Hans News Service Mangaluru

Nitte (deemed to be university), Mangaluru, has been re-named an FAO Reference Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance and Aquaculture Biosecurity for five more years, through 2031, four years after first joining that select global group.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) first designated Nitte for 2022–26, making it one of four world reference centres in those fields. An assessment of that period led FAO to renew the status from 2026 to 2031.

The formal presentation took place at FAO Headquarters in Rome during the FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health, between September 21-23. Vice Chancellor Dr. M S Moodithaya received the certificate from Deputy Director General Godfrey Magwenzi, in the presence of Assistant Directors General Thanawat Tiensin and Manuel Barange. Dr. Indrani Karunasagar, who heads the Nitte FAO Reference Centre, and Dr. Iddya Karunasagar, former FAO Senior Food Safety Officer and now adviser to the centre, were also in the delegation.