The Hindu Business Line : Icrisat to set up rice biotech park

THE International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), in collaboration with the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, would be setting up a rice biotech park.

Also on the anvil is the establishment of a food safety and allergenicity-testing laboratory, according to the institute Director General, Dr William Dar.

Dr Dar told newspersons here on Saturday that discussions were on to establish a rice biotech park soon. He said that the Agri-Science Park at Icrisat, launched with the objective of initiating collaborative research and establishing joint ventures with private and public entities, had been successful in the development of new initiatives that would result in improved application of agricultural technologies.

In two years, the ASP has resulted in 10 companies joining a new private sector Biopesticide Research Consortium that would work for the development and commercialisation of biopesticides developed and tested by Icrisat.

Dr Dar added that four companies have joined the Agri-Business Incubator at Icrisat to incubate technologies. They are: Rusni Distilleries for the production of ethanol from sweet sorghum; Bioseed Research Ltd for the development of transgenic cotton; Seed Works Ltd for the development of transgenic cotton and vegetables; and Sessler Tom and Hyglass for the development of fermentor and agricultural implements. Icrisat also has two other collaborations with Aavesthagen and Suri Sehgal Foundation.

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