Icrisat launches CoE in genomics, Bio-Food Knowledge Centre

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) has launched a Centre of Excellence in Genomics (CEG) at its global headquarters at Patancheru here in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

It has also launched a Bio-Food Knowledge Centre (BFKC) in its Agri-Science Park with financial support from the Andhra Pradesh government.

The CEG, through the financial support of DBT, strengthens the existing molecular breeding facilities at Icrisat to a high throughput, cost-effective facility, which can be used for crop improvement research.

The facility, which is fully operational, is available for researchers from agricultural research institutes throughout India and globally via Icrisat's network of partners.

On the other hand, the BFKC, for which the state government made the first tranche of funding available, will be a platform for research and development and innovation in food processing with focus on cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and medicinal and aromatic plants.

"Though these projects are funded by national and state governments, their impacts will flow to all the 55 countries that Icrisat works in," director-general of Icrisat, William Dar, said.

The CEG is a result of a memorandum of agreement signed by William Dar and MK Bhan, secretary of DBT in December 2006. The DBT has provided $ 1 million (Rs 4 crore) for establishing the CEG.

According to Dar, in addition to having state-of-the-art equipment, the CEG will provide training for building the capacity of national scientists from India and other countries. As the CEG was launched, 19 scientists from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research institutes started their training on molecular breeding techniques at the CEG.

Mangala Rai, Vice-Chair of Icrisat Governing Board and director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said that the premier facility on agri-biotechnology has the potential for improving natural resources management through genetic improvement of crops.

The BFKC is a public-private partnership venture for which the AP government has provided financial support of $ 500,000 (Rs 50 crore).

The knowledge centre will be completely developed over a period of 5 years with a total outlay of approximately US$ 5.25 million (Rs 21 crore. It will also collaborate with several central and state government organisations, IITs and agricultural research universities.