The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) family is deeply saddened by the loss of a distinguished food microbiologist, mentor, and leading expert on the ethnic food cultures of the Himalaya, Professor Jyoti Prakash Tamang.
Tamang served as ICIMOD Mountain Chair from 2019–2021. During his tenure, he worked closely with Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) members in Bhutan, China, and Myanmar to conduct research on ethnic foods and promote regional collaboration for research on mountain food systems and cultures.
Prof. Tamang was born in Darjeeling, India, in 1961. He completed his PhD in microbiology from the University of North Bengal, India, in 1992; post-doctorate research in molecular microbiology from the National Food Research Institute, Japan, through the United Nations University – Kirin Fellowship in 1995; and another post-doctorate research from the Institute of Toxicology and Environmental Hygiene, Germany, in 2002, through the Volkswagen Foundation Fellowship.
As a pioneering food microbiologist, his work centred on the interpretation of ethno-microbiology to metataxonomics and metagenomics associated with fermented foods and beverages prepared and consumed by different ethnic peoples of the Himalayan region of Bhutan, India, and Nepal. His research covered a wide range of subjects – from microbiome diversity and food safety to nutrition and probiotics. He published several books and over 155 research papers.
Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD.
Prof. Tamang continued to provide mentorship and guidance to HUC early/mid-career researchers from the region in collaborative research and education on food and nutrition security and ethnic culinary heritage. He was an active member of the HUC Thematic Working Group on Mountain Food Systems.
Prof. Tamang taught microbiology and biological sciences for 33 years and supervised several doctoral and post-doctoral students. At Sikkim University, India, he served as the officiating Vice-Chancellor during 2017–18 and from 2011 till his departure, as Professor of Microbiology and Dean of the School of Life Sciences. He received several prestigious awards, such as the United Nations Association of University Women Award in 1996; National Bio-Science Award of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, in 2005; and Gourmand World Cookbook Award in 2010. He served as a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India; the Indian Academy of Microbiological Sciences; and the Biotech Research Society of India.
Chi Huyen (Shachi) Truong, HUC Secretariat, said: "Prof Tamang was a passionate lifetime advocate for genuine dialogue between modern science and Indigenous traditional ways of knowing. Approachable and young-at-heart, he inspired generations of scholars and students to thrive for academic excellence while keeping the core respect for local knowledge. As one of three ICIMOD Mountain Chairs, Prof. Tamang laid the foundation for regional collaboration in scientific research and education on mountain-focused, HKH-specific issues amongst the HUC community. His personal warmth and scholarly dedication will be missed by his fellow ICIMOD Mountain Chairs, HUC fellows and affiliates who were fortunate to receive guidance from him, and the HUC community at large."Bandana Shakya, Landscape Lead at ICIMOD said she was “deeply saddened" by Prof. Tamang’s death. She described him as “a brilliant mind and passionate advocate for local food systems and nutritional security. Working with him on our book on ethnic cuisine and sustainable food system dialogue was an inspiring journey for me. His deep respect for traditional knowledge around local food and dedicated research on their nutritional value will certainly leave a lasting impact, especially to enrich our food heritage from the Himalayas. May his good work continue to inspire and guide us.”
