Media Release

Mangaluru, Feb 11: The ecopreneurship workshop on “Seeds and Sustainability” was jointly organised by the Departments of Chemistry and Botany in association with EMPRI, Bengaluru and Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) on February 3.

The workshop was graced by Dr Vinaya Chaitanya, coordinator and programme officer, EMPRI, Bengaluru, as the resource person, and Dr Sareen Sheikh, associate professor, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), as the guest of honour.

Dr Vinaya Chaitanya delivered an insightful session on the present climate change scenario in Mangalore, emphasising the impact of urbanisation, changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and pollution levels. She highlighted the role of human activities in environmental degradation and stressed the need for immediate climate action.

A major highlight of the workshop was the hands-on training session on seed ball preparation. The resource person demonstrated the process of making seed balls and explained their role in promoting afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and restoration of green cover. Students actively participated and gained practical exposure to eco-friendly techniques.

Another significant session was conducted by Dr Sonia Lobo, head of the Department of Botany, who introduced the concept of paper production from banana pseudostem. She explained how agricultural waste can be effectively utilised to manufacture paper, thereby reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable alternatives to conventional paper production. This session successfully linked waste management with entrepreneurial opportunities.

The Ecopreneurship Workshop on “Seeds and Sustainability”, effectively combined theoretical knowledge with practical applications, reinforcing the importance of sustainable development and environmental responsibility.