The Department of Biotechnology delighted to welcome Dr. Buddhi P. Lamsal, Professor of Food Processing and Engineering from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University. As part of the US State Department's Fulbright Specialist Program, Dr. Lamsal is visiting Kathmandu University and had interactive discussions with the faculty on the potential of Himalayan medicinal plants as nutraceuticals and functional food and their application in the value addition of traditional herbal medicines used by native people of Nepal. He emphasized the importance of fermented foods in improving nutrition and explored innovative techniques in fermentation as a tool for producing new proteins. His insights on the drawing upon of local resources, traditional knowledge, and advanced biotechnological techniques have inspired the department to seek transformative research avenues. This interaction epitomizes Kathmandu University's faculties to nurturing global collaborations and advancing scientific innovation in the interest of local and global challenges. The discussion focused on how to collaboratively advance these ideas in our quest for novelty in food science and nutrition. The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Dhurva Gauchan (Head, Department of Biotechnology), Prof. Dr. Subodh K. Upadhyaya, Dr. Paras M. Timilsina, Dr. Hitesh K. Bhattarai, Dr. Bishnu P. Pandey, Dr. Amol Dahal and Dr. Bishnu Maya KC, who shared research experiences and deliberated on how the Department of Biotechnology can collaborate with Prof. Lamsal and his team for joint research initiatives.