Healthy, Sustainable and Affordable Food Choices

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

Healthy, Sustainable and Affordable Food Choices

Centurion University proactively addresses the vital concerns of food security and hunger by prioritizing its dining facilities, which play a pivotal role in providing affordable, nutritious meals to both its staff and diverse student. Across its expansive network encompassing six campuses situated in Bhubaneswar, Paralakhemundi, Balasore, Chatrapur, Bolangir, and Raygada, the university has thoughtfully established sufficient dining infrastructure to serve the needs of its community. Across all the campuses, the Central Mess efficiently caters to the sustenance requirements of a substantial population, accommodating over 15,000 students and staff members as of 2022. 

\Vegetarian Options 

  • The Central Mess on each campus offers vegetarian meals on a regular basis.
  • Centurion Chow Chhak offers a diverse and health-conscious menu including exclusive vegetarian outlets and vegan outlets.

Cafés

Beyond these core dining hubs, an array of supplementary dining establishments has been introduced to cater to the individualized preferences of students and staff. Among these, the Scottish Café stands out as a dynamic outlet that fulfills personalized food orders for approximately 2,000 students and staff members on a daily basis, all conveniently facilitated through a user-friendly android application.  

Centurion Coffee Connect offers a cozy haven for enjoying freshly brewed coffee in tandem with an array of delectable sweet and savory snacks. For those seeking a wider selection of refreshments, Coffee on Wheels beckons with its abundant variety of coffee blends and mocktail offerings, ensuring that individuals can quench their thirst and satisfy their cravings in style. 

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Sharing Knowledge to Local Community: Sustainable Agriculture Practises

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

The M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture endeavors to advance sustainable agricultural methods, including organic farming, biofertilizers, and research initiatives. Local farmers are provided with empowerment through various initiatives, such as the Innovation Agriculture Project Training program. Since the year 2016, a total of more than 4,000 farmers residing in rural areas, along with 180 individuals serving as Community Resource Persons (CRPs), have actively engaged in the program. The aforementioned projects are specifically designed to address the needs of marginalized populations and are focused on promoting sustainable farming practices, with a concurrent objective of minimizing the utilization of chemical inputs. The training sessions are carried out both on the university campus and within nearby communities, with the assistance of local language facilitators. The Centurion Agricultural Experiential Learning Placement program, situated in Paralekhmundi, provides practical exposure to rural farming for agricultural students in their last year of study. This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness and scope of the program. Further More: 
  • Organic Research Farm (Give link to this video)

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Sharing Knowledge to Local Community: Aquaculture Practises

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

The School of Fisheries was established in 2017. It constantly engages with the local community capacity-building workshops for spreading awareness on best aquacultural practices. The school`s Aquaculture Research Farm is located at Totagumuda around 4.0 km from the Paralekhmundi campus. The farm is spread over 12 acres. The land initially was barren and degraded and through interventions, it has now 05 nursery ponds, 11 rearing ponds, 03 stocking ponds, and 03 broodstock ponds. Along with fish-rearing systems, the farm also consists of a vermicompost unit, poultry unit, and a Circular Hatchery. All these systems are managed by students and used for studying production and building up their capacity along with the local community.  All the government training programs like programs of District Administration, Tehsil, and village panchayat are conducted on this farm.

 

Relevant Links 

  • Fish Pond

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Prioritising Purchase of Products from Local, Sustainable Sources

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

Prioritising Purchase of Products from Local, Sustainable Sources

Centurion University of Technology and Management places a high priority on sourcing food from local and sustainable suppliers. This deliberate choice exemplifies the university’s dedication to cultivating a dining experience that is both environmentally sustainable and socially aware, catering to the needs of its student body, faculty, and guests. The following are the benefits of local sourcing.

Sourcing food locally benefits nearby communities. Centurion University collaborates with local farmers and suppliers, boosting local economies, creating jobs, and advancing towns.

Sourcing food locally supports the university’s eco-friendly goals by reducing carbon emissions related to food transportation, thus promoting a more sustainable dining program and mitigating the university’s climate impact.

Centurion University deepens community bonds through sustainable collaboration with local food producers, fostering unity and a better future.

Brief List of Few Local Suppliers and Products Sourced 

Name of vendor product located:

  1. Esse Naturals and Nutrition, Paralekhmundi  

Own Source

  1. Dragon Fruit 

Kadaknath Egg

 

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Food Insecurity and Hunger

Student Food Insecurity and Hunger

Centurion University proactively addresses the vital concerns of food security and hunger by prioritizing its dining facilities, which play a pivotal role in providing affordable, nutritious meals to both its staff and diverse students. Across its expansive network encompassing six campuses situated in Bhubaneswar, Paralakhemundi, Balasore, Chatrapur, Bolangir, and Raygada, the university has established a dining infrastructure to serve the needs of its community. Across all the campuses, the Central Mess efficiently caters to the sustenance requirements of a substantial population, accommodating over 15,000 students and staff members as of 2022.

Fixed Priced Meals on all campuses: Centurion University of Technology and Management is committed to tackling the prevalent issue of hunger among its student and staff population by providing cost-effective meal options at the Central Mess facility. In order to promote equitable practices, the institution has implemented a Price Fixation Committee tasked with establishing and supervising the pricing of food products. The fundamental objective is to mitigate the excessive pursuit of profit and foster a fair environment characterised by appropriate pricing. The University extends financial support to vendors by offering subsidies in areas such as rent and electricity costs. Through the diligent efforts of the Price Fixation Committee, this results in subsidised prices for the benefit of both students and staff members.

Community Meals: It plays a crucial role in alleviating student hunger by providing access to nutritious meals. These gatherings bring together students who may be facing food insecurity. Community Meals are held during the Annual Fest and Graduation Ceremony held every year. The attendees of these events are students along with their parents and staff. Besides these days Community Meals are served during special occasions like Techfests, Orientation Day and Freshers Day. 

In 2022, the Annual Fest (Gajajyoti) 12567 people (Staff, parents and students) were served lunch and dinner for 3 consecutive days. Similarly, in 2022, a graduation ceremony was attended by 7400 (students, staff and parents). Other events also host a significant number of participants like a Hackathon in 2022 had hosted 4500 community meals.  

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Financial Support

The University recognizes that students’ circumstances can vary, and as a result, it offers welfare services to provide financial assistance for tuition and hostel/mess fees, flexible fee payment options, and scholarship opportunities when needed. To schedule an appointment with the Welfare Officer, please contact [email protected] 

Food Support: A substantial portion of our students resides on campus, where access to the mess facility ensures that food insecurity is rarely an issue. Nevertheless, in cases of financial hardship that prevent certain students from accessing mess services, they can reach out to the Welfare Officer at [email protected] To qualify for assistance, students must provide documentary evidence of their hardship.

Scholarships: Internal and External: There are numerous scholarships available to our students, categorized as internal and external. Internal scholarships are offered directly by the University, while external scholarships are provided by various funding agencies, including government and non-government organizations. In the academic year 2022-23, a total of 2,181 students received scholarships, including both full tuition fee waivers and partial waivers. Details of scholarship is referred to https://cutm.ac.in/naac-ssr-2/5-1-1-students-benefited-by-scholarships-and-freeships-3/ 

Legal Aid: Our Legal Service offers free legal advice and referral services, self-funded by the University, and accessible to all current domestic and international students. Qualified lawyers from the School of Law provide support in various areas, including:

  • Employment
  • Tenancy and accommodation
  • Consumer rights
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Traffic offenses

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Events and Programs for Local Farmers and Food Producers

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

Events and Programs for Local Farmers and Food Producers  

Centurion University of Technology and Management assumes a crucial role in facilitating the integration of theoretical academic knowledge with practical, real-world applications. 

The School of Fisheries and the School of Agriculture at Parakhemundi Campus organizes annual events and platforms that offer significant chances for local farmers and food producers to establish connections and exchange expertise. 

The M.S Swaminathan School of Agriculture at Paralakhemundi Campus offer training programs, workshops and field demonstrations free for rural farmers.  Training occurs in the post-harvest season each year.

M.S Swaminathan School of Agriculture Teaching and Research Facilities:  

School of Fisheries:

  • Aquaculture Research Farm 

By means of various activities like as workshops, seminars, and conferences, educational institutions are fostering an atmosphere that facilitates the engagement of farmers and food producers with specialists, researchers, and colleagues within the sector. 

The University`s School of Agriculture has adopted 5 nearby villages and as of 2022, it has trained 3657 farmers in sustainable agricultural practices. Similarly, in 2022, there were 15 major capacity development programs conducted for the farmers and fishermen community jointly with the state government, renowned Universities, or subject matter experts. 

NSDC: Innovation Agriculture Project Training for Vulnerable Farmers

Since 2016 over 4,000 rural farmers and 180 Community Resource Persons (CRPs) have participated in Centurion’s agricultural extension program. Partnering with “Hamara Bachpan” and RWI Hansapada targeted farmers from vulnerable groups including women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) select training on organics, vermicompost and mushroom cultivation. Training is through on campus and mobile and in local language. The program is strengthened and supported by Centurion agriculture student 6-month rural agriculture internships in these communities.

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Community Meals

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

Alleviating Student and Staff Hunger  Centurion University of Technology and Management is committed to tackling the prevalent issue of hunger among its student and staff population by providing cost-effective meal options at the Central Mess facility. In order to promote equitable practices, the institution has implemented a Price Fixation Committee tasked with establishing and supervising the pricing of food products. The fundamental objective is to mitigate the excessive pursuit of profit and foster a fair environment characterized by appropriate pricing. Besides this Community Meals play a crucial role in alleviating student hunger by providing access to nutritious meals. These gatherings bring together students who may be facing food insecurity. Community Meals held during the Annual Fest and Graduation Ceremony held every year. The attendees of these events are students along with their patents and staff. Besides these days Community Meals are served during special occasions like Techfests, Orientation Day and Freshers Day. In the year 2022, the Annual Fest (Gajajyoti) 12567 people (Staff, parents and students) were served lunch and dinner for 3 consecutive days. Similarly, 2022, graduation ceremony was attended 7400 (students and staff and parents). Other events also host a significant number of participants like a Hackathon in 2022 had hosted 4500 community meals.  
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Bridging Communities and Knowledge

Bridging Communities and Knowledge: Centurion University's Initiative to Share Laboratory Facilities with Local Farmers

Centurion University of Technology and Management, driven by its dedication to community development and sustainable agriculture, has undertaken a transformative initiative by granting local farmers access to its advanced laboratory facilities. This novel effort signifies a significant confluence between academics and agriculture, promoting a mutually beneficial connection that positively impacts both the university and the farming community, thereby making a valuable contribution to society at large.

Empowering Local Farmers Through Access to University Labs

  1. Research and experimenting: Local farmers are afforded the chance to engage in research and experimenting inside the confines of academic laboratories. The aforementioned activities encompass the examination of soil composition, the evaluation of crop performance, and the investigation of viable approaches to sustainable agriculture. Throughout the year 2022, a consistent stream of farmers, approximately 112 in total, availed themselves of the university’s soil testing facility. This valuable service allows these farmers to assess the nutritional condition of their soil, enabling them to make informed decisions about the appropriate supplementation of manure and other soil nutrients. This proactive approach aids in optimizing crop yields and enhancing agricultural practices, ultimately leading to increased agricultural productivity and sustainability.

 

2. Disease and Pest Management: Enhanced disease and pest management tactics can be achieved through collaborative endeavors between farmers and academic professionals within controlled laboratory environments. Farmers have the ability to mitigate the reliance on chemical interventions by engaging in the identification and study of crop diseases and pests, thereby facilitating the development of sustainable remedies.In the year 2022, the University organized an awareness campaign addressing various crop diseases, with active participation from 189 farmers across different clusters. For instance, a specific session on “Demonstration of rice blast disease” garnered attendance from 17 farmers. This proactive initiative by the University plays a pivotal role in equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to detect crop diseases at their early stages. Consequently, it empowers them to implement timely and effective corrective measures, contributing to improved crop health and agricultural sustainability.

 

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Assessing the quantity of food wastage

Assessing the Quantity of Food Wastage

Centurion University of Technology and Management measures food wastage through across all campuses by:

  1. Waste audits:  Encompass the systematic collection and analysis of food waste derived from diverse sources, such as dining halls, cafeterias, and food service areas. There is a dedicated team with the ability to categorize and measure the food waste garbage in order to ascertain its composition and quantity. The audits are carried out every quarter in a year and the report helps to understand the reasons of wastage and measures are taken to minimize the same. Across the campuses the University is able to reduce the wastage of food from 100321 MT in 2021 to 182.5 MT in 2022. The significant decrease can be attributed to the alteration in food vendors, who conducted data analysis across all campus locations and devised an app-based solution. Within this application, students can access the menu and exercise the option to either select or decline the day’s meal offerings. This innovation aids in optimizing food production quantities, taking into account instances where students may choose not to partake in the offerings. The following picture details are the screenshot of vendor app, Stanza Living

 

2. Check out Data: The University checks the utilization of cafeteria checkout data. It enables enables to estimate the quantity of meals offered in comparison to the actual consumption, hence facilitating the calculation of possible food waste.

3. Sensitizing the student: The Culture Social Responsibility club of the University sensitizes students to for preventing food waste through engagement activities like participation in free food distribution at orphanage, old age homes and through regular workshops.

Centurion University converts the wasted food from different sources into organic manure through Biodigester installed in the University. Various biodigesters of varying capacities have been installed throughout the university campuses. For instance, the Bhubaneswar campus is equipped with a biodigester with a capacity of 700 Kg, which yields approximately 150 kg of organic manure derived from food waste. These biodigesters maintain a production ratio of roughly 1:6, with one part waste generating six parts of valuable organic manure. You may download the detailed report for more information.

 

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