On the occasion of the 98^th  Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, organized an Awareness Programme on "Beat Plastic Pollution" and tree planting on 16^th  July 2026 at the ICAR-CIFT campus. The programme was inaugurated and presided over by Dr. M. P. Remesan, Director (In- Charge) and Head, Fishing Technology Division of ICAR-CIFT, who highlighted the remarkable achievements of ICAR over its 98-year journey and emphasized the significance of celebrating the Foundation Day. The programme was followed by an awareness lecture on “Marine Plastic Litter: Impacts and Mitigation Strategies” delivered by Dr. Manju Lekshmi N., Senior Scientist, Fishing Technology Division, highlighting the impacts of marine plastic pollution and sustainable mitigation measures to address this global concern.  A tree planting programme was also organized as part of the foundation day celebrations with the enthusiastic participation of students from various colleges and schools along with scientists and staff members of ICAR-CIFT. The initiative symbolized ICAR-CIFT's commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development. A total of 100 students attended the programme.