The National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute (Nabi), an ambitious project of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, is likely to be ready in the next three years. The autonomous institute, along with a bio-processing unit, would become India’s first institute in the field of agri-biotechnology, for which the centre has earmarked Rs 400 crore to be injected in next five years.
The interim facility in Mohali is partially operational and will be fully functional in next six months. The one of its kind institute aims at catalysing the transformation of agri-food sector in India. The facility would prepare value-added products based on agriculture and undertake new researches related to agriculture.
The institute, alongwith bio-processing unit and biotech park, would be spread over 130 acres at Knowledge City at Mohali. Of the total allocated 130 acres for the cluster, Nabi’s permanent campus would be built on 35 acres, while the bioprocessing unit (BPU) and biotech park would come up on 15 acres and 80 acres, respectively.
Speaking to Business Standard, Nabi Executive Director Rakesh Tuli said: “Nabi would be co-located with BPU that would be set up under DBT and an agri-food biotech park (ABP) would be set up under public-private partnership. The Nabi, BPU and ABP would therefore comprise an Agri-Food Biotech cluster that would act as a “biotechnology hub” in the region. The agri-food cluster has been developed to link three essential related biotechnologies of crops, food and nutrition, and carry out bench-to-market activity through its state and regional resource networks.”
“The project cost of the institute and BPU is Rs 400 crore, wheareas ABP would be set up under public-private partnership. We will act as an institute for knowledge generation and translational science leading to value-added products based on agri-food biotech innovations. Also, we will develop synergy among knowledge providers and investors in agri-food sector to carry innovations to marketplace,” he added.
At present Nabi is working on wheat quality improvement for processing industry and for nutrition. The second project is related to making fruits like litchi, orange seedless.
Commenting upon the initiative, he added: “A translation unit would be set up in Nabi to establish linkages in the region among relevant R&D units, management institute and small- and medium industries. The unit will support, strengthen, and promote innovation through several initiatives. It will support R&D research resource units in the sate and region. Also, It will administer innovation grants in agri and food sector to create innovation ecosystem in punjab and neighbouring states. It will also scout early stage leads and technologies in existing institutes at Punjab and rest of the country and offer partnership for product development & commercialisation.”
“Besides, we also want to create section 25 company with equity participation of the centre and private entrepreneurs. We will nurture the companies and after it becomes self sustaining, it can move out,” He added.
The facility would also offer masters of science degrees in biotechnology of crops, food and nutrition.
