India’s bioeconomy has experienced a significant upsurge, marking a twelve-fold increase in the last decade, announced Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh during the inauguration of the ‘National Plant Computational Biology & Bioinformatics Facility’ at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR). He highlighted that India’s bioeconomy, which was valued at $10 billion a decade ago, has now escalated to $120 billion.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed optimism, projecting a robust growth trajectory for India’s bioeconomy, aiming to surpass $300 billion by the year 2030. He credited this phenomenal growth to the supportive policy framework orchestrated under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, enabling this substantial leap in India’s bioeconomic sector.
Moreover, the Minister announced the release of ‘ADVIKA,’ an advanced drought-tolerant chickpea variety, emphasizing its climate-smart attributes. Recognizing India’s significant contribution to global chickpea production, standing at 74%, he highlighted its potential as a key foreign exchange earner.
Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized the necessity for greater collaboration among scientific institutions to leverage emerging technologies effectively. Stressing the importance of industry partnerships from the outset to sustain research and development, startups, and livelihood opportunities, he hailed institutes like NIPGR as pillars of excellence instrumental in shaping India’s robust and nourished future.
Foreseeing India’s ascent among the top five global bio-manufacturing hubs by 2025, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the burgeoning growth in biotech startups, which surged from 50 in 2014 to an impressive 6,000 in 2023. He underscored the sector’s vitality, witnessing the incorporation of three biotech startups daily, all geared towards offering viable technological solutions.
Highlighting the clean, green environment fostered by biotechnology, the Minister emphasized its role in generating sustainable livelihoods and producing bio-based alternatives to petrochemical-centric manufacturing. He reiterated the Department of Biotechnology’s commitment to supporting R&D in advanced biofuels and ‘Waste to Energy’ technologies.
Appreciating NIPGR’s quarter-century journey marked by innovations, patents, and diverse plant varieties, Dr Jitendra Singh envisioned its pivotal role in addressing global food security challenges in the forthcoming 25 years, contributing not only to India’s food basket but also to global sustenance during the Amrit Kaal.