Biotechnology is being touted as the next big revolution
in India, after Information Technology.
It promises to make available improved pharmaceutical,
agricultural and industrial products. Discoveries
in biotechnology allow for certain crops to have their
own protection ring against insects and disease. These
crops can thus be grown using less pest control chemicals.
Developments in food biotechnology will help the enhancement
of Nutrition, Quality and taste of food. Research has
helped develop food crops with higher levels of nutrients
that may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain
cancers.
 Besides
food, biotechnology is making breakthroughs in health
care. Since the initial production of human insulin
to better treat diabetes, biotechnology continues to
create more effective drugs for heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and AIDS vaccines.
In the future, some applications of biotechnology will
be used to make material such as fiber for clothes from
"renewable" resources like corn. Other applications
may help reduce our dependence on oil and natural gas
and could reduce water and energy use by as much as
50%.
The focus of Biotechnology is on four segments:
Medical - Animal or Human Healthcare. The focus
here will be on diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics
like insulin and veterinary drugs.
Agriculture - Food.
Environment - The focus will be on bio-pesticides,
bio-fertilisers, animal feeds, biosensors, waste management.
Industrial Products - The key areas are identified
as food and industrial enzymes, fermentation products
and biopolymers.
-Anuradha Sriraman
|
Trade
and Commerce
