Matrix buys 13 technologies from Guj's tribal innovators

Gujarat's tribal innovators are going global. Hyderabad's Matrix Biosciences has bought rights of 13 technologies "" six herbal pesticides and seven veterinary products "" from grassroot innovators associated with Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI)-National Innovation Foundation (NIF).

What's more, Matrix, which plans to market these products under its own brand names plans register in Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Phillipines.

"The products are marketed as our own brands with names given by us, as part of the deal. We were approached by many NGOs for the commercialisation of their products, but the unique thing we appreciate about SRISTI is that they actually want to bring out the name of the original innovator. Every bottle of the products contains the names and photographs of the innovators," Ramesh Chouhan, President (Technical), Matrix Biosciences.

Under the initiative, the rights of six herbal pesticides and seven veterinary products for curing ailments have been transferred to the company. The herbal products "" SRISTI Krushak, SRISTI Rakshak, SRISTI Shastra, SRISTI Shakthi, SRISTI Prayas and SRISTI Suraksha "" and seven veterinary products to cure ailments like coccidiosis, immunity in birds, mastitis, lactogogue diarrhoea, wound and bloat were licenced to the company.

The product coccicure to control coccidiosis, a protozoal ailment is a unique product as it attacks the life cycle of the disease causing protozoa and also protects the epithelial lining of the intestine. This specific product will protect the birds through prevention as well as treatment of the ailment.

The agricultural pesticide were tested against leaf curl, cotton pest, sucking pest, shedding of flower, termite infestation and promoting plant growth. These products are a result of the combination of technological innovations by farmers and tribals, who are identified by SRISTI through its various 'Shodh Yatras' across the remotest parts of the country.

This is the first time that SRISTI has given way to group patenting of more than 10 people, replacing their tradition of patenting individual innovations. Anil Gupta, president of SRISTI and professor at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) said, "More number of innovators are coming under the group licensing with each passing day.

These herbal technologies, that are already out in the market are developed by farm labourers and tribals, who have the traditional knowledge but lack a platform to market them to their advantage. Instead of patenting one herbal technology, we decided to weave together a few technologies to have maximum impact."

A token amount of Rs 50,000 was given to these innovators by the company at the organic food festival organised by the NGO. Besides, five per cent of on sale is given as royalty to SRISTI. In consultation with the innovators of these products, SRISTI and NIF have made a formula for the sharing of royalty through commercialisation of the products, which includes 30 per cent of the benefits to the innovator or the traditional knowledge holder, 20 per cent to the innovation fund, 15 per cent each for overhead and research and development and five per cent each to preserve environment, for the community, women of the community and contingency.

The formulations were tried globally in countries like Canada, Eastern Europe and Asian countries and apparently found promising results. These herbal medications were documented by SRISTI and requisite value addition was made over each product like preparation of liquid medications, correct combination of the medications.