Job ID: 287591

Researcher-Foods Of Tribal Regions

Neobcorp Social Innovations

Location: Remote, Maharashtra

Apply by: 27 Mar 2026

Relevant Sectors

Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural, Urban

1. Role Summary: The Researcher - Foods of Tribal Regions will lead systematic research, documentation, validation, and translation of indigenous tribal food knowledge into viable, market-linked product opportunities.

The role requires integration of:
Ethnographic field research
Nutritional & ingredient profiling
Value chain mapping
Product feasibility analysis
Documentation & storytelling

The objective is to build a credible, evidence-backed pipeline of tribal ingredients and traditional foods that can be responsibly commercialized while preserving cultural integrity and ensuring fair sourcing.

2. Key Responsibilities
A. Field & Ethnographic Research
Conduct immersive field visits in tribal regions to document:
Traditional food practices
Seasonal food calendars
Processing techniques
Indigenous preservation methods
Record oral histories related to food systems.
Map community-level production clusters and knowledge holders.
Maintain structured field notes, audio/video documentation, and consent records.

B. Ingredient & Nutritional Research
Identify underutilized tribal crops (millets, forest foods, pulses, tubers, herbs).
Conduct secondary research on:
Nutritional composition
Functional properties
Comparative health benefits
Coordinate with food labs for testing where required.
Prepare ingredient dossiers (scientific + cultural profile).

C. Value Chain & Feasibility Mapping
Analyze:
Availability & aggregation feasibility
Processing requirements
Shelf-life constraints
Regulatory considerations (FSSAI norms)
Identify potential bottlenecks in sourcing and scale-up.
Support development of sustainable sourcing frameworks.

D. Product Research & Innovation Support
Translate traditional foods into modern FMCG formats:
Premixes
Ready-to-cook blends
Functional foods
Health-positioned products
Assist food technologists in formulation referencing traditional authenticity.
Validate taste, acceptance, and cultural appropriateness.

E. Documentation & Knowledge Systems
Develop:
Tribal Food Knowledge Reports
Region-wise Food Atlases
Seasonal Ingredient Maps
Contribute to brand storytelling grounded in verified research.
Support grant proposals and investor decks with evidence-backed research.

3. Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s/Master’s in:
Food Science / Nutrition
Agriculture
Anthropology
Rural Development
Agribusiness

1–3 years experience in:
Food systems research
Tribal or rural fieldwork
Ethnographic documentation

4. Required Skills
Strong qualitative research capability
Structured documentation & report writing
Understanding of Indian food diversity
Ability to work in remote tribal settings
Basic understanding of nutrition science
Familiarity with FSSAI and food compliance (preferred)
Fluency in Hindi + local dialect (preferred)

5. Personal Attributes
High cultural sensitivity
Patience and listening skills
Analytical mindset with commercial awareness
Integrity in knowledge representation
Ability to balance social impact with business feasibility

6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Number of validated tribal ingredients documented
Ingredient feasibility reports completed
Product concepts developed from research
Field documentation quality & database accuracy
Community relationship depth

Job Email ID:

neobcorpsocialinnovations(at)gmail.com