Biotechnology - the next big revolution

Biotechnology is being touted as the next big revolution in India, after Information Technology.
It promises to make available improved pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial products. Discoveries in biotechnology allow for certain crops to have their own protection ring against insects and disease. These crops can thus be grown using less pest control chemicals.

Developments in food biotechnology will help the enhancement of Nutrition, Quality and taste of food. Research has helped develop food crops with higher levels of nutrients that may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Besides food, biotechnology is making breakthroughs in health care. Since the initial production of human insulin to better treat diabetes, biotechnology continues to create more effective drugs for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and AIDS vaccines.

In the future, some applications of biotechnology will be used to make material such as fiber for clothes from "renewable" resources like corn. Other applications may help reduce our dependence on oil and natural gas and could reduce water and energy use by as much as 50%.

The focus of Biotechnology is on four segments:

Medical - Animal or Human Healthcare. The focus here will be on diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics like insulin and veterinary drugs.
Agriculture - Food.
Environment - The focus will be on bio-pesticides, bio-fertilisers, animal feeds, biosensors, waste management.
Industrial Products - The key areas are identified as food and industrial enzymes, fermentation products and biopolymers.

-Anuradha Sriraman