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Mahyco Research in pact with state for biotechnology park

Renni Abraham

Mahyco Research Foundation, subsidiary of the Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the state government for setting up a biotechnology park on 100 acres of land at Jalna in Aurangabad.

The park, along with conventional BT research and development will also hire out private contract research services to companies specifically related to converting industrial waste into productive compounds.

V K Wankhede, joint secretary (industries and biotechnology), said the MoU had been signed. He said: "This is the initiation of the agro-BT drive, for which the entire Jalna belt is an ideal location. The state government would provide the land at a nominal cost to Mahyco, since acquiring land for research and development activities can be a prohibitive and expensive proposition for private companies. Our aim is to provide the infrastructure so that the state's agriculturists can gain from the expertise of the research activities aimed at developing better strains of seeds."

Badrinarayan Barwale, chairman of Mahyco, said: "MIDC would provide us with infrastructure facilities such as power, housing, water, schools and hospital facilities in 100 acres earmarked for the BT park."

Usha B Zehr, head of MRF research and development, said: "The actual firming up of plans is yet to take place and would begin in tandem with the mobilisation of the biotechnology park activity. MRF would be assisting in the effort to identify partners for the R&D activity to be undertaken at Jalna."

She added that BT active recombinant deoxyribo nucleic acid technology would be a part of the R&D programme undertaken at the park.

"Similarly, contracting services would be provided to companies for converting industrial waste through bio-remediation to convert non-usable waste to usable waste and hazardous waste to non-hazardous waste. This is done using BT tools to modify the bacteria, fungi or toxic compounds present in the waste into productive compounds."

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