Fed up with food waste, student works toward solutions

Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences student Shikhadri Mahanta is sickened by food waste.

“The world today produces so much food that it could feed 1.5 times the population, but yet a third of the people are still hungry,” Mahanta said.

Mahanta, a student in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering who works in the Post Harvest Engineering and Education research lab, will graduate with her doctorate in the fall.

“I work alongside my colleagues and professors to help combat food waste by reducing losses in cereals and grains,” she said. “With my Ph.D. research, I’m trying to reduce losses in wheat and wheat flour using a technology called cold plasma. So, with plasma, I treat wheat grains and try to enhance their functional properties and reduce losses during storage and processing conditions.”

Cold plasma changes the molecular structure of biological commodities, so it can change the unwanted microorganisms that cause grain to rot and spoil and further reduce or eliminate toxins in food.

“With cold plasma, we can control the amount of change,” she said. “For wheat flour, plasma can be used as an alternative to chlorine. Essentially, to bleach, it can be treated with plasma technology rather than having to use chemicals.”

Serving the world by serving the scientific community

Mahanta said her end goal is to serve in the scientific community and maintain involvement with agricultural research after graduation. Her aim is to raise awareness about the diverse resources accessible for agriculture and to highlight the potential applications of technology in this field. Mahanta wants to help reduce waste, particularly in grains and cereals, given their significance as food staples in many countries.

“Not many people know that there is a huge amount of food loss in the post-harvest stage,” she said. “After the food is actually collected, there is a lot of loss. And the research in this area is very limited and in many of the developing countries, there are very limited resources and technologies available for the people and farmers that are actually feasible for them to use to reduce the waste.”

Mahanta visited with us to share her journey, which began as an undergraduate in India majoring in dairy science. Her path took a pivotal turn during an internship at Purdue University, leading her to discover her true calling in her current field. Now, Mahanta is having transformative experiences at Texas A&M in her graduate studies and as an intern with the Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy, ANRP, program.

What is it about Texas A&M and the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering that drew you to study here? 

The research being conducted here. When I was an undergrad, I had the opportunity to come to the U.S. and do an internship at the Agriculture and Biological Engineering Department at Purdue University. That internship really motivated and inspired me to find opportunities to do more research. It was during that period that I came to know about Dr. Janie Moore and the work she was doing at Texas A&M on reducing losses in grains. 

I started reading more about it and learned that the technology Dr. Moore uses was called atmospheric cold plasma. At first, it sounded complicated, and I wasn’t sure what it did. But as I read on, I discovered that plasma, in this case, doesn’t produce any heat and doesn’t release any chemicals into the environment or the food. It can make positive changes in the quality of the food, especially in wheat flour, without adding any chemicals. 

When did you first develop your passion for combating food waste?

It all goes back to my childhood growing up in Assam, India. I was raised in a very remote area deeply rooted in agriculture. Despite abundant production, there were significant losses in the post-harvest phase. This got me thinking that we really need solutions to tackle this food loss issue. 

I decided to pursue the agricultural field to make a meaningful difference in my community and the people around it through my education. I see education as a powerful tool to enact positive change and wanted to ensure the knowledge I gained would directly benefit those around me.

What has been your favorite class so far? 

It was definitely a class in my department called unit processing. Surprisingly, it became my favorite because it was the hardest for me. The professor’s strict and organized approach, which I felt was lacking during my time as an undergraduate student, compelled me to push myself harder and invest more time and effort. It also made me realize that my graduate studies were not going to be as easy as I was thinking in the beginning. Also, the concepts in the class were very helpful. Even now, I frequently reference the material from that class whenever I need to dig deeper into topics and expand my understanding.

What class do you teach as a graduate student, and what has been your favorite thing about that? 

I’ve been a teaching assistant since the fall of 2020, which was the semester right after I came here. Since then, I’ve taught three courses: unit operations in agricultural engineering, project management and another unit processing course, but with a different professor offering different content. 

My favorite thing about teaching is working with the undergraduate students. It allows me to reflect on my own past experiences and see things from their perspective. They ask a lot of questions sometimes, and many times I don’t have an answer, which really puts me in the position to study even more. I like the curiosity; it shows the students are genuinely interested in learning. I enjoy being around people who are still aspiring to learn more and make changes. 

Can you tell us about your experience as part of the ANRP program?

My experiences with ANRP were fantastic, and I’m really grateful for the program. My first semester as a graduate student at Texas A&M during Howdy Week I discovered all these organizations and opportunities I could participate in.

That’s when the ANRP program caught my eye. I was intrigued because I wanted to work on a global platform with different people from all over, and ANRP offered exactly that. It gave me a glimpse into international delegations and how things work on a global scale, which was what I was looking for all along.

COVID delayed my application because I didn’t want to do the experience remotely. If I was going to get to do it, I wanted to actually be in Italy. Last year, I was selected through ANRP to do a summer internship at the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, of the United Nations at its headquarters in Rome.

What did you do while participating in the ANRP?

During my time at FAO, I worked with the Committee of World Food Security, a governing body operating directly under the director-general of FAO.  The committee focuses on critical issues such as reducing the hunger index and enhancing food security.

My internship provided invaluable learning experiences, especially during my first week when I found myself in a meeting room alongside dignitaries from all the member countries. Seeing all the secretaries, directors of different organizations and humanitarian societies on the dais was surreal. It was something I had only witnessed on television before, never imagining I could be a part of it. Sitting there, I realized how fortunate I was as a student to witness firsthand the intricacies of delegation negotiations and the importance of networking. 

Each country has its own specific needs and specific requirements for their people. I learned how important it is for these dignitaries to maintain the needs of their countries while also building relationships with the other countries. Witnessing how they articulated their demands while still respecting disagreements from others was fascinating.

Before my internship, I had assumed that as an academic, working with organizations like FAO might be out of reach. However, my perception shifted dramatically as I discovered professors who were actually engaged in both academic pursuits and collaboration with FAO. 

This experience inspired me. It showed me that I, too, could bridge the gap between academia and global organizations in the future. I aspire to continue research in my field while maintaining connections with local communities, becoming a connector that shares knowledge on a broader scale. 

Is there someone particular who has stood out during your college career? What did they do and why were they impactful to you? 

Dr. Moore has been an incredible source of support since my arrival at Texas A&M. She always motivates us to push the boundaries of our research and provides the essential support graduate students need. There have been moments when self-doubt crept in, and I questioned my abilities. However, Dr. Moore’s unwavering belief in my potential and her constant encouragement have made all the difference. Whenever I felt overwhelmed or on the verge of giving up, she has been there to listen, instill confidence in me and reassure me that I am capable of achieving more.

I am deeply grateful to have her as my professor, knowing that I can turn to her for any form of support, including emotional support. Her guidance extends beyond academics; she has been instrumental in helping me access various financial assistance opportunities. Her mentorship has been invaluable, and I am truly fortunate to have her support throughout my journey.

What is one of your favorite memories or experiences as a student here? 

Sports have always been a significant part of my life. As an undergraduate, I played badminton at my university back in India. 

Badminton is not very common in the U.S., so I was overjoyed to meet some people here at Texas A&M who were playing. I joined the organization, played on a badminton team and even won some awards, so that was very nice. Outside of my research, that is one of my favorite things to do.

I also enjoyed the opportunity at Texas A&M to meet so many people from so many different places and cultures. It was nice when I’d meet other people from Northeastern India because we shared that common background, but you can always find something in common and find something to relate to with any person.

What advice would you give to a prospective student thinking about attending Texas A&M? 

I highly recommend it. The university offers fantastic opportunities, supportive faculty, great resources and everything a student needs to thrive.

There are also a lot of organizations and opportunities available to students right from the beginning. I’d suggest students be involved in several organizations and participate in different events.

College is more than just a place to accumulate knowledge and leave. It’s a continuous journey of learning. Keep an open mind and embrace every opportunity for growth, both inside and outside the classroom. There’s something new to learn around every corner, so make the most of your time here.