Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for various portfolios, declared on November 30, 2023, that India’s Bioeconomy has witnessed a remarkable 12-fold increase over the past decade. Inaugurating the ‘National Plant Computational Biology & Bioinformatics Facility’ at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, he noted that the bioeconomy, which stood at approximately US$ 10 billion in 2010, has surged to US$ 120 billion. He anticipates a further growth to US$ 300 billion by 2030, attributing this success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategic policies.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also introduced ‘ADVIKA,’ a climate-resilient and drought-resistant chickpea variety, marking a significant advancement. Expressing contentment over India contributing 74% to the global chickpea production, he emphasized its potential for foreign exchange earnings.
Advocating enhanced collaboration among scientific institutes and early industry linkages for R&D and startup support, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised institutions like NIPGR as pillars of excellence ensuring a healthy and well-fed India. Predicting India’s ascent among the top five biomanufacturing global hubs by 2025, he highlighted a substantial rise in biotech startups, reaching 6,000 in 2023 from a mere 50 in 2014, with three new startups emerging daily.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized biotechnology’s clean and green potential, generating income sources and sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based production. The Department of Biotechnology’s focus on Advanced Biofuels and “Waste to Energy” technologies was highlighted.
Reflecting on NIPGR’s progress in innovations, patents, and plant varieties supporting India’s food basket over the past 25 years, Dr. Jitendra Singh envisioned a significant role for the institute in addressing global food security challenges in the next 25 years, emphasizing the significance of the Amrit Kaal.
