International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), a member of the Future Harvest Alliance?a group of 15 non-profit, international agricultural research centers, has joined hands with the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurial Development Board (NSTEDB) of the department of science and technology (DST) to develop an agri-business incubator (ABI) at Icrisat. Although a non-profit project, ABI aims to be self-sufficient in the next five years. Based on the needs and interests of the entrepreneurs, Icrisat hopes to promote several technologies ranging from farm-based to advanced biotechnology. In an interview with BV Mahalakshmi, Kiran K Sharma, head, ABI-Icrisat and director, Translational Platform for Transgenic Crops (PTTC), says there are enough opportunities for technology business incubators which can assist farmers. Excerpts:

Please elaborate the role of ABI and the activities it is concerned with. How different is it from other incubators and what are the technologies which the agri-business incubator has helped?

ABI-Icrisat provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to incubate farm technologies and become agri-business ventures. It offers technologies, consultancies, funding, infrastructure and access to Icrisat. Some of the technologies include a sweet sorghum for ethanol production; Bt cotton? helicoverpa-resistant cotton; bio fermi BTA fermentor?for biopesticides production; ICGV-91114?drought-resistant groundnut variety; JG-11 & KAK2 ?chickpea varieties; biopesticide formulations for controlling crop pest; and organic farming?pesticide-free crops and produce.

The incubator has commercialised sweet sorghum-based ethanol ventures and Icrisat?s groundnut ICGV 91114 and chickpea variety JG 11 in Andhra Pradesh, along with Aakruthi Agricultural Associates. In fact, ABI-Icrisat has benefited around 40,000 farmers and supported 100 entrepreneurs besides generating jobs for around 627 people. It has also mobilised $11 million for the companies it has incubated.

The clients of ABI-Icrisat include Rusni Distilleries Pvt Ltd, Bioseed Research India Pvt Ltd, Seed Works India Pvt Ltd, Slesser &Tom Electronics Pvt Ltd, Hyglass & Chemicals, Aakrruthi Agricultural Associates of India, Mekins Biotech Ltd and G-Tech Seeds Exports Pvt Ltd.

How do you plan to reach the entrepreneurs? What are the incentives for entrepreneurs in joining ABI?

ABI-Icrisat is recognised as an ?Outreach Centre for Technopreneur Promotion Program (TePP)? of DSIR to encourage innovation among students and fresh graduates. Besides, TePP would include financial support to selected innovators for converting their ideas into working models and prototypes. We incubate innovators? ideas and create business ventures in phases. We create a congenial environment for encouraging R&D in biotechnology and agricultural fields through development of infrastructure and incentives. It helps to nurture innovations and entrepreneurship in agri-business.

We are also working on a decentralised model, supported by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). For instance, for sorghum, we decentralised crushing units and about 10,000 farmers have benefited from this model.

What is the future strategy of business incubators and how does this create employment opportunities for them?

We are looking at business incubation and to capitalise, we are partnering with universities and other incubators. We are also planning to set up 10 incubators this year for which we have received ICAR approval. Of this, five would be in ICAR institutions and five in state agriculture universities. Over a period of time, we would link all the incubators and all the business incubators would become separate companies. This is a move to further the mission of Icrisat, which is poverty elimination and the promotion of entrepreneurship.

How is the newly-construed Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) developing and how many transgenic products have been identified to scale it up using this platform?

The PTTC is a DBT project with a funding commitment of Rs 26 crore for five years (2008-2013). PTTC aims to strengthen transgenic research for crop improvement by providing a platform, building synergies among institutions. The mission is to translate transgenic technology and facilitate a coordinated approach for the translation of existing genetic engineering technologies in developing transgenic crop varieties for product development and commercialisation. Under this, priority crops and constraints will be identified and a well-coordinated approach set in place. PTTC will evaluate and advance the potential of new genetic engineering options to enhance agricultural productivity.

PTTC will also provide expertise and facilities for the production and assessment of transgenic crop plants developed through collaborative projects. It will serve as a facility of reference to strengthen national, regional and international linkages and collaboration in transgenic research and development, exchange of materials and information, as well as support training, consultation and technology commercialsation.

We have identified a dozen crops. We have transgenic technologies for groundnut which are virus-resistance, drought-tolerant and fungal resistant. Besides, we also have ?golden peanut? which are vitamin A fortified. However, they have to pass through the safety trials. We plan to give these GM technologies free of cost to small entrepreneurs and reach the farmers.

What is the road map of PTCC and how do you plan to expand the role of its activities?

PTCC is expected to be fully operational by mid -2010. By then, we plan to have two to three products. The first transgenic crop is expected by 2013. Meanwhile, we will be signing some MoUs with other institutes, making it a consortium effort. We would also be replicating this kind of a platform for transgenic research in other parts of the country and later, in other countries as well.