Why in News ?
Biotech for Sustainable Future
- Experts in a national webinar highlighted biotechnology’s role in enabling green growth, zero-waste processes, and sustainable industry, aligning with India’s expanding bioeconomy and sustainability goals.
Relevance
GS 3 (Science & Tech + Economy + Environment)
- Bioeconomy and green growth
- Industrial biotech and sustainability
- Agri-biotech and food security
- Innovation-led growth and startups
Basics & Core Keywords
Biotechnology
- Biotechnology applies biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop products and processes in health, agriculture, environment, and industry, integrating biology with technology for societal and economic benefits.
Green Growth
- Green growth refers to economic development that reduces environmental risks, promotes resource efficiency, and ensures sustainability while maintaining GDP growth and employment generation.
Bioeconomy
- Bioeconomy includes economic activities using renewable biological resources to produce food, materials, and energy, reducing fossil-fuel dependence and supporting circular economy transitions.
Data & Evidence
India’s Bioeconomy Growth
- India’s bioeconomy expanded from ~US$10 billion (2014) to ~US$165 billion (2024), a 16-fold rise, making it among the fastest-growing bioeconomies globally.
2030 Target
- India targets US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, driven by biopharma, bio-agriculture, industrial biotech, and bio-services sectors.
Sectoral Contribution
- Major drivers include biopharma, agriculture biotech, industrial biotech, and IT-enabled bio-services, collectively supporting innovation-led growth.
Environmental Dimension
Zero-Waste & Circularity
- Industrial biotechnology supports zero-waste manufacturing, bioremediation, and biodegradable materials, lowering pollution and landfill burdens.
Climate Link
- Bio-based fuels and materials reduce carbon footprint and support net-zero transitions, complementing renewable energy policies.
Economic Dimension
Employment & Skills
- Biotechnology generates high-skill jobs in genomics, microbial technology, bioinformatics, and process engineering, supporting knowledge-economy growth.
Innovation Economy
- Start-ups and R&D in biotech attract investments, patents, and global partnerships, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem.
Social Dimension
Health & Food Security
- Biotech advances vaccines, diagnostics, fortified crops, and precision agriculture, improving public health and nutrition security.
Rural Development
- Agri-biotech supports climate-resilient crops and bio-inputs, enhancing farmer incomes and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Governance & Policy Dimension
Policy Support
- India’s biotechnology push aligns with BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, Employment) and national sustainability missions.
Skill Development
- Focus on biotech education and training builds human capital for future bio-industries.
Technology Dimension
Core Skills
- High demand for expertise in gene editing, microbial culture, fermentation tech, and data analytics for biotech innovation.
Industry 5.0 Link
- Biotechnology integrates with AI, automation, and data science in Industry 5.0, enabling precision and efficiency.
Challenges
Regulatory Hurdles
- Biosafety regulations, ethical concerns, and approval delays can slow innovation.
Funding Gaps
- High R&D costs and long gestation periods deter private investment.
Skill Mismatch
- Rapid sector growth demands continuous upskilling.
Way Forward
R&D Investment
- Increase public–private biotech R&D funding and translational research support.
Startup Ecosystem
- Strengthen incubators, venture funding, and industry–academia linkages.
Sustainable Integration
- Promote bio-based alternatives in mainstream industries.
