Thrust on agri-biotechnological breakthrough to solve future food crisis
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
The future food demand cannot be met merely from incremental gains from conventional plant breeding.
Director General of The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) William Dar made the observation while jointly laying foundation stone of a project for establishing a Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) at the Patancheru campus of ICRISAT near Hyderabad recently, according to a message received in Dhaka Monday.
The ICRISAT and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the government of India have jointly launched the project.
The DBT-funded Platform is a US$6.20 million project that will translate transgenic technology and harness its products to meet the needs of agricultural growth and serve as a facility of reference to strengthen national, regional and international linkages in transgenic R&D, exchange of materials and information, as well as support training, consultation and technology commercialisation.
The PTTC will provide an opportunity for public sector research institutes and private sector biotechnology companies to work together for translating transgenic research into products.
Mr William Dar said research breakthroughs in agri-biotechnology hold the potential for increasing crop productivity and the resistance of food crops to pests and diseases, thereby helping solve the food crisis.
While jointly laying foundation stone of the project Secretary of the DBT MK Bhan said the PTTC will bring together the expertise of DBT and ICRISAT and build partnerships to strengthen the conceptualisation, development and delivery of agri-biotechnological research products that will ultimately benefit the Indian farmers in improving their incomes.
By financially supporting the PTTC, the DBT wants to fund research and provide infrastructure for innovation, so that transgenic technology can strengthen agricultural productivity, Mr Bhan said.
Director General of The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) William Dar made the observation while jointly laying foundation stone of a project for establishing a Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) at the Patancheru campus of ICRISAT near Hyderabad recently, according to a message received in Dhaka Monday.
The ICRISAT and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the government of India have jointly launched the project.
The DBT-funded Platform is a US$6.20 million project that will translate transgenic technology and harness its products to meet the needs of agricultural growth and serve as a facility of reference to strengthen national, regional and international linkages in transgenic R&D, exchange of materials and information, as well as support training, consultation and technology commercialisation.
The PTTC will provide an opportunity for public sector research institutes and private sector biotechnology companies to work together for translating transgenic research into products.
Mr William Dar said research breakthroughs in agri-biotechnology hold the potential for increasing crop productivity and the resistance of food crops to pests and diseases, thereby helping solve the food crisis.
While jointly laying foundation stone of the project Secretary of the DBT MK Bhan said the PTTC will bring together the expertise of DBT and ICRISAT and build partnerships to strengthen the conceptualisation, development and delivery of agri-biotechnological research products that will ultimately benefit the Indian farmers in improving their incomes.
By financially supporting the PTTC, the DBT wants to fund research and provide infrastructure for innovation, so that transgenic technology can strengthen agricultural productivity, Mr Bhan said.