In News:

The North Eastern Region (NER) of India, endowed with rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and indigenous knowledge, is undergoing a transformation through biotechnology-led initiatives. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology is spearheading this change to harness the region’s biological resources for inclusive and sustainable development.

Biotechnology: Definition and Types

Biotechnology involves the use of biological systems or organisms to develop products and technologies that improve healthcare, agriculture, industry, and the environment.

Types of Biotechnology:

• Medical Biotechnology – Vaccines, gene therapy, diagnostics.
• Agricultural Biotechnology – Pest-resistant crops, high-yield seeds, and sustainable agriculture.
• Industrial Biotechnology – Biofuels, biodegradable plastics, enzyme-based processes.
• Environmental Biotechnology – Waste treatment, pollution control, and bioremediation.

Why North East India is Ideal for Biotech Development

• Biodiversity Hotspot: Home to 8,000+ plant species, including 850+ medicinal plants and agro-climatic diversity.
• Indigenous Knowledge: Rich traditional practices in herbal medicine and organic farming.
• Agri-Biotech Potential: Ideal for medicinal crops, essential oils, and organic produce.
• Industrial Opportunity: Scope for biofuel production, value-added food processing, and pharmaceutical industries.

Key DBT Programmes and Initiatives in the North East

• DBT North Eastern Programme
  • Since 2010, 10% of DBT’s annual budget is dedicated to NER.
  • Focus: R&D, education, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and employment generation in biotechnology.
• Twinning R&D Programme (2010–11)
  • Promotes collaborative biotech research between NER and national institutes.
  • Over 65 institutional partnerships, supporting 650+ projects and benefiting ~2,500 researchers/students.
• Biotech Hubs Network (Since 2011)
  • 126 Biotech Hubs established across universities and colleges.
  • Phase II supports 54 hubs for focused research on local issues.
• BLiSS (Biotech Labs in Senior Secondary Schools): Started in 2014 to introduce biotechnology at the school level.
• Visiting Research Professorship (VRP) Programme:Launched in 2015 to utilize the expertise of top scientists for NER biotechnology development.
• Chemical Ecology Programme (2015): Collaborative training by NCBS, UAS, and IISc for Ph.D. scholars in the field of chemical ecology.
• Genomics Training Programme (2016):Conducted by DBT-NIBMG, Kalyani, for biomedical researchers in the region.

Agri-Biotech and Livelihood-Oriented Initiatives

• DBT-NECAB (Phase III): Enhancing biotech applications in agriculture.
• Citrus Research: Disease-free scion material of Khasi mandarin and sweet orange developed at IHT, Assam.
• Medicinal Crop Cultivation: 64.1 acres under Curcuma caesia and lemongrass cultivation; 649 farmers trained.
• Essential Oil Distillation: Facility set up in Mudoi village, Arunachal Pradesh, for revenue support.
• Value-Addition in Wild Fruits: Docynia indica (Assam apple) processed into products like jam, pickles, and candy.

Technology-Driven Achievements

• Bacterial Blight-Resistant Rice (Patkai): Developed by Assam Agricultural University; notified by CVRC.
• Brucellosis Detection Kit: Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) to detect anti-Brucella antibodies in livestock.
• Pig Disease Diagnosis Expert System (PDDES): Mobile app for livestock disease detection and management (available on Google Play Store).

Challenges in NER’s Biotech Growth

• Limited infrastructure for biotech R&D and production.
• High cost of commercial biotech projects.
• Shortage of trained professionals in advanced biotech fields.
• Vulnerability to climate change and poor connectivity with markets.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Infrastructure: Develop biotech parks, R&D centers, and incubators.
• Skill Development: Train local youth, researchers, and farmers.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Foster industrial collaboration for startups and innovation.
• Eco-friendly Technologies: Promote sustainable and low-impact biotech industries.
• Digital Integration: Use AI and data analytics for agricultural and healthcare biotech solutions.