Bio-fuel to be grown on wasteland

The Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) will collaborate with Nandan Biomatrix Ltd to grow bio-fuel and medicinal plants on wasteland.

The memorandum of understanding to this effect, signed by the two organisations, envisages collaborative research for evolving superior varieties of bio-fuel plantations and medicinal plants and working out improved agronomic practices for their good growth. The project will help in the production of nutraceuticals.

According to ICRISAT Chief William Dar, the institute will strengthen its partnership with Nandan Biomatrix Ltd to scale up its natural resource management technologies.

Nandan Biomatrix is a Rs 25-crore company engaged over the past decade in a gamut of agri-biotech activities like direct and contract farming of various herbs, aromatic plants and bio-fuel plants.

It is the first company to set up a horticultural processing park, in association with the Andhra Pradesh government to facilitate value-addition of horticultural produce.

Besides, Nandan Biomatrix has tied up with Synergy Foundation (UK) to incorporate a joint-venture company. The new company will bring together wasteland owners, landless poor and green investors to provide assured livelihood for the rural poor in a profitable and sustained way.

The Agri-Science Park (ASP) established at ICRISAT will host the bio-fuel project. Apart from providing expertise and technical services, ICRISAT will extend infrastructure support to the project through its state-of-the-art laboratories, farms and seed material propagation facilities.

The ASP is a hub of public-private partnerships to enhance the development and commercialisation of science-generated technologies and knowledge through market mechanisms.

The goal of the ASP is to help achieve ICRISAT's mandate to develop agriculture in the semi-arid tropics. The ultimate objective is to reduce poverty and hunger, and also to protect environment.

The ASP consists of an Agri-Biotech Park (ABP), an Agri-Business Incubator (ABI), Private Sector Hybrid Parents and Bio-pesticide Consortia, and the SAT Eco-Venture (agro-ecotourism).