Dr. B L Amla, was one of the Directors of CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru.  He was mainly responsible for giving new dimension to R&D activities. His inspirational leadership qualities, administrative acumen lead the Institute to the pinnacle of glory especially in the area of transfer of technologies to the industries. Through systematic extension programme, he made possible, wide-scale utilisation of low-cost gram conservation techniques, saving millions of rupees worth of food grains from the depredation of insects and pests. Dr Amla, served as a Senior Adviser to the World Bank and helped several developing countries to undertake development programmes in food and nutrition. By his sustained efforts, he has been instrumental in providing number of processes and technologies to entrepreneurs and constantly endeavoured to provide technical and policy support to the industries. Dr Amla was the President of AFST(I) during 1968 and has been conferred the prestigious award of AFST(I) Prof V Subrahmanyan Industrial Achievement Award. He has been a pillar strength to all the activities of AFST(I). As a tribute to his illustrious accomplishments, AFST(I) organizes “Dr B L Amla Memorial Lecture” during the annual conference.