NBRI to scout for commercial partners for herbal innovations

Lucknow-based National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) is looking at commercial exploits of a host of products developed by its scientists, especially consumer products such as herbal drinks.

The premier Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) lab is gearing up to patent such products and subsequent transfer of technology to the interested private company for commercial and industrial use.

Since, some products are for human consumption, they are being subjected to a number of tests pertaining to safety standards and taste at present.

“For herbal drink, we have many considerations as it is for direct human consumption,” NBRI director C S Nautiyal told Business Standard on sidelines of the National Technology Day celebrations today.

NBRI would apply for national license and patent for the herbal drink before it scouts for suitable private partner for technology transfer. “We are confident that the herbal drink would see the light of day by year end,” he added.

There are several technologies, that had earlier been developed by NBRI, but could not attain much commercial success or even reach commercialisation stage, including herbal beer, herbal lipstick, anti cough herbal formulation, herbal health drink, nutria jam etc.

“We are in the process of synergising our past innovations, so that they are taken up afresh for their commercial viability,” he added.

Meanwhile, NBRI transferred microbial pesticide technology to Hyderabad-based Balaji Crop Care Private Limited for commercialisation. The new pesticide developed after years of research and field trials is for managing ‘pod borer’ of chickpea, pigeon-pea and other legume crops, besides termites in field crops.

“The shelf life of the pesticide is one year and it has been released after obtaining all toxicological data and bio-efficacy in field trials at various places, including Uttar Pradesh and Nagaland,” project lead scientist H B Singh said.

“Since legume production is on the lower side in India, our product would help in increasing its production by protecting the crop from pests and termites,” Nautiyal said.