Loksatta | महाराष्ट्रात जैवतंत्रज्ञानासाठी स्वतंत्र खाते हवे!

भारतीय जैव-अर्थव्यवस्थेत महाराष्ट्राचे सर्वाधिक योगदान आहे. महाराष्ट्रामुळे देशाच्या जैव-अर्थव्यवस्थेत ३७ अब्ज डॉलर्सहून अधिक रकमेची भर पडते. हे प्रमाण २७ टक्के आहे. म्हणजेच सापेक्ष मूल्य आणि प्रत्यक्ष मूल्याच्या या दोन्हींमध्ये देशाच्या जैव-अर्थव्यवस्थेत महाराष्ट्र अव्वल आहे. याचे प्राथमिक कारण म्हणजे आपले हे राज्य जैवविविधतेच्या दृष्टीने समृद्ध आहे – ७२० किमीचा समुद्रकिनारा, नऊ जैवविविधता वारसा स्थळे, विविध वनस्पती आणि प्राणी अशी जैवविविधता संपदा महाराष्ट्राला लाभली आहे.

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The Hindu | Why sustainable funding matters for India’s ‘science power’ ambition

The 2024 theme for National Science Day, which India celebrates every year on February 28, is “Science for Sustainable Development”. Science and technological developments are key drivers of India’s journey towards becoming a developed country by 2047. India is committed to making this progress through sustainable means, as evidenced by its commitments under the Paris Agreement, participation in global fora for sustainable development, and reinforced in this year’s theme for Science Day. The role of science in driving sustainable development doesn’t need emphasis, but any conversation on science is incomplete without setting one key expectation: for science to transform India, it has to be sustainably and consistently funded. Read the full article here.

Deccan Herald | National Research Foundation: Old wine in a new bottle?

The Indian research community is looking to the formation of the National Research Foundation (NRF) to herald a new era — where research is one of the government’s priorities resulting in access to a reasonable quantum of funding disbursed in a timely manner. However, short of these two dramatic changes, the NRF would be reduced to just another funding avenue, riddled with the issues of the past. But even with the passing of the NRF Bill there is little clarity on whether either of these two issues will be resolved. Read the full article here.

Hindustan Times | NRF is a game changer. But it needs more clarity

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is India’s largest government programme to fund research till date. India’s gross expenditure on research and development (GERD) is currently 0.6-0.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quite low when compared with that of the United States (US) (3.36%), China (2.14%), and Israel (4.9%). A significant infusion of funding, steered by a clear implementation strategy, is required for India to become a science leader. The NRF bill is an excellent start to driving India’s research agenda but it needs to clarify its objectives and create capacity for their achievement. Read the full article here.

The Hindu | Explained | The problem with India’s new guidelines on genetically modified insects

India’s bioeconomy contributes 2.6% to the GDP. In April 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) released its ‘Bioeconomy Report 2022’  report, envisioning this contribution to be closer to 5% by 2030. This ambitious leap – of $220 billion in eight years – will require aggressive investment and policy support. But neither funding for the DBT, India’s primary promoter of biotechnology, nor its recent policies reflect any serious intention to uplift this sector. Along with more money, policies that enable risk-taking appetite within Indian scientists will be required to create an ecosystem of innovation and industrial action. Read the full article here.

Rajasthan Patrika | India-U.S Biotechnology Cooperation

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The Hindu | India as a Quad-led biomanufacturing hub

In March 2021, the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) set up a Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group to facilitate cooperation, monitor trends, and scout for opportunities related to developments in critical and emerging technologies, that included biotechnology. However, the potential for Quad cooperation in biotechnology remains insufficiently tapped. The establishment of a Quad-led biomanufacturing hub in India will give the necessary fillip to enhance this cooperation.

This article can be read here.

Nikkei Asia | The Quad should have its own biomanufacturing hub in India

Biomanufacturing, which uses microorganisms and cell cultures to produce molecules and materials on a large scale, is rapidly rising in importance for Indo-Pacific nations. The world's response to COVID-19 depended on the rapid production of new vaccines through biomanufacturing. Countries with preexisting manufacturing capabilities became the gatekeepers of vaccine supply. Scaling up biomanufacturing in India will be fraught with challenges, however, but these can be overcome with external support. The Quad group in particular is ideally placed to collaborate and boost India's efforts.

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ASPI Strategist | The Quad should commit to a biomanufacturing hub in India

A biological revolution is underway in global manufacturing. Products produced from genetic engineering and biomanufacturing techniques are replacing many chemical, industrial and farm-based products. These include biological therapies, alternative proteins, plant-based oils, bioplastics and super strong threads, and more products such as bioconcrete are in development. The upcoming leaders’ summit in Sydney is an opportunity for the members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to take leadership in manufacturing this critical technology.

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Why Access to Protein is Important

The Global Nutrition Report tracks progress on six global nutrition targets identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and aims to be achieved by 2025. In 2021, it noted that India is ‘on course’ to meet three of these targets – those for maternal, infant and young child nutrition. However, it also observed that 34.7 percent of children under five years of age continue to be affected with stunting. This rate is higher than the average for the Asia region. In addition, it reported that “India has made no progress towards achieving the target for wasting, with 17.3 percent of children under five years of age affected, which is higher than the average for the Asia region (8.9 percent) and among the highest in the world.”

Need for commitment to biotechnology in India

Recently, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order to launch a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative in the US. Amongst other things, the initiative seeks to “Drive Research and Development (R&D) to Solve Our Greatest Challenges”, with a focus on agriculture and food innovation and “Streamline Regulations for Products of Biotechnology”. These challenges are also shared by the Indian biotechnology ecosystem and a similar policy emphasis on tackling them is necessary.

Deccan Herald | Quad partners can boost India’s biomanufacturing policy

Biotechnology is going to revolutionise the global economy and many countries recognise the need to optimally develop bioresources. According to an OECD report, more than 50 countries have adopted specific policies designed to shape their bio-economies.

In the recent past, the United States and China have also published plans for spurring their bio-economies. India’s Department of Biotechnology has released the 2021-2025 National Biotechnology Development Strategy, which envisions India as a global biomanufacturing hub by 2025.

Re-evaluating bioweapons amid global political fragility

Unstable political systems, ineffectual international organisations, and unprecedented technological advancements have created a global environment that can enable the development and deployment of bioweapons. New-age bioweapons could be used for more than just as weapons of mass destruction. This necessitates a new approach to mitigate risks by staying apace with technological development. India must take a leadership position at the Biological Weapons Convention while strengthening internal surveillance and health care systems to ensure its biosecurity. Investments in emerging technologies will be crucial to deter biosecurity threats.

Can India Take Cues From Kenya's GMO Ban Lift to Meet Climate Change Challenge?

In early October 2022, Kenya lifted a decade-long ban on importing Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs as a source of food and feed. This follows Kenya's approval to GM cotton in response to the ongoing drought conditions.

Parts of Africa are experiencing unprecendented drought and nearly four million people in Kenya are facing hunger issues. Kenya’s move to adopt GMOs to improve food security comes on the recommendation of a task force which was set up to examine the safety and viability of using GMOs.  

While this move may mitigate some of Kenya’s food concerns, the shift to GMOs in the middle of an ongoing disaster will take time and effort. With this backdrop, it is time for India to also revisit its de facto ban on GMOs and invest in this technology now.

India@75: How India’s Health Report Since Independence Has Been Creditworthy

We are now in the third decade of the 21st century, seventy-five years after India gained Independence. In these years, the country has progressed in more sectors than one. The improvements across several health indicators are tremendous. These stories have been a result of conscious efforts towards achieving the goal of “Health for all”. As India heads towards becoming a superpower, it is important to look at the advancements we have made in the health sector.

In Fight Against Monkeypox, Covid, Indoor Ventilation is a Key Tool in Reducing Risk of Infection

We are facing an ever increasing caseload of Covid-19, which has reached 20,000 new cases every day. There is also an additional threat of monkeypox, which has been detected in India and has been declared a Global Health Emergency. Countries such as India and the UK have even advised airborne precautions pointing towards a risk of easy spread through respiratory droplets. Although, not as easily as Covid-19.

Masks, social distancing and vaccinations are existing tools, which are helping us fight Covid-19 and monkeypox. One important tool that we as a country have not used is indoor ventilation. Indoor ventilation means putting outdoor air inside and removing indoor air to reduce the risk of infection.

Long Covid Among Kids: Numbers May Not Be Too High, But It’s a Big Risk to Ignore Its Threats

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, it has been clear that children are less severely affected by Sars-CoV-2 than adults. Coronavirus infections in children usually do not cause symptoms, or the symptoms are mild. Nevertheless, many children infected with the omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, show health effects, even months after the virus was first detected. Recent studies have shown that long Covid is prevalent in children infected with Sars-CoV-2. India started its vaccination campaign for kids above 12 in January 2022, but we need to drastically increase this coverage to protect children from long Covid.

Why Most Indians Not Using Public Health Facilities is a Matter of Concern

To facilitate and enhance the ongoing mass vaccination campaign for Covid-19, the government has made booster doses free for citizens above 18 years of age for 75 days, starting July 15. This announcement has come amidst the rise of Covid-19 cases across India. The decision is not only bold, but also smart. This is because a staggering 92% Indians, who are currently eligible for a third dose, have not yet taken their shots and are now late receivers. The move is targeting many objectives together: increasing affordability, improving accessibility to more groups and strengthening the trust of the people in government authorities. However, poor awareness and implementation can hinder the ultimate objective of the decision.

What can we do to Ensure Monkeypox Doesn't become the Next Covid?

In addition to the recent surge in the number of Covid cases across several regions, India reported its first case of monkeypox virus last week in Kerala. The infected person is said to have reached the state capital recently from UAE and started feeling symptoms soon after landing. In the wake of the first confirmed case in the country, GoI on Friday released fresh guidelines for international travellers to control the spread of the virus. Health agencies across the globe are still figuring out how severe and lethal the virus can be. Several countries have been failing to control the spread, despite being aware of the origin and integrities of the monkeypox virus in humans since the 1970s. While the Covid pandemic is not over, only timely and strategised measures can prevent another major outbreak.

Why India’s 75-Day Free Booster Drive is a Smart Move and How Can it be Made Smarter

To facilitate and enhance the ongoing mass vaccination campaign for Covid-19, the government has made booster doses free for citizens above 18 years of age for 75 days, starting July 15. This announcement has come amidst the rise of Covid-19 cases across India. The decision is not only bold, but also smart. This is because a staggering 92% Indians, who are currently eligible for a third dose, have not yet taken their shots and are now late receivers. The move is targeting many objectives together: increasing affordability, improving accessibility to more groups and strengthening the trust of the people in government authorities. However, poor awareness and implementation can hinder the ultimate objective of the decision.