Agriculture Biotechnology

Agriculture biotechnology (often referred to as 'bioagriculture/ agri biotechnology) applies a range of scientific tools including genetic engineering, to different aspects of agriculture in order to create, improve/modify plants, animals and microorganisms. It has emerged as a new source of genetic diversity for crop improvement and has led to the development of drought tolerant crop varieties. The principal applications of bioagriculture include biofuels, crop transformation, and trait expression/protection technologies. Along with the increased agricultural productivity and output the bioagriculture industry has brought significant economic benefits (example: Green Gene revolution, GM crops etc) to the farmer community in particular and the society at large.

• Top 10 Agri Biotech Players
• Transgenic Research in India
• Major Agri Biotech Companies in Gujarat
• Gujarat - Harnessing the Potential

Top 10 Agri Biotech Players

Transgenic Research in India

Major Agri Biotech Companies in Gujarat

Gujarat - Harnessing the Potential

The agricultural biotechnology industry is gaining importance in Gujarat due to its sizeable agrarian economy, which contributes significantly to the country's GDP. A higher percentage of the agricultural land is used for cultivation in the Central Gujarat. While, Valsad has become India's first integrated horticulture district, Kaira, Baroda, Bharuch and Surat districts are the main contributors to the agricultural production of the State.

Stakeholders representing industry, NGOs, Government PSUs and Government laboratories, have played a significant role in the growth of the agri-biotech segment in Gujarat. The corporate scene has presence of players both of national and international origin, the value chain focus being manufacture of bio-agri inputs. In terms of R&D activity, ICAR funded labs namely NRCMAP and NRCG have created valuable knowledge repositories in terms of the research projects undertaken by the scientists and well trained researchers at these labs.

The State was amongst the first ones to allow field trials of Bt cotton in the country. With the growing R&D spend of the global agribiotech companies and enhanced clarity on the IPR issues, the country at large and Gujarat in particular, can leverage the diverse agroclimatic topography to play a significant role in the agri-biotech scene.

The major thrust areas of the corporate players in Gujarat agri-biotech industry include tissue culture, biofertilizers and biopesticides.

Excel Cropcare, a company based in Mumbai and having its facilities in Gujarat is engaged in providing a wide range of inputs from soil enrichment to crop protective chemicals such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, acaricides and fumigants. Jai Research Foundation conducts contract research studies exclusively on detection of genetically Modified (GM) food/feed and certification, biosafety of BT products and therapeutic proteins and field trials of transgenic plants.

The agro products division of Cadila Pharma Ltd (CPL) focuses on hybrid seeds, tissue culture, bio-formulations, essential oils and extracts as well as herbs and dietary supplements. Vanilla beans have emerged as one exciting area for CPL. The Company's tissue culture division has already caught the attention of the country's farming community with high-yield products such as bananas, teak, sugarcane, bamboo and eucalyptus.

Amongst the multinational companies, Monsanto has a strong marketing and distribution network in Gujarat through which it markets its herbicides, hybrid seeds and Bt Cotton in the State.