GREATER NOIDA: The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has said it will allow its parks and other green areas to be used as laboratories for biotech experiment by researchers. The announcement was made by GNIDA CEO Narendra Bhooshan at a national seminar hosted at Bennett University to raise awareness about the increasing need for promoting green biotechnology “Uttar Pradesh is the land of opportunities and Greater Noida is its growth driver,” Bhooshan said at the seminar. “Greater Noida is poised to become the smartest technology and living hub of India with the kind of infrastructure which is going to be on offer here. I welcome students of BU to think out of the box and use our green areas as laboratories for research in biotech. We are open to signing MOUs for path-breaking research. The integrated industrial township, which is in close proximity to the university, will be one of its kind in the country. We have allotted land to 150 companies and it (Greater Noida) is all set to become a mobile hub,” Bhooshan added.Patanjali Ayurved CEO Acharya Balkrishna, who was the keynote speaker at the event, stressed the need for raising the quality bar while introducing standards in the field of green biotech. “Let science be science and let us work towards implementing high standards in our research. Only high quality will ensure sustainability and usefulness of green biotechnology. Innovation is important but the only reason that we, at Pantanjali, have continued to grow is because of our high-quality research,” he said.Kishore Desai, officer on special duty at NITI Aayog, added, “Sustained growth in green biotechnology in India will happen when we can achieve a balance in the ratio between what we say and do. Our aim to achieve high quality and scientific growth should be matched with equal responsibility by private players. The government is there to help with policies but they can be implemented successfully with adequate private responsibility.”The day-long event also saw discussions on subjects like biomass production, bio-based products and rural entrepreneurship. Among noted professionals from the field of biotech who were present at the discussion were Ramesh Uniyal of Emami, bureaucrats Mohd Aslam and Sunil K Agarwal, and Badri Narayan of Dabur. “According to an estimate, the demand for bio-resources should increase to 65 lakh metric tonnes. However, 75% of this is currently coming from forests. So, conservation of forests is essential and we need to replenish them at the same time. Traditional knowledge needs to be weaved with technology,” said Uniyal.Aslam pressed for an ecosystem where the rural sector is given importance. “India has genuine resources and raw materials like medicinal plants. But procuring them is often tough. Industrial help, combined with innovations by both industries and government, can not only help us produce more but bring these products to every doorstep,” said Aslam.Others who spoke at the event felt a mechanism needs to be established to maximise output. “Societal programmes and executing projects at the rural level is a good way to approach this,” said Agarwal.

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