Native Crops in India

Dr. B. Dave Oomah is a retired (2013) research scientist formerly with Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Summerland, British Columbia. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Science (Cereal Chemistry) from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dr. Oomah has been active in crop utilization research since 1980 and has authored/co-authored 124 research papers and 43 book chapters. He is co-editor of six books (2022, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2014 & 2000), co-editor of the Special Food Research International Issue on Molecular, Functional and Processing Characteristics of Whole Pulses and Pulse and Nutraceutical Application, co-inventor of a US patent 6261629 on functional, water-soluble protein-fibre products from grains and a trade secret on fibre-enriched products from flaxseed hulls. He contributed to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) consensus document on common bean constituents (Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds, No. 27). His research interests have ranged from processing of cereals, legumes, and oilseeds to the physico-chemical characterization of major components from traditional and alternative crops, genetic and seasonal variations of secondary metabolites in oilseeds, antinutritional factors in oilseeds and legumes, and modern methodology assessing functional foods and nutraceuticals. He has special expertise in the area of phytochemicals from flaxseed, pulses, botanicals, fruits and high value alternative crops. He has continued his collaboration on dry bean and other research investigations with Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Mexico, since 2000. He has mentored and supervised 75 students (1998-2012) including 5 postdoctoral fellows/visiting scientist from Canada, Chile, China, Denmark and Mexico, 14 Ph.D. students (from Algeria, Mexico and Canada), 1MSc. student, 27 graduate students mainly from France, and 4 co-op students. He was a professional member of the American Chemical Society, the American Oil Chemists’ Society and the Institute of Food Technologists. He was external reviewer on functional foods and nutraceuticals for grant applications to Action Concertée Fonds Nature et Technologies-AEE-MAPAQ-MIC, Québéc. He was also a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council NSERC Committee member 2007-2009 and a member of the NSERC John C. Polanyi Award selection Committee in 2008. He served as member of the AAFC RES 03 Promotion Review Committee for 3 years.

Devina Lobine, Ph.D. holds a degree undergraduate (Upper Second Class, first Division) in Agricultural Biotechnology, following which she secured the competitive Tertiary Education Commission postgraduate scholarship, the Commonwealth Split-Site PhD scholarship, and the BSI Durham University PhD fellowship to read for her MPhil/PhD (field: Natural Products) in collaboration between University of Mauritius and Durham University (United Kingdom). Recently (June 2021), Devina has completed her post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of neuropharmacology from University of Mauritius, in collaboration with Axonova Ltd (private company). She has several years of practical and applied experience in various fields of life sciences (molecular biology, pharmacology, microbiology, bioinformatics etc) and has authored/co-authored over 64 publications (full scientific papers in ISSN/impact factor journals and book chapters). She is recipient of >20 fellowships/travel grants to attend international seminars, teaching tool workshops/conferences: SPARK- Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course (Germany), Drosophila melanogaster models for neurodegenerative diseases” (Italy), Metabolomics Workshop (Leiden) among others. Presently, Devina is member of the Global Young Academy, a fellow of African Leadership Science programme, Ambassador for Next Einstein Forum and NEPAD-SANBio. Through platforms, Devina is actively engaged in STEM education and initiatives. She is also a member of National Youth Environment Council set up under the aegis of Prime Minister’s Office, whereby she engages with policy makers on environmental - related policies, strategies and action plans.