80 cos sign MoUs for commercialisation of agri tech

New Delhi, Jul 19. About 80 companies, including Coramandel International and Pepsi, have inked MoUs worth Rs 3.17 crore for commercialisation of newly developed farm technologies like the ones that can detect detergents in milk. The MoUs were commercialisation of 58 farm technologies were signed during the two-day agriculture investors meet which concluded today here. These technologies were developed under the World Bank-funded National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP). Under NAIP, around 300 technologies have been developed, of which 72 were commercialised since its inception in 2006. NAIP is led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). "The MoUs (memorandum of understanding) have been signed for commercialisation of 58 farm technologies. The investment entailed is over Rs 3 crore," ICAR Director General S Ayyappan told reporters. Licences to commercialise the farm technologies have been given to 80 companies, including Coramandel, Pepsi, Mother Dairy and NewGen Biotech. The know-how to produce virgin coconut oil, the technology to detect detergents in milk, advanced way to store custard apple pulp are some of the technologies for whose commercialisation MoUs were signed. An MoU with an investment of Rs 60 lakh was inked by fertiliser firm Coramandel for nanosulphur. Hyderabad-based Newgen Biotech signed MoU worth Rs 7.5 lakh. Mother Dairy invested Rs 6 lakh for a technology that can detect detergent in milk, while Pepsi invested the same amount for the process to manufacture 'Tuna kurkure' from fish. Besides the biggies, some start-up firms also participated in the meet and signed some MoUs. Addressing the event, space scientist and Planning Commission Member K Kasturirangan said, "Such kind of investors meet will go a long way to ensure agriculture research reaches to the community. This will encourage people to demand more technologies from ICAR in future." The day is not far when companies will pay for agri-research to take benefit from newer technologies. In this sense, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) would have a much larger role to play in the coming years not only for ensuring the country's food security but also creating a market for wealth creation, he added. Asked if it would continue funding the NAIP, the World Bank official Deepak Ahluwalia said, "NAIP is one of the largest projects in terms of funding. We have not received any request from the ICAR yet." ICAR scientists have always worked in isolation and the NAIP has provided a platform for accelerating technology transfer, he added. The World Bank has given funds worth USD 200 million for the NAIP, while ICAR has contributed USD 50 million. The government is required to repay the funds given by the World Bank in 35 years. The NAIP would end next year.