Project: Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology

Climate Change: Adaptation

Project: Indo-Swiss Collaboration

in Biotechnology

BACKGROUND

The project Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology (ISCB) promotes and supports partnerships

between Swiss and Indian research institutions in biotechnology. It is jointly funded and steered by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Government of India’s Ministry of Science and Technology. ISCB started in the 1970s and since then has continuously adapted to the evolving needs in the areas of food security and environment protection, thus effectively responding to India’s development concerns and priorities. At present the project is focusing on developing environment friendly technologies to increase production and productivity of wheat and pulses, of climate resilient crops, and on the sustainable management of natural resources. The technologies, knowledge and experiences generated, and the products developed as a result of research programmes eventually should be shared with farmers, communities, partners, and scientific networks in India and possibly other countries. The project supports joint initiatives where at least one Indian and one Swiss partner are involved.

The overall implementation and coordination of the programme rests with the Programme Management Unit, which is located at the Ecole Polytechniqe Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.

BUDGET

PARTNERS

PROJECT

LOCATION

GOAL

The overall goal of the ISCB is to establish and strengthen joint research partnerships to promote sustainable rural development in India. The outputs of the project will contribute to an increased productivity of wheat and pulses in rainfed agricultural systems, and to a sustainable management of natural resources.

Phot o © R ichar d G erst er

SUCCESS HIGHLIGHT

“In Uttarakhand, a biofertilizer prototype has been developed. The farmers who were involved in the process and were using it, experienced a 30 - 40 percent increase in wheat crop yield without having to use expensive and environmentally harmful chemical fertilizers or pesticides.”

LINKS

http://iscb.epfl.ch

APPROACHES

• The programme adheres to the integrated value chain concept, which covers all the steps in development of products and processes, from basic research to field application, including extensive testing to prove that such products or processes are safe, technically feasible, and economically viable. This involves continued support, steering and monitoring of joint research partnerships during product development and application. • A Technology Advancement

Unit is being set up in India. This will play a crucial role in taking newly developed products from development to the market and will facilitate technology transfer and product development. • Project and knowledge

partners and key stakeholders will share and exchange the scientific, methodological and organizational skills in India and also among developing countries.

RESULTS

Technologies will be developed to improve resistance of pulses, especially chickpeas as well as wheat, against fungus, insects, heat and drought. Bio-safety aspects will be carefully considered to ensure that the new products are not harmful to humans, animals, plants and the environment at large.

Bio-fertilizers and corresponding technology packages will be developed. These will be used for trials on a large scale.

Advanced biosensors are developed that can detect pesticides or parts of them. This is useful to avoid pesticides residues, however minute, in food or drinking water.

Sharing of scientific, technical and methodological know-how with partners in third countries will advance replication not only in India but also other developing countries.

CONTACT

Ecole Polytechniqe Fédérale de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Phone: + 41-21-6931991

Department of Biotechnology,

Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. E-mail: srrao@dbt.nic.in