AAU to commission biotech centre with state assistance

With a view to bring all its research and development (R&D) activities focused on biotechnology, the Anand Agriculture University (AAU) is planning to commission a Center of Excellence for Biotechnology with financial support from the Gujarat government.

The centre, which will become a common platform for all four faculties of the agriculture university, is likely to become operational from the next academic year starting June-July.

"So far, faculties of AAU have been conducting their research projects individually at their concerned facilities. For better exchange of knowledge and utilisation of resources, we will set up the common R&D centre with initial financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh from the state government. The Center of Excellence on Biotechnology will house facilities for all major faculties of AAU including agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy technology and food processing technology," said M C Varshney, vice-chancellor, AAU, to media at Anand.

The faculties of AAU, which came into existence after the restructuring of erstwhile Gujarat Agriculture University, have been focusing on research.

In the last few months, the faculty of agriculture has developed and commercialised the protocol for mass multiplication of elite plants of banana and sugarcane. At the same time, the protocols of dateplam, kankoda, parwar, soapnut and potato have been developed, tested on a pilot scale and are ready for commercialisation.

The faculty of veterinary sciences has developed DNA-based diagnostic techniques for mycobacterium tuberculosis, Canine Parvo Virus, Blue Tongue Virus and IBD Virus.

The faculty of dairy science is also working on projects such as 'lacto bacterial' studies for their therapeutic benefits especially antibacterial activity, implementation ability, hypo-cholesterolemic and anti-cancer activities.

"The Center for Excellence on Biotechnology will enable us to exchange our results with other faculties. In the field of biotechnology, the consultation among various faculties may bring new dimensions to the R&D direction. With better and bigger infrastructure, we may also opt for tie up with other research organisations for knowledge exchange," said G C Jadeja, head - botany department, AAU.

AAU is also planning to establish a Center for Organic Farming with financial support from Nabard.