Dr. Lalitha Ramakrishna Gowda holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Baylor University in the United States. She has more than 35 years of professional experience as a research scientist, with specialization in the areas of structural biology and molecular characterization of plant proteins, protein engineering and detection methods for the evaluation of genetically modified organisms, food safety issues, including grass-root work, academic activities, consulting work, and positions of institutional leadership. She has to her credit several peer reviewed academic publications of international repute, books, and articles for the popularization of science. She has  long experience as an adviser and consultant to the Government in regulatory developments around health and nutrition, food safety programs and harmonisation of standards in biotechnology. She was a member of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSA(I)) and has occupied leadership positions as Chairman and Vice Chairman of several Boards and Committees responsible for the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Under her guidance as the National Consultant for implementation of UNEP-GEF Phase-II Capacity Building Project,  Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change,  a consortium of GMO Referral Laboratories emerged. She is a highly established professional in food analysis, thoroughly conversant in laboratory quality control and  assurance ISO IEC 17025: 2005 standard. She has been deeply involved in training analytical personnel of the country in ‘Good Food Laboratory Practice’  and compiled analytical and safety manuals and guidance documents.

Mrs Lalitha Ramakrishna Gowda has the following positions in the food testing industry in India:

• Former Chief Scientist and Head , Referral Food Laboratory, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore
• Former, Member, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
• Member Scientific Committee, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
• Member, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change
• Member, Board of Governors, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal
• Member, Empowered Committee for the Implementation of the Central Sector Scheme for Strengthening of the Food Testing System in the Country, Government of India, New Delhi