The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is foraying into biotechnology by setting up a National Analytical Laboratory. The laboratory will upgrade the quality of India's milk and milk products to international standards.
The laboratory functions will include developing diagnostics, vaccines, feed formulations and technologies to enhance productivity of milch animals along with developing and implementing programmes related to breeding, reproduction, nutrition, health feed and fodder for productivity enhancement of animals.
The laboratory will also include analysis of milk and milk products for chemical contaminants, microbiological content and composition, water, fuel and dairy effluents' quality, dairy products' packaging material quality etc. It will also maintain a database of milk and milk products contaminants for use by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the CODEX.
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Through this foray, NDDB will also identify collaborators and implement technology transfer projects. One of the main areas of focus would be working in tandem with the animal biotechnology lab to transfer knowledge from the lab to the field and influence research efforts.
Amrita Patel, managing director of NDDB, was not available for comment. NDDB is the apex body for Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and Mother Dairy. Both these co-operatives have successful brands in the dairy and confectionery segments.
Agri-biotech is a up and coming area in the biotechnology sector. NDDB's entry will add another dimension to agri-biotech that consists primarily of genetically modified seeds and plants.
Though genetically modified seeds are still to be introduced in India, Gujarat-based Nath Seeds has already tied up with a Korean company for technology transfer for genetically modified seeds.
Monsanto, a global player in genetically modified seeds, has a presence in India along with a research centre in Bangalore , focusing on insect-resistant transgenic seeds.