KSTU students discussed the use of innovative food products and robot bees

From February 8 to 16, 2024, the III Intra-University Conference of the master's students of the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Food Systems, dedicated to the Day of Russian Science, was held.

There were five sections at the conference, where the 1st and 2nd year master's students, engaged in research in the fields of chemistry, food biotechnology, food production, food examination, agronomy and agroecology, and engineering sciences, made their presentations. Their supervisors and guests also attended the event.

E.V. Ulrikh, Deputy Director for Scientific and International Activities (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Food Systems), opened the conference; O. Y. Mezenova, Head of the Food Biotechnology Department, greeted the participants with a welcome speech, congratulated everyone on the Day of Russian Science and the beginning of the conference.

Master`s students of the Food Technology Department reported on their achievements in the field of quality assessment of convenience fish products with collagen-containing additives from fish scales, poultry meat pate, vegetable analogues of yoghurt, technologies of salted fish and preserves, in the field of development of moulded cooked-frozen shrimp products based on krill mince, technology of fish muffins with reduced gluten content.

Master`s students of the Agronomy Department shared the ideas of their research in the field of grain productivity of winter wheat, the use of biological fungicides for the protection of wheat crops, and their experience with the cultivation of collards, the influence of growth stimulants on the development of the root system of grape cuttings of Vitis vinifera, evaluation of substrates for growing microgreens.

In the section on food biotechnology, master`s students considered such topical issues as modern trends in the development of specialised food products for the wounded. The young scientists reported on the research of powdered food products with osteotropic and chondroprotective effects, on the application of hydrolysates of fish collagen-containing raw materials in specialised food products, on the bioconversion of chickpea raw materials, on the prospects of the application of enzyme products of the galactosidase family in the development of fermented milk ice cream and many others.

In the engineering section, which united future mechanical engineers and agricultural engineers, master's students touched upon the problems of stationary plasma engine use, studies on the protection of the walls of the vacuum chamber from the splitting effects of the spacecraft’s plasma jet engine, and the application of laser welding technology in JSC "OKB Fakel." Agricultural engineers reported on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for precision farming, the use of robotic bees for crop pollination, equipment for pelletizing fodder based on insect protein, and many others.

All the reports captured the interest of the listeners and experts, leading to scientific discussions; the participants shared their opinions, experience, and knowledge, received recommendations on the development of their scientific developments from the supervisors and experts.

The conference was traditionally closed by E. V. Ulrikh, Deputy Director for Scientific and International Activities (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Food Systems). She wished the young scientists to continue their research initiatives and not to be afraid of new, ambitious and daring ideas. According to the results of the conference, all master's students who made their reports received certificates of participation.

We look forward to new achievements in the students` scientific topics next year!