvratji.

Best Teacher Award by Kamdhenu University to Dr. Subrota Hati

Dr. Subrota Hati received the Best Teacher Award in the Dairy and Fishery Sciences category sponsored by Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat during the 11 Convocation at Gandhinagar on 24th April., 2025. The award carries Gold Medal and Certificate. The award was given by the hand of Honorable Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvratji.

Research Projects in the Department of Dairy Microbiology-Ongoing

Cultures/Technologies Available for Commercialization

Recommendations Approved by the Research Council (VASRC) for Relevant Stake Holders

Cultures Submitted to NCVTC (A National Repository of Microbes) and Accessioned Under VTC Project During 2021-2024

List of Publications (2016-2025)

Extension Activities

The Faculty is Regularly Involved in the Following

1. Organized “Probiotic Awareness Day”- An awareness programme and contest for school children to create awareness regarding health benefits of probiotic and fermented dairy foods
2. Resourse persons for Training programmes conducted through Vidya Dairy
3. Providing technical information / know-how dairy plants and other organizations for solving their problems.
4. Providing analytical services to the Dairy industries for microbiological analysis of milk and milk products.
5. Participation as invited speaker in seminars, workshops and symposiums organized by the University and other organizations.

Events Organized (2024-25)

Webinar Series Organized by Department of Dairy Microbiology, Sponsored by BIRAC New Delhi

A 2-Day Webinar on "Biomanufacturing of Probiotics & Fermented Foods: A Step Towards Health Status & Social Well-being" was sponsored by BIRAC New Delhi and organized by Dairy Microbiology Department, SMC College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand, Gujarat during 18-19 January, 2024 and 08-09 February, 2024.

Faculty Affiliation to Professional Bodies

National

• Association of Food Scientists and Technologists India (AFSTI)
• Dairy Technology Society of India, NDRI, Karnal
• The Indian Science Congress Association
• Indian Dairy Association
• Association of Microbiologist of India (AMI)- Rohtak (Haryana)
• Probiotic Association of India (PAI)
• Gujarat Association of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS)
• Society of Extension Education of Gujarat (SEEG)
• Swedish South Asian Network on Fermented Foods (SASNET-FF)
• International Dairy Federation, Indian National committee (IDF)
• Alumni Association, Dairy Science College, Anand

International

• Academic Membership of Functional Food Center (FFC), Dallas, USA
• Membership of American Peptide Society (APS, USA) (Membership No. 5097)

Faculty Affiliation as Editorial Board Members

1. Member, Editorial Board for Current Indian Science (Bentham Science)
2. Member, Editorial Board for Journal of Dairy Research (NAAS: 8.027)
3. Member, Editorial Board for Protein and Peptides Letter (Bentham Science) (NAAS:7.89)
4. Associate Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology (NAAS: 12.064)
5. Associate Editor, Frontiers in Psychology (NAAS: 3.92)
6. Member, Editorial Board for Indian Journal of Microbiological Research
7. Executive Editor, International Journal of Fermented Foods (NAAS: 3.92)
8. Scientific reports (Springer Nature), NAAS rating: 10.00
9. Editorial Board member of Discover food (Springer Nature).

Faculty in the Dairy Microbiology Department