Biotechnology surely holds a promising future in India: G S Krishnan, Novozymes South Asia

On a Saturday afternoon, while doing your exhausting laundry, you may wish for a faster and efficient detergent to remove dirt and greasy stains from your clothes! You may not be aware there are certain detergents which can make your wish come true with the help of a biotechnological ‘miracle’!  During the course of the day, relaxing in the sun, you may want to have a juice. You may not realise that again it is the same biotechnology ‘miracle’ that helped in juice extraction. While sipping, you may get hungry; a loaf of bread would come in handy. Once again, the same ‘miracle’ has ensured that the bread is still soft for your pleasure. In the evening, while you take your car for a drive, you may be concerned about the increasing fuel cost and environmental pollution! Again, the same biotechnological ‘miracle’ is making biofuels a reality!
 
This ‘miracle’ is nothing but ‘enzymes’ that play a crucial role in producing the food we eat, the clothes we wear, even fuel for our automobiles.
 
Enzymes: nature’s own technology
Humans have used enzymes for thousands of years without understanding what they were or how they work. Over last century, science has unlocked some of the mysteries of enzymes and has applied this knowledge to make better and more sustainable industrial products.

Enzymes are biodegradable catalysts that are able to speed up biological reaction and allow them to occur at lower temperatures while reducing the use of harsh chemicals. Enzymes are also very specific in what they catalyse, in contrast to harsh chemicals that react with everything around them and cause unintentional damage to the raw material. Because of the catalytic nature, the amount needed to accomplish a reaction is relatively small. Thus, enzymes are able to produce higher product quality at a lower manufacturing cost, with less water and reduced energy consumption.
 
A promising market in India
India is among the top 12 biotech destinations worldwide and third largest in the Asia-Pacific region. The industrial biotechnology sector, mainly comprising of industrial enzymes, grew by 11 percent in 2012-13 and today stands at Rs 772 crore.

While, enzymes have been used for more than 50 years in industries like detergents, textile, and leather - the Indian industrial enzyme market is still at a nascent stage, with a marginal share in the global market. However, with increasing awareness about enzymes and their potential and benefits, it is expected to be the game changer with growth forecasted at a CAGR of 15% till 2015.

The growth drivers
Global population growth and economic development continue to pile pressure on the industrialised world built on finite resources. With environmental concerns and climate-change issues becoming increasingly important, sustainable solutions are quickly becoming a priority in the political agenda of every country including India.
 
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The changing lifestyle and increasing purchasing power, especially of the middle class, is further leading to a surge in the demand for better quality and environmentally sustainable products. In the wake of increased environment consciousness and regulation, manufacturers are fast realising that ecofriendly chemical alternatives like enzymes are the way forward.
 
Along with that, increasing end-user awareness, sizeable market potential and availability of a high level of scientific talent pool and cost effective manufacturing further makes India attractive for the industrial biotech segment.
 
Constant innovations in enzyme technology as well as product innovations have also fuelled the application of enzymes in many more industrial sectors in the past few years. For example, recent innovations in the area of second generation biofuels have made it possible to convert agricultural residues to ethanol. This is significant progress considering the energy security issues that the country currently faces.
 
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These are the key factors driving the growth of the industrial biotech segment in the country especially, in the area of food and beverage, detergents, textiles, and fuel ethanol.
 
Support needed for the next leap
The Indian industrial biotech industry has come a long way. However, for the next leap it is important that the industry, academia, government and other relevant bodies come together and help build a bio-based future. The government has supported this sector with progressive regulations and growth-oriented policies. However, simplification of regulatory approval process and building awareness about sustainable solutions to protect the environment will further provide impetus to the sector.
 
Biotechnology surely holds a promising future in India, if we are able to create an enabling environment for its growth.
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The author is the Regional President – India at Novozymes South Asia Pvt Ltd.