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`Boost biotech in agri sector'

Our Bureau

BANGALORE, July 20

THERE was an urgent need to create a right environment for the fruitful adoption of biotechnology in the country's agro and fruit processing sector, said the Karnataka Agriculture Minister, Mr T.B. Jayachandra, here today.

Inaugurating the FICCI seminar of agro-processing and biotechnology, Mr Jayachandra said ``We need to bring a change in mindset with regard to adoption of biotech which can contribute immensely towards strengthening the quality of agro products, its nutr ient value and increase resistance to pests and disease.''

Participating in the seminar various experts called for giving a boost to biotechnology and said that strategies should be evolved to make the best use of biotech. They also regretted that the biotech industry in the country was not moving at the pace as it should be.

Prof G. Padmanabhan, former director of Indian Institute of Science, said that the onus of popularising biotechnology lies on the highly educated new brand of entrepreneurs who are creating products for the market making best use of biotech applications.

He said the private companies should take into confidence the public institutions and the farming community while carrying out research as public perception is important in popularising a new technology.

Mr Vivek Singhal, President, All-India Biotech Association, said that of the 800 companies involved in biotech in India, only 20 or 25 of them were large ones which had developed products -- not new molecules but imported substitutes. ``It's a long way t o go,'' he said.

Dr V. Prakash, Director of CFTRI, said that there was a need to look at biotechnology and food safety from a holistic approach and arrive at certain clear mandate for food safety through biotechnological approach.

Mr Chirayu Amin, President, FICCI, urged the Government to devise ways to commercialise the fruits of R&D, hasten reforms process of the existing regulatory mechanism, extend support of venture capital to new biotech units and encourage setting up of bio technology parks.