A platform for translational research on transgenic crops
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, have together launched a project for establishing a platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC).
The foundation stone for PTTC was laid by Dr. M.K. Bhan, Secretary, DBT, and Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, at Patancheru campus of ICRISAT, near Hyderabad.
Support training
The DBT-funded platform is a 6.2 million dollar U.S. 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 commercialization.
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.
Speaking at the foundation stone laying function, Dr Dar said that 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.
“The future food demand cannot be met merely from incremental gains from conventional plant breeding. A quantum change in yield improvement is needed, such as that which occurred during the Green Revolution,” he said.
Finding solutions to major crop productivity constraints, developing new technologies that raise yields in low-potential areas and creating opportunities for diversification in agricultural value chains are some of the major present day agricultural challenges, he added.
Step in evolution
Agri-biotechnologies are a further step in an evolution that extends from the dawn of agriculture. These technologies offer a new set of tools to enhance crop productivity and profitability.
For further information contact Dr Kiran K Sharma at k.sharma@cgiar.org.
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