ICRISAT showcases Agri-Science Park at BioAsia 2004 (27 February 2004)

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is looking to build strategic partnerships with the private sector in biotechnology at the BioAsia 2004. The Institute is showcasing its technology commercialization arm, the Agri-Science Park at the Convention.

Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, said: "The future of agriculture and rural development in Asia will be through strategic partnerships between the public, private and the NGO sectors. We at ICRISAT are ready to lead the way through our Agri-Science Park."

The Agri-Science Park at ICRISAT comprises:

• The Agri-Biotech Park of the Genome Valley, where investors can establish an agri-biotech venture at ICRISAT. The investor can access ICRISAT's expertise and facilities, which include an Applied Genomics Lab (with a high throughput genotyping facility), Genetic Transformation Lab, Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics Facility, and Intellectual Property Management Office. Since the Park is a part of the Genome Valley, it is linked with the Andhra Pradesh Government and world-class private and public sector partners. Two existing partners are the Suri Seghal Foundation (an NRI not-for-profit organization) and Aquas (Avesthagen's spin-off company on GMO/food safety testing).
• An Agri-Business Incubator, where entrepreneurs can develop commercially viable agri-businesses and tap the resources of the Institute. This is a collaborative initiative between ICRISAT and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• The Hybrid Seed Consortium, which enables private seed companies to access and commercially exploit high-yielding varieties and hybrid seed parents developed by ICRISAT using conventional and biotechnological tools. More than 25 private seed companies partnered with ICRISAT to form this consortium, which has separate partnership groups for sorghum, pearl millet and pigeonpea.

ICRISAT has established an agri-ecotourism initiative, called SAT Eco-Venture . The World Wild Fund for Nature – International (WWF) has also set up a project in the Agri-Science Park at ICRISAT.

ICRISAT is a global center of scientific excellence in biotechnology and related sciences working in 48 developing countries. The Institute pursues Science with a Human Face to focus research on sorghum, pearl millet, pigeonpea, chickpea and groundnut – crops that support the livelihoods of more than 800 million people, the world's poorest. ICRISAT's resources include a world-class scientific manpower and physical facilities located in a 1,400 hectare research farm near Hyderabad. Our Genebank has over 113,000 accessions, one of the world's largest.

For further information, contact Dr Barry Shapiro at b.shapiro@cgiar.org .