The Hindu Business Line : Icrisat scouting for pvt sector partnerships in biotech

THE International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) is looking to build strategic partnerships with the private sector in biotechnology at the on-going Bio-Asia 2004.

The institute is showcasing its technology commercialisation arm, the Agri-Science Park (ASP), at the three-day convention.

Addressing a press conference in this regard on Friday, Icrisat Director- General, Dr William Dar, said that the institute's ASP comprised an Agri-Biotech Park of the Andhra Pradesh's Genome Valley, an Agri-Business Incubator and a Hybrid Seed Consortium. The ASP has a built-up area of two-lakh square feet.

He said while investors could establish an agri-biotech venture in the agri-biotech park, they could develop commercially viable agri-businesses at the agri-business incubator by tapping the resources of the institute. The hybrid seed consortium would enable private seed companies to access and commercially exploit the varieties developed by Icrisat.

According to Dr Dar, more than 25 private seed companies had partnered with Icrisat to form the seed consortium, which has separate partnership groups for sorghum, pearl millet and pigeon pea. The membership fee of the consortium was $10,000.

The agri-biotech park, having both private and public sector partners, is linked to the Andhra Pradesh Government. On the other hand, the agri-business incubator is a collaborative initiative between Icrisat and the Union Government's Department of Science and Technology, which gave $6,00,000 for its establishment. The World Wild Fund for Nature - International has also set up a project in ASP.

Dr Dar said that the future of agriculture and rural development in Asia would be through strategic partnerships between the public, private and the non-government organisations. "We at Icrisat are ready to lead the way through our Agri-Science Park".

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