Technology transfer

Mass production technologies of several biocontrol agents/biopesticides have been developed and standardized. Fermentation based mass production technology of Trichoderma viride, has been transferred to Prathista Industries Ltd in Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh. Myrothecium verrucaria, a potential biopesiticides developed through a collaborative project implemented at NCL, Pune and RRL, Jammu is being up scaled and fine tuned for commercialization. The toxicological data is being generated and negotiations are being made for the technology transfer to the industry.

The commercial viability of Beauvaria bassiana and Verticilium lecanii as a potential biopesticides against tea pest is being pursued at AAU, Assam. Mechanized system for mass production/ rearing has been developed for Trichogramma and Cocyra cephaoinca at IARI, New Delhi and technology is ready for transfer. At AMU, Aligarh, the powder formulation of Trichoderma harzaniam, Pochonia clamidosporia, Pseudomonas fluorescence have been developed, field-tested and techno-economic feasibility has been established. The culture protocols for large-scale production of the algae Dunaliella salina and D. bardawil have been developed and methods have been standardized for isolation of stable and high quality b-carotene. The protocol is ready for transfer to the
industry.

Food Biotechnology

AIIMS, New Delhi; NDRI Karnal; RRL Jammu; CFTRI, Mysore; and ITRC Lucknow are developing rapid PCR diagnostic kits for the detection of various food borne pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella spp. At CFTRI, Mysore, efforts are on for the technology transfer of high protein biscuits containing 14 percent protein with high protein digestibility. The validation of PCR and ELISA assays developed to detect transgenic traits in genetically modified foods is being carried out in five research laboratories and the process for production of astaxanthin from green alga Haematococcus pluvialis has been perfected.

This is just a representative snapshot of the research activity is happening in the Indian public laboratories. With the right thrust, regulatory and policy support and infrastructure facilities the number of technologies emerging from the Indian labs could increase multifold and the resulting products would have a lasting impact on the people.

Rolly Dureha